Tarp down before a windstorm
A loose tarp becomes a sail. Anchor each corner, run a trucker's hitch to pull the lines drum-tight, and use a taut-line hitch where you may need to re-tension as the wind works at it.
Trucker's hitch
Gives roughly a 3:1 pull for tensioning a line, then locks off.
- Anchor one end. Tie the rope to a fixed anchor with a bowline or a round turn and two half hitches.
- Make a loop midline. Halfway down, twist a slippery (releasable) loop into the standing line to act as a pulley.
- Run the working end. Pass the free end around the far anchor and back up through the loop.
- Pull and lock. Haul down to tension the line, then lock it with two half hitches below the loop.
Taut-line hitch
An adjustable loop that grips under tension; slide it to tighten a guy line.
- Wrap around the anchor. Pass the working end around the anchor and back alongside the standing line.
- Two wraps inside. Coil the end twice around the standing line, working back toward the anchor.
- One wrap outside. Make one more wrap on the far side of those coils and pass the end through.
- Set and slide. Dress it snug; the knot now slides to tension and grips when loaded.
Common mistakes
- Tying to the grommets alone: in real wind they tear out. Bunch the tarp over a small object and tie around it, or use loops that spread the load.
- Flat, baggy lines: a tarp that can flap will flog itself apart overnight. Tension it hard.
- No re-tensioning plan: lines stretch. Use a taut-line hitch so you can snug them without retying.
What to use
Paracord or 6 mm line for corners; a few extra feet per line for the trucker's hitch. Check it again after the first hour of wind.
How this page was made
Knot steps follow standard practice and are drawn here as original diagrams. Written and checked by Alex Maxey; method on the methodology page. Last verified 2026-06-16. Knots are skills, not guarantees: practice on something that does not matter before something that does.
Knot questions
When should I use a trucker's hitch?
Gives roughly a 3:1 pull for tensioning a line, then locks off. Tie the rope to a fixed anchor with a bowline or a round turn and two half hitches.
When should I use a taut-line hitch?
An adjustable loop that grips under tension; slide it to tighten a guy line. Pass the working end around the anchor and back alongside the standing line.