Using Nylon Ratchet Straps in the sugarbush

[Dennis H.]

Was out today in the sugarbush clearing some downed trees on the mainlines. Found some side ties broke just like they were supposed todo.
I had two ratchet straps with me so figured that I would use them to pull the mainline into position at the location of the side ties to easy the install of the side ties.

Man did that really help with putting the side ties in.

So on my drive back home I had a little bit to think about what I could do to improve the sugarbush. I have been thinking about adding a few branches to the mainline to break up some of the longer lat's that I have. I have been thinking of doing these branches wireless.
That is when the ratchet straps came to mind. Could they be used at the anchor trees to anchor the end of the mainline? I am thinking of using those tension grips at the end of the mainline that the ratchet strap would hook on to.
It would make it easy to adjust tension on the mainline, it would give more surface area around the anchor tree to prevent it from being girdled and if for some reason you needed to drop the mainline tot he ground that too would also be easy.

Do you see any issues with using ratchet straps? Has anyone already used them for this purpose?

[treehugger89]

The problem with using ratchet straps is that over time the nylon will break down. Thus having your main line on the ground and some other words will be said.

[jmayerl]

They will break down in less than a year if left out

[blissville maples]

Why not use a wire strainer?? I use ratchet straps to pre tighten the line

[Dennis H.]

Kind of figured that the sun was the biggest problem with the nylon straps.

I do use two straps now each season where mainlines cross a trail that must be taken down after every season, so those straps are only out for 2-3 months at the most.

But I can say that I will be using ratchet straps more for maint. of lines in the future.

[GeneralStark]

I use gripples, wire, wire tensioners, and tension grips at the ends of my wireless mainlines. Basically making a ratchet strap.....

[CharlieVT]

I've been using ratchet straps for several years (5+). I don't seem to have a problem with them "rotting". (They stay out year round, I don't take 'em down seasonally).

The wire tensioner grips are pretty expensive. A ratchet strap is much cheaper. Shop around and you can find a 4-pack of ratchet straps for about the price of a 1" stainless tension grip. This 1" tension grip lists for about $15: You can find a 4 or 6 pack of ratchet straps for less than $20 some places.
http://mapletrader.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=16496&d=1494853355

Here's a pic of the pump line coming in from my remote releaser to my 1000 gallon bulk tank; note that the wire tensioner isn't doing much. I've learned in many cases I can abandon the wire and go wire-less with ratchet straps:

http://mapletrader.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=16493&d=1494850500


This is the vacuum line headed out to the releaser:
http://mapletrader.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=16494&d=1494850502

These two pics are at the sugarhouse because I just walked out to take the pics, but I have many such ratchet strap tensioners in the woods. I have a long section of trees with very little slope; in that section I have sap ladders on mainline with minimal slope. The ratchet straps make it easy to keep the mainline tight and pull out any sags.

Note no tension gripper used. I wrap the strap around the pipe a few times and hook it back on itself. It can cause a little kink in the pipe but if the point of pull is oriented with consideration to a little bend induced in the pipe it isn't a problem.

I have red, green and blue ones out there, I like the green ratchet straps, they blend into the woods better. ;)

HTH

[asknupp]

I do the same as Charlie. Leave them out and haven't had trouble yet. I use a 2" ratchet to get most of the slack out then put the 1" on it and side tie. Given my runs aren't very long 3-500' but it works.

[Paddymountain]

I also use ratchet binders, I just put a hose clamp on the end of the mainline and tie the binder on behind it. It never slips that way.

[Dennis H.]

You know I just might end up giving it a try.

I was thinking of using those braided grips to hook the ratchet strap to allow me to pull the line tight but I may try the way Charlie stated.

[CharlieVT]

You know I just might end up giving it a try.

I was thinking of using those braided grips to hook the ratchet strap to allow me to pull the line tight but I may try the way Charlie stated.

In place of the commercial tension grip, wrap the non-ratchet part of the ratchet strap (hook end) around the mainline about 5 times to cover several inches of the mainline, wrapping in the direction opposite of the pull. Then continue wraping back upon itself to the starting point of the wrap. It works a little better to feed the end of the strap though the "eye" of the hook rather than to just hook onto the strap, that reduces the chance that the hook will dent the mainline.

The ratchet part of the ratchet strap is hooked to a tree or whatever you are using to secure the mainline.

When tightened, the wrap on the mainline cinches down and in my experience doesn't slip. I have this setup on both black PVC and Leader blue mainline. I don't have any mainline larger than 1" diameter, so I can't speak to how this might work on larger diameters. When I was using commercial tension grips, I did have to add a pipe clamp to keep the grip from slipping; I haven't found the need to add a pipe clamp with the ratchet strap method.

Because the pull is one sided, there is often a little bend induced into the mainline; orient the point of pull so that the resulting bend is in a favorable direction to sap flow.

HTH

[ToadHill]

I have not used the ratchet straps for a permanent installation of a mainline, but found them useful during the installation process. That said, I have several ladder type tree stands that I've left in the woods and found that squirrels and chipmunks love to chew the straps. A lot of them were chewed completely through.

[johnpma]

I like to use them to keep tension on my main line.....simple fix when you are working alone

[maple flats]

I have a few ratchet straps in use too. It seems some last a lot longer than others. Some get weak in a year from the sun and others have been out 6-8 years and still hold good. When I find some that breakdown too soon I try not to use that brand again. However sometimes that is a guessing game. If they were in fact made of nylon they would last a very long time. Most seem to be some cheap poly web. Some are labeled as UV protected, sometimes they lie.