How to Tie the Trucker's Hitch

The trucker's hitch is so-named because it is commonly used to secure loads on trucks. There are several variations but they all are easily released and use a loop as a pulley that allows the rope to be easily tightened after the hitch is tied. The following steps will show one variation of a trucker's hitch that uses a slippery hitch.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Form a slipknot while leaving the working end long enough to complete the trucker's hitch. Make a loop in the rope with the working end above the standing end and pull a bight on the working end through the loop from below.

2. Loop the working end of the rope around a fixed object such as a tree with the loop of the slipknot facing toward the tree.

3. Bring the working end of the rope through the loop of the slip knot made in Step 1 and pull the working end back toward the tree. Adjust the tension as desired.

4. Make a bight with the working end of rope and bring it inside the loop that goes around the tree from below. Bring the bight back over this loop and through the loop around the slipknot made it Step 1.

5. Dress the trucker's hitch by pulling firmly on the bight formed in Step 4. Note that the trucker's hitch will hold fast under tension but may be easily untied by pulling on the working end after the load is released.

Resources

• Learn more about knot-tying at Real Knots.