Would the Zeppelin Loop be a good knot for towing a vehicle?
With reference to the trucker’s hitch, I would incorporate 3 of the 5 knots into tying down a load - slipped buntline for the anchor, alpine butterfly for the mid line loop and finish off with the RT & 2 HH’s.
Is the reef knot a neccessary knot to include?
As people have probably figured out by now, Mr. X’s buntline replacement tends to jam, and doesn’t lend itself to slipped release as readily and freely as the Slipped Buntline family.
If you’re looking for a non-slipped hitch for tie-downs, just about any common hitch will do as high security isn’t much of a concern with constant tension use. A simple Timber Hitch would do. A Gnat Hitch is simple, jam-resistant, highly secure and isn’t affected by unusual hitch object shapes.
The Gnat hitch is an ideal knot for me, it’s so easy to tie. Does it need to be slipped like the Buntline for ease of untying?
I don’t know how often the reef knot will come up for you, but I get the feeling that you know it already. 
A Zeppelin Loop could be used as a vehicle recovery loop as it doesn’t jam, is a pleasure to adjust component lengths, and can easily be verified for correctness by a quick glance. That’s not to say that other terminal connection loop or hitches couldn’t be used, as there are a number of suitable jam-resistant options.
No slip required for the Gnat Hitch.
Yes, I know the reef knot.
I like the Zeppelin - both bend and loop, - but some posters seem to have reservations about the loop version. I don’t have the required knowledge to debate it’s merits or otherwise.
excellent, thanks.
I think the bottom line is that if you find both forms easy to tie, as I do, go ahead and use them. Those who have a difficulty with tying it are free to choose alternate loops that better suit their abilities or preferences.
My advice : do not try to memorize a sequence of moves ! Try to understand how the knots works, why it is able to work like this ( the particular way friction is utilized, to secure the tail so it will not slip out of the knot s nub), and, at the end, what would be a possible alternative that would use a similar structure even more efficiently. Tie the “8” shaped sliding part without the main line into it a number of times. Then, when you will be tying the hitch around the main line, try to see how each move “weaves” the knot around the main line, so that the standing end and the tail will end in a position where the are encircled by the “higher” and the “lower” bights of the fig.88, AND squeezed upon each other by the overlying diagonal element, adjacent and parallel to each other - i.e, in the favourable position that maximizes the friction forces between them. It is not much different from the Constrictor - in fact, it was suggested that it is a nothing but a Constrictor-around-the-main-line based hitch.
I am referring to knots that are post-eye-tiable (PET)( “bowline-like”, as I use to say ), AND tiable-in-the-bight (TIB). The cadidates we have till now are the Double Dragon and the pet loop, suggested by knot4u and me, respectably.
I’ll certainly try to memorize all 3, thanks.
Ideal ? 
It is not worse, as a knot, than the so-called “Sailor s hitch”, that is for sure - but that was not so difficult to happen !
If you like a yet simpler and easier to tie hitch, look at the attached picture.
[The “Buntline extinguisher”] does not jam more than the Buntline - I have tested it many times on many materials, and, as far as my experience allows, I know. I have never compared it with the Slipped Buntline, which is a more complex knot, because I always compare apples to apples.
It jams. Did you test this before posting?
I thought you wanted me to evaluate your creations. I’ve offered positive feedback to other knot inventions/discoveries by other people(*). I’m sure if you keep trying and improve your testing criteria, you’ll do better.
Discovering good knots isn’t easy by any means.
http://notableknotindex.webs.com/slippery8.html
http://notableknotindex.webs.com/tumblehitch.html
It is the simplest “tight” hitch.
http://igkt.net/sm/index.php?topic=4155.msg25243#msg25243;’
You were complaining loudly about my alleged silence in response to your flood of knot submittals here:
http://igkt.net/sm/index.php?topic=4090.msg27736#msg27736
(well, at least before you [or a moderator, perhaps] deleted your posts, yet again)
ABOK 1852 could easily be placed on this list too, AKA the Backhand Hitch. It’s got a lot of positives that could easily place it onto this list but it’s simply an unknown knot outside of our knot community. It won’t jamb and holds my 20-25lb river anchors beautifully when using 5/8inch nylon rope…great anchor hitch because it unties so easily yet is secure.
An argument could also be made that this list desperately needs to be expanded beyond just five simple knots because afterall, there’s a GREAT chance a person may need to know a sixth knot for some special occasion. I would create a list of ten knots every outdoorsman/outsdoorswoman should know AND at least two fishing knots would have to be on the list if they were dropped off in a remote area to survive for any length of time. What good is a Constrictor, Bowline, Zeppelin Bend, and Butterfly Loop when it comes time to go fishing and feed your body?? You’ll starve with those knots, now throw in some fishing knots which only work with fine lines and you’ll eat every night.
This thread proves this question is not fit for experienced knot tyers. We find it difficult to construct a 5-knot list. In my list, I need a stopper. I would also like at least one knot that is specific to fishing. I also want to add the Windsor because I own about 50 neckties and zero clip-on ties. So, my total grows to 8 at a bare minimum. Five is below the bare minimum.
However, I could live with only 5 knots. Believe it or not, many people are functioning just fine in life by knowing only the Overhand (also known simply as “a knot” by novices) and the Granny knot to tie shoes. If a novice were to intimately understand merely 5 knots from a list here, then the novice’s life would be great improved. In other words, moving from a list of 2 knots (Overhand and Granny) to a list of 5 well-contemplated knots is a tremendous improvement.
To realize instant improvement in life right now, I recommend that the novice starts by understanding the Trucker Hitch and variations thereof.
TMCD, since you have mentioned the forgotten Backhanded hitch, could you, please, try the two hitches shown at the attached picture ? I had tied them as doubled/mirrored Blackwall hitches, and I think that they might be preferable from the Backhanded, but I have not much experience in such knots, so I can not tell. ( One could also try a combination, where the two legs pass in between the ring/tip of the bight and the “bridge” connecting the two sides, as in the Backhanded hitch shown at the third picture.)
I’m not sure X, to me, the simplicity of the Backhanded Hitch and my familiarity with it probably bias my opinion towards ABOK 1852. I’m not sure those two knots would be secure around the ring of my anchors…I’ll fiddle around with them and try to report back. I’m VERY busy right now as it’s early summer and I’m a Paint Contractor by trade, phone’s been ringing off the proverbial hook.
Knot4U, I went on a necktie knot learning binge about a year ago and learned at least six or seven variations of necktie knots. The Full Windsor gives the most symmetrical appearance and the Half Windsor is REALLY close in that regard as well. There’s the Nicky Knot which is decent and several others I can’t remember right off the top of my head that are also good choices…I DON’T like necktie knots that are not symmetrical.