DIY Feature - Ryan Krenke

Features

Nov 4

On a quest to hike 1000+ miles and with some new travel plans in his future, Ryan thought there was no better companion to help him complete these tasks than a teardrop trailer.

Ryan is building his teardrop in Wisconsin, using our DIY Vaga plans. Here’s some insight on his build!

What made you want to build a tiny camper?

I started hiking the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (1000+ miles) when COVID started. I didn't have the time for long duration through hikes so I tried tackling it in sections. Needing to travel quite a ways from home to hike new paths, I thought building a teardrop camper would be an affordable way to get around. Now having completed with my build I honestly haven't been hiking as much as thought but rather have enjoyed all the new places I traveled to. I have gotten much more use of my Wander Tears Vaga than I imagined.

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

I've always enjoyed woodworking and have built some furniture and completed many home remodeling projects. I'm an IT network engineer, and joke that am in my happy place around routers but true to heart I'd much rather be working with routers of the woodworking variety. I've done quite a bit of electrical, playing with model railroads as a kid. Metal work is new to me and I had to hit up friends for some welding assistance.

What was the first step in your build?

I did a fair amount research and watched many YouTube videos before landing on WanderTears. Looking back it was the best decision. From well-designed and safe plans to a complete bill of materials and the awesome support and build community I was well-prepared before I got a single tool out.

What was your favorite part of the build?

The day when walls, bulkheads, counters and cabinets came together; the feeling of instant gratification watching raw parts meld into a beautiful curvy functional masterpiece.

What was the most difficult part of the build?

Nothing was overly difficult except caulking - caulk and I don’t, and will probably never, get along. I had a hard time overcoming my OCD and trying to apply a perfect, seamless, bead of caulk. Aside from this, the well thought plans and Wander Tears builders group were incredibly helpful.

How long did it take you?

All told about 5 months with a 4 month winter hibernation (I don't have a heated garage) - Sept '22 - May '23.

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

I think I totaled out around $8500. I did add some optional accessories that I've come to find I haven't needed/used as much as I thought I would.

Would you do anything differently?

I probably put too much emphasis on creature comforts when I should have focused on the joy of camping - getting outside in nature.

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

I have enjoyed all of the places and people I have visited. Our very trip was 2000+ miles and it went way smoother than I could've imagined. While my Vaga is in storage for the winter I am busy planning next years' travels.

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

There are a lot of resources, YouTube videos, and social media groups to review. I will caution that some of the information shared in public forums is neither sound building practices or even safe. However, I felt confident with Wander Tears plans because they didn't leave anything out and I now have an amazing finished product.

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

There wasn't anything taken for granted. I didn't have to weigh through dozens of opinions and techniques on building and could concentrate on hand crafting a professional looking product.