DIY Feature - Willem Rockett

Features

Feb 24

Like most of us teardrop lovers, Willem wanted a way to be able to just pack up and go for a weekend getaway without all of the prep and setup.

Willem completed his build in Darwin, NT, Australia and used our DIY Vaga plans.

What made you want to build a tiny camper?

I liked the idea of being able to go camping without the extensive packing and setup. The teardrop seemed like something I could jump straight into on a Friday afternoon rather than spending 2 hours packing then an hour setting up the campsite.

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

Minimal - but youtube and a trim router can make anyone seem competent.

What was the first step in your build?

After I brought the plans and my trailer, I set about modifying the Wander Tears plans in Autocad to suit my dimensions.

What was your favorite part of the build?

Flush trimming the exterior aluminum panels - This process was incredibly satisfying as you start to see the shape and the final form of the unit come together!

What was the most difficult part of the build?

The cutting phase and the rear hatch. For the cutting phase I did not have a decent table saw and I fashioned a track saw out of some RHS and some clamps. As for the rear door I rushed this a little towards the end and I was not happy with how it turned out.

How long did it take you?

I brought the trailer in August 2022 and took it for it's first complete road test in December 2022 so circa 5 months.

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

Around $8,500 AUD including the purchase of the trailer and the WT Plans :)

Would you do anything differently?

I would definitely take more time to get the rear hatch right so it looked a little nicer than what it came out to be. We are running a small fridge and I would also shell out for a lithium battery in lieu of an AGM if possible.

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

The conversations it starts with the people you meet on the road are great! A lot of people politely ask to see in it and it's nice to be able to show it off. The convenience of being able to get out and about at short notice is also pretty awesome.

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

Just start! I lived in an inner city apartment with only a garage to work out of. On paper it was going to be a difficult build but once I got into it, it was a very straight forward process - especially with the plans provided.

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

The cutting list and plans made the whole process seem achievable. I scoured through these with a highlighter and red pen prior to doing any work. This made putting together all of the other items an absolute breeze!