They loved camping, but didn’t like the work of packing, setup, takedown, etc. It took the joy out of the journey for them and they were also finding it difficult to get a good night’s rest in a tent.

They started building their own DIY Vaga in Winton, California.

What made you want to build a tiny camper?

We loved camping, but didn’t like the work of packing, setup, takedown, etc. that took the joy out of the journey. We were also finding it difficult to get a good night’s rest in a tent. I had been interested in building a teardrop for years, but the challenge of designing and doing it on my own was a bit daunting to commit too. A friend of mine, Darrell Sorenson, built a Woody Teardrop on an old boat trailer and encouraged me to go for it. Then I ran across Wander Tears and loved the simple design, plans to follow, and a build support group.

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

I work as a Nurse Informaticist, but my father was a custom home builder. I grew up around construction and in my teen, years framed a few houses with my dad. That gave me some basic carpentry skills. Because of my hobby interest in making electronics, I had some skills and knowledge for the electrical side of the camper. Metal working is where I had zero prior skill. That’s why I leaned on a friend to weld my trailer chassis.

What was the first step in your build?

The first step was getting the plans and starting to source the materials. In particular, materials that would be difficult to find, such as Baltic Birch and aluminum sheeting. At the same time my friend ordered the steel and started on the trailer chassis.

What was your favorite part of the build?

I enjoyed working on the camper at all stages. But the most rewarding was when we assembled the walls and cabinets to the floor. That day is such a milestone because for so long it doesn’t look like a camper and then in one day it takes shape. It was also the first time I could get a feel for what the final camper would be like. I hadn’t seen a Wander Tears trailer in person before.

What was the most difficult part of the build?

I struggled the most with trimming the aluminum. It may have been the router bit or my technique. But I was not enjoying flush routing it with metal chips flying. I found that first rough cutting with a jigsaw and leaving only a 1/8” to flush trim made it easier.

How long did it take you?

We purchased the plans and started September 2022. We camped in it for the first time the last day of June 2023. It still needed the drawers, slide outs, roof rack, awning, and solar panels at that time. We completed a 5,000 mile trip in mid-August of 2023 and by then only a few minor details weren’t completed. It took me about 450 hours (not sure how accurately I tracked them), but I also had some deviations from plan that added significant time and cost. They were little details, but the time added up. If you want to keep time and cost to minimum, don’t deviate from the plans.

How much did it cost?

Total cost was $16,000 and included a trailer chassis welded by a friend and powder coated. The underfloor is fiberglassed and Raptor Lined for extra durability. The cost includes a Bluetti AC200MAX solar generator, two 100 watt solar panels, a Roam awning, a Dometic CFX3 35 cooler, custom fabricated fenders, and a number of other small customizations. Little things can add up. The custom fenders were not planned, but deviation on the axle selection and a mistake in the trailer weld up led to that being the best option. I do like how they turned out even though they cost 3x what a stock fender of similar quality would have.

Would you do anything differently?

I don’t know if I would do the solar generator setup again. It does have advantages, which is why I chose it. But now I see the disadvantages may outweigh those. One of them is that if the battery cells go bad you need to replace the whole unit. With a standard DC electrical system you would only need to replace the battery, not the inverter, solar charge controller, etc. which are all built-in to the solar generator. The tongue box is almost fully dedicated to the solar generator. With a standard battery setup, I would have kept more of the box for additional storage.

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

In the first 15 months, we’ve towed it nearly 10,000 miles and camped over 45 nights. It is great to be able to travel and not worry about where to sleep. We like the ease of being able to stop for lunch along the road when traveling. As a result of traveling with the teardrop, we eat healthier and rest better which means enjoying road trips and camping even more.

We enjoy cooking outdoors. Which is why we love a tiny camper. You have the outdoor kitchen with minimal setup and take down. If it is raining, there is some protection from the galley hatch and if needed we can put up the Kelty Backroads canopy to enclose the galley for more inclement weather. We can seek cover from rain or sun under the Roam awning and it is a cinch to set up.

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

If you want to build a camper, don’t know where to start, and the thought of figuring it out on your own seems daunting, then building from plans or a kit is the way to go. I looked at numerous kits and plans, as well as read Tony Latham’s, Building a Teardrop book (used it as a supplemental resource during my build as well). But ultimately, I went with Wander Tears for three reasons, 1.) detailed plans, 2.) a design I loved, and 3.) the Facebook support group. Other companies might check some of those boxes, but not all of them. There are generic Facebook DIY groups. But they aren’t building from the same design or plans as you. Having a group building the same camper from the same plans, means they get exactly what you’re asking and can answer any questions or challenges that come up. Plus, sometimes Danny or Paige will personally answer as well. I see Wander Tears as the path of least resistance if you want the joy of DIY and not a mass-produced camper with quality issues.

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

The plans and the available resources take away many of the unknowns. For instance, when doing your own design, you need to figure out a cut list, sometimes odd angle cuts, etc. That can make it difficult to efficiently use the plywood and lead to mistakes. The plans remove that from the equation, saving time and money.

Prior to buying the plans, I had spent countless hours researching different ways to construct teardrops and squaredrops. But the plans take away the confusion on a method that will work well. I did deviate from the plans in some areas. But if you aren’t certain, simply follow the plans and you will end up with a quality camper you built. I’ve seen too many partially built DIY campers for sale where the builder made mistakes and wanted to just walk away. But with plans, that isn’t as likely, which means it decreases the risk of spending money on something you wouldn’t be happy with.