DIY Feature - Tanner
We are excited to feature Tanner and his DIY Vaga mobile bakery! He knew that his pie shop in Denver, Mile High Pie Company would need a food truck to take to events, and that's when his wife suggested building it as a teardrop trailer! His favorite part of having his pie company on the go is seeing peoples faces when they pull up with a teardrop food truck.
What made you want to build a tiny camper?
I’ve always been interested in smaller, alternative camping options, and had been following along with you guys for awhile because I loved teardrops. When our a pie shop here in Denver needed a food truck for events and catering, my wife suggested we build it on a teardrop platform, and I was sold!
What was your experience level with the skills required to build a camper (wood working, electrical, metal work, etc.) when you started?
I am pretty handy, and had most of the tools necessary for the build and new how to use them. I was a complete novice with the metal work.
What was the first step in your build?
Our first step was modifying the design to suit our needs as a retail food service vehicle, and make sure all of our ideas made sense.
What was your favorite part of the build?
When the walls and roof went up. It went from piles of wood to a teardrop almost instantly, and felt awesome to see it become real!
What was the most difficult part of the build?
Two parts. We had a very hard time finding the right trailer, and ended up purchasing a flatbed with the short little metal railings on the side, which took probably 40 hours to cut off, and repair the trailer back to a new looking actually “flat” deck for the construction to begin. Additionally, due to Covid supply chain issues, we couldn’t get the aluminum specc’ed in the plans, so got one size thicker. Bending around the roof/hatch was a mammoth task and never was very square because of the force necessary to bend the metal. Don’t do either of those things! Buy a Wander Tears trailer and wait for thinner aluminum.
How long did it take you?
Took about 180 hours for us start to finish. But our trailer base added significantly to that total, as did construction of our galley and slide outs that aren’t in your plans
If you're comfortable sharing, what was the total cost of the build?
$6000 before restaurant specific equipment
Would you do anything differently?
Buy your trailer base. Also was very curious about using tougher and groove instead of roof spars and 1/8 sheet for interior. Might look really neat!
What has been the best part of owning a tiny camper? Or what are you most looking forward to?
People reaction when we’re set up at farmers markets selling pies. They absolutely love the aesthetic and design, and it helps make people smile, which is our aim with our food too!
Any tips for someone that wants to build a tiny camper but doesn’t know where to start?
Buy the plans, read them and ask questions about anything you don’t understand! You’ll get there, slow is better than never!
The plans made it possible. Wouldn’t have done it without them. Didn’t feel I had access to enough knowledge, even with the internet. Knowing these plans worked and fit in steps made the difference
“Sometimes the most scenic roads in life are the detours you didn’t mean to make. ”
If you’re in the Denver area, be sure to grab a pie from Tanner at the next farmers market! Check out him and his business @milehighpiecompany on Instagram.
Looking to build a DIY Teardrop Trailer of your own? Check out our detailed DIY plans to get started now and adventuring sooner!
