I bought cheap and wasted my money.  I bought the retracting type that bolt to the trailer.  Both of them stopped retracting and squatting down to ratchet them disagrees with my knees.  What brand do you guys use?  I am looking for the ratcheting type with a hook on each end.  Thank you in advance. 

Boat buckles bolted on and twice a season i spray some Tri Flow lubricant on the ratchet mechanism.

Second boat buckles. All stainless version.

Another vote for boat buckles I’ve had them for 5 years and no issues

Boat Buckles all stainless, just installed them this spring.  Love them.

Have had my stainless boat buckles for 10 years and have done nothing to keep them working.  Love them.  

It sounds like you already had a boat buckle type strap, but it sounds like you had a cheap knockoff. The full size boat buckle is the way to go, and you shouldn't have to squat down to use them or at least not as much as you would have to if there was a hook on both ends. 

Boatbuckle it is.  

 

Thanks for all the input. 

Just to echo the others, boat buckles are sooo nice to have.

Real run on the Boat Buckle Brand. I’m two weeks on my replacements. Love them. Was a nice upgrade. 

The boat buckles are great. The manufactureres should just make them standard equipment.

Need I say it, OK I will, Boat Buckles.

I used cargo tie-downs until my buddy showed me the bolt-on Boat Buckles. Fast and easy and they seem to be well made. As someone mentioned it wouldn't hurt to clean and lube them once in a while since they get dunked when the trailer's in the water.