DIY Feature - Brian and Melanie Lamke
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.
Brian and Melanie are based out of Charlotte NC and chose a custom built teardrop.
What What made you want a teardrop camper?
We started fly fishing a few years ago. Thought it would be nice to camp after fishing instead of making a 2 hour drive home in the dark. Tried tent camping to see if we liked it (which we did). Then we came across Wander Tears and thought it would be a nice upgrade. It seemed it would provide a functional, yet minimalistic approach to our camping experience. So now we are "Camping on the Fly".
What has been the best part of owning a tiny camper?
It's easy setup - everything you need is right there ready to go, from sleeping to cooking to relaxing under the awning. And tear down is quick as well. Also, we're the "eye-candy" of the campground. EVERYONE stops and wants to see our tiny camper (including the Great Smokies NP rangers).
How has camping changed for you with your teardrop camper?
We're ready to go at any time since everything is stored in the camper. The convenience of the kitchen galley is a game changer for us. And we were able to bring our daughter and 2 grandkids camping in the Smokies. We let them sleep in the camper since it was their first time, and we slept in the tent. We even tried the "Danny & Paige" - see how many we can fit in the camper? = 3 adults & 2 kids.
What made you pick Wander Tears?
The YouTube videos caught our attention with their unique approach to build you own camper. And we love the exotic camping views. We also like the music. :) After meeting with Danny in SC, we really liked his humble attitude and knowledge of the product. And his honesty about building it ourselves, which we did not do.
Do you have any camping stories or highlights you want to share?
We recently traveled the entire 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and for fun added on the 105 miles of the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah NP. We hit 5 campgrounds in 8 nights, starting at Smokemont CG in the Smokies, and ending at Big Meadows CG in Shenandoah. We had rain each night for the middle 3 campgrounds along the Blue Ridge, 4 1/2 inches one night. But thanks to being in the teardrop, we stayed dry and comfortable. Had we been tent camping, we would have packed up and gone home. It was a great trek and we saw some amazing views.
Any tips for someone that wants to buy a tiny camper but doesn’t know where to start?
Think about what you really want out of camping. If you want to stay minimalistic and small, Wander Tears is a great option. It's easy to maneuver, and you don't notice it when driving. The kitchen galley is awesome, and the queen mattress is more comfortable than our mattress at home. It is opening up a whole new world of camping for us as "Senior Campers". Thank you Wander Tears!!!
“Travel is an investment in yourself.”
Looking to build a DIY Teardrop Trailer of your own? Check out our detailed DIY plans to get started now and adventuring sooner!