Keeper 04622 Heavy Duty Ratcheting Tie Down – Successfully used as Tree Felling Assistant
Written: Jan 26 '08 (Updated Feb 07 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Heavy duty quality. Relatively easy to use. Can assist in tree felling. See My Video.
Cons: No Manual! Read my instructions and watch my video!
The Bottom Line: I am grateful this product helped me to take down a problematic oak tree. I have used it more than once!
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| nonedude's Full Review: Tie Down 27 Ft. X 2 In. |
Product Specifications
This product consists of 2 pieces. The ratcheting handle and a separate piece of polyester webbing
Per tag attached to webbing
Webbing is 2 inches width by 27feet
P/N 04622
05/06 = Manufacture Date, in my case that would be May 2006
10,000 LBS Rated Capacity
3,333 LBS working load limit = 1512 KG
Manual
A manual was not included with the purchase of this product and there was no cardboard wrapping to provide additional information. This product was simply wrapped with a band at time of purchase. A manual does not exist at all for this product per my research; however additional useful information is located on the company website.
The Keeper corporation main website is located here:
http://www.keepercorp.com
Basic product info regarding this particular ratcheting tie-down being reviewed (#04622) is located here:
http://www.keepercorp.com/prod/tcc.htm
This particular product is featured in a section called “Understanding Weight Limits” here:
http://www.keepercorp.com/rated.htm
My Description of Product
Ratchet:
- Has 10 inches of webbing attached to it and a “Double J Hook” at the end of the webbing.
- Is entirely made of metal except heavy duty plastic handle which has indentations for easy finger gripping
- Has built in safety lock to hold 27’ webbing when attached and tension is set.
- Has webbing release mechanism built in and located a few inches under plastic grip handle.
- Ratcheting device makes a loud clicking noise upon increasing tension
Webbing:
- One end of webbing is open for feeding into ratcheting mechanism.
- Other end of webbing has a “Double J Hook” attached.
- One side of webbing has bold black text with the company name “WEBBER” and the words “HI – TEST WEBBING” appearing multiple times.
Notes:
The “Double J Hooks”, one located on end of 27’ webbing and the other located on the ratcheting device, consist of heavy duty 1/2 solid metal. All metal components (hooks and ratchet) appear to be brass in coloring. Polyester webbing is double stitched (w/ red fiber) in the middle and stitching runs entire length of webbing.
My Guide to Product Usage
As mentioned, there is no manual with this product and no informative packaging. The only literature regarding this product provided by company is a “Warning Tag”. This tag does not have instructional use and I will quote its contents later in this review. The following instruction set is entirely composed by me.
-Attaching webbing to ratcheting device:
1) Open ratcheting device to its fullest.
Picture the letter “L” and how it is a 90 degree angle. Ratchet will open to approx 110 degrees at fullest.
2) Grab loose end of 27 foot webbing (without hook on it)
3) Insert loose end of webbing into designated slot located in the middle of ratchet.
There are 2 possible ways to insert webbing into open slot and both will work, but I highly recommend inserting webbing into the slot end located nearest black plastic handle and feeding webbing away from handle on ratchet. It will be easier to release webbing if you follow this method
4) Feed all loose (excess) webbing through ratchet slot until a small amount of tension incurs.
5) Pull ratchet handle inward towards webbing, then immediately outward to start increasing tension and lock webbing.
Each outward pull of ratchet handle will create a clicking noise and increase tension by approximately 1/2 inch. The ratchet can move and click 3 times prior to having to close the ratchet and open again to increase tension. The closing process will not cause you to lose the tension already applied.
Important Note: Inward and Outward pulls of ratchet will act oppositely of above instruction if webbing is fed through opposite end of slot in Ratchet. This is perfectly ok to do. Please note, I did make a recommendation.
-Releasing Tension
1) Use one hand to pull the release mechanism located directly under black plastic grip handle on ratchet.
Release mechanism lifts about 1 inch high towards handle.
2) Use free hand to pull webbing out of locking slot in ratchet until all webbing is removed from ratchet.
3) Let go of the release mechanism.
Cost
I purchased two of these ratchet tie downs at a local Home Depot in the spring of 2006 for $40 ($20 each).
What Created the Need for Purchase?
I purchased my first home in the spring of 2006. On my property are a bunch of oak trees consisting of various heights/widths. Many are in bad shape and some I considered to be in dangerous condition. I did not want to have a tree fall on my house, wreck one of my cars, or break an electric or cable line. I quickly realized that windy days bring branches down on my property. Most branches were smaller, but I would have some that were 6 to10 foot in size with nice girth and think “Time to do something now”.
Push Comes to Shove
I know how expensive professional tree removal is. My father paid about $1,000 for two trees to be removed from his property and stumps were left behind. I had more than 2 trees to remove and many other costs associated with being a new homeowner.
Never having used a chainsaw or an axe prior to the spring of 2006, I had some researching to do. After obtaining a chainsaw and axe, a realization sunk in “What am I going to do about the trees that slightly lean in the wrong direction?!?”
I thought about using a truck to pull the trees after making incomplete cuts on the stump then pondered if there were any other options. Putting a friend or family member’s truck to use in this situation did not seem appealing for multiple reasons.
Product Experience
I had a big oak tree (guesstimate at least 40 feet) located about 15 feet away from the side of my house. It was slightly leaning towards the edge of my house. This tree had been dying for some time and had evidence of rot. Windy days would cause it to sway substantially to the point I got scared just looking at move from left to right. I could not simply use a chainsaw and hope it would fall in the right direction.
I got my ladder out. I connected the ratcheting device side of webbing (via loop w/hook) to an anchor tree located safely away from the house. I looped the opposite end of webbing (via hook) to the tree to be cut down.
Note I used two ratchet tie downs by piggybacking to double length from 27 foot to 54 foot of webbing.
Loops were connected to both trees at least 10 foot high off the ground to provide leverage.
Tension was set very tight! So tight, that I could hang (and did hang) from the webbing with my feet off the ground, just for fun. I used my Craftsman Chainsaw to put 3 notch cuts in the tree to be dropped. The last cut was intentionally incomplete so I could continually attempt to increase tension on webbing and force tree felling in desired direction (away from my house). After a few more trial and error attempts, I was able to ratchet the webbing enough to forcefully drop the tree exactly how I desired.
I have used this ratchet tie down to remove at least a few trees now.
Warning Tag Information Located on Product
This section contains word for word quotes from the tag.
- Failure to comply with warnings may result in personal injury and cargo damage.
- Do not exceed working load limit
- User to evaluate working load requirements
- Area of attachment on vehicle or trailer must be of sufficient strength to hold your load
- Loads settle; check tie-downs after first 10 miles. And every 50 miles thereafter.
- Protect webbing from sharp edges, heat and corrosive materials.
- Do not use if hardware is defective, webbing is cut, frayed, burned, melted, or abraded.
- Chock wheeled loads, set brake
- Use only as a tie-down, never for lifting, towing, or personal restraint.
- Warranty void if strap is cut or abraded
- For ratchet tie-downs pull slack out of webbing through ratchet reel.
Keeper Corporation
North Windham, CT 06256
Made in China
Opposite side of tag has the same warnings printed in Spanish.
Ultimate Opinion
4 out of 5 possible star product rating.
Excellent product and well designed to handle high tension. Heavy duty ratchet, heavy duty hooks, heavy duty webbing. I correctly dropped a tree leaning in the wrong direction with this product! Yes, I recommend it!
Loss of one star due to the fact a manual is not included, all you get is a warning tag with generic guidelines (no instructions!) and the official website of the Keeper Corporation contains some useful information, but still no manual!
Video by Me on Youtube
I posted a video on YouTube which shows the Keeper Ratcheting Tie-Down in action.
Direct link to Video (please copy & paste in browser):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opzYMOjJwSI
My Profile page on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/NoneDude4Epinions
My username: NoneDude4Epinions
I plan on adding more product videos in the future, please feel free to subscribe to my channel, I welcome anyone to do so. Videos are edited with simplicity; I do not have the time to spend making them look very professional.
Specifically mentioned in this review: Craftsman Chainsaw / Click here for my review
--Other Reviews by me with videos--
Gator Grip Universal Socket Wrench
Harbor Freight Tools
Haynes Honda Accord Manual
Sharkbite Compression Fitting
Sharkbite Disconnect Clip
Blitz Rhino Ramps
Thanks for reading my review!
Recommended:
Yes
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nonedude
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Member: Mike
Location: Glassboro, NJ
Reviews written: 81
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