DIY Feature - John Harback
John has always wanted a teardrop trailer but he thought they were so expensive for something so small, that's when he realized he had the skills to build one himself.
He started building his own DIY Vaga in Lancaster, California earlier this year and took it on it’s Maiden voyage in July!
What made you want to build a tiny camper?
I wanted one but thought they were so expensive for their size, so I said ‘I can build one.’
What was your experience level with the skills required to build a camper (wood working, electrical, metal work, etc.) when you started?
I have been around metal fabrication and woodworking most of my life and welder in aerospace for over 40 years, so I figured it shouldn’t be to hard to build one.
What was the first step in your build?
I looked online a lot at different trailers but I kept going back to Wander Tears. Danny and Paige seemed the most helpful for what I needed so I bought their plans and started to fabricate the trailer.
What was your favorite part of the build?
Once the walls started going up it really started taking shape.
What was the most difficult part of the build?
Probably attaching and lining up roof skins. Also the hatch seemed easy to build but twisted somewhere along the line.
How long did it take you?
I am finishing up here in a week or two but it has taken me seven months.
If you're comfortable sharing, what was the total cost of the build?
I haven’t really added everything up, but with the Timbren axles well over $6000.
Would you do anything differently?
Not really, I get in a hurry sometimes and start making mistakes. Try and buy the best quality lumber if you can and make sure all your cuts are accurate.
What has been the best part of owning a tiny camper?
With the small size being able to go places others can’t get to.
Any tips for someone that wants to build a tiny camper but doesn’t know where to start?
Just go for it go your own speed and enjoy it. I am getting a lot of self satisfaction standing back and looking at this cool trailer I built.
How did using Wander Tears DIY plans and having the resources provided affect your build process and time?
Danny and Paige are very helpful the plans are great very detailed and a lot of research went into them and the links.
“Daring to plunge into the unknown may very well land you in paradise.” ”
Looking to build a DIY Teardrop Trailer of your own? Check out our detailed DIY plans to get started now and adventuring sooner!
