5 Accessories to Make Cargo Control Easier

There are plenty of things that your flatbed trailer needs: tie-downs, ratchets, cam buckles, chains, winches, d-rings, etc. In order to securely and properly tie down your cargo, you need at least some combination of these items.

But how about some of the stuff that isn’t necessarily required to secure your load? We’re talking about the many useful accessories that exist in the cargo control industry that have been engineered to improve the tie-down job and make your life easier.

1. Corner Protectors

Corner Protectors are extremely useful to have on hand. They are designed to act as buffers between your load and your tie-down assembly. If you’re securing really rough cargo like bricks and concrete, Corner Protectors give your straps something to cling onto other than the heavily abrasive material.

When transporting more fragile cargo like mirrors and glass, Corner Protectors will prevent straps and especially chains from scratching and marring the cargo. This helps keep your cargo in pristine condition throughout the trip.

Corner Protectors and VeeBoards are available in a variety of shapes and sizes to handle an array of cargo. Some are designed for just straps, some for just chains, and others for any tie-down method you choose. There are also Web Protectors available. These helpful sleeves can easily fit over your webbing to give you more control over where exactly they need the most protection.

2. Safety Straps

Leaning more toward those who work with enclosed trailers, an exceptionally helpful piece of equipment to have is a Trailer Door Safety Strap. Items shift around a lot during transit, and if you open that door while something’s leaning against it, you’re in for a rude surprise.

A Trailer Door Safety Strap lets you take a peek inside the trailer door before fully opening it all the way. This gives you the chance to check to make sure the load isn’t about to fall on your head.

You can get this strap from most retailers, or, since it’s so simple, you can make your own. All you need is a short length of webbing and two snap hooks. Secure the hooks to both handles on the door to limit just how wide it can swing open, giving you plenty of room to check without risking either your load or your head.

3. Storage for Straps

Properly securing and storing your straps may take some more time, but it definitely helps you out in the long run. There are a number of different ways to store them, whether you’re on the road or off of it.

Kinedyne's Strap Storage Bag provides a convenient location to store your straps when they're not in use. The strap bag attaches to your trailer's Series E or A Track so they'll be easy to store, easy to spot, and easy to reach. Manufactured from high-quality durable vinyl material, this bag is also useful in keeping stock of your inventory, so no straps randomly go missing.

Off the road, take a moment after your drive to roll the straps up so that they’re not openly exposed to the elements, and be sure to store them out of direct sunlight. Strap Bands can help prevent Winch Straps from coming undone after they’ve been rolled up, making your straps easy to maintain and store and your cargo securement a little less stressful.

4. Strap Winders

At the end of a long ride, you want to wrap things up as quickly as possible. Anyone who secures their load with a winch needs a Strap Winder in their arsenal to avoid rolling up a 50ft long strap by hand.

Attach this device to your side rail, feed the strap through, then start winding. It’ll reel that Winch Strap up to a nice and tightly packed roll, making it easier to secure and store the webbing. Being able to neatly store your Winch Straps will help prolong their lifespan.

Strap Winders work with nearly any sized strap, from 1-inch to 4-inch webbing. They greatly cut down on the amount of time it would take to wind up a strap if you did it by hand. 

5. Web Adjusters

Is the tie-down strap too tight or too loose? It’s such a time waster to start all over and redo the whole tensioning process once again. Instead, grab yourself a handy Web Adjuster.

This device allows you to make incremental adjustments to the length of your strap so you can get it to just how you need it. It’s simple to use and helps you modify the tie-down job so that you can always remain in control.

Designed for durability, flexibility, and easy use, this Web Adjuster is a must-have for anyone in the cargo control industry, agricultural industry, or any industry that uses straps that need quick adjustments. 

All in all, these examples are only just a few devices available in the market to help improve your tie-down experience. Whether it’s to save you time or save your straps, there are plenty of more handy accessories out there that you can use to help you out before, during, and after your securement job and trip.