The Only Knot Every Prepper Should Know

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There are numerous occasions when we need a rope to be pulled very tight and secured
while not losing any tension. The most obvious of these circumstances is when securing a
load to one’s truck or trailer and the truckers who make their living driving goods around the
country know a thing or two about tying down a load.

The Trucker Hitch is a series of knots that form a primitive style of block and tackle which will
allow you to pull cordage taut and secure the line without losing tension.

The Trucker hitch also has several variants that use slightly different techniques to achieve
the end goal, but what I will show here is the method that I use and have had a lot of success
with.

Related: 4 More Knots A Prepper Needs To Know For Survival

Trucker Hitch Uses

The Trucker Hitch is primarily used to secure loads but can be very useful in any situation
where you need to tighten and secure a line.

I like to use a Trucker Hitch to create a very taut ridgeline off which I can string a tarp to
make a tarp shelter. I also use this knot to tighten and secure lines for flying tarps while
setting up a camp.

Knot Tying Terminology

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To make it easier to follow along with the tying instructions it is helpful to know a few
common knot and rope terms.

Bight – A bight is a U-shaped section of rope that is not crossed over itself making it different
than a loop. A bight can be at any part of the cordage.

Loop – A loop is where the cordage is crossed over itself to form a loop. A loop can be either
overhand or underhand depending on which end of the rope is crossed overtop the other. An
overhand loop has the working end crossed overtop the standing end and an underhand
loop is the opposite.

Working End – This is the end of the rope that is being used to tie the knot.

Standing End – This end of the rope is opposite the working end and is static.

Materials Required
Aside from cordage, you will need something in which to either run the cordage around or
through to aid you in tightening the line.

Related: Making Cordage From A Plastic Bottle

How To Tie The Trucker Hitch

#1. Secure one end of the cordage to the opposite side from where you want to tie the knot.
This can be a tree, pole, trailer tie-down point, etc.

#2. Locate your next tie-off point and run the working end around it, or in the case of a ring,
through it. Pull the cordage so that it is snug.

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#3. Pick a point several feet away from where the cordage runs around the tie-off point. This
is where you will tie your loop.

#4. Make an overhand loop. From here take a bight of cordage from the working end next to
the overhand loop.

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#5. Pass the bight through the overhand loop from the rear and carefully dress up the knot.
What I like to do is to keep hold of the bight and pull the overhand loop closed around it. You
want to end up with a slipknot that has a loop of a couple of inches wide.

#6. Now that you have your slipknot loop, pass the working end of your cordage through it.

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#7. Pull the line taut.

#8. When the line is tight enough pinch the cordage where it passes through the slip knot
loop.

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#9. Secure the line with two half hitches. It will take a little practice to be able to secure this
hitch without losing any tension but it is possible to do so.

Variations Worth Noting

Instead of using a slip knot loop, an alpine butterfly loop can be used instead.

#1. Lay the cordage across your palm.

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#2. Loop the working end of the cordage behind your hand and across the tips of your
fingers.

#3. Loop the cord back across your palm.

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#4. Pull the line that lays across your fingers down and over the crossed lines on your palm.

#5. Push the line under both lines on your palm and up towards your fingers.

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#6. Hold on to this loop with your free hand and remove your hand from the cordage.

#7. Dress the knot by holding the loop at the size that you want and pulling either line until
the knot is tight.

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The advantage of using a loop such as the alpine butterfly loop is that when practiced it can
be very quick and easy to tie. The one disadvantage is that it is not as rapidly untied as the
slip knot loop.

Using a Slipknot Loop Instead Of Two Half Hitches

You can also use a slip knot loop to secure the Trucker Hitch. This is what I like to when
securing a ridgeline for a tarp shelter.

Related: 3 Quick Shelters (The Last One is Invisible!)

Step 1: After step 8 of the Trucker Hitch, take a bight of the working end next to where you
have pinched the line.

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Step 2: Take another bight and pass it up through the backside of the first bight. This second
bight is what makes the loop of your slipknot, so when you dress up the knot in the next step,
hold onto this bight.

Step 3: Carefully dress up the knot leaving a loop of a few inches in diameter.

Step 4: Coil the remaining cordage and place it inside of the slipknot loop. You can now
tighten the slipknot loop around the coiled cordage which will prevent it from accidentally
untying.

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I like to use the slip knot loop because it means I can take down my ridgeline or tarp lines
very quickly and efficiently. It also lets me secure the excess cordage reducing the need to
cut it.

Why Preppers And Survivalists Should Know The Trucker Hitch

While there are many important knots that we should know as preppers and survivalists, the
Trucker Hitch is one that has been my go-to knot for quite some time.

Securing loads, hanging bear bags, running ridgelines, flying tarps, and securing guy lines
are only a few of the tasks that I have used a Trucker Hitch to complete.

Even in my daily life at work and around the home the Trucker Hitch is in regular use.

This is a hitch that I use so often it has become second nature for me. I have even practiced
securing a ridgeline with this hitch one-handed with some success.

While it does take a little practice to get the feel for how to tie this knot once you understand
the basic process it becomes an exceptionally versatile hitch to have in your knot-tying
toolbox.

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