Page 75 - The Knot Bible

Trucker’s hitch

Once used to lash down the covers on horse-drawn carts, the trucker’s KNOT SCORE
hitch has many nautical applications. Use it where you would normally Strength
use a block and tackle, if that isn’t available, or if you just want to add Security
some additional purchase. But don’t underestimate its strength. It has Diffi culty Tying
been known to crush small craft lashed to the roof of a car. You have Diffi culty Untying
Usefulness
been warned.

It’s not often that a knot arouses the coachroof, to craning heavy on a sheepshank (page 162) and,
genuine excitement outside knot- objects, or even providing a while not the most secure, is the
tying circles, but the trucker’s hitch purchase on a halyard. most easily released.
is so ingenious it rarely fails to Essentially a block and tackle A more permanent arrangement
impress. It’s certainly popular on the made out of rope, the trucker’s hitch can be made by using a fi gure-eight
internet. One website voted it ‘the gives a mechanical advantage of loop (page 111) or even a bowline
most awesome knot ever’, while either 2:1 or 3:1, depending which (page 112), but both these knots are
another claims it is the second most way round it is used. If the fi xed likely to jam under the loads exerted.
requested knot, after the bowline. point is on the side of the working Plus any permanent knot is likely to
Formerly known as the wagoner’s end, it’s a 2:1 advantage; if it’s on suffer from chafe where the line
hitch, the knot is thought to have the side of the standing part, it’s a runs over the loop.
originated among hawkers and 3:1 advantage. Either way, the force exerted is
carters who used it to tension and Typically of many older knots, enough to damage even quite
lash down the covers on their there are several different ways of substantial objects if applied in the
horse-drawn carts. tying a trucker’s hitch – the name wrong way. So proceed with caution,
There are multiple uses aboard being an umbrella term for a general and remember not for nothing is it
ship, from lashing things down on approach. The one shown is based also known as the cinch knot.

1 Put a bight in the standing part 2 Take a turn around both parts of 3 Tighten the turn to create
and cross over the working end. the bight, passing the working end a ‘sheepshank’ style loop.
through the loop.

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