I came across a plug for Gorilla Glue tie downs on social media, and it forced a double take.
Gorilla Glue + tie downs?
This was featured in a Lowe’s social media post, right after they plugged a hot dog and bun steamer.
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Gorilla Glue went “pro” a few years ago with threadlocker, which expanded their product line into a new adhesives category beyond glues and tapes.
In addition to being the first visible product expansion in a while, these new tie down ratcheting straps are the first Gorilla Glue products I’ve seen to not have any kind of adhesive.
A quick search shows that there are a couple of options, with different sizes each packaged in pairs inside a hard shell case.
I think the reusable “Gorilla Case” is an interesting angle that adds convenient to the packages. Other than that, from the product images and descriptions, the straps seem pretty average.
You can use the included Gorilla Case for holding other things, such as what look to be beads and decorative pumpkins as shown in this product image.
Some of Amazon’s video assets are said to be have been uploaded by Erickson MFG, which describes itself as “the North American leader in tie-down straps and load securement related items.”
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This suggests that the straps are a licensed or partnered product. That’s not a bad thing – the seeming attachment of Erickson to Gorilla’s tie downs suggests there’s industry experience and know-how behind the product, giving it a sense of maturity and presumed reliability.
Regarding pricing, it looks like you’re paying for the “multi-use packaging” case. For example, the 2-pack of 16′ x 1.25″ ratcheting straps is priced at $26, compared to similar spec’ed ratcheting tie-downs from Husky for $15.
As an aside, I’ll never forget the time that the Gorilla Glue company sent over a sample pack of their Mossy Oak camp pattern tape. I remember the quality of the tape and how it was truly tougher and stickier than duct tape. Gorilla tape is great to have around the home.
At the time, they also sent a small tool belt, pouch, or something similar that was fabricated entirely out of Gorilla tape. It smelled really bad, so I had to get rid of it pretty quickly, but it was one of the most unique inclusions I’ve ever received in a product sample package.
Leo B.
Gorilla glue: a company specializing in making things stay where they are!
Michael F
When you absolutely, positively, need something to *NOT* move: Gorilla Glue. It’s actually a good marketing campaign!
Eric
It at least fits with their brand to a degree. Better than a lot of companies that will randomly stick their name on things that have no relation with their specialty at all.
ITCD
Like Channellock who has just rolled out automotive accessories like roof racks…
MB
Ok Klein with sunscreen
Bonnie
At this point I wonder if the original “Gorilla Glue” is one of their less popular product categories. I bet their tape and cyanoacrylate sell way better than polyurethane glue.
Josephus
That’s a re-brand yeah? Oddly enough a co-worker bought some extremely similar (but yellow) tie downs for moving some stuff with our work truck last week. Read the article while typing this up. Yep.
S
What’s the original brand?
The main two retractable ratchet straps that exist in stores near me are the erikson 1″x10′ 400 pound straps, and smart straps 1.5″x10′” 1000 pound straps.
I’ve always preferred the erikson version, partly for the perception of them being a smaller company with a better more specific R&D, misguided or not. But also the overall size is one of the most compact of all retractable versions I’ve found so far.
and a side benefit is the locking mechanism is not typical, which literally adult-proofs whatever I strap down with them–very helpful from time to time.
I just wish they came in high vis colors instead of of camo and black.
These ‘new’ versions from gorilla are interesting for the different and higher weight ratings, but appear far more bulkier overall, but promise seemingly larger weight capacity ratings, which strikes me as odd considering the strap thickness is the same.
Saulac
I am at a loss as to why the retractable and the locking functions are completely missing from the product packaging and Stuart’s writing. The Husky traps are not similar, they are not retractable.
Stuart
Some look to be retractable, others such as the 16′ strap at HD that’s referenced in the $26 price mention, model 93003, don’t look auto retractable to me. Are you talking about the thinner straps that are priced at $36?
I found it surprising and interesting that Gorilla Glue is now in the tie down strap business. If there’s strong reader interest, we can sort through the sizes, features, and specs, because it truly is a mess.
S
I’m not interested in purchasing these any more than I am in car tires from Charmin.
Or Oral-B for toilet paper….
But the specs are very curious/interesting to me, and still article-worthy in my opinion.
It also leads to a lot of questions on the brands intended direction. They’ve managed to carve out a very specific and solid spot in the adhesives categories. In some ways, holding things down with removable items is a tangential market to what they established themselves as.
But it’s going to take a while before I can take a liquid adhesives company seriously in the stitched-fabric tie down market.
Saulac
I did indeed miss that you compared the cheaper, none ratchet, to the Husky. These two are indeed comparable.
I use the tie down frequently and has been really interest in the new retractable type. But I have not yet trust these new mechanism. And if I am not mistaken. There seem to be two types. On one type, the retract and the ratchet is one mechanism. This is the one that I have not trust since I don’t know how they work. The Gorilla here the retract mechanism is separate and the ratchet look just like the regular ratchet. I think I can trust this type more. Regarding other features, I like hooks with lock (?). The orange cap with the tether on the Gorilla look funny.
NoDak Farming
After visiting different sellers, I was able to see some of the features and zoom in on images, for these ratchet straps. Some of the versions have what they are touting as a “floating d-ring”. It provides an extra place to hook into, when needing extra flexibility to hook around an object. I’ve seen the feature before. But it’s usually “captured”, and sewn in place. That way you can tie down motorcycle handlebars, or anything else that you don’t want to scuff.
If a person is going to buy light duty ratchet straps like these, it pays to find the heaviest, thickest metal that you can, in the ratchet mechanism. When thin gauge metal is stamped out to act as a sprocket and dog system, it is often the failure point. And I say that from experience. Sometimes it pays to go up to the two inch wide strap size. Just to get the beefier ratchet mechanism. Although I do have an Erickson ratchet strap in the 1 1/2 inch width, that is noticeably more robust than these, and I’ve been impressed with it.
I understand Gorilla Glue marketing these. It makes sense. But buyer beware. I think we are being asked to pay for the name, and little plastic box, instead of durability. Even for the class that they are in. When I’m hauling a load at highway speeds, I always try to remember the liabilities that can come into play if a load is lost out the back. I’ll probably pass on purchasing these. Especially the models they sell with 10 & 12 foot lengths. It surprising how fast ten feet disappears when securing some loads down.
MM
I agree, even if you don’t need high load capacity the cheapo ratchets are an exercise in frustration.
I’m of the opinion that most ratchet straps marketed to consumers are crap, and while there are premium ones out there–often advertised at motorcyclists–those tend to be overpriced even when they are quality. In my opinion it’s hard to beat the commercial ones.
jake
@MM – What brand and type commercial tie-down straps do you like?
MM
Sorry, I haven’t paid too much attention to branding, though I know some of mine are Kinedyne. I get them from a couple of local places, one sells fasteners & rigging supplies, the other sells steel and trailer parts. I like the kind with snap hooks on them, like these. I think they are a standard for the towing/recovery industry.
https://www.uscargocontrol.com/collections/2-inch-snap-hook-ratchet-straps
Just to be clear, I haven’t tried that exact brand, that was just what I could find online that resembles the ones I buy.
jake
Thank you!
S
It really depends on use cases.
The erikson versions I mentioned earlier are the version you don’t trust as much. While there are some issues with the strap loading up(it’s tight, but then as the vehicle bounces down the road, the strap loosens because it is tightening the entire spool instead of a fraction of the strap on a steel spool), it’s also only rated to 400 pounds.
I use it mostly for general cargo control in my pickup. It’s a far faster mechanism that I appreciate when trying to grab appliances and other general scrap that exceeds the pickup box dimensions, especially on the sides of busy streets, and need to at least tie the load down enough to get out of the line of fire, while also limiting movement when I need to gun it to reenter the traffic flow.
It’s also likely why larger capacity straps don’t have the same functionality, as it’s not reliable at heavier load ratings. But most times I’m dealing with 50-100pounds of awkwardly sized components, and for less than 2-5 miles.
If I was going all the way across the country with a 5,000 pound car, the auto-retracting straps wouldn’t be on my list to use unless I need to strap down loose doors/hoods/trunks.
Mark. M
I don’t hate this as it seems more or less on brand. Like others, I despise cheap ratchet straps. Hands down the best ones I’ve found so far are Secure Tite, 1.5″. They have a D-ring built in about a foot or so from the hook if you need to loop it, and overall they are just really well made. And I think it was like $35 for a 4-pack? They run circles around big box junk. Also love NRS straps for less critical stuff, like just keeping a cooler from jumping around.
eddiesky
Secure-tite. I also got a set (grey) of the 4Pack for $35. D Ring. Good grip on handles/ratchets and not knuckle killers. Good call Mark! You can get a 4-pack for less than the price of one Gorilla Grip single.