DIY Feature - Anna and Lauren
We are so thrilled to feature Anna Boucher and Lauren Alley! They may not be finished building yet but we are so proud with how far they've come already. A few more bottles of wine and they will be ready to set off on all of the adventures they've been hoping for.
What made you want to build a tiny camper?
We had built couple tables in the past and loved just getting to work with our hands. We had the idea to buy an old trailer and renovate the inside. After looking around, we stumbled on teardrop trailers. We knew we didn't just want to buy one, we wanted to do something that would take us a good amount of time and something that would force us to learn a lot of new skills.
What was your experience level with the skills required to build a camper (wood working, electrical, metal work, etc.) when you started?
We would say our experience level was... basically zero in every area haha. Youtube has been our best friend. On the flip side... we are only half way but our experience level in a lot of areas is on the up and up!
What was the first step in your build?
Poured a couple glasses of wine... laughed at the thought of actually pulling this off... and then did a deep dive into finding some plans that we felt we could follow along with. We loved Wander Tears because their plans were for normal people who wanted to do something cool.
What has been your favorite part of the build?
Our favorite part of the build so far has been learning to use all the new tools. We have had so many laughs and re-dos on it all which has just been so fun to learn.
What was the most difficult part of the build?
The most difficult part has been getting all the cuts and angles the exact measurements they need to be! We always seem to have something just a tad off.
How long did it take you?
Good question! We are still working. We both have very busy schedules and is not something we really can work on consistently all the time so we couldn't give an exact answer on that.
If you're comfortable sharing, what was the total cost of the build?
Also a great question! We do not know quite yet. A large part of the cost was getting many of the tools we would need.
Would you do anything differently?
Honestly.... no. We are sure there will be some things that come up but so far we have loved every part of it.
What has been the best part of owning a tiny camper? Or what are you most looking forward to?
We are really looking forward to getting to explore and travel in something we worked hard to accomplish. We are not even done yet and are so proud of it. It has been so fun to share progress with friends and family.
Any tips for someone that wants to build a tiny camper but doesn’t know where to start?
DOOOO IT! We have loved learning so many new things and having so many laughs at each other along the way. Find a friend to enjoy the process with!
How did using Wander Tears DIY plans and having the resources provided affect your build process and time?
How did it affect it??... It made it possible. We would not have even started this process without the Wander Tears plans because they were the only ones we found that made us feel capable of actually doing it.
We have loved following Anna and Lauren’s Instagram profile _landndesigns which is dedicated to their build. Be sure to check them out and follow along for all their progress and laughs!
“In life, it’s not where you go – it’s who you travel with. ”
Looking to build a DIY Teardrop Trailer of your own? Check out our detailed DIY plans to get started now and adventuring sooner!
