DIY Feature - Chris and Michelle Smith

Features

Mar 8

It started with a tent that was starting to leak a little bit. Tenting was their favorite way of camping but also started to realize it was getting harder to go from horizontal to vertical. So, they started to think about alternatives. That's when they landed on Wander Tears and started their Vaga build.

Chris and Michelle started building their own DIY Vaga in Tasmania, Australia.

What made you want to build a tiny camper?

It started with a tent that was starting to leak a little bit. Tenting is our favourite way of camping and has been for 35 years along with bushwalking. We also stared to note that it was getting more difficult to go from horizontal to vertical, especially when the top of the bed was only 200mm from the ground. We started to think about alternatives; one being a Jayco pop top/pull out camper and whilst researching how I could remodel such a thing, I stumbled across WanderTears via a Insta feed that featured the Vaga. I showed my wife who said that she had seen these over a year ago and loved the concept but did not take it any further. After investigating WanderTears website and Insta pages, we decided we could build a Vaga.

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

I am a carpenter and have been building houses (and other things) for 25 years. I also have had experience in Project Management.

What was the first step in your build?

Trying to decide if we had a suitable budget and space to build the camper. Then purchasing plans from Danny and Paige. Having a set of plans to work from made the build a lot easier.

What was your favorite part of the build?

For me it was flicking the master switch on the electrical system once it was fully installed and finding everything worked! And doing the wiring part with my best mate.

What was the most difficult part of the build?

Working in a cramped space in the carport at night in the middle of Tasmanian winter! Other challenges were sourcing materials, waterproofing, galley layout, hand cutting doors for cabinetry, curving the ceiling plywood- we used 12mm ply because of the grooving effect we wanted.

How long did it take you?

It took 6 months after the delivery of the trailer frame, working some nights after work and at weekends. I also took a week off from work to move the build along a bit quicker.

How much did it cost?

$13,000 AUD without the add ons such as awnings, bike racks.

Would you do anything differently?

I have about 50kg that I don’t want on the towball so perhaps move the axle forward 100mm. I would try to source more dust proof access doors too.

What has been the best part of owning a tiny camper?

We like 2 things- quick to pack and get away and quick to set up when arriving at our destination. We like how we are still living the outdoor life as you would when tenting.

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

If you haven’t the skills required, don’t be afraid to ask for help from your community of friends. It’s always good to do things in partnership. Take note of how Danny and Paige work together. Watch their videos! Research the materials that are available in your area before starting your build.

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

The plans are great. It was interesting for me to adapt to the imperial measurements and the metric conversions. I understood how most of the measurements were derived. I did not stick to the exact measurements on the plan but adapted our build from the plans. Basically we built 200mm longer and around 50mm higher and 30mm wider- our floor plan was based on the dimensions of the mattress!!!! Obviously there is a weight penalty and for us the final product weighed in at 830kg- electric brakes are required over 750kg for our tow vehicle. The trailer frame (which I had built by a trailer manufacturing company due to new laws that were being adopted in the middle of our build) was also adapted from the plan but made a bit more heavy duty- again with a weight penalty. I spent countless hours buried in YouTube videos and resources on the Community FB page. Danny and Paige were very responsive to questions I just could not find an answer. The plans were pretty much set up in the sequence of the build which made it easy.