On the road, there are often situations where you have to brake suddenly. The load then receives a jolt and moves a little further in the direction of travel. This can cause the load to collide or fall over, and damage it or the transport vehicle. The load can also slip, roll or fall over when starting off, because of centrifugal forces in bends or the trailer lurching after a lane change. The resulting noise is a dangerous distraction for the driver. It is even more dangerous if parts of the load are lost on the way and fall onto the road. To minimise these risks, car transport belts and similar car trailer accessories are used to secure the load.
Securing cargo on car trailers, but also for other types of transport on public roads, is prescribed by section 22 of the German Road Traffic Regulations (StVO). It states that the transported goods must be secured in such a way that they "cannot slip, roll back and forth, fall down or create avoidable noise". If the load is not secured or is inadequately secured, high fines may be imposed. In this context, car transport belts are not explicitly prescribed as a means of securing. However, they are the most popular and practical car trailer accessories for cargo securing. More detailed regulations and explanations on correct cargo securing can be found in point 2.8 BGR 500, VDI 2700 and the following points and in DIN EN 12195-1 and -2, which deal specifically with lashing straps.
To ensure that car transport belts really secure the load tightly, they must be taut and exert pressure on the secured goods. As a result, they are subjected to constant stress, which is abruptly intensified by the movement of the vehicle with every jolt. In car transport, for example, the lashing straps are passed through the wheels. This causes friction on sharp edges that are always in roughly the same place. Over time, this leads to damage of the lashing strap. Fibres in the strap are rubbed through or tear. The strap frays and becomes increasingly weaker. That is why edge protection tubes are a vitally important accessory for car transport belts. They protect the essential car trailer accessories from wearing out too quickly.
Edge protection tubes for car transport belts are usually 50 mm wide. They must fit comfortably over the lashing strap and also be able to move around on it a little. The material is either rubber or a resistant fabric. Sometimes it can be a combination of both. However, the most important purchase criterion to consider when choosing an edge protection hose is the length. It must be sufficient to cover the edge area securely so that the edge cannot slip beyond the protective hose in the event of a sudden jerk and come to rest on the lashing strap itself.
