RE: Rope and Prussic knot
Youwant to use climbing rope not hardware store tie down ropes. The stuff I use is 11mm and its rated for fall protection.
The 8mm rope I tie my prussic hitch is rated well over a thousand pounds.
I think I paid 0.60/ft for the 11mm and less for the 8mm.
It's not cheap, but it's a lotcheaper than a decent wheelchair.