DIY Feature - Mike O
What do you do when your family doesn’t like to camp in a tent? You build a teardrop trailer! That’s what Mike did. He’s almost 60 years old and finally made the decision that would allow them to road trip to all of the National Parks.
Mike built a DIY Hopper teardrop in his garage in Massachusetts. Here’s what he had to say about the build!
What made you want to build a tiny camper?
I love traveling with my wife, children and dog. They don’t like camping. So when they will come I’d like to have something better than a tent. I’m pretty minimalistic so don’t need much.
What was your experience level with the skills required to build a camper (wood working, electrical, metal work, etc.) when you started?
Hacker level at home. Willing to learn but have a track record of loosing patience and mucking things up at the end.
What was the first step in your build?
Grill Danny with a million questions on the plans.
What was your favorite part of the build?
My build is 100% plywood. I wrapped it all including the bottom in Poor Man’s Fiberglass. I felt this protected the plywood and provided some additional structural integrity to the build.
What was the most difficult part of the build?
Cutting cross cut angles using my circular saw.
How long did it take you?
I’m two months in and ready to camp next weekend.
If you're comfortable sharing, what was the total cost of the build?
I counted EVERY penny including cost to buy tools I did not own like a router. I’ve spent $4400. I’d estimate $400 in tools.
Would you do anything differently?
Get better paint rollers. Go with white paint.
What has been the best part of owning a tiny camper?
I’m nearing 60 years old. Ready to see more national parks and the beauty of Canada.
Any tips for someone that wants to build a tiny camper but doesn’t know where to start?
Spend endless hours on YouTube. Watch every Wander Tears video 5 times at least.
How did using Wander Tears DIY plans and having the resources provided affect your build process and time?
I didn’t have to plan anything. I followed the plans 100%. No stress.
Be sure to follow along with Mike and his travels on Instagram at @longwalkshortlegs!
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
Looking to build a DIY Teardrop Trailer of your own? Check out our detailed DIY plans to get started now and adventuring sooner!
