In our previous two knots in our Knot of the Week series, we showed you how to tie a Diamond Hitch and Artilleryman’s Loop. Today we’re going to show you how to combine these two knots for use as a tie down in a truck bed.

There were some comments in our Diamond Hitch article asking for a method to be able to use it with only four lashing points rather than the six our article required. Utilizing the Artilleryman’s Loop and some extra paracord, we’ll show you how to make this happen!

Diamond Hitch » Hitches

(Strength: 3/Secure: 4/Stability: 4/Difficulty: 3)

The first thing you’ll need to do to utilize a Diamond Hitch as a tie down in a truck bed, is to create the two missing mid-point lashing loops required to make it work. This can be done one of two ways.

One way is to take a line all the way through each of the four existing tie down points, making a box. After creating the box, tie in one mid-point Artilleryman’s Loop on the bight within each of the long sides.

Another option would be to simply have two sections of paracord, or other rope, strung between each long side of the truck bed tie downs with an Artilleryman’s Loop at the mid-point. It’s important to note that while we used paracord in the video and photos, stronger and thicker rope might need to be used depending on the load that’s being tied down.

Uses:

• Securing a load
• Tie down for a roof rack, truck bed or pack animal

Tying Instructions:

1. Once you create your additional midpoints using the Artilleryman’s loop, attach the standing end of your line to one of the fixed midpoints.
2. Use the working end to span across the load and to the opposite midpoint.
3. Route the working end through the second midpoint and back to the original midpoint.
4. Wrap or pass the working end through this original midpoint.
5. Grasp the double line created over your load and twist the two lines six times or so, creating a diamond pattern in the center.
6. Ensuring to keep the diamond pattern, run your working end to the closest corner of your tie-down points.
7. Wrap or pass the working end through this corner point and through the backside of the center diamond before passing it down to the opposite corner.
8. Wrap or pass the working end through the opposite corner and down through the top of the center diamond and out to the bottom-most corner.
9. Wrap or pass the working end through this corner point and back through the backside of the center diamond before passing it to the last corner.
10. At this point take a few seconds to adjust the lines and tighten them up.
11. Pull tension at the last corner and secure the working end to the midpoint you started at, which completes the Diamond Hitch.
12. Optionally we’ve used the Taut-Line Hitch to secure the working end so if the load shifts you can adjust the tension.

Video and Photos

In our latest installment of the Knot of the Week, we’ll teach you how to tie the Diamond Hitch and explain what benefits it offers over traditional methods of securing a load.

What’s truly versatile about the Diamond Hitch is that once tied, it creates a diamond pattern in the center which not only is where its namesake comes from, but is what gives it the ability to compensate for the load shifting.

Whether being used to secure a load to a roof rack, truck bed or even a pack animal, the Diamond Hitch is definitely one to put into your knot tying toolbox.

Diamond Hitch » Hitches

(Strength: 3/Secure: 4/Stability: 4/Difficulty: 3)

Uses:

• Securing a load
• Tie down for a roof rack, truck bed or pack animal

Tying Instructions:

1. Attach the standing end of your line to a fixed midpoint in an array of 6 tie-down points.
2. Use the working end to span across the load and to the opposite midpoint.
3. Route the working end through the second midpoint and back to the original midpoint.
4. Wrap or pass the working end through this original midpoint.
5. Grasp the double line created over your load and twist the two lines six times or so, creating a diamond pattern in the center.
6. Ensuring to keep the diamond pattern, run your working end to the closest corner of your tie-down points.
7. Wrap or pass the working end through this corner point and through the backside of the center diamond before passing it down to the opposite corner.
8. Wrap or pass the working end through the opposite corner and down through the top of the center diamond and out to the bottom-most corner.
9. Wrap or pass the working end through this corner point and back through the backside of the center diamond before passing it to the last corner.
10. At this point take a few seconds to adjust the lines and tighten them up.
11. Pull tension at the last corner and secure the working end to the midpoint you started at, which completes the Diamond Hitch.

Video and Photos

On this week’s Knot of the Week, we’re going to look at an interesting knot called the Poldo Tackle. Using two simple fixed loops, the Poldo Tackle affords you multiple options for anything that requires a tensioning device.

The most applicable use we’ve considered is in a rescue situation, where you might need the mechanical advantage to lift a buddy to safety. There are far better methods to lower someone in a rescue situation, but the Poldo Tackle would work well to aid in lifting. Just remember that it’s not the same type of application for lifting that pulleys would provide.

You could also use this knot for a clothesline, guyline or anywhere you may need to release or provide tension periodically to a line under load.

Poldo Tackle » Hitches

By far the coolest feature of the Poldo Tackle is it’s ability to quickly adjust. By simply moving the two fixed loops towards each other the knot will loosen, while pulling them apart will create tension again.

An important note on the Poldo Tackle is to ensure you’re using it with static loads, the shift in a dynamic load could cause this knot to release suddenly and without warning. As you can see by the photos, what makes the knot work is simply the s-curve. If that’s lost under the shift of a dynamic load, the loops will fall together releasing the tension.

(Strength: 4/Secure: 4/Stability: 2/Difficulty: 2)

Uses:

• Lifting in a Rescue Situation
• Clothesline
• Guyline for a tarp or tent

Tying Instructions:

• Start with a length of rope or paracord (depending on the load) that’s at least three times the length of the movement needed in your tackle.
• With one end, tie a fixed loop using a Bowline or other knot that creates a fixed loop.
• Toss the opposite end, now the working end, around another fixed loop anchor point such as a carabiner.
• Thread your working end through the standing bowline.
• Create an “S” curve as demonstrated in the photos.
• While holding the “S” curve, wrap the working end around your static load or desired object.
• Tie a second Bowline or fixed loop around the bottom bight of the “S” curve.
• To operate the Poldo Tackle, simply move the two fixed loops towards each other to loosen. Pull them apart to create tension again.

Photos and Video

A bottle sling? What, you’ve never heard of a bottle sling before? We’ll admit we’ve seen them before but never give them much thought to include in the Knot of the Week until we tied one and realized how versatile of a knot it is!

From what we can tell, the bottle sling was first used by ancient greeks to not only carry jugs and bottles, but to also use as a surgical sling and as a traction device for dislocated joints.

Bottle Sling » Hitches

As mentioned, the bottle sling affords you the ability to carry any type of jug, bottle or jar by creating a hitch around the object and a carry handle. The carry handle can be made into a single loop as shown in the steps below, or for heavier items can be made into two carry handles to split the load between two people.

In the situation of carrying heavier loads, obviously the paracord we show being used would be replaced with a stronger rope such as natural fiber rope. What makes this knot truly versatile though is its ability to be used in medical applications for traction or slings. Definitely a knot to remember!

(Strength: 5/Secure: 4/Stability: 3/Difficulty: 3)

Uses:

• Carrying a jug, bottle or jar
• Medical sling or traction on dislocated joints

Tying Instructions:

• As written instructions for this knot get very detailed and can be hard to follow, we’ll defer to the photos and video below for instructions. Let us know if you have any questions regarding the steps.

Photos and Video

Today we’ll wrap up the last part in our Knot of the Week mini-series on rigging a tarp shelter.

I left off in part 2 with explaining how the tarp is attached to the trunk line with Prusik Loops and Prusik Knots, and introduced the guy-line system. We’ll get more in-depth into that system as well as demonstrating the Alpine Butterfly Loop and the Taut-Line Hitch.

To create the guy-line system you’ll need at least five attachment points on each side of the tarp and quite a bit of paracord. As mentioned previously you’ll also need four stakes, but those can be made with a knife and some sticks you can typically find wherever you’re setting up at.

Guy-line Requirements

Before we get into how to tie these knots for the guy-line system, let’s talk paracord. I like using paracord for everything on this tarp, because I know I’ve always got 100+ feet of it at all times.

For each primary guy-line, that will be hitched around one of the four stakes, you’ll need 8-feet of paracord. The secondary guy-lines, on the next closest attachment points, will each require 5-feet and the tertiary lines need 6.5-feet.

In the video below, I’ve tied in each of the guy-lines to their respective attachment points using two half-hitches. Lately though I’ve been considering retying them with bowlines or something similar. The two half-hitches hold just fine, but taking the tarp in and out of the stuff sack I’ve noticed that I occasionally have to re-tighten them.

Cutting all the necessary paracord for the entire tarp shelter will take some time, but once its in place you can set-up and tear-down the tarp in a matter of minutes. Practice makes perfect though, so throw the tarp up in your backyard on occasion to practice setting it up.

Alpine Butterfly Loop

(Strength: 5/Secure: 5/Stability: 3/Difficulty: 4)
The first step after tying in all of the guy-lines, is to tie your Alpine Butterfly Loop in each of the primary guy-lines. The Alpine Butterfly acts as a anchor for the pulley system that is created by the secondary and tertiary guy-lines on each corner of the tarp. That pulley system is what evenly distributes the tension on each of the respective attachment points to stabilize the tarp in windy conditions.

An Alpine Butterfly is used to put a loop in a line that has tension coming from both ends. This knot will not weaken the strength of the line and is used by climbers and mountaineers to tie in a climber for protection against a fall.

Tying Instructions: Please refer to the photos here and YouTube video below.

Taut-Line Hitch

(Strength: 3/Secure: 3/Stability: 3/Difficulty: 3)
After each primary guy line has the Alpine Butterfly integrated, it’s time to stake them down. The best way to tie off these guy-lines to that stake in the ground is with a Taut-Line Hitch, this will allow you to adjust the tension on the line if needed. While this is the optimal knot to use in this situation, be aware that under heavy loads the hitch can release.

Not only will the primary guy-line have a Taut-Line Hitch, but each secondary and tertiary guy-line will also use one after being routed through the Alpine Butterfly Loop. This will again allow you to individually adjust the tension on these guy-lines to mitigate the amount of flex the tarp has in windy conditions.

Tying Instructions: Please refer to the photos here and YouTube video below.

Closing Notes

I hope you’ve enjoyed the series and not only learning how to tie all these great knots, but also seeing how they all come together into a practical application.

Knot tying truly is a depreciable skill-set, and one that I hope everyone takes an interest in and passes along to friends, family and co-workers. With today’s generation of people that are completely dependent on all the fancy gadgets and electronics (guilty), developing skill-sets like these and retaining them is even more important.

Let me know if you have any questions about any of the knots used in this mini-series, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it. Now get a tarp and practice!

Oh, and before anyone asks, I don’t know why I said “happy tarping” at the end of the video, I know it’s absurd and I couldn’t edit it out!

Links to Part 1 and Part 2 of the series in case you missed them!

I’d like to introduce a small mini-series on our Knot of the Week, where I’ll be running through the steps of rigging a tarp shelter using a few knots.

In this first part, I’ll demonstrate using a Slipped Half-Hitch and a Power Cinch Knot to tie a trunk line between two trees, which will form the backbone of the shelter system.

The trunk line provides a tight line to tie in your tarp and create the shelter. What’s great about the entire way we’ll show to rig this tarp shelter, is that using our knot techniques the entire system will have a “quick-disconnect” like feature, yet remain incredibly strong.

A trunk line can also be used to hang clothes to dry, or really anything that you’d like to drape over it.

Slipped Half-Hitch » Hitches

(Strength: 3/Secure: 3/Stability: 3/Difficulty: 2)

Power Cinch » Hitches

(Strength: 3/Secure: 4/Stability: 2/Difficulty: 4)

Uses:

• Creating a Trunk Line using both knots
• Slipped Half-Hitch can be used for numerous applications where a quick-release knot is desired
• Power Cinch can be used for creating tension or a pulley

Tying Instructions:

Please view the gallery or YouTube video below for instructions on tying these knots and creating a trunk line.

Check out part 2 and part 3 in this series!