So maybe you’ve already got some treehouse plans. Or maybe you’ve already built your treehouse. The ladder is the traditional method of getting up into the clouds and spending time in your dream house. But the imagination is the only limit when it comes to treehouses (or anything else, for that matter), so you need not be boxed in by the conventional.
Take this treehouse elevator idea — it’s relatively simple to build and offers so much fun for kids (and kids at heart, of course!). This 11-minute video takes you step by step through the process of creating a stable elevator platform with a pulley system. What isn’t shown is what knot he uses to bind the ropes together above the treehouse elevator platform, but that shouldn’t take too much research to figure out.
As he says, it just has to be a knot that won’t slip. A simple overhand or underhand knot would serve this purpose as would many others. The standard bow knot you use to tie your shoes, on the other hand, would be a recipe for disaster — use your best judgement and when in doubt, consult with a construction professional. No need to take chances.
This elevator design has a lot of appeal because, in addition to being fun, it encourages self-reliance. You use your own leverage to pull yourself up and down. For children, in addition to instilling a sense of independence and confidence, it also builds strength and co-ordination through the course of play. How sweet is that?
The builder in this video obviously gives his children a lot of latitude to do things on their own. He makes sure to anchor down the platform to prevent it from swinging, but if you have concerns about the safety of the open platform, you can always build a fence with a narrow opening and/or a gate on it which can be closed during the ascent and descent.
Whatever stage you’re at with your dream of building a treehouse — whether you’ve completed it and are thinking of adding on, or haven’t yet broken ground — have fun with it and remember there’s no limit to the innovation. This elevator is just one idea to take you outside of the box. Do you have an idea or two of your own that stretches the limits of conventional treehouse designs? If so, please share below; we’d love to hear from you.
In the meantime, keep on dreaming : )
Che
Here are some links that will help you build:
Five simple tips for harmonious treehouse building
Treehouse Veteran Corbin Dunn’s Inside Tips on How to Avoid Treehouse “Fails”
Treehouse Building Ideas from the World’s Biggest Treehouse