Using Nylon Ratchet Straps in the sugarbush

[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.