How do I use tie downs on a trailer?

Question

I have a box trailer 8 x 5 foot with a 3 foot cage.

I'm not sure how I should be securing loads. (I'm using it to buy hay, both small bales and round bales (a round bale will be 4 foot diameter and 4 foot high). The small square bales will fit within the cage.

While this may be a basic question for some people, it's not so easy to find good suggestions about how to do it.

I've been looking through my local hardware at tie downs and load restraints.

Can anyone give me some advice on how to use ties to tie down my load?

Answer 1

There are 2 obvious ways:

1) Ratchet straps. This is the easy way, requiring very little in the way of skill or knowledge - I use them a lot. Here in the UK you can get them for £1-£2 each and 2 should be enough for what you're carrying I think. They are very self-explanatory once you get one in your hands so there's not much point in trying to explain how to use them here.

2) Use a rope and a "Trucker's Hitch". If you're good with knots this is better than a ratchet strap. Search "Trucker's Hitch" on Youtube to find many people explaining how to use it.