Author Archives: cyleodonnell@gmail.com

Linus the Land Yacht: Episode 16 – Curtains

Curtains don’t just add privacy and security in your tiny house, they help insulate as well. And while not the most manly of construction items on the bus build list, they are just as necessary as any other component. In this episode, I discuss hacks and quicker ways to not only make, but securely mount these crucial components of the build.

For starters, there’s a nifty little way to hang them using paracord. It’s a single slip not looped through a bunny ear that does the trick. It’ll make more sense when you see it, but essentially it means the difference between a snug fitting curtain and a saggy, sad looking one. It also helps keep the draft down in the winter, the closer to the pain the curtain happens to hang.

As for the curtains themselves, you don’t have to be a seamstress to make quality curtains. I found a great hack that not only makes it much easier and faster, it also keeps from having to deeply knowledgeable about the fabric and materials you’re using. In other words, I make it so easy even I can do it!

Watch the video for the full skinny!

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Linus the Land Yacht: Episode 15 – Bed Platform Outtake

Discussing an early concept for the elevating bed platform, this episode covers how other bed lifting options might work for your build. And while I didn’t go with this one, I still wanted to upload it to either inspire others to always remember that they can change their minds and rebuild sections of their bus, or that it’s important to take risks and try out new things on your build. Even if they don’t turn out like you want, you can always learn and grow and do it better next time!

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Linus the Land Yacht: Episode 14 – Bed Lift Day 2

I’d normally keep from offering a spoiler alert here, but since the bus is finished, and you all already know that, there’s really no getting around annoucning my success. The bed platform lifted just as I had hoped, just as I had measured and just as I had built and wired it to do – the very first time. And on camera! I have been told that my reaction here is priceless. I’ll let you be the judge of that.

This video has already brought me a lot of questions on Facebook. So please feel free to comment and ask away. It’s an area of interest for a lot of people. After all, beds take up a lot of real estate. And in a tiny space, real estate is what it’s all about.

First off, I did not spend thousands of dollars on this build. The winch was less than $100 from Amazon. The cables totalled $20 for all four. The hardwar (pulleys, screws, cable clamps, thimbles, etc.) also totalled around $20. Even with the cost of the wood for the bed, we’re talking about less than $200 for an elevating bed.

It’s been working now for several months while I’ve been editing these videos and finishing the rest of the build. And shows no sign of failing. So if you’ve got it in mind to build your own, this one is proof that if you plan it and cut it right, it’ll work just fine.

Enjoy the video of the build.

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Linus the Land Yacht: Episode 13 – Bed Lift Day 1

So, day one of the wince and wire assembly finds me in a pretty easy set of angles. I had to climb under and above a few times to get to where things needed to go. But I expected that.

Luckily, the planning paid off, and everything fit into its place just as I had hoped. The outside of three holes on the pulleys happened to be a very happy accident, given that I had originally planned to mount them flush against the bed beams in some way.

Even if that didn’t turn out that way, however, it wouldn’t have impacted the structure. I would have grinded down a passage for the cable to glide through either way.

As for the thimbles and braces above, I don’t really cover this much in the video, but that was a little tricky. Luckily I hadn’t put on the wall panels yet. So I was free to mount an additional block of 2×4 to which I could screw in a 3″ eye bolt with a 1,000lbs. test for each. I screwed them all the way into the block so that no threading was showing. The only way they were budging was if a boulder suddenly materialized on the platform. But even then, I’m pretty sure the blocks would tear free before the eye bolts would.

Outside of the structural components, the winch would be tested on the next episode.

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Linus the Land Yacht: Episode 12 – Bed Platform Day 2

Day two of the platform build finds me faced with both the dimensional and electrical challenges to success.

It was a bit difficult getting the platform in place. And I thought I had planned well enough and measured correctly enough to get the platform all the way back to where it was supposed to be. But I was slightly off.

Rather than break windows and score the walls, I just took it apart and reassembled it while in place. This was not as easy as putting it together outside, given that I had to squeeze into the upper corners of the ceiling with a drill to get the ends together and ensure that the center joist was sturdy enough (hence my attempts to get it in while still assembled). But it came together in the end.

Watch the build, and let me know if you have any questions!

Check out all the videos at cyleodonnell.com/blog

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