We have the same latch on ours and from the beginning we have always taken it completely off if we drive without a toad. As a CDL driver I looked at the latch and figured it was not a positive catch type. Now I'm glad I did because it seems every road we go down is rough. And those $3 rubber straps you should leave right in the store. They will break and pop off just as easily, I see them laying on the road all the time. Ratchet straps or chains are much much better.
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