DIY Feature - Jessie

Jun 3

After a family member gave Jessie a free pop up that was rotting out, they tore the entire camper apart, repainted the frame, and 4 months later have a completed teardrop!

What made you want to build a tiny camper?

Last October my husband and I went camping and got in late at night. We had to set up our tent and our beds in the dark, while it was raining. The rest of the weekend we were damp and so was all our gear. We wanted something small that could be towed with our SUVs and would fit in our driveway for storage, and we didn't want to spend tons of money to get something that would fit all the checkboxes for us.

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

I have never done wood working before. I did have quite a bit of electrical experience and a good understanding of mechanics/how things work and go together.

What was the first step in your build?

We actually got a free pop up from a family member that was rotting out so we had to tear the entire camper apart and repaint the frame that was rusting.

What was your favorite part of the build?

I loved when the cabinets started going in, it finally started to look like a camper at this point.

What was the most difficult part of the build?

The roof for sure. I tried doing this on my own and quickly realized I needed a second person. I went with 1/8 wood paneling instead of plywood to be able to have a wood plank look on the interior, but the wood paneling would split bad.

How long did it take you?

It took me about 4 months to build. Including the tear down of the pop up and redoing the trailer.

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

$4000

Would you do anything differently?

I would buy the plywood for the roof, the wood paneling made the job much worse than it needed to be since there were seams that would splinter and you had to be careful how they bent.

What has been the best part of owning a tiny camper? Or what are you most looking forward to?

To not be in the rain and have damp clothes! Also to be able to pack up quicker before a trip.

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

Buy the plans and jump in. They are laid out really well and if you take your time and read through them it goes so easy.

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

I think it really decreased my build time. I was nervous to begin working on it previously since I had no idea where to begin. But the plans put everything out there and made it a relatively simple project.