Ask Lemmy

Not at all. Assuming I have enough rope, knowing the clove hitch, two half hitches and taut-line hitch means I can secure most loads without worry.

Do I get to bring my marlinspike?

Do I have access to the internet?

Cutting ropes is a thing that only happens in movies. They don't have Boyscouts in California I guess.

Every conceivable use for a rope has a knot that will accommodate it. Knots that don't bind when under tension are a whole genre.

You litterally just ask a community of deviants how comfortable we are with rope.

No problem. Clove hitch and a truckie's hitch is all you need. Super easy to learn. You can even get away with just a clove hitch and a figure of eight.

I'd also recommend learning a bowline, because it's super useful, and if you figure out how it works, it makes other knots easier to understand and learn.

Not screwed at all.

I'd use a Bowline to secure the end of the rope to the trailer, and a Trucker's Hitch at the other end.

The Bowline is easy to untie and the Trucker's Hitch gives a 2:1 mechanical advantage.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowline

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trucker%27s_hitch

Edit: Another way to secure the end of the rope to the trailer is a Timber Hitch (best for a round pipe) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timber_hitch. Super secure and can be untied very easily.

This is a weird question. Nobody cuts the ropes they use the secure things. You would always need to buy new rope.

I am surprised people think they should use a knife at all.

It depends on the load. A refrigerator? No problem. If it's full of bodies, I'm probably in for a bit of trouble.

I'm offended that you expect me to cut the rope at the end

Super screwed!

This always happens when I touch rope! (NSFW)

As scoutmaster I was just going over knots with the kids. I'm good for the next month

Just utter the sacred spell after tying the knot "This ain't going nowhere"

Not screwed at all; I use rope to secure loads in a pickup truck all the time. I tend to keep the rope secured to one tiedown point with a figure 8 follow-through and then the free end gets secured with a couple clove hitches.

As someone with access to the Internet and basic search skills. I think I will be ok.

animatedknots.com is insane

not.

trucker hitch, combined with evenk hitch

All those hours learning knots for merit badges will finally pay off!

LOL why screwed?

This is a completely normal thing to do and I'm baffled that it elicits such trepidation in you, OP.

Not screwed at all. Learned a lot of useful knots as an arborist.

Others have explained what knots to use, but tbh, go to harbor freight and get some cheap ratchet straps. They're much better than using rope. These are on sale right now:

https://www.harborfreight.com/400-lb-Capacity-1-in-x-15-ft-Ratcheting-Tie-Downs-4-Pack-63094.html?event_id=184447

I'd use cleat hitches everywhere.

Some sort of Prusik and youre fine.

done it many times

I'd watch some youtube shorts by knot master and hope something helpful comes up

Know your knots, and it is no issue at all.

Sailors and others have dealt with this for centuries, way before trailers existed.

I know knots. I'd be just fine.

Not at all?

Done that before pretty much. It's not hard. Use a bowline or some other loop knot to make a pulley between the loop and the anchor point, then go back and forth until you run out of rope, then tie it off.

Sure, ratchet tie downs are easier and probably get a tighter hold, but rope works fine.

Can I use the internet to research it for a couple of minutes, or spend 20 minutes fiddling around first, or is it a "do or die right god damn meow" situation?

Because I'd be fine eventually, I usually figure stuff out or can follow instructions, but I dont actually possess those skills.

Not at all.

Nah yeah all good, just tie the fuck out of it, she'll be right

It should be illegal to have trailer without ratchet straps 🤔