How often do most of us carry unsecured items in our vehicles? Even inside a closed vehicle, like a sedan or minivan, people have a tendency to carry items loosely. That is not smart. It is even worse when items are not secured in the back of a pickup truck, on a utility trailer, or on top of the roof.
Tiedowns exist for this very reason. What is a tiedown? It is a tool for securing cargo in place. It could be anything from a piece of rope to a cam buckle strap to a heavy-duty ratchet strap. Tiedowns play a critical role in keeping things secure.
What can happen when cargo isn’t tied down securely? For that, we turn to the designers of the Rollercam cam buckle straps. Based in Utah, they make cam straps for overlanders, outdoor sports enthusiasts, homeowners, etc.
Breaking Loose and Falling Off
The biggest danger of improperly secured cargo involves items breaking loose and falling off the back of a truck or trailer. It is just a bad scenario waiting to happen when drivers do not make the effort to secure their cargo. And unfortunately, accidents caused by cargo falling into the road are far too common.
Something falling off your vehicle could cause property damage, at the very least. It could also cause an accident that results in serious injuries or death. This is no joke. Drivers should never, ever hit the road with improperly secured cargo in a truck bed or on a trailer.
Road Vibrations Causing Damage
While cargo breaking loose and falling off is the biggest concern, it is not the only concern. Another one is improperly secured cargo being damaged as a result of road vibration. This is a common problem many people are not even aware of until after the fact.
An object that is not secured tightly in place can move around in transit. As you are tooling down the highway, something could be just loose enough to vibrate along with your vehicle. Sustained vibration over many miles of travel could ultimately result in breakage. For the record, the realities of road vibration explain why experts recommend packing fragile items in foam or packing peanuts.
Friction Damaging Other Items
Along with road vibration, improperly secured cargo is subject to contact with other items in the load. Friction between items can damage one or both. For purposes of illustration, consider friction between an upright piano and a large entertainment center.
The two are packed adjacent to one another but not secured tightly. As they move, the outside edge of the entertainment center makes contact with the side of the piano. By the time you reach your destination, that beautiful piano has been scratched and scraped repeatedly. Now you have to pay to have the piano refinished.
Loose Objects in Enclosed Vehicles
A hazard that people do not tend to think about is loose objects inside enclosed vehicles. Let’s say you have an empty propane tank in the middle seat of your minivan. It has been left unsecured as you make your way to the home improvement store to replace it.
If you were to be involved in a crash, even at a moderate speed, that loose tank could fly forward and strike you in the head. You could be left paralyzed by an accident that would otherwise have been minor.
There is a reason experts recommend using cam straps, ropes, or other means to secure loose cargo. It doesn’t matter whether you’re driving a minivan, sedan, or pickup truck. Loose cargo needs to be secured in place.
