Need an Opinion on Tiedown Rope

[M Towsley]

I cannot find anything specific by searching this site, but I remember reading somewhere there is one type of rope more desireable than maybe another. The rope would only be used for temporary tiedown such as an overnight trip, etc. Thanks for your opinion.

[Pearson]

Re: Need an Opinion on Tiedown Rope

I had to provide my own tie down ropes when I got a covered tie down at my old airport. I went to Home Depot and got some of the multi colored stuff about 5/8". It lasted for many years, and the large diameter allowed the type of knot I like to use.

[magman]

Re: Need an Opinion on Tiedown Rope

1/2 inch NYLON should be strong enough.

Poly is weaker & deteriorates with sunlight.

[Guest]

Re: Need an Opinion on Tiedown Rope

I went out the other day looking for new ropes. I could not find plain nylon rope.

I did find nylon - polyster blend though.

Anyone find regular nylon? If so where?

Dave

[cvavon]

Re: Need an Opinion on Tiedown Rope

Tribe

As a horse person rope is some thing we use. go to tractor supply or your local horse tack store as what your looking for is used for lead ropes a 5/8 will hold a 2000 lbs draft horse when he don't want to be held so is more then good for 800 lbs airplane

[magman]

Re: Need an Opinion on Tiedown Rope

VALU, Wal & K Mart stocked at one time.

Marine Supply?

[Pearson]

Re: Need an Opinion on Tiedown Rope

Tribe

As a horse person rope is some thing we use. go to tractor supply or your local horse tack store as what your looking for is used for lead ropes a 5/8 will hold a 2000 lbs draft horse when he don't want to be held so is more then good for 800 lbs airplane

That is exactly what I got from Home Depot. It is just like what is on our lead ropes for the horses. Half in would probably be OK, but 5/8" would be much better. I am not sure what it is made of, but it has a more velvet like surface feel than regular nylon rope. If you get the bright multi-colored stuff it will be more visible in the grass.

[Eric Tyson]

Re: Need an Opinion on Tiedown Rope

Check the marine supply places, I got the high tec stuff they rig sailboats with.
The stuff is extreemly strong and light weight. I am still using the same stuff I bought when I bought my bird.

[N74DV]

Re: Need an Opinion on Tiedown Rope

AMSteel Blue

http://www.amsteelblue.com/cpage.cfm?cpid=448

The best synthetic rope money can buy.

[jim cooper]

Re: Need an Opinion on Tiedown Rope

Think of it this way....could your car tow another car with it? If you could then its right for you and probably overkill. Using this formula, I got mine long ago from home depot and I agree that Tractor supply would be very good. Anything Nautical (marine) means MONEY! JC

[astjp2]

Re: Need an Opinion on Tiedown Rope

This rope will not hold its energy, if it breaks, it drops, not like cable that will kill you. Tim

AMSteel Blue

http://www.amsteelblue.com/cpage.cfm?cpid=448

The best synthetic rope money can buy.

[Dot_AK]

Re: Need an Opinion on Tiedown Rope

When it comes to how much the rope will hold - remember, you're not just holding down the weight of the aircraft. You're holding down the lifting power of the aircraft. If a 100mph wind comes gusting across the surface of the airport, how much force will your aircraft have to tug on its three tie-down ropes as it tries to fly?

The only opinion I have is that once you've taken care of tensile strength, I want something fat enough I can manipulate the knots with gloves on, and that won't degenerate into stiffy, spiky strands that hurt my hands. Beyond that, the guys on floats like things they can easily splice, or reform into loops into the end, but I haven't gotten that addiction...yet. So, a good braided nylon rope will do, as will the ropes rock climbers use.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Need an Opinion on Tiedown Rope

I love nylon line, but two things to watch. After too long in the sun the UV will start reducing the strength. With our guys it will probably be relegated to tying up ramp rats with nose wheel planes before that happens.
The second is really important. Nylon line stretches before it breaks. When it breaks it releases HUGE AMOUNTS OF ENERGY. In the Navy we tied a "tattle tail" to the lines that was just a smaller diameter cord tied along the big one with some slack (the "Boats" knew how much slack). If you saw a line with the tattle tail laying tight against the line you DID NOT GO NEAR IT. A line on a Destroyer snapped and took a mans leg right off. You DO NOT want to get hit when a nylon line breaks! A 1/4" line can put a serious hurt on you (or your wings, although after it sees enough load to break, there is probably a lot of other damage).
Just be careful when the loads are high.
Hank

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Need an Opinion on Tiedown Rope

Not totally germane to this conversation, but! If you are working with a rope and it starts to sing; i.e. makes a high pitched whine, get the hell out of the way. A rope, nylon, hemp, or otherwise, will make this noise just before it fails under great duress. That failure under that much pull will get your attention, if not your life. This is not a wives tale, I have heard that singing and took cover to watch the up coming failure, (more then once) which is always spectacular! L

[Doc]

Re: Need an Opinion on Tiedown Rope

Just for fun...I use braided equine lead ropes with bull snaps. They come in various colors to accent your airplane, are quite strong, and the snap is quite useful for the ground rings (or ringed stakes you put in). Our outside tiedowns for overnight parking or tail securing at my hangars are corkscrew stakes from Wag-Aero secured with Quickrete inside of old 600 tires placed flush to the ground. Doc