Nylon webbing is useful for OHVing, Rving, camping, and boating. It is light weight but very strong. Typical 1" nylon webbing can be rated as high as 4,000 lbs. It is available in a variety of colors so you can choose a color you like and can use different colors for different applications. Different brands, sizes, and qualities of webbing may have different strength ratings so be sure to choose webbing that is sufficiently strong for your application. 1" webbing is often used for tie downs and load-securing ratchets straps. You will also see heavier webbing used for tow straps, snatch straps, and heavy-duty ratchet straps. I use 2 1/2" ratchet straps to secure my 25' sailboat to its trailer.
Most tie downs for OHVs are made of nylon webbing. They may have simple friction catches or ratchets. Simple catches are usually appropriate for dirt bikes and ATVs where ratchet straps may over-compress and damage the suspension while tied down if over tightened. Tie downs come with "S" hooks on both ends to easily attach them to anchor points. You can also loop the webbing around larger contact points and run the webbing back through the "S" hook if needed. To avoid marring the surface of handle bars you can get "soft shackles" which are nylon web that wraps around the handle bars and you attach the "S"hooks to loops on the end. Some higher end tie downs come with their own built in soft shackles. Strong 1" nylon straps, even your regular tie downs, make good tow straps for dirt bikes and most ATVs. Side-by-sides may require a sturdier tow or snatch strap. Dune buggies, Jeeps, and other larger 4x4s will definitely need an appropriately sized tow strap, tow rope, or tow chain.
Many RVs have roof racks to carry additional cargo. Whenever you put something up on the roof of your RV you want to make sure it is secure. Nylon ratchet straps are a good way to do this, just don't over-tighten them or you may damage the roof rack, the roof, or the load. Here again, 1"straps are usually more than adequate.
Ratchet straps normally used to secure loads on pickups and utility trailers are usually 1"straps. Pay attention to the rated strength when you purchase ratchet straps. The rating takes into consideration all the components: the nylon strap, the stitching, the hooks, and the hardware. If you cut or break the strap you may able to repair it if you are comfortable doing the necessary sewing. Choose replacement webbing that is at least as strong as the original and used appropriately sized UV resistant thread and a box stitch for webbing to secure the webbing to hooks and anchor points. You can purchase bulk webbing online or at most fabric stores. I get mine from a discount store for just ten cents foot, much less than even buying it direct from the factory!
A fairly new and convenient invention are self-storing ratchet straps. As you might expect, they are a bit more expensive than regular ratchet straps but are spring loaded to take up the slack for you instead of having to pull it all through the hub of the ratchet. I haven't used them yet, but the reviews I have seen have been pretty favorable. I suspect the mechanisms will be slightly heavier than ordinary ratchet mechanisms and might get in the way in some tight applications.
Campers find nylons straps useful for securing tents, sleeping bags and back packs. Many bags for tents and sleeping bags even come with nylon straps sewn to the bags for convenience but you can add your own or use free-standing nylon straps anytime. You can buy straps with buckles or just tie them around your bundle. Buckles are usually easier to fasten and unfasten and allow the straps to lie flat.
I use nylon webbing for sail ties on my sailboat. I use different colors for different length sail ties to make it easier to quickly locate the right one for each position for securing the mainsail to the boom for temporary storage. Sail ties an also be used to tame excess halyards and dock lines and the secure loads on deck and in the cabin and storage compartments. Sail ties have a loop in one end, usually made with a twist to make it easier to get your hand in. Normally they do not have an metal hooks because those could chafe and damage sails and sail covers. You can thread the loose end through the loop to pull the strap tight around the sail, then tie it off securely.
As mentioned above, I use 2 1/2" ratchet straps to secure my 25' sailboat to its trailer. They hold it down nicely and the wider straps spread the load to avoid excess pressure on point of contact with the fiberglass hull. If you use ratchet straps to tie down your boat, make sure you don't crank them down too tight. It is too easy to put enough tension on them to crack fiberglass or dent aluminum hulls. I once noticed tiny stress cracks forming under the heavy duty straps on my sailboat.
As a volunteer firefighter I have roll of 1" nylon webbing in one of the pockets of my turn out gear. Just about all firefighters do. We can use the webbing to help move an injured or unconscious victim, to lift tools up a ladder, or even to help us make an emergency escape out a window.
Nylon webbing or straps is not usually used for guy lines for tents or awnings but it can be. It is often stronger than most of the light weight ropes usually used in such applications. It also has the advantage of being wider and more easily seen so you aren't as likely to run into them or trip over them. You might find ratchet straps useful as guy lines on really large, heavy tents. On occasion I have used ratchet straps to secure the awning on my motorcycle trailer. The ratchet straps allow me to easily pull the awning taught. If you do use ratchet straps in this way, take care not to over-tighten them as they can easily damage the awning or attachment hardware. The only possible downside I see to using straps as guy lines is they might flutter in the wind, which can be annoying and the vibration can sometimes cause them to loosen.
Webbing used to used a lot on aluminum-framed camp chairs. Most camp chairs these days are bag chairs with cloth seating and backrests but you can still find aluminum-framed chairs here and there. The webbing strips are usually about 2-2 1/2" wide and made of some kind of fiberglass or plastic material, not usually the kind of heavy duty nylon you find in tie downs and ratchet straps. If you have any of these old chairs you might still be able to get replacement web kits for them. I have even seen kits on amazon.com. In a pinch you might be able to re-web your chairs with sturdy nylon webbing and they would probably last a very long time. It would make the chairs a bit heavier and they might be warmer to sit in than the original webbing. That might be nice in cold weather but less comfortable on most warm summer days in camp.
Good web to get caught in!
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