Some hitches allow you to put up to three times more strain on the rope than you are applying to tighten it. A Trucker's Hitch pulls on the rope as if you were using a pair of pulleys, allowing you to make pulling tackle from a length of rope. The magnification factor at any point is determined by how many ropes under equal tension are connected to it. Don't get confused by trying to think about which direction the rope is pulling. It helps to consider that a rope can only pull, not push.

Some hitches attach rope for pulling or hoisting large objects. The Timber Hitch is used on logs. The Barrel Sling can be used to hoist a barrel while holding it upright, and the Barrel Hitch is a sling that is tied like a Cow Hitch around an object. Its weight keeps the hitch snug.

It is rewarding to tie off a rope with the needed tension, and even be able to adjust it. Fastening ropes to objects can help with many jobs, and even more can be done when combined with other types of knots.