Everyone should learn a tie down knot. Way too many people use unsafe knots (such as an overhand) to tie loads down because that’s all they know.
A truckers hitch is as simple as it gets:
1. Tie a loop in the middle of the cord (I like the alpine butterfly but any loop, eg a figure 8 is fine)
2. Put the cord through your anchor point and the newly made loop.
3. Pull it tight and tie it off with a half-hitch.
You now have a 2:1 mechanical advantage, meaning you can tighten a load twice as much as you normally can. It also won’t loosen itself, and you only have to untie one knot to remove the entire system.
A truckers hitch is as simple as it gets:
1. Tie a loop in the middle of the cord (I like the alpine butterfly but any loop, eg a figure 8 is fine)
2. Put the cord through your anchor point and the newly made loop.
3. Pull it tight and tie it off with a half-hitch.
You now have a 2:1 mechanical advantage, meaning you can tighten a load twice as much as you normally can. It also won’t loosen itself, and you only have to untie one knot to remove the entire system.