How to Make a Rope Ladder

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Knowing how to make a rope ladder is a very handy skill. Not only do they have a practical use in outdoor activities such as boating and hiking, but they’re a lot of fun to climb, too. Additionally, they may be used as an emergency resource where traditional ladders are unavailable, impractical, or unwieldy.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Making A Basic Single-Rope Ladder

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  1. Take hold of the rope on the end of the right side of the "U" and slide your hand down the rope to measure out 1 foot (30 cm) of rope. [1]
  2. Bring your hands together to squish the "S" down horizontally. [2]
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  3. Make the first rung of the ladder by taking the left end of the rope and threading it through the first, left bend of the "S." Bring the end of the rope under the bottom curve, wrapping it around the whole "S" four times. Feed the end of the rope through the second, right bend of the "S" to secure the tie and complete the first rung. [3]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Making a Rope Ladder With Wooden Rungs

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  1. Do this to prevent your newly cut rope from fraying or unraveling.
    • Binding the ends of a rope is called whipping. Take some twine and run it along the length of the rope until you almost get to the rope’s end. Double back when the length of the twine is equal to around one and a half times the diameter of the rope. The twine should form an upside down “U” shape. Wrap the twine tightly along the “U”, and put the end of the twine through the loop at the top. Now, pull both ends of the twine until the loop is pulled underneath the whipping. Cut the ends of the twine so that they don't stick out and the whipping looks neat. [4]
    • It is best to use natural fibre twine when whipping natural fibre rope as it will be less likely to slip off. [5]
    • If you are using a synthetic rope, wrap the ends with some tape, then melt them over a flame. [6]
  2. To make an overhand loop, take the working end of the rope and place it over the standing part. This loop is the first step of forming the knot which will hold the first wooden rung.
    • The working end of the rope is the part of the rope which is being actively used to form a knot. [7]
    • The standing part of the rope is the portion of the rope which is not being actively used to form a knot. It is all of the rope in the opposite direction of the working end. [8]
  3. To do this, first put your fingers through the underside of the loop, and grasp the standing part. Now, pull the standing part through the overhead loop. This should form a new loop.
  4. Move the rung into the desired position, and tighten the rope. [9] The resulting knot should be visible on the top and the bottom of the rung.
    • The rung will be fairly secure at this point, but tying an overhand knot beneath it will greatly decrease any likelihood of the rung moving down the rope. To tie an overhead knot, make an overhand loop, then pass the working end over, then through the loop. [10] Make sure the overhand knot is directly below the knot supporting the rung.
  5. Take care to make sure that your rungs are level. Crooked ladder rungs will increase the likelihood of a fall.
  6. Space your rungs uniformly, and in a manner that will allow you to climb comfortably. Keep adding rungs until your ladder reaches the desired length. [11]
  7. To do this, use either a timber hitch or a rolling hitch knot.
    • To tie a timber hitch, wrap the working end around the pole or branch you intend to attach your ladder to all the way around once. Cross the working end over the standing part and continue to wrap the working end around the pole at least twice more. Pull the rope taut to tighten it. If you need more grip, wrap the working end around the standing part a few more times. A timber hitch is ideal for attaching a rope ladder because the greater the amount of pulling force exerted on the knot, the tighter it becomes. [12]
    • To tie a rolling hitch, take the working end of the rope and wrap it completely around your stake at least three times. Take the working end and place it over the standing part. Now wrap the rope around the stake on the other side of the standing part a few times. Tuck the working end underneath the bit of rope which crossed over the standing part and pull it tight. A rolling hitch holds up very well against a horizontal pulling force, so it is ideal if you are attaching your ladder to horizontal stakes or poles. As with the timber hitch, if more grip is required, wrap the working end around the pole a few more times. [13]
  8. This is optional, but securing your ladder to the ground will greatly increase its stability and make it easier to climb. [14]
    • If you are going to secure your ladder to the ground, be sure to leave enough rope to do so; 15 inches (38cm) or more should do the trick.
    • Wrap each leg of your ladder to a stake at a 45-degree angle and secure it with a rolling hitch.
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  • Question
    Is a square knot good for making ropes and ladders?
    Britt Edelen
    BA in English Literature, Brown University
    Britt Edelen comes to wikiHow after graduating in 2019 from Brown University, where he studied English and German literature and philosophy. While at Brown he contributed frequently to campus publications and worked in the university’s Writing Center. More recently, he has had several articles published in various journals devoted to literary criticism. During his time at wikiHow, Britt supervised and collaborated with writers and editors to continue producing high-quality content and promote wikiHow’s mission of enabling everyone to learn anything.
    Britt Edelen
    BA in English Literature, Brown University
    Expert Answer
    Square knots are not good and not strong enough to be used for ladders. They’re super simple and handy when you need to quickly tie two ropes together for a temporary fix. They can easily slip or come undone, especially under strain or if the rope gets tugged in different directions. When you’re making a ladder, you need knots that won’t budge under pressure because your safety depends on it. Square knots aren’t designed for that kind of stability. They work best for light-duty tasks or when the knot isn’t under constant stress.
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  • Question
    Where can I buy a rope ladder?
    Community Answer
    Online is probably the best option. You may also want to check Home Depot or Lowe's.
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  • Question
    Can you drill a hole at the rungs of a ladder and tie a knot underneath to stop the rung from slipping?
    Community Answer
    You can drill it as long as the rope is thick. You can't really tie a knot underneath. Instead, you could try digging it into the ground.
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      Tips

      • Natural fibre rope such as hemp or manila will grip the wood of rungs and trees better than synthetic rope. [15]
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      • Be sure to construct your rope ladder out of rope that is sturdy enough to hold a person's weight. Most ropes purchased at a store will display the maximum load weight on the packaging.
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      • Check your rope regularly for wear and tear. Replace it when it gets frayed.
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      Things You’ll Need

      • Several feet/meters of rope
      • Wooden rungs (optional)
      • Lighter (optional)
      • Tape (optional)
      • Natural-fibre twine (optional)

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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about outdoor survival skills, check out our in-depth interview with Britt Edelen .

      References

      1. ↑ http://www.trails.com/how_13607_boy-scout-rope-ladder.html
      2. ↑ http://www.trails.com/how_13607_boy-scout-rope-ladder.html
      3. ↑ http://www.trails.com/how_13607_boy-scout-rope-ladder.html
      4. ↑ http://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/common-whipping
      5. ↑ http://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/common-whipping
      6. ↑ http://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/common-whipping
      7. ↑ http://scoutpioneering.com/2013/02/11/knot-tying-terminology/
      8. ↑ http://scoutpioneering.com/2013/02/11/knot-tying-terminology/
      9. ↑ http://scoutpioneering.com/tag/rope-ladder/
      1. ↑ http://www.indoorclimbing.com/Overhand_Knot.html
      2. ↑ http://scoutpioneering.com/tag/rope-ladder/
      3. ↑ http://scoutpioneering.com/2013/02/12/favorite-pioneering-knots-timber-hitch/
      4. ↑ http://scoutpioneering.com/2013/01/29/rolling-hitch/
      5. ↑ http://scoutpioneering.com/2013/03/17/making-a-rope-ladder/
      6. ↑ http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/04/19/how-to-easily-create-your-own-rope-ladder/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make a basic single rope ladder, first lay out a rope in a U shape on a flat surface. About 1 foot (30 cm) below the curve of the U, grab the right side of the rope and bend it into an S shape. Take the left side of the rope and weave it over the top curve of the S, then behind the middle and bottom curves. Then, coil the left rope tightly around all 3 strands of the S about 12 to 18 times. Pull the remaining part of the left rope down through the loop sticking out at the right end of the wrapped S. Tighten the wrap by pulling the end of the right rope that’s sticking out at the left side of the rung. Repeat this process until you have completed as many rungs as you want. To learn how to make a rope ladder that has wooden rungs, keep reading!

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