DIY Feature - Andrew Kuns
Andrew Kuns wanted a project that would test his DIY skills and give his family a new way to get outdoors. Using Wander Tears DIY Plans, he spent six months and around $10,000 building a road-ready teardrop camper, with his whole family helping along the way.
We asked Andrew about the build process, the challenges of working with aluminum for the first time, what he would do differently, and his advice for anyone considering a DIY camper build.
Andrew built his camper using the DIY Vaga plans in Colorado.
Q: What made you want to build a tiny camper?
I enjoy building things and wanted to really test my skills with something that I could use to get outdoors and experience the wilderness in fashion!
Q: What was your experience level with the skills required to build a camper (wood working, electrical, metal work, etc.) when you started?
I've been a DIYer for most of my life. The only skill I hadn't done before this build was working with aluminum sheeting!
Q: What was the first step in your build?
I bought the DIY plans from the Wander Tears site, visited my metal supplier and placed the order for the frame.
Q: What was your favorite part of the build?
That's a tough question - I really enjoyed when I cut out the sides and saw the teardrop shape in real life.
Q: What was the most difficult part of the build?
That would be wrangling the 0.063" thick roof aluminum! I could only source the thicker aluminum and it was a challenge to hold in place.
Q: How long did it take you?
We spent about 6 months to get it road ready. But, it'll never be done for me with additions and tweaks!
Q: If you're comfortable sharing, what was the total cost of the build?
I spent around $10K in materials.
Q: Would you do anything differently?
Of course! That's the fun of DIY - you get to learn something to apply next time (or another project). I had an issue with the frame warping and would weld it differently, I would have used the timbren suspension...
Q: What has been the best part of owning a tiny camper? Or what are you most looking forward to?
My whole family helped in many parts of the build. I really enjoyed building something together, and filming it. I'm looking forward to the next adventure with it in tow behind us.
Q: Any tips for someone that wants to build a tiny camper but doesn’t know where to start?
The process is the fun part! Having the camper at the end so worth the trials along the way. And, the community is a great help for inspiration and motivation.
Q: How did using Wander Tears DIY plans and having the resources provided help your build process and time?
There are some great tips in the plans, and I absolutely loved the parts list and budget guide.
