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Tie-down recommendations

Superbill

MEMBER
Lostine Oregon
I have seen a few members recommend not using ratchet straps or chains to tie down, so I plan to buy some rope. Does anyone have advice on particular size, material, tensile strength etc. If not I'll just go with my gut! Thanks!
 
Some are using climbing ropes. Chains have no give. Keep in mind the amount of weight that you airplane can carry, a 500 Lb rope is of little use on a plane with a 3000 Lb gross wieight.
 
Do a search lots of good info on ropes. I use a static rope for tree climbing. I also have used a Dynamic climbing rope that lasted 14 years and was still looking good when it was replaced.
DENNY
 
Good advice all around from previous posts. Just be aware, if using portable ground anchors the anchors will be the limiting factor. Recent tests of some of the currently popular brands showed they pulled out of the ground somewhere in the 400-500 pound range, but this is very much dependent on the soil conditions.

Thanks. cubscout
 
Good advice all around from previous posts. Just be aware, if using portable ground anchors the anchors will be the limiting factor. Recent tests of some of the currently popular brands showed they pulled out of the ground somewhere in the 400-500 pound range, but this is very much dependent on the soil conditions.

Thanks. cubscout
I figured the anchors would be the weak link out in the boonies, but I'll use the same rope on the ramp.
 
I bought my rope at a marine supply store. Designed for UV resistance. Rated for a couple thousand pounds.


Sent from my iPhone using SuperCub.Org
 
Climbing ropes are categorized as either Static or Dynamic. Static rope doesn’t stretch. Imagine rappelling. You don’t want to bounce. Dynamic ropes stretch. Imagine a fall being arrested by a rope. Some stretch reduces injury. Very different applications. Climbing ropes are the only ropes I’m familiar with that provide specifications for stretch and load. Climbing ropes also hold knots exceptionally well. I’ve got both types of ropes for my planes. For tying down I only use static rope. For towing or pulling (on skis into parking comes to mind) I only use dynamic rope.

When a plane is tied in gusty winds the plane will rock and bounce on the gear, especially with big tires. A tail stand will reduce it but most of us don’t have one. I use static ropes and tie down very tight. The rocking will get cushioned by the tires. I don’t want a stretchy rope to allow more movement. Some guys think stretch is a good thing. Make your own choices. Perhaps you need to review hurricane ties or strut attach doublers. Given enough force and time, something’s got to give.

I watch my planes in the wind. With my exp Cub I’m very pleased to have a hangar. That plane was scary to watch in even a 35 mph wind. It wants to fly. Id have needed to make some lift spoilers. Spoilers are a good idea for any Cub expected to park in stiff winds.
 
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Don’t buy cheap rope! I’ve seen planes tied down with abysmal examples. You can buy line with woven sheath that looks like climbing rope at the grocery store. The fiber inside is garbage. Check the strength and load ratings on the tag. Good rope is cheap insurance. Get twice as much as you think you’ll use.

I bought red and white 3/4 in braided nylon line. It had a very high strength and load rating and the knots held tight. Within a month out in the weather it had turned pink!

Jim
 
FedEx ties down their Cessna Caravans with ratchet straps. Why do I see folks on this site saying ratchet straps are a poor practice?
 
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I see guys I know use ratchet straps occasionally. No big deal if you're careful with the tension and have enough wraps on the reel to prevent loosening. It may be that it's easy to apply too much pull. Ropes don't have that potential unless you use two loops to increase pull force. Nobody I've seen does that. And lines can get slack while bouncing on big tires, which could allow a strap hook to come off the ring. I can tie with a rope faster than a ratchet strap so that's reason enough for me to use them.
 
I use non-racheting nylon cargo straps (aka bike binders) to tie down.
I don't trust the s-hooks that came on them, so I removed them.
I use the strap tied into a loop on the ground end,
and a shackle in the factory-sewn loop of the strap at the wing attach end.
Quick to use, seemingly plenty strong, and takes up very little room when not in use.
 
FedEx ties down their Cessna Caravans with ratchet straps. Why do I see folks on this site saying ratchet straps are a poor practice?
Caravans are a tad bit bigger that what most of us here fly. Ratchet straps can break things, especially big ones, and if you ever have one come loose during a storm that mechanism flying around can beat a plane to a pulp.
 
FedEx ties down their Cessna Caravans with ratchet straps. Why do I see folks on this site saying ratchet straps are a poor practice?
When the wind really starts blowing and the small planes start rocking back and forth the strap gets loose and the hook falls off the wing. It really does not take that much to get a Cessna or Cub rocking and pop off a hook or bust a ratchet mechanism (cheap Walmart units). Once you have driven around an airport with several planes destroyed because the pilots were to cheap/lazy to buy good rope and use it correctly you will understand. Unfortunately we see it around here too often. https://www.supercub.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=59354&d=1641945579
DENNY
 
Straps need to be twisted and not be flat. Wind will cause flat straps to shake and tear things up....including the strap.

Gary
 
This whole thread is really silly.

A good rope helps.

BUT

What matters is attentiveness to the conditions. Match your tie down method and materials to the conditions your in or forecast for.

A cheap rope in a everyday breeze is probably OK

A great rope in a chinook wind on skiis on deep snow won't mater when the snow melts 6" and everything gets loose.

What matters is getting your butt up and checking on your plane, and making sure it's tied down for the conditions.
 
Straps need to be twisted and not be flat. Wind will cause flat straps to shake and tear things up....including the strap.

Gary
The straps also need to be heavier than you think. I used to use ratchet straps as a supplement to tie down the plane during Storm events. When the winds start gusting near 100 in the middle of the night, I've found the plane tied to the dock with the lines and the straps released due to bent dogging mechanisms. These were not Walmart ratchet straps.
 
A quick search reveals I know little about the quality and claimed strength of commercial ratchet straps> https://www.uscargocontrol.com/collections/ratchet-straps-tie-downs

Locally thin narrow Walmart-types are common, even on $200K plus Backcountry Cubs, but we in Fairbanks rarely get real wind. I like 3/8-1/2" twisted nylon rope as it holds an airplane knot well. I do recall a floatplane Cub on Kodiak in a blow. Despite rope, the pilot had to fill the floats with water to keep it anchored on the beach. Screw anchors in wet gravel simply pulled out from constant jerking. Real wind is humbling. Our cabin had cables over the roof to keep it in place.

Gary
 
FedEx ties down their Cessna Caravans with ratchet straps. Why do I see folks on this site saying ratchet straps are a poor practice?
They fray in the wind, rope is not as susceptible to the fraying. there are limits though considering what is used for an anchor.
 
A quick search reveals I know little about the quality and claimed strength of commercial ratchet straps> https://www.uscargocontrol.com/collections/ratchet-straps-tie-downs

Locally thin narrow Walmart-types are common, even on $200K plus Backcountry Cubs, but we in Fairbanks rarely get real wind. I like 3/8-1/2" twisted nylon rope as it holds an airplane knot well. I do recall a floatplane Cub on Kodiak in a blow. Despite rope, the pilot had to fill the floats with water to keep it anchored on the beach. Screw anchors in wet gravel simply pulled out from constant jerking. Real wind is humbling. Our cabin had cables over the roof to keep it in place.

Gary
Shemya has real wind for days at time Gary, makes a Florida hurricane look like a microburst. so Yeah, I agree, real wind can change things...
 
I use 1/2” polyester braided static climbing rope with very little stretch. The rope is rated for 8,000 pounds and I installed Atlee dodge tie down brackets.

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I've wondered for years and have no answer so far....what's better for the plane's structures....some limited stretch under gust loads......or minimal line stretch? Anybody have a good idea? Like in real wind. Extend the stress period a little bit, or have quick jolts to the wing - like that. I can see straps for internal plane loads, but for wings?

Gary
 
This whole thread is really silly.

A good rope helps.

BUT

What matters is attentiveness to the conditions. Match your tie down method and materials to the conditions your in or forecast for.

A cheap rope in a everyday breeze is probably OK

A great rope in a chinook wind on skiis on deep snow won't mater when the snow melts 6" and everything gets loose.

What matters is getting your butt up and checking on your plane, and making sure it's tied down for the conditions.

Please read that ^^ again, folks.

I watched a year old C-185 on floats destroy itself in Kodiak one night, while I was tending my charges. Another night, a local guides SC struts started to buckle. I got under the wing, and a city cop showed up to help. Strapped a 2 x 4 to main strut and eventually, owner showed up….cop got dispatch to call him……

Lots of those kinds of stories from Kodiak.

MTV
 
Sounds good but doesn’t work. People are busy. People travel for work. Some of us are gone for weeks at a time. Verify earth anchors, keep the spot plowed, use good ropes, and as 55-PA18 taught me, install solid wing covers for ice and spoiler mesh covers over them for wind protection. All that done, the best added protection is good neighbors to handle things while you’re gone. I was on both sides of that for 25 years at Lake Hood. I’d shovel snow and reinforce rear struts for total strangers and go out of my way to do the same for friends. I’d go to my plane and find it swept or with added ropes.
 
To the question about stretch? For my planes I use static rope, so very little stretch. I tie both sides taught against the tire pressure and suspension. The only movement is when the plane rocks and suspension or tires give a little, and with static ropes that’s minimized. Try the same exercise with dynamic rope and the plane hops around like popping corn. I haven’t found any use for dynamic rope except towing the plane into parking with my truck. I like some stretch and give for that.
 
Sounds good but doesn’t work. People are busy. People travel for work. Some of us are gone for weeks at a time. Verify earth anchors, keep the spot plowed, use good ropes, and as 55-PA18 taught me, install solid wing covers for ice and spoiler mesh covers over them for wind protection. All that done, the best added protection is good neighbors to handle things while you’re gone. I was on both sides of that for 25 years at Lake Hood. I’d shovel snow and reinforce rear struts for total strangers and go out of my way to do the same for friends. I’d go to my plane and find it swept or with added ropes.

In that case, you need to recruit or pay someone to care for what is arguably your most expensive toy.

MTV
 
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