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What Types of Rope and Tie Down Straps Do I Need?

Apr 15 2022

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Every day around the country our movers are busy loading rental trucks, moving containers and freight trailers- many for long distance moves. Unfortunately, hiring professional moving help isn't enough if you want your household items to arrive at your new home without damage; rope and tie down straps are a necessary component of a successful move.

So what type of tie down is best for your move? What size should you purchase? How many should you have? Believe it or not, the answer to these questions may differ, not only between the different transportation types available, such as a rented moving truck or portable storage container, but also between different name brands, such as U-Haul and Penske Truck Rental.

Luckily, we've asked some of our most experienced moving experts to weigh in on this topic and they've provided us with a lot of helpful information. We have compiled this data and created an easy to read table (below) to help you determine what type of tie downs to provide for your moving help.

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Rental Trucks

Company	Recommended Tie Down	Size	Quantity
Penske Truck Rental	Nylon Rope	1/4"	100'
Budget Truck Rental	Nylon Rope	1/4"	100'
U-Haul Truck Rental	Nylon Rope	1/4"	100'

Moving Containers

Company	Recommended Tie Down	Size	Quantity
PODS	Ratchet Strap	8'-10'	4-8
1-800-PACK-RAT	Ratchet Strap	8'-10'	4-8
MyWay Mobile Storage	Nylon Rope	1/4"	50'
UNITS	Ratchet Strap w/ E-Track Fitting	8'-10'	4-8
ABF ReloCube	Ratchet Strap w/ E-Track Fitting	7'	2-4

Freight Moving Trailers

You Load, They Drive
Company	Recommended Tie Down	Size	Quantity
ABF U-Pack	Ratchet Strap w/ E-Track Fitting	8'-10'	8-12
Old Dominion	Ratchet Strap w/ E-Track Fitting	8'-10'	8-12
Estes SureMove	Ratchet Strap w/ E-Track Fitting	8'-10'	8-12

Types of Tie Downs

When it comes to moving household goods the three most commonly used tie downs are rope, ratchet straps and ratchet straps with an e-track fitting. Be sure to review the charts above to determine which type of tie down is best for your truck or container.

Nylon Rope

Nylon rope is affordable and readily available at most hardware stores. 1/4" nylon rope is recommended most often because it is strong and durable. Avoid twine and braided rope as they are weaker, harder to secure and often times break apart while in transit. We recommend having at least 100' of rope on hand in case it's needed to secure your load.

Amazon

Ratchet Strap

Ratchet straps are strong and durable tie downs that have a fastener. A typical ratchet strap will have a hook on both ends to help sure the strap to the internal walls.

Amazon

Ratchet Strap with E-Track

Ratchet straps with an e-track fitting are similar to regular ratchet straps with one major difference, the e-track fitting. The e-track fitting will easily lock into place when the trailer or storage unit has the compatible tracking.

Amazon

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About the author

Brandon

I've been in the moving industry since 2004 and I spent the first few years working as a mover. I use the lessons learned during those years to write articles that will give our users the answers they are looking for and, ultimately, help them make a successful DIY move.