DIY Feature - Dorian Casey
Craving a more versatile way of traveling and camping with their newborn son, they thought a teardrop would give them the safety and comfort of their car but having the same luxuries the van gave them.
Dorian built his teardrop in Astoria, OR using our DIY Vaga plans. Here’s some insight on his build!
What made you want to build a tiny camper?
To have a more versatile way of traveling and camping with our newborn son, traveling in the safety and comfort of our car but having the same luxuries as the van gave us.
What was your experience level with the skills required to build a camper (wood working, electrical, metal work, etc.) when you started?
Fairly experienced, we’ve been converting sprinter vans professionally for a few years.
What was the first step in your build?
Planning and Frame construction.
What was your favorite part of the build?
Aluminum skinning, so satisfying to see it come together.
What was the most difficult part of the build?
The hatch!
How long has it taken you?
3 months of working on it on weekends
If you're comfortable sharing, what was the total cost of the build?
~15,000
Would you do anything differently?
Nope!
What has been the best part of owning a tiny camper?
Being able to just hitch up and go has been amazing. We’ve been camping out of a sprinter van for the past few years and being able to leave camp and jet around with just the truck is super nice.
Any tips for someone that wants to build a tiny camper but doesn’t know where to start?
Just start! Take it one step at a time and enjoy the process.
How did using Wander Tears DIY plans and having the resources provided affect your build process and time?
Sped up the process created a better finished product.
“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!