Diagram

Trucker's Hitch

Lashing hitch · Waggoner's hitch

Pulling a line tight between two fixed points to lash down a load or a tarpaulin, then locking it with two half hitches. The purchase is 3:1 in theory and much less in practice.

Hitch · Intermediate · Polyester / Nylon rope / Polypropylene / Natural fibre · 4 steps

Applications How to tie it

Diagram in reviewA drawing of the Trucker's Hitch itself is being made. Until then, follow the written steps.

Finished structure

No drawing of this exact knot yet. The written steps are the reference.

Diagram in reviewA drawing of the Trucker's Hitch itself is being made. Until then, follow the written steps.
Step 01
Make one end of the line fast to the first anchor point, for example with a bowline over a rail or a cleat hitch, then lead the line toward the second anchor.
No drawing of this exact knot yet. The written steps are the reference.
You should now see
One end secure at the first anchor and the line running toward a second fixed point, such as a hook, cleat or rail, that it can pass around.
If it goes wrong
Reaching for this hitch as a snubber on anchor chain. It tensions a line between two fixed points and has no turns that grip, so nothing holds it in place on the chain.
Fix: Keep the trucker's hitch for pulling a line tight between two fixed points. To grip another rope, use a friction hitch such as a rolling hitch.
Why: The rope from this first anchor is the standing part. The loop you tie in it next works as a crude pulley against the second anchor.
Diagram in reviewA drawing of the Trucker's Hitch itself is being made. Until then, follow the written steps.
Step 02
Partway along the standing part, tie a fixed loop that keeps its shape when pulled toward the second anchor, such as a directional figure eight or an alpine butterfly.
No drawing of this exact knot yet. The written steps are the reference.
You should now see
A firm loop standing out of the line between the anchors, which keeps its size when you pull it hard toward the second anchor.
If it goes wrong
Tying a loop that shrinks or slides under the pull, such as a directional figure eight loaded from the wrong end, which turns into a noose. Under purchase it collapses and the tension drops.
Fix: Pull-test the loop toward the second anchor before going on. If it shrinks or slides, retie it the other way round or tie an alpine butterfly, which takes load from either direction.
Why: Leave enough line between the loop and the second anchor to pull through. A directional figure eight can be hard to undo after a shock load, while an alpine butterfly stays reasonably easy to untie.
Diagram in reviewA drawing of the Trucker's Hitch itself is being made. Until then, follow the written steps.
Step 03
Take the tail around the second anchor, bring it back through the loop, and pull it toward the second anchor in line with the rope until the line is as tight as you need.
No drawing of this exact knot yet. The written steps are the reference.
You should now see
The tail doubled back through the loop and the line between the anchors tight, with the loop drawn toward the second anchor.
If it goes wrong
Heaving on the tail at an angle, or much harder than the job needs. A sideways pull tightens less, and the purchase can build enough force to bend a rail or break a light line.
Fix: Stand so you pull straight along the rope toward the second anchor, and stop once the line is firm. Ease off if a rail or fitting starts to flex.
Why: The loop and the anchor give a theoretical 3:1 purchase. Rope running over rope makes a lot of friction, so the real gain is much less.
Diagram in reviewA drawing of the Trucker's Hitch itself is being made. Until then, follow the written steps.
Step 04
Pinch the tail against the loop to hold the tension, then tie two half hitches with the tail around the doubled line just below the loop, both made in the same direction.
No drawing of this exact knot yet. The written steps are the reference.
You should now see
Two half hitches snug under the loop, lying the same way round like a clove hitch, and the line still tight when you let go of the tail.
If it goes wrong
Letting go of the tail before it is locked, which dumps the tension at once, or making the second half hitch in the opposite direction to the first, so the pair does not sit as a clove hitch.
Fix: Pull the tension back in, pinch the tail at the loop, and tie both half hitches the same way round. Check the line again once the load has settled.
Why: Rope stretches and loads settle, so a line that was tight when tied can slacken. Low-stretch polyester or good three-strand nylon holds tension better than cheap polypropylene, which gives it back.

Failure modes

When this family fails, it fails as these. The recovered end still outranks the name.

Trucker's-hitch family

A loop that becomes a 3:1, then a lock that can still be spilled.

!Loop that cinches instead of a fixed redirect
!Lock that cannot be spilled under working tension
!Standing part sawing the loop because the redirect was a slip knot

Fails when

!The loop shrinks or slides under the pull, as a directional figure eight does when loaded from the wrong end, and the tension drops.
!The tail is let go before the half hitches are tied, which dumps the tension at once.
!The rope stretches or the load settles after tying, and the line slackens.
!It is pulled harder than a light line or a rail can take, and the line breaks or the fitting bends.

Geometry

Directional loop that collapses under purchase
Tension dumps the moment you pull
The loop must face the purchase and stay standing · step 02
No lock, or opposite-direction half hitches
Line goes slack after you walk away
Two nested same-direction half hitches are the lock · step 04
Used as a chain snubber
Wrong job — this is a tensioning system, not a grip hitch
A standing transfer is a rolling or icicle hitch · step 01

If you saw this

Line goes slack after you walk away
Check
- ?Directional loop still standing
- ?Two nested half hitches
Then
- →Retension and lock
- →Do not use this as a chain snubber
Directional loop that collapses under purchase
Check
- ?Tension dumps the moment you pull
- ?Inspect step 02
Then
- →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.
No lock, or opposite-direction half hitches
Check
- ?Line goes slack after you walk away
- ?Inspect step 04
Then
- →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.
Used as a chain snubber
Check
- ?Wrong job — this is a tensioning system, not a grip hitch
- ?Inspect step 01
Then
- →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.

This failed — start Diagnose

Not ideal for

×A standing snubber (use a rolling or icicle hitch)
×A job that must release under full snatch without a plan

Trucker's Hitch

Not ideal for

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