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Knot Tying: Learn the Quick Release Trucker's HItch

The best knot out there for tightening and releasing cords that will be heavily loaded. It's perfect for cinching down gear, tensioning horizontal spans of rope, or getting a large tarp tightly pitched.
Text and photos by Steve Howe
Need a primer on knot tying terminology? Click here.
«
  • Start with a <a href="/skills-how-to-tie-a-quick-release-overhand-knot/slideshows/114">quick release overhand</a>.
  • Take the free end of the rope and run it around your desired tension anchor.
  • Run the free end back from the anchor through the overhand knot loop.
  • Tension the entire rope between anchors by pulling on the free end and adjusting the anchor loop.
  • To hold tension while finishing the knot, pinch the rope bend where it goes through the overhand loop.
  • Tie off the free end by creating a second quick release overhand knot around the departing cord.
  • Finished off, the hitch should look like this.
  • To secure it tightly against loosening yet still have an easily undone hitch, backtie the free end with a mid-cord half hitch.
>
»
Start with a <a href="/skills-how-to-tie-a-quick-release-overhand-knot/slideshows/114">quick release overhand</a>.
Image 1 of 8

Start with a quick release overhand.

READERS COMMENTS

Page 1

Does it matter whether the working end of the first quick release knot pulls out towards the anchor or towards the object to be anchored? If that makes any sense.
— Pete J.

If your going to make a Knot slide show, I shouldn't have to scroll the page to change to the next image. Really I think a video would be better.
— wheelslbc

The time it took to advance from one slide to the next was almost enough for me to nod off and loose the thread (string, cord, rope).
— OldJoe

Whoa come on man don't make me wait for page after page to load to see this.
— Toby W


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