Thread: Ropes illegal to tie a load

I have been advised by local certifier of lifting gear etc that if pinged on a twisted strap, not at anchor point or ratchet ... fight it (can usually do by letter) as there is nothing in the laws about twisted straps AND a twist stops the wind chattering.

Originally Posted by lewy

glad i don't drive trucks anymore.I have trouble getting the straps to work.I remember when the straps started to be used we were told that we had to put a twist in the strap as they would fray from vibrating in the wind.

I've always put a twist in them after having one fray through in 300 k's. Know now it is illegal haha.

Next will be annual inspection and certification of ratchet straps...... at 10 times the purchase price.

People who design these rules, without any common sense, are assuming that everyone is as useless as them.

that is all, DL

Originally Posted by rrturboD

I have been advised by local certifier of lifting gear etc that if pinged on a twisted strap, not at anchor point or ratchet ... fight it (can usually do by letter) as there is nothing in the laws about twisted straps AND a twist stops the wind chattering.

You just reminded me of the 'Moebius strip'......... a strip of paper with a half twist joined up with tape for demo purposes.

If you draw a line on one side along the middle and keep following it around the line will join up to where you started. i.e. both sides are the 'same side'.

Where is the twist? That could either amuse or annoy a Magistrate.

DL

Bit of a nanny state law, I just wish people would learn to tie down properly whatever they're using, having successfully dodged a ladder falling from a ute at speed whilst on a motorbike with no space to go.

There was a bloke on a motorbike forum I'm on that was cleaned up by a dinner table flying off a car. He had a very long road to recovery.

Originally Posted by p38arover

Wanna bet, James?

I've never been able to tie knots, even the most simple. They always come undone.
When I was in the VRA on Norfolk Island (which mainly trained for cliff rescue) they'd never let me near a rope!

Edit: if I want a knot to stay tight, I glue it. Seriously.

I have to admit I was taught as a kid by a ex truckie who ended up working on our family farm for about 40 years. He was very particular about how to tie down equipment and drilled it into us. Taught me a lot of very useful tips actually.

I have rated ratchet straps and lots of rope. In most cases I can tie down a load in a trailer with rope much faster than a ratchet strap.

And I can do it that tight that I can bend either the attaching rail or the trailer floor. There are horses for courses. Sometimes I use a ratchet strap, but mostly I use ropes.

Occasionally I also use just duct tape. I don't care what the law is, I will continue using ropes. Unless something goes wrong you won't get pinged for it.

As a side note. How many people would know that the original Telecom rope had a ribbon running through the yellow strand which said Telecom Australia along its length.

Below is a sample of some that I have.

Originally Posted by d2dave

I have rated ratchet straps and lots of rope. In most cases I can tie down a load in a trailer with rope much faster than a ratchet strap.

And I can do it that tight that I can bend either the attaching rail or the trailer floor. There are horses for courses. Sometimes I use a ratchet strap, but mostly I use ropes.

Occasionally I also use just duct tape. I don't care what the law is, I will continue using ropes. Unless something goes wrong you won't get pinged for it.

As a side note. How many people would know that the original Telecom rope had a ribbon running through the yellow strand which said Telecom Australia along its length.


Below is a sample of some that I have.

how many people know of the teltale, know the purpose of the teltale wrap and how many people know that telecom, paramata or telstra rope as its called is certified and has a registered specification and is therefor complaint or tiedown work under the new regs?

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

Yes it is rated,,
and its only legally to be used once!
(thats why OZ is full of it)

I would think the manufacturer would laugh you out of court trying that on with used stuff....

I'd like to see evidence of this, mate. I very highly suspect it's just another myth.

Telstra only use it once as the cost of labor while rodding ducts when it breaks, far outways the cost of the rope. Telstra ducts can be pretty abrasive on the rope as well with a heap of dirt often washed in and it's worse when the ropes are pulled over concrete pit and man hole edges.

Most of my stuff is kept in pretty good condition and out of the sun, unless it's in use.

Happy Days