Tarp set up knots

Great information in this thread, I guess I am too old to stay up late enough to get involved. With a little
practice and just a few different techniques a large variety of knots are available ( or variations ets). Most of us just use the same old ones from force of habit.
Like most eerything else it seems that one way or the other works best for you and then that is the way you do it. I particularily liked the tensioning method as I am prone to just readjust the knot to maintain proper tension - The old hand crank method! Keep up the good work.

Edit: Never tried to tye knots wearing mittens, just med wt gloves. I see some wierd looks comming my way from the wife as I sit in frount of the tv wearing my winter gear.
 
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C_C, thanks for the reply. Sorry, I don't have a picture of my one-handed Buntline Hitch, but I'm supposed to be getting together with a couple of buddies in a few weeks, and if my 65 year old memory serves, I'll either get some pictures or a video. I find tying the Buntline Hitch with 2 hands is a fast as any knot I can tie.

Chopchop, your picture of the single Sheepshank Trucker's Hitch reminds me of something I saw called a Hayman's Hitch. I have reworked it a bit, first of all because I'm not overly impressed with the security of a Sheepshank and also because I have a penchant for toggled knots.

ToggledTruckersHitch.jpg


If there is some concern about the toggle falling out when the rope slackens, a forked stick is used.

I really like the double Sheepshank Trucker's Hitch because it addresses the security issues I have and also because of the versatility. I'm going to play with that one.

Doc
 
What's the main advantage to using a Evenk/Siberian Hitch (or slipped Buntline, for that matter) as an anchor vs. a running bowline? Is it that the Evenk will grip a little even when there isn't tension on the standing line? The untying part doesn't really matter for my uses, because I usually don't mind leaving a small bowline on the end of my ridge lines or guy lines (attached to tarp via Girth Hitch).
 
Doc
Don't worry too much about a video. I have been playing around a bit more with some string and see that it is possible to tie a slippery buntline with one hand without going through all the contortions that my friend used. Possibly his method was a little more deft, but I can see how to do it now without too much hassle. Thanks for getting me to look at that again!

Chopchop,
Very good pictures! I hadn't ever thought of doing that double sheep shank/trucker. I like that. Also, I think you are right on that variation on the grip hitch. Thanks!

I have seen the trucker's hitch illustrated this way:
Truckers_Hitch by Last Scratch, on Flickr

Which seems to be more secure compared to this version
img3759v.jpg


The one I showed initially is basically the same as the one I have seen illustrated, but without the sheep shank "lock", which for tarp work, so far, seems to be unnecessary if you have enough wraps.

Lots of ways to do this stuff! :D

HikingMano,
I think that I am going to take the position that if you can't see that any of the above knots offer any advantage over what you have been doing, then they probably don't, and I am not about to try to tell you otherwise! :D There may be advantages, but if your application, environment and personal preference doesn't make use of them or see them as significant, then those advantages may as well not exist. The advantages or disadvantages may be very small and it comes down to personal preference which side you come down on. I used to tie bowlines on the end of some of my lines, but found they got in the way when I was using the line in some other aplication or location, so I quit. They just weren't for me. :)

Sharpguytoo,
Used to practice knots while riding the train...got some pretty strange looks there too LOL.

All the best,

Chris
 
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Chris, No offense intended! Just genuinely curious. If I can do better than what I'm doing now, I certainly want to switch over :thumbup: In fact, I tried tying these from memory on a trip this weekend, but couldn't remember exactly how to do the evenk hitch. More practice and playing ahead :) Thanks for responding!

Russell
 
None taken :D I just meant that I didn't start this thread to try to sell folk a "these are the best knots" line, and I hope it hasn't come across like that.
:)
Hope your practice goes well! Even if you decide that the knots aren't all that much better that what you have been using, knots are still fun to learn. :p :D

All the best

Chris
 
Doc & Chris-
Thanks for the info. I agree about the potential security issues of the transport knot/wagoner's hitch/half sheepshank knot that I showed. I have found that the knot holds very well in high friction ropes like hemp and some large twisted poly lines, but it is pretty easy to capsize in slick lines (even the paracord that I showed for illustration). So, as always, tie-er beware! :D YMMV

I like the idea of the toggle. I'll have to try that.

C_Claycomb said:
I have seen the trucker's hitch illustrated this way:
TruckersHitch.jpg


Which seems to be more secure compared to this version
img3759v.jpg
Click to expand...

The main reason I have gone to using the latter knot for most of my hauling is that I like being able to tie it without having to pass all of the extra line of the working end through the loop. Instead, you can just lay the line across and make a bight in the standing part, which was my aha moment watching the video that I linked. I do usually use a rougher rope, and I sometimes add a couple of twists in the "ears" to help the knot hold. I'm mostly interested in a quick tie down for relatively short trips.

When I've gone cross country in the past, I've just used a fixed loop like an alpine butterfly to make the trucker's hitch, but I like the version you've shown better. I'm going to try that one as well. :thumbup:
 
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