Crossing straps versus not crossing straps has been long debated. After more than 25 years we’ve seen a lot, and put together our thoughts and recommendations. Remember that many factors affect your tie-down placement and each situation is different.

History Behind the Idea

The thought process behind crossing the straps is well founded: to prevent the car from moving too much side to side when in motion on the trailer. While we appreciate the sentiment, at Mac’s we don’t recommend crossing straps for three reasons:

• If the straps are crossed, they're probably touching and will rub together while you're in motion. That abrasion can lead to worn or torn webbing.
• If one of the crossed straps loosens, the other strap will immediately compensate and pull the vehicle sideways.
• If the straps are crossed at the rear of the vehicle, a sudden stop will force the straps to straighten vertically before they can do their job. The more extreme the “X” the more they have to straighten up before stopping the vehicle from rolling forward.

The Right Components to Build Your Tie-Down Package

In addition to the strongest tie-down straps, Mac’s has all the necessary components to build a package for your vehicle and trailer design.