About a year and a half ago I discovered a gypsy wagon several kilometres from home while on a walk. Forgotten and a little worse for wear, it was parked in the backyard of a home, being used to store unused garden tools and flower pots. There was something about it and the dozens of vardo pictures I discovered online that held my fascination as a woodworker and wood artist. It was rustic art on wheels. Unlike the beat-up discovery down the road, I now understand that historically, gypsy wagons, caravans or vardos were four-wheeled horse drawn living wagons. They were often intricately carved and vividly decorated. When I first saw one several months ago I was amazed at the detail and artistry that the builder had put into her wagon creation. Now there was a backyard woodworking project! It had all the elements that attracted me to do the same. And so I decided to build my own version of the gypsy wagon.

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Gypsy wagons can be grouped into different styles including the Brush wagon, Reading, Ledge, Bow Top, Open lot and Burton wagon. I decided to combine styles and use a recycled two wheeled utility trailer as the vardo base frame. I decided I would build a wagon built on a 4′ X 8′ trailer frame. Adding the ledges would give me 6′ X 8′ interior and still be be relatively easy to move around both while building and later when positioning at a campsite.

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Using Kijiji, I located a well used but solid utility trailer with a heavy duty frame, axle and tongue jack that met my requirements. And it was cheap. I began construction in late April, 2015 and completed it 10 weeks later. I added a single couch / bed that extends to double bed (gaucho style) and numerous curly brackets, colourful trim, some shelving, an exterior lamp outside the dutch door.