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Let's say I'm setting up a pole tent, and I want to be able to tie off the pole to the stake. I want to use a knot that will maintain the length of rope between the pole and the stake, but I may also want to adjust the length without completely retying the knot.

Pole tent example

In this example image, the length A should be adjustable, without untying the rope from the stake or the pole.

2 Answers 2

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Tent companies use the trucker's hitch.

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  • The trucker's hitch provides mechanical advantage while tightening, but being adjustable depend on how you tie off to the loop. Oct 12, 2015 at 14:26
  • A "trucker's hitch" is really a strategy for tying rope, not a single knot. I like to use a slip knot for the loop and then a series of half hitches to finish it. There are a ton of advantages trucker's hitches: mechanical advantage, adjustability, easy to tie tightly (i.e. under load), easy to untie.
    – Hank
    Oct 12, 2015 at 14:32
  • I like this method in this situation, as I think it will make it easier to tighten the line. While adjustment does involve untying part of the "knot", the mechanical advantage gained overcomes that disadvantage.
    – Tester101
    Oct 12, 2015 at 14:46
  • +1, came to suggest this, but didn't actually know the name of the knot. For tying things down or making them tight, this is the most useful way to use a rope.
    – JPhi1618
    Oct 12, 2015 at 16:22
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The Taut-line hitch is intended for exactly this.

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  • This is a great knot for this situation, though it doesn't offer any advantage when it comes to actually pulling the line tight.
    – Tester101
    Oct 12, 2015 at 14:48

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