DIY Feature - Scott Wells

Features

Apr 18

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.

Scott built his own version of the Renegade in North Carolina.

What made you want to build a tiny camper?

I have been camping in a rooftop tent for the past couple years and wanted something that was more convenient and comfortable. I also wanted a fun project.

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

I had some basic "handyman" skills and a lot woodworking tools I've collected over the years.

What was the first step in your build?

Buying the trailer frame and some plans from WT. I made some crude drawings of what I wanted it to look like then I followed the "Renegade" plans for the flooring and basic wall design but changed the shape. I wanted the squaredrop appearance. I started all of this a little bit before WT came out with the new "Rambler" plans. I may have looked into that plan had I started later.

What was your favorite part of the build?

The electrical system. I did not know much about electrical systems and it was fascinating to learn all of this. It's very satisfying to design and build a system, flip a switch, and actually have a light or a fan turn on. Ha!

What was the most difficult part of the build?

Fiberglass and epoxy. This is more of an art form than I was expecting. Fortunately, I was going for a rough and rugged appearance so all the imperfections in the fiberglass don't really bother me too much.

How long did it take you?

It took me 4 month to get it to a usable point now. I still need to mount the awning, build the slide out galley in the front, and finish some cosmetic interior work.

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

I didn't tally up receipts, but probably $10-12k including the initial trailer purchase

Would you do anything differently?

I don't think so, but ask me again after a year of use

What are you most looking forward to?

Getting out to the mountains with my friends to go mountain biking, running, and hiking. I also plan to take my dog along now for some trips.

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

YouTube helped me a lot to see what was even possible.

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

The WT plans helped me put together a solid foundation in the floor and get it firmly attached to the trailer frame. Even though my trailer looks nothing like it, I was referencing the "Renegade" plans for the first few weeks in order to get a floor and some walls built. I also frequently used the links to build supplies provided with the plans.