Simple Line Tensioners for Camping and Backpacking

This instructable will show you how to make very simple tent line tensioners from an old plastic paint bucket.

Though I believe it is always useful to know how to tie different knots for backpacking and camping, there is sometimes no substitute for the speed and convenience of these little gadgets. They weigh almost nothing, so you could easily throw a few in with your camping or hiking gear along with some tent cord, paracord, or small diameter rope. I have actually just added these to the guy lines of my backpacking tarps, hammock tents, and standard tents for easy use.

This is my first instructable, so I hope you find it useful.

Step 1 Tools and Materials

To make these tensioners, you can really improvise with whatever you have lying around. I have made them out of broken nalgene water bottles, thick aluminum bottles, aluminum bar stock, etc. For this instructable, I will be showing you how to use a commonly available 5 gallon plastic bucket. In my opinion this material is just about perfect for this. It is easy to work with, lightweight, durable, and weather resistant. Plus you can make use of something rather than dumping it into the landfill.

The supply list:
-Five Gallon Plastic bucket
-Saw (I feel that a table saw is really the safest and most uniform, but use whatever works for you.)
-Drill (a drill press is preferred for straight and uniform holes.)
-Small Drill Bit (13/64 is what I used, it just needs to be larger than the cord so it will slide.)
-Sandpaper
-Snips or Heavy Duty Scissors (not required, but it makes quick work of cutting these to length.)
-Cord (such as paracord or tent guy line cord.)

Comments

[8bit]

Thanks for the 'ible.

[pcooper2]

Don't you mean 'able?

[The Ideanator]

Its i'ble, a contraction

[caarntedd]

i'ble

[mole1]

I've never seen one of these before and am only pretty good at a square knot...sometimes..... so I'm really excited about your solution. Thanks for the ible!

[e.bender]

learn to tie a bowline, it'll save you time and a bucket. well done instructable however

[pcooper2]

A bowline is the wrong knot. What is needed here is called a taut line hitch.

[schwieb]

If you want to bypass the creation of these items then pcooper is correct. a bowline is only for creating a loop connection to a fixed point. A taught line hitch will create a sliding knot that can create similar tension. I do believe every camper ought to at least learn to tie both of these knots.

I still maintain that these tensioners are faster in a pinch. In addition, the seem to get the line much tighter and keep it there much longer. That is really up to you to decide.

[mikesnyd]

I found the safest way to do this on the table saw is to leave small connections. So dont cut all the way around. instead raise the blade to said height. It can be anything really. Lets say once inch. Then put a small pencil line about an 1 1/4" on your fence. just push the bucket all the way through. then for the next cut make sure to match the bottom line of your cut with the mark on your fence. Push through and repeat. You will be left with a bunch of little sections you can cut out afterwards with your choice of saw or razor. Once off you may sand flush if you like.

[jsadler1]

A table saw should not be used that way. That really is dangerous. A hand saw, a jig saw or a band saw would be far more suited for the task.

[Evilrick]

I have made tensioners out of several different materials but this is a new one for me. I have used thin wood and metal strips with great results and holding power. I do have one question, is it necessary to make the loop in the second hole for these? I have never done that, I usually just run the line through the two holes of the tensioner and tie. The loop is pulled from the middle of the holes and put around the stake, the angle of the line keeps it in place. Has worked for me for many years. 

[schwieb]

Whatever works is what is necessary!  I tied mine this way because I have seen it done like this on other tents. If your way works go with it. 

I will say that these plastic tensioners really hold up well.  I don't know how long your wood ones last, but the plastic pretty much lasts forever!

[TwoPaths]

schwieb,

Pine wood tensioners can last at least 47 years of rugged use!

If using wood, insert the rope/cord through opposite sides of tensioner, that allows more friction to hold it in place. Some materials are slipperier and need the extra friction (sissel is much more slippery that hemp and doesn't last as long either.)

Plastic does allow one to make the tensioners small though.

Something that is more rugged than wood or your bucket based tensioners is scrap from a 35 or 55 gallon plastic drum to make them! For our big (12'x16') family wall tent we use metal stakes (they look like 10" to 16" nails ;-). I've added "tags" to each stake from the drum plastic, their just tensioners with the hole for the stake just smaller than the diameter of the stake, with a 8" to 10" loop of cord tied in the other hole. This makes it easier to pull the stakes when it's time to pack up. Just grab a loop and pull up and most of the time the stake just comes out, first time!

A word of caution: Use a C-clamp to hold down each blank when you drill it. Also, be sure to keep your drill moving so it doesn't get away from you or you'll end up with your drill bit "stuck" in the tensioner!  Which can be problematic in removing the drill bit!

Just my family's 2cents. Hope this helps some of you.

[Evilrick]

The ones I made I made from walnut, it's very hard wood. I have been using them for over 20 yrs. on hundreds of trips. They are a bit large for backpacking(1/4 x 1 x 2 inch) though they don't weigh much, but I use them when camping with my van & trailer, so size is not a problem.  I use them to hold a 12 x24 heavy plastic tarp, set up either as a lean-to or as an overhead tarp, and have never had any problems with them slipping. I only use 2 holes, one at each end, run the line through one hole, then through the other hole and tie a knot in the line.  Put the loop formed (between the holes) around the stake and slide the keeper up until the line is tight.  If your tensioner has a bend in it, make sure you run the line on the outside of the bend, that way the line rides on the bend and not under it. That causes more of a bind in the line for it to grab better.  Have seen and used many store bought systems and find most of them slip. The first  pic is a 12' x 24' set up with 9' x12' tarp sides, I used this setup for  11 days, 6 of which it rained. The second pic is a 9' x 12' tarp hooked to the back of my trailer, the third is a blowup of the second and shows 2 of the tensioners in use, not the best pic, but you can see them, the last is my camping trailer setup, the trailer is 5' x 8' .

[WVvan]

Double Plus Good!

[carpe_noctem]

shhh! Big Brother is watching!

[PKTraceur]

Poetry slam?

[pcooper2]

No, Newspeak -- a reference to George Orwell's novel, "1984".

[JBowmanDIY]

I think this is an awesome instructable. aside from teaching me a new way to set my tarp up over my hammock, I've found a new way to cut down up to 30 minutes of my time tying knots! Thanks!

[khilgemann]

good idea, creative. I always use a simple taught line hitch knot to do this. just Boy Scout thing.

[PCfreak]

ya i bet some of us were boy scouts once 

[schwieb]

Thanks! I use a taughtline hitch for many things myself (including tent lines). As I said in the beginning, this is no substitute for knot skills. Every camper/hiker ought to at least be able to tie a bowline and a taught line hitch. I just find it easier to 'pre' do this on things I need to go up fast! Tents and hammocks fall in this category especially if you need to set them up in inclement weather or if it has started to get dark.

[.happy.hippie.]

i made these about 2 weeks ago, and filled a whole ziploc bag with them.  i made them out of a square bucket and the work GREAT! these things are indespencible!

[keng]

DUDE...don't get out!!! there's a huge black mamba below you!!!

[snook123]

ha ha

[zubain]

I use straight, wooden ones to tension my clothes line. They are very easy to make from scrap wood and work very well.

[gibson_se]

It might be better from a safety and convenience point of view to drill the holes before cutting to final size. Just cut straight strips of plastic the right width, mark out how big you tensioners are going to be, then drill the holes before you cut them apart.

[3leftturns]

These are really cool, but I usually toss the original tensioners that come stock and tie a taut line hitch. But the curved plastic may make it easier to use. I may have to try these though. Nice 'ible.

[erosser]

Always handy to have a few of these, and yours are particularly lightweight and sturdy. Nice work!

[Meleemaker]

Okay you talk about broken nalgenes for improvised tensioners. Im unfamiliar with these "broken nalgenes" Could you explain that to me? Ive only had one break on me

[schwieb]

I have actually had 2 nalgene waterbottles break on me over the past several years. Plus some people might be looking for looking for an alternative use for some old bottles that are not BPA free. I think you might be missing the real point I am trying to make here though, which is that you can make these things out of about anything you can find. Though not essential the curvature of a bottle, can, or bucket can also help grab the cord.

[Meleemaker]

I know the actualy point was missing, it was more just to say somthing funny. And the new ones are BPA free believe it or not. But I really think its a really nice way to make somthing like that. I cant remember exactly what was posted in it, but if your tarp doesnt have eyes for the cord, you can make a button with some dirt and wrapping the cord around it on the opposite side of the tarp.

[rownhunt]

great idea!