DIY Feature - Keenan and Kendall Reynolds

Features

Nov 18

Keenan and Kendall started dreaming of owning a teardrop camper after nearly a month of setting up and tearing down a tent every day on a cross-country road trip. They wanted to be able to just pack a bag of clothes and get on the road. That’s exactly what they got!

Keenan and Kendall are building their teardrop in Massachusetts, using our DIY Vaga plans. Here’s some insight on their build!

What made you want to build a tiny camper?

In June of 2020, my wife Kendall and I road tripped across the country from Massachusetts to California with the goal of seeing as many National Parks as possible. On this trip we tent-camped mostly at state parks as we went. After nearly a month of setting up and tearing down a tent nearly every day; I remember seeing a teardrop parked at an overlook on Highway 1 and thinking it was perfect way to see the country. We began to dream of owning a teardrop like the one we had saw; but when we began researching them the cost just seemed a bit out of reach for us. However, in out research we came across a community of people building teardrops all over the world. It got me thinking; I could probably build one for cheaper, and I could build it at my own pace spreading the cost over several months. That’s when I found the Wander Tears Vaga plans; and from there it was only a few months until we started work on our build.

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

I would say I am fairly skilled in woodworking, as its one of my hobbies, but my knowledge in metal/electrical work etc. was lacking a bit. Thankfully I had my dads help and he’s got lots of experience in all these areas and I couldn’t have done it without him.

What was the first step in your build?

We began our build by cutting up an old utility trailer that my dad had lying around the yard. The utility trailer was 4.5x8; so it was not quite the dimensions we needed to follow the Vaga plans without modifying them. So in cutting up the trailer we were able to repurpose the steel and save about $400; leaving us only to purchase the 5’ crossmembers to essentially widen the now unrecognizable utility trailer we started with. From there, with the help of my dad, we were able to weld a frame together exactly to the specifications of the plans. As for the suspension, we decided to use a Timbren axel-less suspension; giving us a really smooth ride.

What was your favorite part of the build?

My favorite part of the build was the woodworking/assembly portion of the build. It was by far the most satisfying part; to take all the pieces and put them together to start forming the most basic shaping of the teardrop.

What was the most difficult part of the build?

The most difficult portion of the build was probably the galley hatch and its latches. It’s a pretty basic construction, but it very important to get it dead-accurate leaving no gaps for water to get in. As long as you take your time and follow the plans I think you’ll be a-okay.

How long did it take you?

About 8 months. Working only on weekends; we started building in March 2022 and had it mostly completed aside from a couple odds and ends in October.

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

About $8000, with add-ons like the Timbren suspension and the stargazer window.

Would you do anything differently?

When making the hatch I would consider the thickness of the aluminum corner trim as it changes the radius slightly.

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

Being able to have most our camping gear ready to go, so all we have to do is pack a bag of clothes, connect the trailer and go.

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

Just start or you never will. Once you invest your money and start building, it really motivates you to keep going.

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

The plans were great and really easy to follow! Being a part of the Wander Tears Community Facebook page that comes with buying plans is a great resource and is invaluable. It’s nice to have a community of people building from the same plans you are, and have direct access to the folks from Wander Tears to ask all the questions you need.