DIY Feature - Jackson Lowry

Features

May 24

Jackson wanted to be able to camp on the beach comfortably and decide a teardrop was the best option for his and his wife!

Jackson started building his own DIY Vaga in Memphis TN.

What made you want to build a tiny camper?

I helped a friend wire up his CLC Teardrop many years ago. Ever since then I have wanted to build one. I also love camping at the beach. It is far more affordable than hotels or apartments and a tiny camper makes extended beach trips much more comfortable. I am actually typing this at the beach on the galley of my camper right now!

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

I am electrician by trade and had limited experience with woodworking. I didn't have any of the welding experience but used this as an opportunity to learn.

What was the first step in your build?

Building and welding the trailer frame.

What was your favorite part of the build?

Welding the trailer frame. It was a lot of fun. Welding makes you feel

What was the most difficult part of the build?

Cutting out the aluminum. I couldn't source the very thin aluminum that everyone else used. I needed to go with a slightly thicker profile that made routing the aluminum very difficult. Was more annoying than anything.

How long did it take you?

I started the trailer in late May and finished in late November. Around 6 months in total.

How much did it cost?

I believe I spent around $8,000. The price of lumber did not make this cheap!

Would you do anything differently?

If I could change anything it would be modifying the plans to include space for a small window AC unit from the get go. These are the most affordable way to AC a camper but can be very difficult to install and vent properly inside a space of this size. The Dometic units are very nice but they are incredibly expensive and traditional rooftop AC units are too large. I am working on a cabinet upgrade that any body with a Vaga could easily do to add a window unit to their camper. Even if they do not have provisions for it already.

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

The best part is probably how happy my wife is with it. She loves to read and being comfortable while reading in remote locations makes her super happy.

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

Take each step at a time. There is so much to plan and work around. I spent far too much time worried about a problem that was 2 steps ahead of where I currently was. I should have just put my head down and worked on the task in front of me instead of researching how to solve problems.

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

The DIY plans took a lot of the time out of planning how to build it. I didn't have to design all the measurements and worry about if my custom plans would work. I just bought the wood, made the measurements, double checked the measurements, and started cutting.