Black Mule Tape - Becket Hitch Failure (x2!)

[chknbone]

Switched to 1" straps+mule tape last year when a friend who works for the power company gave me a bundle of (white) mule tape and have never had any issues. Recently I bought a roll of "Cajun Mule Line" pulling tape that comes in black and have made 4 set of straps and haven't had any noticeable issues with them until this weekend...

This weekend I had two separate straps where the becket hitch started sliding when under load. It typically went about 2-4" and then would "catch" however, twice it slid significantly (one time dumping a friend on the ground) and friction burned the dyneema loop and the mule tape. The worst part was that I was setting everything up for a friend to try out overnight trying to show him how much better the hammock system was than his cot.

Eventually I had to go to the carabiner / marlin spike hitch combination to ensure that he was going to end up on the ground again.

The black mule tape is a polyester tape and definitely doesn't feel as soft or silky as the white mule tape but I was still surprised that it slipped through a becket hitch the way it did.


*** TAPE PURCHASED ***


*** TAPE COMPARISON ***


*** FRICTION BURNS AND FRAYING FROM SLIPPING UNDER LOAD ***




*** GRAY DYNEEMA FRICTION BURNED ONTO MULE TAPE ***

[Phantom Grappler]

Chknbone, your oops probably not your fault
Some synthetic straps, tapes, ropes are real slick and just won’t hold a knot, even if tied, dressed, and prestressed perfectly before getting in hammock!
If you bring some of that “Cajun Mule Line” to Yates at our Fall Hang, I will attempt a solution.
It’s in some of my videos. You tie a slip knot in bunny rabbit ear or bight.
I’m interested in seeing if my knot will put the brakes on this slippery tape

[Phantom Grappler]

One plus for “Cajun Mule Line”, if you can get it to hold without slipping, your description tells me it should not jam—untie easily
That “Cajun Mule Line” is probably made with slickness as a spec to aid in pulling electrical wires through pipes with out hanging up due to friction???

[gargoyle]

Try washing it prior to use..
Some of these products have a lube in the weave to facilitate manufacturing or the “pull” through the pipes (it’s intended purpose)
This lube is usually water based and rinses out in hot water. Hand wash in sink.

[cmoulder]

Mule tape doesn't like slippage, not one little bit. And it slips with Becket and with my beloved Lapp Hitch if I bounce on it moderately.

OTOH, J-Bend is perfect for Mule tape. Doesn't slip and is extremely easy to release. Just don't put an unnecessarily huge bight in the slipped portion, which might cause friction heating if you give it a mighty yank when releasing. I have never seen any slippage at all with J-Bend with any material (can't say that about many knot applications!) so a very small slipped bight will suffice.

[chknbone]

Thanks.

I will definitely give washing them a try and the J-Bend.

Phantom - I'll bring a set of washed and unwashed with me to the Yates hang for you to try out your knots.