DIY Feature - Andy Eubank

Features

May 2

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.

Andy is building his own DIY Vaga using our Plans

What made you want to build a tiny camper?

My wife and I have always loved camping. We tent camped for years. After having a kid, we bought a pop-up and eventually moved up to a bunk house travel trailer. We had a lot of great times with our little family and friends. But we are soon to be empty nesters, and we no longer enjoy being in the big campgrounds. We are seeking the simplicity of tent camping in primative camp grounds or boondocking. Also, I hated pulling a travel trailer. I was always stressed and irritable by the time we pulled into camp. Then there is the cost of storing the camper and constant repairs. Big name factory-built campers are junk! So, we knew we wanted something off road/off grid capable, light weight, and small enough to fit in the garage. After lots of research, I stumbled upon Wander Tears. I fell in love with the idea of building it myself. So I bought the plans and jumped right-in.

What was your experience level with the skills required to build a camper (wood working, electrical, metal work, etc.) when you started?

I am an electrician by trade. Along with electrical work, my career has given me a small amount of experience with welding and metal work. Other than that, I have always been a DIYer. I have decent carpentry skills. We have always tackled our own home repairs and remodels. There isn’t much you can’t learn from YouTube these days.

What was the first step in your build?

Research. I watched every video and read every article I could find. Then I bought the DIY plans and started sourcing materials.

What was your favorite part of the build?

Assembling the cabinets and walls. That part was extremely rewarding. That’s when you can see hard work paying off. I also really enjoyed welding up the frame.

What was the most difficult part of the build?

There hasn’t really been a part of the build that I haven’t enjoyed. I was certainly ready to be done sanding and finishing, but I had to this part twice. I had a fire in my shop during the finishing process. I got lucky was able to salvage most of the pieces, but everything had to be re-sanded and finished.

How long did it take you?

I feel like I am moving slow. I started building the frame March 9, 2024. By the time of the fire, July 5, 2024, I had completed the frame, floor, and was doing finish work on the cabinets. I didn’t get to restart the finish work until February 2, 2025. As of April 25, 2025, I have completed the ceiling insulation and have started wiring. So, minus the delay, I am roughly 7 months into the project. I estimate a couple more months before its ready for its first trip.

If you're comfortable sharing, what was the total cost of the build?

When done, roughly $8,500.

Would you do anything differently?

Absolutely! I see builds in the Facebook group with ideas that I would use if I were starting over. I struggled to find a source for the Baltic birch, and ended up building my cabinets out of a lower grade birch plywood. I ended up finding the Baltic Birch for my walls. It is far superior to the plywood from Menards. That’s a small regret. I would buy a table saw. Oh, I wouldn't start a fire.

What are you most looking forward to?

I am looking forward to the simplicity and freedom that we will have with this teardrop. We will be able to camp just about anywhere our truck can go. We love traveling out west, so I can’t wait to take this to Colorado. Also, I am really looking forward to camping with other DIY teardrop builders and tiny camper owners. To be honest, I have thoroughly enjoyed this project. I don’t want it to end, and I will continue to tweak on it for years.

Any tips for someone that wants to build a tiny camper but doesn’t know where to start?

Unless you are an engineer, buy a set of plans. They are worth every penny. Don’t worry about making small mistakes, but measure twice and cuss once. The timeline is self imposed. Just because someone else builds theirs in 6 weeks, doesn’t mean you have to do yours that quickly. Just about every step has taken me twice as long as I originally planned, but that has kind of been a blessing. Working in the shop is therapeutic, kind of like a hunter sitting in deer stand. That’s where I find God.

How did using Wander Tears DIY plans and having the resources provided affect your build process and time?

The plans and the Facebook group are invaluable. If you can’t find an answer in the plans, you can certainly find the answer in the group. And the people in the group are amazing. I haven’t seen one person say, “That’s not how I would have done it.”