Hello Baldeagle, here's my 2 cents on  straps. The straps in the photo below are all in the 6 to 10 foot  length and have been long enough to strap my ATV to the back of the  truck. I don't recall the breaking strength, but I think they are in  the 1000 lb mark. They work good in keeping the bike from bouncing  out of the truck but I think if I ever rolled the truck they'll snap  like elastics.

 
The blue one is the clamp (cam buckle)  type of strap, I use then to secure the ramps to the tailgate. One  end of the strap to the bumper the other to the ramp. They work  great, as the can be tightened up and released in a second. You have  to watch out if they get frost in them as the clamp has to be helped  in pinching down  on the strap. They are hard to cinch anything down  as there is no mechanical advantage as in the ratchet type.   

 
I like the ratchet type best for  securing the ATV in the truck. With the ratcheting action you can  really pull the bike down and limit its movement. I was using the  type with the loose strap (red) but now have a set of  the retractable  ones (black). I had problems releasing one and had to cut the strap, not sure  what caused it but the other 3 are still working fine. Whats nice  about the retractable type is there's no loose strap end flapping in  the wind

 
As far as freezing up I have always  been able to undo the straps, they might require a little persuasion.   They are some what protected in the back of the truck and some day  when the conditions are right they wont release. If this happens they  will be getting a shower of windshield antifreeze.  After using them  in the winter I always hang them in the basement to dry.   

 
Every once and a while I give them a  spray of Fluid Film (something like WD 40). This helps lubricate and  repel the water from the ratcheting mechanism.

 
Whats legal? I haven't a clue. I've  been followed and passed by the OPP and nothing was ever said. I did  hear you have to hold your bike down with 4 straps. Do not use your  winch as a tie down it can back off.   

 
One last thing, don't let the straps  rub on anything unless well protected. The photo of the damaged strap  shows what happens when the strap rubbed against a nice shiny railing  on a friends trailer. I thought it would be ok but NO. The damage is  4 feet from the hook so it now gets used for close clamping.   

 
I hope this helps in your quest for  straps. Now start watching for sales!!!!

 

 



 



 

 

 

I've used many different types of straps over the last few years.. the last two years I've been using the black retractable type as shown in IFH's picture. I love them, no loose straps flapping. They're quick to attach and remove. Once I had one a little stuck as IFH mentioned, its just a matter of ratcheting it forward enough so the release button will engage. I've done the same and gave a quick squirt of WD40 on the mechanisms. Remember in the winter time they will be subjected to slush, ice and snow, with a little road salt mixed in, depending on your trailer. The good news is they're about half the price they were when I first bought them.
 
One thing that was discuss here last year was apparently,  any strap you use must have a label on them showing their capacity rating. Cheaper ones one half this. The better quality ones like Reese or Erickson will have it.
 
regards, Mike.

  I Googled “ATV tie downs” and got  these. There seams to be a lot of innovative systems out there. I'll  stick to straps for now. They're paid for!!

http://www.superclamp.net/

I like the setup on the back of this  one

ATV Tie - Down System ~ Ratchet Straps DO Suck!

 
And the setup on the front of this one.

The Cadillac of ATV and UTV Tiedown Systems

 

How To Tie Down An ATV

 


 

I called a friend who drives transports for a living and he sent me this link about Security of Loads. Now this is for commercial loads. After reading it about 15 times the light started to come on. I have the condensed version below. Basically the load has to be secure so it won’t fall out or shift. In Section 5 “vehicle decelerates at a rate of six metres per second per second or more” Check my math but I think that works out to going from 100km/hr to 0 in 4.6 seconds.
From what I get from all this there is no rating for the straps only they must be strong enough to hold the load (ATV) in place under the specified conditions.

http://www.xcopper.com/PDF/Security-of-Loads-Ontario-Reg-363_04.pdf


Securement of load
5. (1) A load carried on a commercial motor vehicle on a highway must
be secured by means of,
(a) sides, sideboards or stakes and rear stakes, endgate or endboard
that,
(i) are securely attached to the vehicle,
(ii) are strong enough and high enough to ensure that
the load will not shift on or fall from the vehicle, and
(iii) have no opening large enough to permit any of the
load to pass through;

(b) at least one tiedown that meets the requirements of subsection 2

(1) for each 3.04 linear metres of lading or fraction thereof, and as
many additional tiedowns that meet the requirements of subsection 2 (1)
as are necessary to secure each part of the load, either by direct contact
between the load and the tiedown or by contact between the load and
dunnage; or

(c) any other means that prevents a load from shifting or falling that
is similar to and at least as effective as the means specified in clause (a)
or (b).

(2) A tiedown or dunnage in contact with exterior, topmost items of a
load and securely holding each interior and lower item shall be deemed to comply
with the requirements for contact in clause (1) (b).

(3) If the load may shift in transit, the load must be blocked, restrained
or contained in such a manner that it will not shift in a forward direction when the
vehicle decelerates at a rate of six metres per second per second or more and must
be,

(a) securely blocked or braced against the sides, sideboards or stakes
of the vehicle; or

(b) secured by devices that conform to the requirements set out in
clause (1) (b) or (c).
 

 

Let me say I like the pull downs best.. but here are issues after many uses and wet after strain from travel .. the crankers are pain in arse but aleast you can tighten them as trip progresses plus god forbid your in a ditch or stuck they... may give you that edge to get you out . Keep them lubed and buy the best ones at crappy tire on sale ...They got rubber on them . Regular 50 bucks on for 30 or less .2000 pds i think  . I buy the 12 footers and 2 inch wide . I can use longer rather than shorter more often .
I hope some of this info will help you ...I just dont want you to waste money I did figgering it out and lots here may even have better ideas ..You may save some trial and error ...I learned lots the bull headed way and then smart way from friends  ....lol
TD