I've been reading tons and tons of posts where people talk about tarps shelters, however I never really got to set one up using knots and rope.

I stumbled across this interesting video that shows two easy to learn knots... for those who, like myself, have been wondering which kinds of knots to use : here is a great place to start. Take a look, it's a 4-minute clip.

Dusty's all-purpose knots

Does anyone use these knots to set up their tarps? Or have any other preferable knots to teach? ;-)

I would avoid that website..something stinks.

I have have been using the first knot for over 35 years for all manor of things.

I first learned it as an early teen from my father. We used it to secure the tarp over the top of our boat after we pulled it out of the water and towed it home. Never had a rope come loose even with the tarp being flapped by 70+ MPH wind on the drive home.

Putfile is a pretty common site and other than making you click through a bunch of pages of adds to get to the download button it's pretty harmless. If you just watch it a the main page and don't try to download it, you don't have to bother with the adds.

I've also used the 2nd knot he showed from time to time - it's pretty handy.

My knot repertoire is pretty limited and I can't rate them against all manor of other knots other than to say they've worked for me.

okay thanks.

Been practicing a bit, and I have a problem with this gentlemen's last step in the video...

Why does he pull the knot UP to tie the last loop? It appears to me that this might loosen the tightening a litte bit during this last operation.

For the last knot, I have a natural tendency to re-do the first one he showed in the video... that way, you end up with three strands, and you pull strand #2 kinda like a pulley with one hand and slip down the knot on strand #3 with your other hand. Seems better this way?

I was not able to view the video. Gave my browser a stroke. What are the names of the knots he used?

Not having seen the video or the knots, I will add that I favor the power-cinch for tents, tarps and just about anything. It is sort of a modified trucker's hitch. Much better than a tautline knot. As for tarp configs, I favor the Holden configuration generally and the Pyramiddle in bad weather.

His first, and I forget what he called it, was simply a slip knot, tied to a tree in this case as an anchor, and you would just pull on the loose running end to untie it. The other was a "modified" truckers knot (of which there are about a jillion variations), no big exciting new info, from what you said you are already ahead of him in knot world...

If I understand the way he tied the modified truckers, he did it so it would untie itself with the slightest tug.

Gretchen Cordy in "Prepared to Survive" explains that knot in a much better way I think.

I finally got the video to work (without sound) by downloading it. The first knot looks like a slippery half-hitch. The second is a power-cinch. It is exactly the knot I use. Very useful. 2:1 mechanical advantage and comes apart with a tug, even wet. Good for tarps, which can be unstable in the wind unless very taught, good for tying down lumber on a car also!
I learned about this knot in the book "Camping's Top Secrets" by Cliff Jacobsen.

Do you finish the sequence (the last knot) by pulling UP like he gentleman does? When I do it this way, even though I try to keep it tight, it loosens up a bit.

Aw nuts, now I have to think how I do that <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. I had a hard time learning this knot also. One night I just practiced it until it became muscle memory.

This will be hard to describe in words. Assume one end of the rope tied off to the tarp. The bitter end is looped around a tree or whatever and brought back alongside the standing end. In this general area a slip knot is made and the bitter end looped through that and cranked down tight by pulling in the direction of the tree. Everything up to now is just like the guy showed in his video. The hard part is that last knot. Here's how I do it: To tie it off, I pinch the loop area between thumb and forefinger to keep things taut. Then with the other hand I make a slippery half hitch and pull it up tight against the loop, in the direction of the tarp. You might try it with a plain half-hitch first, it will be easier. And you can use two half-hitches for a sturdier knot. I hope this helps. Like I said, that last knot to secure the loop stumped me too until I just did it a few times.

Since you are interested in tarp tents, here is a link to the fabulous pyramiddle tarp tent: [url=http://www.hufsoft.com/bsa51/page0003.html]
It is the only tarp setup I know that is completely enclosed. My 9 x 12 poly tarp has the grommets placed exactly where they need be to set this up.