What knot do I need to learn?

[Lonely Raven]

Simple setup:

I enjoy setting my tarps up in porch mode, using long guy lines run out to trees at or above head height.

What knot do I need to learn where I could simply take a guy line, wrap it around the tree/post/whatever, then tension and knot...or knot and then tension?

It seems everything I've tried so far, I pull, tie it down, then the second I let go it all droops. So I've clearly got to learn a new knot.

Suggestions?

[KP]

First off you didn't say what knot or hitch you typically use. There are a few hitches that I believe would work depending on each situation. But what comes immediately to mind is the tautline hitch. You could also try the truckers hitch but don't pull it like your trying to tie down a refrigerator in the back of a pick-up. What about a nite-ize figure 9? What about shockcord/bungee?

[Lonely Raven]

First off you didn't say what knot or hitch you typically use. There are a few hitches that I believe would work depending on each situation. But what comes immediately to mind is the tautline hitch. You could also try the truckers hitch but don't pull it like your trying to tie down a refrigerator in the back of a pick-up. What about a nite-ize figure 9? What about shockcord/bungee?

I'm trying to keep it simple. Just a guy line around a tree, tied to itself with tension. No bones, or figure 9s, or bungee.

I don't know the names of the knots I use, which shouldn't matter since they aren't working.

I'm looking up taut-line hitch now.

Edit, looks like that might work! It's almost like a prussic how it works under tension. Thanks, I'm going to go out back and try it out now.

[WV]

Step one: use loops of bungee cord attached to the tarp tieout points to maintain tension.
Step two: attach guy line to bungee loop, and tie off to tree with a taut-line hitch.

There are numerous other solutions involving hardware that are also good, but this basic technique works, and it's good to have it in your repertoire to fall back on. I have used this with a wide variety of guylines, including very tiny 100 lb. test spectra fishing line, but braided mason's line is a good choice, and cheap. You may be using long lines for a tarp in porch mode, so get in the practice of tying up excess line with the figure-8 around your fingers method. I keep a 6" piece of 3/32" bungee tied to the very end of the line because a single half-hitch of the bungee around the figure-8 bundle will hold well, but it's easy to untie.

[nu2hike]

Learn to tie a tautline hitch or a truckers hitch! You should be able to find both demonstrated on YouTube! Either of these knots will do the trick!
I personally would tie the guyline to a prussick knot using a slippery half hitch! This would allow you to retension the line as needed with little fiddle factor!
I suggest you learn all of these knots. You never know when you may need them!
Hope this helps!

[exup]

The way tendertoe taught me is:

You have a prussik that attaches to the guy line, and then guy line is larks headed through the tarp pull out. You have a eye or loop that attaches to the stake, or in this case, around the tree. Wrap the line around the tree. Pull the tie out line through you eye loop (at the end of the line) and place a stick or toggle in between the line you pulled through the loop and the loop. It should hold strong. Ajust by using prussik attached to the tarp and beginning of the guy line.

Or simply add a prussic to the middle of the guy line, and attach eye loop via carabiner or toogle there and adjust from that point. That's how I attach my tarp at one end for dull ridge line adjustability.

Sorry, the only knots I know are a prussik and half hitch haha.

[Wags]

don't make it more complicated than it needs to be. pull your line tight, then wrap it around the stake or tree a bunch of times, THEN tie your knot.

[Tendertoe]

The way tendertoe taught me is:

You have a prussik that attaches to the guy line, and then guy line is larks headed through the tarp pull out. You have a eye or loop that attaches to the stake, or in this case, around the tree. Wrap the line around the tree. Pull the tie out line through you eye loop (at the end of the line) and place a stick or toggle in between the line you pulled through the loop and the loop. It should hold strong. Ajust by using prussik attached to the tarp and beginning of the guy line.

Or simply add a prussic to the middle of the guy line, and attach eye loop via carabiner or toogle there and adjust from that point. That's how I attach my tarp at one end for dull ridge line adjustability.

Sorry, the only knots I know are a prussik and half hitch haha.

What Works for Me Part 2 - Tarp Tieouts Around 3:45 seconds is where what exup is talking about. It can be used for the corner tie outs or the side pullouts.

Extremely simple IMHO. Absolutely no knots tied in the field - which is nice for gloved/cold hands - self tensioning, easy to adjust.

[KP]

.............I don't know the names of the knots I use, which shouldn't matter since they aren't working.....

Not meaning to be a PITA but since I've been known to be a PITA from time to time I see no real advantage to changing that now. Anyway, sharing your current technique with those that want to help does matter. That way it will cut down on folks making recommendations that you may have already tried.

So, how did the tautline hitch work for you?

Step one: use loops of bungee cord attached to the tarp tieout points to maintain tension.
Step two: attach guy line to bungee loop, and tie off to tree with a taut-line hitch.

[Boothill]

Or simply add a prussic to the middle of the guy line, and attach eye loop via carabiner or toogle there and adjust from that point. That's how I attach my tarp at one end for dull ridge line adjustability.

this gets my vote, put a small loop in the end of your line, run it around the tree and attach it to your purssic via small carabiner or s-biner

boot