DIY Feature - Tobin Brown Updated

Features

Jun 27

Like most of us, Tobin wanted more comfort than a tent but still have the ability to move campsites without taking down a tent every time.

Tobin started building his own DIY Vaga in Lincoln, Nebraska.

What made you want to build a tiny camper?

Wanted more comfort than a tent and the ability to move campsite without taking down a tent every time!

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

This is my 3rd woodworking project, and probably the biggest (cutting curves was new). I have no experience with metalworking, so I had a local welder build the frame. I have a decent amount of experience with electrical, but new to 12v.

What was the first step in your build?

The first step I did was building the floor, and then it sat in my garage for 2 months while I waited on the trailer

What was your favorite part of the build?

My favorite part of the build was when I first put the aluminum walls on. It felt like the start of the end of the build, and it felt so good!

What was the most difficult part of the build?

So far, installing the interior roof was the most difficult part, I had to trim the 5' sheet down (it was 1/4" too long) and that was a pain, I ended up doing it with a skil saw. And of course that cut wasn't perfectly straight so lining up the seam was difficult.

How long did it take you?

It took just about 6 months from when I purchased the plans to when we took it camping! Nearly 2 months of those I was waiting on the trailer to be fabricated, but that gave me ample time to cut out all the woodwork pieces and get it prefinished (which took quite a long time).

How much did it cost?

All together (with tools as well), about 10k, including 2.5k for the trailer to be built for me.

Would you do anything differently?

Practice a lot more cutting curves. The hatch pieces were especially difficult, but they still turned out alright.

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

Looking forward to camping all next year!

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

Buy the plans.

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

I've been following the plans almost exactly, and I've watched the youtube videos multiple times along the way.

Have you made any post-build upgrades or modifications?

Like many others, I had some work to do on the doors. The vintage tech doors leaked quite a bit while driving in the rain, so I re-did all of the seals with RV sealant. I also added some curtains inside for a little privacy in busy campsites. The next upgrade will likely be electric brakes, I skipped them on the initial build to save a little money, but I'd feel a lot more comfortable with brakes before taking it into the mountains.

Has your teardrop camper sparked any memorable encounters or unexpected conversations on the road?

The first time we took it out we got a happy honk and thumbs-up from someone! I've also had many people ask about it at gas stations and they're all very impressed that it was homemade.