richardrodriguez•21d agoProlific Poster

Tried a ratchet strap instead of a turnbuckle for securing cargo on a Cessna 172 and it was a game changer

Last month I was loading a 172 with some heavy bags and ran out of turnbuckles. Grabbed a ratchet strap from the hangar just to get the job done. Turns out it held way better and took half the time to tighten. Anyone else use straps for light cargo instead of the standard hardware?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_tara21d ago

Did you check the strap's load rating against the cargo weight?

ivan87321d agoMost Upvoted

Haha, load rating? I was just guessing based on how many times my buddy said "that's probably fine" before we hit the highway. Turns out his gut feeling isn't exactly a certified weight limit, who knew? We're lucky the straps held long enough to get me a coffee on the way before the whole load shifted. Definitely a learning experience, though I'm still not sure if I should thank him or never let him near a truck again.