I know what you're thinking...why is this person holding what look is like a strange bed-pan....well if you haven't worked out what it is then try this one below..it does exactly the same thing...
Still not got it...? Then how about this one below? NOW do you get it.....?
Yes..of course..they're all devices for winding up the strap part of a ratchet strap to keep it neat and tidy. The top one is an American hand-held device call the 'Reel Quick' (Reel/Real Quick geddit..? Oh well please yerselves!). You feed the strap end through the slot at the bottom and then around the centre spindle and there's a handle on the back to wind it up. The second one is called 'The Picado' which has a powerful magnet on the round end which sticks onto the side of a truck or trailer body. And by powerful I mean just that as I managed to squeeze my finger under it...it still smarts! The winding handle which goes through the square section body has a slot on the end through which you feed the strap and then start winding. I must say it's rather clever and easy to swap from truck to truck. Both of these producted are distributed in the UK by Haywood Products www.haywoodproducts.com Last but not least we have the famous German Gurtefix from Cargocare on www.cargo-care.de which you can bolt onto the tractor catwalk or truck/trailer body and which has been the subject of more than one BLB blog in the past....yes you DO remember.
And look! Here's Biglorryblog winding up a strap using the Gurtefix which I eventually managed to fix to the catwalk of this Daf XF belonging to Online Roadways in Chadwell Heath who very kindly allowed us to stage a strap test at their premises---Online's Les Chapman was most helpful. However, it ended up as something of a competitive sport to see how quick yours truly could wind up an 8m strap, neat-and-tidy, ready for stowing away..mmm 'wind-up' is exactly what it turned out to be not least as I was being simultaneously timed, goaded and egged on by 'The Boy Swallow' (Aka Kevin Swallow from Commercial Motor).
It all got a bit silly when, having wound up said 8m long strap between 13 and 11 seconds on the Reel Quick and Picado respectively The Boy Swallow insisted I could do better with the Gurtefix if I only wound it a bit faster....Here you can see just how tight it winds it---indeed once you've wound it up tight it's a bit of job to get it off the spigot!
Anyway not one to pass up on a challenge from a young whipper-snapper (all men over 50 will know what I mean) I picked up the gauntlet. First run 12 seconds, then 11, then 10 seconds. before finally going for it..now click through here to find out what happened....
8.33 seconds! A new United Kingdom and Commonwealth all-comers record. Not impressed? Well how fast can YOU wind an 8m strap...? Anyway before you all conclude BLB's finally gone off his chump it does have a serious side to it...namely if it takes up to a minute to wind a strap by hand (if not longer) and you multiply that by 8 or even 10 straps on a 13.6m trailer just think how much time you could save with a strap winder. Time you could put to good use, like getting on down the road, having a quick power-nap, making a cup of tea, doing your paperwork. Moreover, when you go to use the straps again they're all be neatly rolled up (instead of being in an almighty tangled mess) in the locker ready to throw over the load and ratchet down in double quick time. And in transport it's all about saving time---because time is money guys.
Anyway the 'sensible' report on the three systems will appear in CM soon, along with a hard look at the Haywood Products 'Quickloader' spring-loaded ratchet strap that automatically coils itself up when not in use or when you want to take up the slack in the strap when you're tying down a load.
Meanwhile, I'm in strict training for the first sub-eight-second strap winding....Oii Swallow! Where's my vitamin pills?
Comments (7)
There is a better way, avoid these magnets, reel thingys and dirty tangled straps. Get the Aussie type load binders that sit on the rope rail of the trailer. Now if you havent got a rope rail on your trailer, they also have a channel arrangement which can be fitted under the trailer deck.
Posted by Peter Lynch | June 27, 2008 12:11 AM
Posted on June 27, 2008 00:11
I think you had better post a couple of photos, Pete, so the Poms can understand what you mean.
Posted by Vic Hungerford | June 27, 2008 5:24 AM
Posted on June 27, 2008 05:24
Send me a plane ticket, Brian and I will fly over with a suitcase full of load binders and explain it. Pick me up from terminal 5 Heathrow in a Mk1 Atki. Actually I might send the suitcase on by sailing ship rather than trusting your airline fellows.
Posted by Peter Lynch | June 27, 2008 7:09 AM
Posted on June 27, 2008 07:09
Well it's nice to see you out and about, actually working, with proof. Keep it up BLB.
Posted by Road Rat | June 27, 2008 7:45 AM
Posted on June 27, 2008 07:45
Well it's nice to see you out and about, actually working, with proof. Keep it up BLB.
Posted by Road Rat | June 27, 2008 7:46 AM
Posted on June 27, 2008 07:46
Brian,
Isn't it easier to just start at the buckle end and roll straps up by hand? It takes just a few seconds and several can then be carried in one trip to the sidelocker. If it's wet they can even be rolled up as they are slipped off the load, which keeps them away from the wet/muddy ground. I can't help thinking that dragging loose straps from back of trailer to the front to roll them up isn't the best way to look after straps. But maybe I'm just getting too old-fashioned for this job these days.
Best wishes,
Roy.
Posted by Roy Larkin | June 27, 2008 10:47 AM
Posted on June 27, 2008 10:47
Have a look at http://www.beaver.com.au/transport_restraint
They have got the two types of winches plus the channel for trailers without a rope rail.
Posted by Peter Lynch | June 27, 2008 11:57 PM
Posted on June 27, 2008 23:57