Usage
The Trucker's Hitch is a compound knot commonly used to secure heavy loads on trucks, trailers, and other conveyances. It employs loops and turns to create a crude block-and-tackle mechanism, using mechanical advantage to apply greater tension and hold the load securely in place.
Warning
Verify tying technique with a skilled instructor where knot failure could cause property damage, injury, or death.
History
Known by various names, including Wagoner's Hitch, Lorry Driver's Hitch, and Harvester's Hitch, The Trucker's Hitch is believed to have historical origins dating back to when carters and hawkers transported goods with horse-drawn wagons.
Also known as
- Lorry Driver's Hitch
- Harvester's Hitch
- Hay Knot
- Wagoner's Hitch
- Power Cinch
ABOK
Structure
The Trucker's Hitch is a compound knot, meaning it is made up of a combination of other knots. The Truckers hitch has several common variations. The portion of the Trucker's Hitch that differs is the method used to form the loop which the working end slides through to produce the mechanical advantage. The different methods of forming the loop affect the ease and speed of tying and releasing and the stability of the final knot configuration. The most reliable variations use a fixed loop, such as an
Alpine Butterfly Loop (Shown above),
Figure Eight Loop, an In-Line Figure Eight Loop or another of many suitable loop knots. Once tight, the Trucker's Hitch is often secured with a half hitch, usually slipped for easy releasing and to avoid the necessity of access to the end of the rope, though a more secure finish, such as
Two Half Hitches (Shown above), may be called for. Under large loads, the finishing half hitch can jam, especially if it is not slipped; the difficulty of releasing it can be compounded by the fact that the knot is typically still under tension when it is untied.
Strength/Reliability
If a fixed loop is used repeatedly for tying the Trucker's Hitch in the same portion of rope, excessive wear or other damage may be suffered by the portion of the loop which working end slides against.
Note
All common variations of the trucker's hitch use a loop in the standing part of the rope and the anchor point as makeshift pulleys in order to theoretically obtain a 3 to 1 mechanical advantage while pulling on the working end. In real world use the mechanical advantage of the trucker's hitch is significantly less than the ideal case due to the effects of friction. One advantage of the friction within the trucker's hitch, compared to a hypothetical pulley-based system, is that it allows the hitch to be held taut with less force while the working end is secured.
