Do You Loosen The Tension On Your Boat's Trailer Winch And Tie-Downs When Parked To Save Wear And Tear?

[tcbass]

I know that rifle owners rest their rifle's firing pin springs by letting the bolt down with the trigger pulled (on an empty rifle of course) to relieve the tension on spring so that it will last longer.

 

 

 

Does anyone loosen their bow winch and tie downs (or un-hook their tiedowns) when parked to relieve tension on the winch/tiedown's springs/straps to save on wear and tear and help it last longer or doesn't it matter?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[wnybassman]

No.

[Hi Salenity]

No, that's how boats fall off trailers.

[S Hovanec]

I take the tension off of the bow strap, rear tie-downs and transom saver every time I unhook from my truck.

[tcbass]

I also use Boat Buckles. So was wondering if anyone unhooks those or detaches them.

[tracker01]

I take the tension off of the bow strap, rear tie-downs and transom saver every time I unhook from my truck.

Same here.

[WIGuide]

The only time I loosen them is to take them off to put it in the water. Boat buckles internal spring is still under tension even when they are let off. If they weren't they wouldn't retract. 

[tcbass]

The only time I loosen them is to take them off to put it in the water. Boat buckles internal spring is still under tension even when they are let off. If they weren't they wouldn't retract.

Ah. Ok. What about the tension on the strap though?

[WIGuide]

Ah. Ok. What about the tension on the strap though?

The strap is under very little tension compared to what it is when you're driving down the road. It's also what the product was made for so there's that. I'm not saying they'll never wear out, but they're a very well built product. My dad's Ranger has had the factory ones on since day 1 in 1999 and there have been zero issues with them. About once a summer you have to give them a good shot of WD40 because of the crud that builds up in them after being repeatedly dipped in all sorts of water. It loosens them back up so they retract like they're supposed to which I don't see as an issue, but rather maintenance. 

[tcbass]

The strap is under very little tension compared to what it is when you're driving down the road. It's also what the product was made for so there's that. I'm not saying they'll never wear out, but they're a very well built product. My dad's Ranger has had the factory ones on since day 1 in 1999 and there have been zero issues with them. About once a summer you have to give them a good shot of WD40 because of the crud that builds up in them after being repeatedly dipped in all sorts of water. It loosens them back up so they retract like they're supposed to which I don't see as an issue, but rather maintenance. 

 

 

 

Cool. So where do you shoot the WD40 into?

[WIGuide]

Cool. So where do you shoot the WD40 into?

Usually try to get it inside it under the plastic cover where the "spool" of it meets the frame.

[Mr_Scrogg]

I loosen the winch strap and the transom ties when its parked. Let my motormate hang and trim down.

[RipSomeLips]

So I went through the research for the whole relief of tension on springs to save them a couple years back. I did it with regards to should you leave the magazines on your gun half loaded to allow them to work longer. A whole lot of people prescribe to this theory, but from all I learned it's an old wives tale. Talk To ANY engineer that has done work in the field of spring g making or manufacturing and they will tell you that having a spring under pressure has no effect on its life, the only thing that wears out a spring is by it expanding and contracting or being used. Not sure the setup of your strap mechanism but hope this helps.

[scrutch]

Everything is put in a relaxed state every time the boat is unhooked. Even my drags on all my reels.

[basshole8190]

Would be a recipe for a dumped boat on the road or at the ramp. keep it tight!

[tcbass]

Everything is put in a relaxed state every time the boat is unhooked. Even my drags on all my reels.

I have a torque wrench and the instructions say to relieve the pressure when not in use.

[Mr_Scrogg]

All this talk about dumping the boat...

I ONLY loosen the straps when its in the garage. Its my routine to cinch everything back down before I hook up. Thats what the original poster was referring to, I believe. Some people do like to just hook up and go. I wouldnt expect those people to loosen their straps.

[Fishing Rhino]

Regarding spring tension. 

 

There are no springs on winches or tie down straps that I know of.  The little spring that holds the lever in position to let out or crank in the winch strap does not count, nor do the springs that engage the ratchet on tie downs.

 

Do you jack your car up and put it on jack stands to take the weight off the springs when not in use?

[WIGuide]

Regarding spring tension. 

 

There are no springs on winches or tie down straps that I know of.  The little spring that holds the lever in position to let out or crank in the winch strap does not count, nor do the springs that engage the ratchet on tie downs.

 

Do you jack your car up and put it on jack stands to take the weight off the springs when not in use?

There are springs inside the ratchet tie downs that provide the tension to retract the strap when taken off.

[Fishing Rhino]

There are springs inside the ratchet tie downs that provide the tension to retract the strap when taken off.

 

I stand corrected.  But, unless you unhook the tie down, and allow the belt to retract, there is even greater tension on the retracting spring when the tie down is relaxed.

 

My position remains.  There is no advantage to relaxing the winch or the tie downs in order to save "wear and tear".

[Brian Needham]

If I loosened all my straps, my boat would fly down the highway.

 

I understand peoples routine is a routine.

 

from my prespective, the little amount of steps involved in a routine the better.

 

we all hear stories about someone not putting the plug in.... and now some people worry about tightening up straps before they leave the house?

 

I'll pass, and continue to hitch up and go.

 

but everyone does things a little different, and thats what makes the world go around.

[tbone1993]

Not worth the risk, easier to keep them tight and replace them when they get worn. Also Ive seen boats that are 20 years old with the factory straps and winch still working. I doubt that will be an issue or something to worry about. 

[WIGuide]

I stand corrected.  But, unless you unhook the tie down, and allow the belt to retract, there is even greater tension on the retracting spring when the tie down is relaxed.

 

My position remains.  There is no advantage to relaxing the winch or the tie downs in order to save "wear and tear".

Couldn't agree more!

[tcbass]

Not worth the risk, easier to keep them tight and replace them when they get worn. Also Ive seen boats that are 20 years old with the factory straps and winch still working. I doubt that will be an issue or something to worry about. 

 

 

Good point.

 

 

 

After people said the tension on the springs was fine I was still worried about wear and tear on the straps. But his sounds true.

[Mr_Scrogg]

My thoughts isnt constant tension on the springs or straps that might wear. Its the constant tension and pressure on the transom, eyebolts on transom.