Knots!

[Shane769]

Shane I think you got some of those pics mixed up...pic one and two are identical

Hmmm... It appears you are right... let me go edit that

[Shane769]

Ahh the good ol' granny

The trucker looks more complicated than it really is. If you can't find the video....

You tie the rope you are using to the tarp/canoe/whatever you are securing, and just down from there, however far you want really, twist the rope into a loop, and then twist it again, so it twists 2 or 3 times with the loop still there. Then from the still loose end, make another loop fairly close to the original one, maybe 4 inches or so. Push that loop through the original one. The still loose end should still be outside the original loop, and that is what you loop around the hook you are securing too. Once you have looped that around the hook, pull it through to secondary loop, and double back towards the hook, pulling until desired tightness. Then just throw in 2 half hitches to make sure it isn't going anywhere, and you got yourself a Trucker.

And here are some pictures, taken from me securing my tv stand to my lamp. The lamp is the hook for this purpose.

Twists in the rope for the original loop.
Secondary loop right after. In this picture the loop is wrong, should be loose end under, not over.
Through each other.
Attached and back through secondary loop.
Pull to desired tension.
Two half hitches to secure the whole thing, and also shows full structure.

Fixed.

[Anthony]

Thanks

I'm going to try that knot later tonight.

[Dunc]

Great thread  I don't know that many knots but I have to know a few , Bowline , round turn and two half hitches , clove hitch , sheet Bend etc. although I'm about to learn a few more as I start my cliff training with the coastguard .
   When working on the river we mostly use a clove hitch to moor boats up and its something we can tie at quite a speed before the boat is taken by the tide .

For anyone who is interested in knots this website is worth its wait in gold    http://www.animatedknots.com/

Dunc

[nuphoria]

That is a great site Dunc - made sense of a few for me anyway 

[zepla]

Great site indeed 

I tie a lot of knots only seem to use two or three at most. I use that bowline knot the most, by far. Easy to knot and easy to un-knot, even when it's pulled by a big load.

[Mike]

Ok, now that you have done well with stoppers, knots, hitches, half hitches, bends you need to work on your splicing and line whipping.

For everyone else here is a decent page (there are many more) for knots and whatnot:
http://www.realknots.com/

Mike

[Dunc]

Ok, now that you have done well with stoppers, knots, hitches, half hitches, bends you need to work on your splicing and line whipping.

For everyone else here is a decent page (there are many more) for knots and whatnot:
http://www.realknots.com/

Mike

Thanks for the link    Some good stuff on there .


Dunc

[Shane769]

I don't think I would ever tie into a harness with anything other than a Figure Eight Follow-Through.

And yeah, I don't think I ever actually use it, even in rope rescue, although I know how to use it in that situation.

I retract this statement slightly. A new buddy and climbing partner of mine ties in with a bowline, and he swears by it, as long as it has proper security to it. He ties a double bowline, and then a double stopper knot, and never has a problem untying after a hangdog route. Really easy to untie after getting pumped, unlike the Figure Eight, which can bind after loading.

[Mr. Whippy]

I don't think I would ever tie into a harness with anything other than a Figure Eight Follow-Through.

And yeah, I don't think I ever actually use it, even in rope rescue, although I know how to use it in that situation.

I retract this statement slightly. A new buddy and climbing partner of mine ties in with a bowline, and he swears by it, as long as it has proper security to it. He ties a double bowline, and then a double stopper knot, and never has a problem untying after a hangdog route. Really easy to untie after getting pumped, unlike the Figure Eight, which can bind after loading.

Yup.  The biggest risk is:

It is easy to mistie the double bowline when exhausted.

[BlueDot]

Great thread. 
I knew a lot of these from Boy Scouts, but now just basic half hitches & such to tie things down and what not.  Made a monkey fist a month back to impress a neighbor kid.   

[Shane769]

I don't think I would ever tie into a harness with anything other than a Figure Eight Follow-Through.

And yeah, I don't think I ever actually use it, even in rope rescue, although I know how to use it in that situation.

I retract this statement slightly. A new buddy and climbing partner of mine ties in with a bowline, and he swears by it, as long as it has proper security to it. He ties a double bowline, and then a double stopper knot, and never has a problem untying after a hangdog route. Really easy to untie after getting pumped, unlike the Figure Eight, which can bind after loading.

Yup.  The biggest risk is:

It is easy to mistie the double bowline when exhausted.

Yeah looks that way. We always double check before we go up at least, plus all of our trips these days seem to be these slow pace days, no one is really tired.