Ancra ties cost me $$$$

figment · 10-20-2003, 3:33 PM

I have been using some ancra straps for a few tows now. I am noticing they come loose quite a bit. As in always.
I stop frequently to re-tighten them. I even tie the loose end of the strap over the buckle to try and keep it from slipping.

Unfortunately this last weekend, they came completeley undone on one bike in the last 100 miles of a 350 mile trip. The last 100 miles was on a twisty mountian road. I had two bikes in the trailer. A friends Agusta MV and my 954. The PVC pipe on the Agusta handlebars saved the Agusta from a lot of damage but gouged a lot of plastic off my RH lower. ($360 shipped from RA today). I am never using these again.

YMMV

ND4SPD · 10-20-2003, 3:47 PM

Might be worth getting in touch with the manufacturer of the strap for compensation. Did they advertise any type of guarantee on the product?

I've been using the 'cheap' straps Auto-Zone carries with 100% success. They'd loosen maybe 1/2' to 1' at most on an 8-9hr/~500 mile trip

figment · 10-20-2003, 3:52 PM

Quote:

ND4SPDSHO : Might be worth getting in touch with the manufacturer of the strap for compensation. * *Did they advertise any type of guarantee on the product?

I've been using the 'cheap' straps Auto-Zone carries with 100% success. *They'd loosen maybe 1/2' to 1' at most on an 8-9hr/~500 mile trip

I sent an email to them this morning. We'll see how they respond...

I have cheapies too and they never had this problem either...

Serial Thriller · 10-20-2003, 3:54 PM

That's why I will only use ratchet straps.
Now, if I could just find a good way to load my bike in the truck by myself...

Pete · 10-20-2003, 3:55 PM

Figment, man, that does suck. But hey, you found another advantage of those PVC 'grip-savers,' right?

I take it the straps were the quick release type, and not ratchet straps? I haven't had any problems with mine (they're not Ancra, some other brand), but I recently started getting more anal about strapping the bike in, so I now use the quick straps just to get the bike tied down, then double-up with heavy-duty ratchet straps.

HondaGalToo · 10-20-2003, 3:57 PM

That sucks. I've personally had good luck with Ancras and find them to be better quality than most.

RacerCutie · 10-20-2003, 4:01 PM

Quote:

Pete : I take it the straps were the quick release type, and not ratchet straps? *I haven't had any problems with mine .....

I have something similar (can't remember the brand) and have had no problems with them getting loose.

That sucks Figment about your plastics.

Do not get cheap ones!
Otherwise you're bike will fall off and end up like this guy's.

ConqSoft · 10-20-2003, 4:01 PM

Yeah, Ancra's have a good rep. I use the ratchet versions on the front, and the slip-clasp type on the rear. Never had either come loose.

figment · 10-20-2003, 4:02 PM

Quote:

Pete : Figment, man, that does suck. *But hey, you found another advantage of those PVC 'grip-savers,' right? *

I take it the straps were the quick release type, and not ratchet straps? *I haven't had any problems with mine (they're not Ancra, some other brand), but I recently started getting more anal about strapping the bike in, so I now use the quick straps just to get the bike tied down, then double-up with heavy-duty ratchet straps.

Thanks dude! Thats what I was going to do as well. I even carried some in the trailer, but did not use them. The Ancras came loose again on the way back on BOTH bikes. I caught the loose 954 side, but the Agusta came loose between Atoka and Plano and now has a scratched right hand mirror plastic...

Everyone else should probably do the same. Double up the straps on the front! The ratcheting kind should STAY as they lock with a spring and gear.

figment · 10-20-2003, 4:05 PM

Quote:

ConqSoft : Yeah, Ancra's have a good rep. *I use the ratchet versions on the front, and the slip-clasp type on the rear. *Never had either come loose. *

I should have used the ratcheting kind on the front...

Pete · 10-20-2003, 4:10 PM

The only reason I don't use *just* the ratcheting straps on the front now is because it is so much easier the get the bike strapped in by yourself with the slip-clasp (thanks for the name clarification, Conq) straps.

figment · 10-20-2003, 4:15 PM

Quote:

Pete : The only reason I don't use *just* the ratcheting straps on the front now is because it is so much easier the get the bike strapped in by yourself with the slip-clasp (thanks for the name clarification, Conq) straps.

Yes I understood that.

I will use the slip type to compress the suspension and then use some ratcheting types to lock it down. I will also trim the free end slack off the ratcheting types to make them easier to manage but specific to this application.

ConqSoft · 10-20-2003, 4:18 PM

It's much easier to compress the suspension using the ratcheting ones.

ConqSoft · 10-20-2003, 4:19 PM

Quote:

Pete : slip-clasp (thanks for the name clarification, Conq) straps.

I made that up.

figment · 10-20-2003, 4:22 PM

Quote:

ConqSoft : It's much easier to compress the suspension using the ratcheting ones.

*

depends on what you mean I guess.

If you have a lot of ASS behind you, its easy to pull the bike down quickly with the slip types. (FAST)

If you're a little challenged in the OOOOMPH department ratchets could be easier...

Pete · 10-20-2003, 4:28 PM

Quote:

figment : Yes I understood that.

My comment was directed more towards Conq, just an explanation. He's kinda slow like that.

Pete · 10-20-2003, 4:29 PM

Quote:

ConqSoft : Quote (Pete @ Oct. 20 2003, 3:10pm)slip-clasp (thanks for the name clarification, Conq) straps.

I made that up.
Well done, then.

HondaGalToo · 10-20-2003, 5:40 PM

Quote:

ConqSoft : It's much easier to compress the suspension using the ratcheting ones.

Yup, just a reminder to take care, as it's also easy to compress too much with the ratchet type. I think they get compressed to just 50% of their travel. Personally, I hate the ratchet type, because I can never get the fookers to release!

BDA116 · 10-20-2003, 5:52 PM

I use a Baxley Sport Chock and don't strap down the front end at all.

Pete · 10-20-2003, 6:05 PM

Quote:

BDA116 : I use a Baxley Sport Chock and don't strap down the front end at all.

You do this while hauling the bike on a trailer? Is there some sort of wheel lock in addition to the normal compression fit/lock of the Baxley chock?

I would think you'd want at least something up high on the bike, to counter the left/right movement of the bike. Seems like an awful lot of lateral stress could be placed on the forks if you had to swerve quickly.

Baketech · 10-20-2003, 6:08 PM

Quote:

BDA116 : I use a Baxley Sport Chock and don't strap down the front end at all.

My R1 has a 'Magnetic Levitation Switch', that allows tie down free towing.....

Seriously though....I have used Ancras to tie down cars and bikes for thousands of miles without a failure.....something is fooked here....

Serial Thriller · 10-20-2003, 6:25 PM

Quote:

ConqSoft : Quote (Pete @ Oct. 20 2003, 3:10pm)slip-clasp (thanks for the name clarification, Conq) straps.

I made that up.
Ancra calls them 'cam buckles.'

BDA116 · 10-20-2003, 6:35 PM

Quote:

Pete : Quote (BDA116 @ Oct. 20 2003, 4:52pm)I use a Baxley Sport Chock and don't strap down the front end at all.

You do this while hauling the bike on a trailer? *Is there some sort of wheel lock in addition to the normal compression fit/lock of the Baxley chock?

I would think you'd want at least something up high on the bike, to counter the left/right movement of the bike. *Seems like an awful lot of lateral stress could be placed on the forks if you had to swerve quickly.
I have it mounted in a van, but it would be no different in a trailer. I use the cam-buckle type on the rear, but have no tie downs on the front.
I get the two rear tie-downs just tight enough to stop the lateral swaying.
Loading is a breeze, too.

abtech · 10-20-2003, 6:41 PM

How old were these Ancra tie downs? *I have seen them get thin after a year or 2 and fray. *When they get thin, the nubs on the cam no longer grasp the strap very well. *I keep mine for 2 seasons tops then then use them for holding doors open and what not . . .

figment · 10-20-2003, 6:53 PM

Quote:

abtech : How old were these Ancra tie downs? *I have seen them get thin after a year or 2 and fray. *When they get thin, the nubs on the cam no longer grasp the strap very well. *I keep mine for 2 seasons tops then then use them for holding doors open and what not . . .

branfrikken NEW.