Have you seen these amazing DIY teardrop trailer kits?

Since you’re reading this, I’m going to assume that the notion of building a DIY teardrop trailer has sparked your curiosity. Or maybe you just know someone who would love such a project.

Well, I hear ya. When I first heard about this DIY teardrop camper trailer kit, I was more than a little excited as well. Not only do I love a good DIY, but I really love teardrop campers as well. This style of camper dates back to at least the 1930s and is both practical (streamlined and lightweight) and visually appealing.

This particular DIY teardrop trailer is available as a kit from Denman Marine in Australia or CLC Boats in the USA. You will need to supply your own trailer to plonk it on but the end result will be a very elegant looking 2.44m (L) x 1.67m (W) x 1.14m (H) teardrop camper with a basic shell weight of around only 85 kg.

What can I expect from the finished DIY teardrop camper trailer?

Despite its small footprint, it appears to be surprisingly roomy on the inside. In fact, two adults up to 198cm can stretch out comfortably. This DIY teardrop trailer kit boasts decent-sized doors on both sides, a 15-inch square hatch on the roof and room for a 12-volt electrical system to run all your comforts from home such as lights, fans, music and charging plugs for devices.

Like most teardrop campers, the galley is located in a locker at the rear of the trailer. Although you can fill this space however you like, a shelving unit can be ordered as an add-on option.

The DIY teardrop camper trailer is built from high-quality marine plywood. DIY enthusiasts will assemble pre-fabricated components and the sturdy shell is sheathed in fibreglass cloth and epoxy. This not only makes the DIY camper completely waterproof but really shows off that beautiful wood shell, rivalling any full fibreglass or aluminium body campers.

How hard is the build?

First-timers should work from the pre-cut kit DIY teardrop trailer kit to ensure the accuracy of the joinery. However, never fear, full instructions are provided with the kit. Anyone ‘handy’ should be able to manage this project providing they take the time and don’t cut corners.

Those with plenty of experience can work from the plans only, particularly if you’ve already got a bit of experience with building a stitch-and-glue boat or two.

How long will it take to build this DIY teardrop trailer?

Denman Marine suggests around 250 hours. If you start with a kit, there isn’t that much woodworking involved as the parts are already cut out. There is a lot of epoxy and fibreglass work to ensure the finished product is light, strong and waterproof so much of the time is spent sanding and finishing.

The fit-out of course will vary from one DIY teardrop trailer project to the next. Why? Because some of you will keep it really simple and others will enjoy ensuring your DIY campers have a state-of-the-art electrical system and galley.

Here’s what the building process looks like:

Can I carry stuff on the roof?

Yep, you sure can. The roof has been reinforced for roof racks so bicycles, kayaks and other fun stuff can be carried up there.

Additional storage is gained from an optional lockable storage box and/or the new integrated cargo carrier.

What about the trailer?

A trailer isn’t included in the package but given the small footprint and lightweight nature of this DIY teardrop camper kit, it lends itself well to just about anything on wheels. Keep it legal of course!

It can be fitted to a standard 8×4 box trailer with some modifications. There are pros and cons to this. The upside is that you then have additional storage underneath the DIY teardrop camper itself in the box trailer. However, the big downside is that it could potentially raise the camper to a height that makes it difficult to access.

Tim in Victoria has mounted his build on a slightly shortened Carlex 958TC 8×5 multi-trailer. See the photos below.

How much will a DIY teardrop trailer kit set me back?

A base kit starts at $5,880 with a few optional extras available. Purchasing just the plans and manual where you do everything from scratch will set you back $490.

Included in the DIY teardrop camper trailer base kit is: