Building a DIY teardrop camper? Learn the top tip for every phase—from trailer frame and insulation to cabinets, waterproofing, and electrical. Get expert advice, time-saving strategies, and a free parts & materials cost breakdown to kickstart your camper build with confidence.

Brian and Melanie Lamke picked up fly fishing a few years ago and quickly fell in love with it. After tiring of the long drive home after a day on the water, they gave tent camping a try—and loved it. When they found Wander Tears, it felt like the perfect upgrade: simple, functional, and comfortable. Now, they call their adventures Camping on the Fly.

We’ve built over 50 campers at this point—and while we’ve refined our process, we also made plenty of mistakes in our first build. The kind you only catch after a few trips in the wild or a few late nights fixing something you wish you’d done differently the first time.

If you’re building a DIY camper, here are 5 things we’ll never do again—so you don’t have to learn the hard way.

Sarah and Rick were tired of tent camping, sleeping on the ground, and filling the car with bins of gear. That’s when they decided it was time to take on a teardrop build.

Here are five epic free camping spots across the U.S. that will ruin you for regular campgrounds forever. We’ve camped them. We’ve loved them. Now we’re sharing them so you can too.

What if this was the summer you stopped dreaming about building a camper... and actually built one?

Not just another project for “someday.” Not another Pinterest board gathering dust.

This summer could be the one where you roll out of your driveway in a camper you built with your own two hands.

If you’ve ever dreamed about hitting the road with a camper YOU built yourself — you’re in the right place.

Building a DIY teardrop camper or small trailer might seem intimidating at first. But trust us, it’s a project anyone can take on with the right plans and a little determination. We know because we’ve helped thousands of first-time builders in 63+ countries do just that.

Tobin wanted more comfort than a tent but still have the ability to move campsites without taking down a tent every time.

After years of camping in tents, they were just… over it. Tired of wrestling with wet tarps, jamming gear into every inch of the car, and always realizing something important got left behind. What they really wanted was a setup that made camping easier, something that stayed packed, ready to go, and didn’t come with so many headaches. A trailer sounded perfect. But after checking out options like the Bushwhacker, the quality didn’t match the price. That’s when they decided: forget buying one, building it was the way to go.

This isn’t about bringing more. It’s about bringing better. Here are 13 camping essentials we bring on every trip, whether we’re boondocking deep in the woods or parking the trailer at a cozy campground

Andy and his wife have always loved camping, from years of tent camping to family adventures in a pop-up and travel trailer. As they approach empty-nester life, they’re craving the simplicity of primitive camping and boondocking — without the stress of towing or maintaining a big camper. After lots of research, they found Wander Tears and loved the idea of building a lightweight, off-road capable trailer themselves. So, they jumped right in.

Scott has been camping in a rooftop tent for the past couple of years but wanted something more convenient and comfortable. Building a teardrop camper seemed like the perfect upgrade and a fun project to take on.

Dan and his wife used to camp with tents and backpacks, but after having kids, they changed things up. Car camping worked for a while, and a rooftop tent was a good step. Now that the kids are bigger, they wanted more space. A teardrop trailer felt like the right move—still simple, but with more comfort and room.

After an unforgettable campervan trip, Carl and his wife dreamed of camping anywhere with their dog, Kobi —without the limits of a rental. That’s when they decided to build their own teardrop camper using Wander Tears DIY plans. Seven weekends later, their tiny camper was ready for adventure!

They love camping and being outdoors but often travel north to escape the Texas heat. While at a Texas campground, they discovered a DIY TCC gathering and were warmly welcomed by Randall and Mechelle. Inspired by the creative homemade campers and the sense of community, they saw how camping could stay authentic while adding comforts like AC. With resources like Wander Tears, they were instantly hooked.

Looking for the perfect gift for the outdoor or camping lovers in your family? Look no further! We prioritize experiences over things, and these gifts will help make your camping experiences even better!

In 2022, Maria and I drove 6,260 miles from Sarasota to Homer, Alaska, enjoying incredible scenery, food, and the outdoors. Inspired by the RVs we saw, we sought a compact, kayak-friendly trailer for easier travel. Wander Tears trailers were the perfect fit—our adventure capsule for years to come!

We are deducted long range backpackers, but as we age, we realize that we would like to be able to explore but in a different way with a small camper.

Jeff has always been enamored with seeing teardrops and RVs driving down the road and the past several summers they have been driving from NJ to Montana to spend a few weeks there. He figured it would be easier to have a camper with them rather than having to check into hotel on the drive out.

They loved camping, but didn’t like the work of packing, setup, takedown, etc. It took the joy out of the journey for them and they were also finding it difficult to get a good night’s rest in a tent.