DIY Feature - George Gardner

Features

May 3

George and his wife always said all they needed in a camper is a "bed on wheels". They were originally going to restore an old retro camper, but fell in love with teardrops after watching a few videos.

George started building his own DIY Vaga in Washington.

What made you want to build a tiny camper?

We have always said all we needed in a camper is a "bed on wheels". I was originally going to restore an old retro camper, but fell in love with teardrops after watching a few videos.

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 experienced woodworker and electrician, but had no experience with metal work. I took a risk and built my own trailer and I am glad I did.

What was the first step in your build?

I built the trailer first.

What was your favorite part of the build?

Honestly, all the planning that is involved. I love seeing my (and WanderTears') ideas become reality.

What was the most difficult part of the build?

The surface prep for the bed liner was a lot of work, and the fumes from the epoxy was a lot to deal with.

How long did it take you?

I've been working on it for about 5 months with another month or two to go.

How much did it cost?

Guessing about $6k...so far

Would you do anything differently?

If I had to do it again I would have built the cabin on a stand and moved it to the trailer after it was done. I covered the trailer with bed liner, and the trailer got in the way.

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

Ease of use. My wife and I head out to go camping much more often because it is so easy to hook up the trailer and go.

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

Don't get overwhelmed by the overall scope of the project. Just take it one step at a time and it is very manageable.

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

The parts list saved me so much time and hassle. Plus, the YouTube videos and builder community has made this whole process easy and fun. It kinda feels like we are all in this together.