Trucker's hitch

trucker's hitch
Trucker's hitch with alpine butterfly loop
Names	trucker's hitch, lorry driver's hitch, harvester's hitch, hay knot, sheepshank cinch, trucker's dolly, wagoner's hitch, power cinch, rope tackle
Category	Hitch
Related	versatackle knot, sheepshank
Typical use	Making a rope very tight, such as to secure an object to a vehicle
Caveat	Can produce excessive wear on rope, especially if tied repeatedly in the same spot
ABoK	#1514, #2124, #2125, #2126
Instructions	[1]

The trucker's hitch is a compound knot commonly used for securing loads on trucks or trailers. This general arrangement, using loops and turns in the rope itself to form a crude block and tackle, has long been used to tension lines and is known by multiple names. Knot author Geoffrey Budworth claims the knot can be traced back to the days when and hawkers used horse-drawn conveyances to move their wares from place to place.

The portion of the trucker's hitch which differs in the following variations 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 product.

The variations are presented in order of increasing stability.

This version of the knot uses a sheepshank-like construction, in this kind of application also known as a bell ringer's knot, to form the loop. It is quicker to make than a fixed loop, but is less dependable. It is avoided in critical applications (such as securing a load on a truck) as it can fall apart under too little load or too much load, and can capsize if not dressed properly. However, this knot may be made secure by adding a Half Hitch by using the top bight of the Sheepshank. This form of the trucker's hitch is least likely to jam, coming apart easily once tension is released. Different sources show slight variations in the way the sheepshank portion is formed and dressed.

The loop formed in this version is a simple Slipped Overhand Loop or a variation using multiple turns of rope to form the eye of the loop. If extra loops are used to form the eye it tends to ease untying. In order to prevent the closing of the loop under load, the loop must be formed by the working end of the rope (which will later pass through the loop). If the standing end goes through the loop, it will close under load.