DIY Feature - Shandy Floyd
Sleeping on the ground can get old after years of doing it. When you want to sleep in a dry cozy shelter but don’t want a huge RV, a Teardrop is the way to go. Shandy figured that out and started to build!
Shandy completed his build in Payson, Utah. He used our DIY Vaga plans and modified them to make his teardrop five feet tall!
What made you want to build a tiny camper?
I was tired of sleeping on the ground but taking care of big trailers and setting them up is too much work.
What was your experience level with the skills required to build a camper (wood working, electrical, metal work, etc.) when you started?
I do finish carpentry and framing. I can do simple electrical, but I've never worked much with metal. I thought I would be able to figure out most of the things I want sure about.
What was the first step in your build?
Buying the plans from Wander Tears instead of looking for a used teardrop trailer to buy. My wife said that if I didn't build it myself I would never be happy with it.
What was your favorite part of the build?
I love building puzzles. Every time I got to the next step and was able to figure it out and it worked I was very excited. I think maybe seeing the hatch close and seal was pretty exciting.
What was the most difficult part of the build?
Finding a trailer frame that was close too the right size and then modifying it. I'm not a welder, but fortunately I have a few friends who were able to help me out with that.
How long did it take you?
I bought the plans at the end of December. I'm not quite done yet, but so far it's been 7 months and I'm close.
If you're comfortable sharing, what was the total cost of the build?
I think I've spent a little over 5000.
Would you do anything differently?
I would probably build, or have built, my own trailer frame instead of modifying a used trailer.
What has been the best part of owning a tiny camper?
I'm looking forward to seeing how well it pulls with my car and how far we're able to take it.
Any tips for someone that wants to build a tiny camper but doesn’t know where to start?
Take your time and be patient. I made a few little mistakes by thinking I could figure certain things out myself, and then realized that were in the plans and I just missed it. I never realized there was a detailed page on how to install the gas struts for the hatch and what size of struts I needed!
How did using Wander Tears DIY plans and having the resources provided affect your build process and time?
Having the plans gave me a lot more confidence to actually go ahead and build the trailer in the first place. I made modifications, but because I had the plans I was more sure if what I could change and what I should leave alone. I'm sure if I hadn't had the plans I would have taken a lot longer and maybe given up on it altogether. Being part of the community had also really helped and encouraged me.
“Travel is an investment in yourself.”
Looking to build a DIY Teardrop Trailer of your own? Check out our detailed DIY plans to get started now and adventuring sooner!