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The Best Trailer Tie Downs for Transporting Cargo and Vehicles

American Motors Review Team
Written By American Motors Review Team
Last updated: May 14, 2025, 07:09 PM
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trailer tie down

Carrying cargo or vehicles on a trailer requires professionalism to avoid accidents. It’s crucial to tie down things securely to prevent them from being damaged upon reaching the destination. For this purpose, it’s important to use heavy-duty trailer tie-downs. These straps prevent accidental hazards and also keep the products you’re shipping safe. Using a strapping system, you can ship vehicles like ATVs, UTVs, motorbikes, and cars, and these straps are also essential for the safety of commuters.

The two most common tie-down types are ratchet and lashing straps, with the former being the more popular choice because it can easily hold up to 5,000 pounds of workload. Additionally, tie-down trailers usually have polyester webbing, making them strong enough to secure cargo and resist impacts. So, to ensure you’re making a good choice, we’ve reviewed the top-rated trailer tie-downs of 2025. Let’s check them out!

View all Contents
  • Buying Guide: Trailer Tie Downs
    • Things To Look For in Trailer Tie Downs
    • Tips for Using Trailer Tie Downs
    • Where to Hook Trailer Tie Downs?
    • Benefits of Trailer Tie Downs
  • People Also Asked
  • Why Trust Us?
  • Contributors
  • Related Reviews

Our Top Picks

  • DC Cargo Mall Trailer Tie Downs: Best Overall (Shop Now) →
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  • RHINO USA Trailer Tie Downs: Most Durable (Shop Now) →
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  • Erickson Trailer Tie Downs: Highest Workload Capacity (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this product ↓
  • VULCAN Trailer Tie Downs: Long Straps (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this product ↓
  • AUGO Trailer Tie Downs: Smoothly Releasing Latch (Shop Now) →
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Reviewing the Finest Trailer Tie Downs of 2025

DC Cargo Mall Trailer Tie Downs

Best Overall
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The DC Cargo Mall Trailer Tie Downs let you drive stress free by tightly strapping huge vehicles and more. With this innovative tie down system, you also don’t have to worry about driving on roads with frequent jumps — the strapped load won’t move even an inch when secured with its durable straps. 

Thanks to the steel chocks that keep the heavy vehicles intact, they don’t roll during transportation. This trailer tie down system is also pretty simple to install and you can permanently mount it on your ATV. This saves a lot of your time, as you can directly haul any vehicle the next time. Thanks to their quick loading and unloading, these trailer tie downs are easily our top choice.

Product Pros
  • Sturdy, long-lasting straps 
  • Wheel chocks for better security 
  • Accommodates vehicles up to 1,500 pounds
Product Cons
  • Hardware size issues might occur

RHINO USA Trailer Tie Downs

Most Durable
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Your search for one of the most robust cargo fastening straps will end with the RHINO USA Trailer Tie Downs. These straps’ heavy-duty composition of anodized aluminum makes them one of the most durable on the market. Simply put, these tie-down straps can handle it all, from medium to heavy workloads. If you don’t want to spoil your journey by constantly worrying about the cargo, secure it with these straps. 

Additionally, their polyester webbing is highly resistant to road impacts; its toughness ensures the cargo is secure, even when the road is bumpy. Meanwhile, an innovative end cap structure provides top-notch protection for the ratchet. Even the S-shaped hooks attached to the trailer’s anchor point have safety clips for enhanced security. 

Product Pros
  • Very durable construction
  • Padded handles for easy adjustment 
  • Available in multiple colors
Product Cons
  • Average quality material 

Erickson Trailer Tie Downs

Highest Workload Capacity
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The Erickson Trailer Tie Down Kit is the perfect way to secure heavy hauls. You can load and strap anything on your trailer, from road vehicles to extremely heavy cargo. These trailer tie downs are even great for attaching and hauling small-sized equipment. Even more, the stainless steel material is extra sturdy, ensuring that keeping your load secure won’t show signs of wear and tear for many seasons. 

Meanwhile, the four chocks — two each for ratchet and tires — prevent cargo from rolling on rough tracks. These wheel chocks are permanent, allowing for easy and quick loading and unloading of your haul. Best of all, this trailer tie-down can easily hold a workload of up to 1,500 pounds, and you get all of these great features at a highly reasonable price. 

Product Pros
  • Secures a variety of off-road vehicles
  • Features heavy-duty webbing
  • Great value for money
Product Cons
  • Lacks mounting hardware

VULCAN Trailer Tie Downs

Long Straps
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The lasso-styled VULCAN Car Trailer Tie Downs are widely preferred for professional loading. They can hold thousands of workloads with four packets of 2 x 96-inch straps, and its innovative neon colors are equally visible during day and night. The webbing is also pretty heavy-duty and can remain durable and usable for several years. 

Additionally, the webbing is coated to reduce resistance while also preventing wear and tear. You can also easily attach the ratchet hooks on the trailer’s side rails, which contributes to these trailer tie downs’ ease of installation. Most importantly, their load capacity is as high as 3,300 pounds, making them perfect for off-road vehicles and other heavy loads.

Product Pros
  • Perfect strap length
  • Made of high-quality materials
  • Coated surface for extra resistance
Product Cons
  • Might fray on the edges

AUGO Trailer Tie Downs

Smoothly Releasing Latch
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If you’re looking for easy-to-use and functional hauling straps, buying the AUGO Trailer Tie Downs can help. They can help transport a variety of off-road vehicles and cargo securely, while the easy-to-lock fastening system offers easy loading. Meanwhile, the S-shaped hooks with extra security clips keep the loaded items from moving around. 

A single pack gets you four ratchet straps of 15 feet, which are ideal for transporting furniture items, ATVs, UTVs, motorcycles, kayaks, and more. In fact, you can load more than 700 pounds in a single turn. At the same time, its maximum break strength of 2,200 pounds is ideal for heavier loads.

Product Pros
  • Extra safe lock on the hooks 
  • Well-built webbing 
  • Simple to use
  • 2,200-pound maximum break strength
Product Cons
  • Average ratchet mechanism

Buying Guide: Trailer Tie Downs

Things To Look For in Trailer Tie Downs

Weight handling capacity

Every tie down strap has a particular weight-holding capacity, known as Working Load Limit (WLL). Comparing the cargo’s average weight to this factor would be ideal because it helps prevent last-minute snapping of the straps if you put on an increased workload. Rule of thumb says that an off-road’s vehicle or cargo weight shouldn’t be more than the WLL of the trailer tie down straps.

Length

Considering the length of the tie down straps is also essential to ensure they secure the cargo properly. A short tie can’t do the job effectively, but at the same time, a longer strap’s remaining portion can make it loose throughout the journey, increasing the risk of accidents. Hence, it’s crucial to regard the dimensions of the ATV or other vehicle you want to haul while purchasing tie-down straps.

Hook type

Every vehicle has a different anchor point where the tie-down straps’ hooks attach. It would help if you considered your vehicle’s anchor before finalizing one of the two hooks. S or J-shaped hooks are ideal for flatbed anchors, while flat curves are perfect for bumper edges.

Tips for Using Trailer Tie Downs

Using a trailer tie-down to secure vehicles or cargo requires extra attention. A single mistake can lead to undesirable consequences. The below tips can help you use tie-down straps perfectly to secure the cargo or vehicles while transporting them.

  • The straps’ tightness should be on the middle ground, allowing for no cargo movement. The transported item is more likely to get damaged if you tightly secure the straps. Similarly, keeping them loose increases the chances of cargo’s free movement, again increasing the damage risks.
  • Always place the cargo or vehicle in the middle of the trailer before tying it down. This step is important, as you’ll be able to prevent accidents by ensuring ideal weight distribution.
  • If the cargo is larger, use cross tie downs as well. Also do so if you’ll be traveling on bumpy roads to keep the load from moving left or right while the trailer passes over rough terrain.

Where to Hook Trailer Tie Downs?

The location of the hooking anchor varies according to the trailer model and the vehicle you want to haul. Depending on various conditions, you can secure the straps to the trailer’s interior or floor. Let’s take a look at the two most common anchor points for securing trailer tie-down straps.

E-tracks

You can find e-tracks in almost all trailers; they are commonly located on the floor or sides. Generally, you can find multiple anchor strips in these tracks to secure the strap, and they even allow you to attach different rings according to your preference and the haul type.

Additionally, e-tracks’ attachment bars are 1 inch apart, making them versatile enough to handle hundreds of different hauls. That being said, it’s necessary to ensure that these add-ons are 100% secure and won’t damage your cargo during transportation.

D-rings

Like e-tracks, you’d find D-rings on the floor or side area of the trailer, and they are located at multiple points on a trailer. These rings are helpful when you tie down smaller cargo, like ATVs, or UTVs, for hauling.

Benefits of Trailer Tie Downs

The functionality of trailer tie downs is evident in their capability to secure heavy items on the pickup bed for transportation. But, a few other factors make them a must-have, especially when you haul heavy items frequently.

For one, if the cargo isn’t secured, it will hit the pickup bed, damaging its structure and paint. Also, tie-down straps ensure cargo safety, specifically when transporting heavy and expensive vehicles — especially because the polyester webbing makes them very strong and durable. Best of all, these straps prevent the trailer’s interior from getting damaged from wear and tear as well. You can find these tie-downs in different lengths, widths, and colors to choose the one that most accurately fits your trailer (related: fleet washing).

People Also Asked

How much workload can trailer tie downs hold?

The workload capacity varies according to the type of tie-down. For example, a lashing strap has a maximum working load of 100 pounds, while ratchet straps can bear up to 5,000 pounds effectively. The higher these figures, the tighter and more secure your straps will be. 

What is the ideal material for trailer tie downs?

Almost all tie-downs have a rigid composition of high-strength webbing. For example, ratchet straps comprise polyester webbing, and their strength comes from this material. This webbing also does not absorb much moisture and doesn’t stretch upon getting wet, making it ideal for use on rainy days. Simply put, with polyester webbing comes high impact resistance and top-notch durability.

How long do trailer tie downs last?

Although it depends upon their usage, trailer tie downs can last two to five years on average. You can prolong their life with proper maintenance and utmost care while using them. It’s also important to replace your tie downs in a timely fashion, as wear or tear can lead to the possibility of dangerous accidents while transporting heavy cargo. 

Contributors

American Motors Review Team
American Motors Review Team
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