A photographer lives full-time in a 66-square-foot van that has a king-size bed, roof deck, and secret compartments that disappear into the walls

Debanjali BoseJan 20, 2021, 05:54 IST

Accountant-turned-travel-photographer Quin Schrock in his 66-square-foot van home.Courtesy of Quin Schrock

Quin Schrock lives in a converted 66-square-foot Mercedes-Benz sprinter van.
The travel photographer bought the $57,000 van in March and converted it into a tiny home over five months.
Schrock has lived on the road full-time for about six years in various vehicles.

Quin Schrock is a photographer who travels the US and the world on assignment - and he gets to bring his home with him.

Schrock has lived and worked out of various camper vans in the last six years since he left a career in accounting to become a professional photographer.

"I had a pretty normal suburban existence growing up, and then I was an accountant," Schrock told Insider.

"I always dreamt of living a life of adventure and having these crazy stories I would see in movies. It was more so like this distant dream," he added.

That started to change when, six years ago, he booked a one-way ticket to Peru and liked the pictures he took on the trip.

Since then, Schrock, who was included in an Insider roundup of the 30 most-followed travel Instagram accounts in 2017, has worked as a travel photographer. His Instagram account, which has 1.2 million followers, is filled with colorful snaps from places like Peru, Bolivia, and California.

The California native started building his latest mobile tiny home - a Mercedes-Benz sprinter van he calls his "quarantine baby" - in March.

Here's how Schrock converted his 66-square-foot van into a full-time tiny home with a king-sized bed, solar panel-covered roof deck, and secret compartments that disappear into the walls.

Quin Schrock's sprinter van conversion is only the latest chapter in his life on the road. He's lived like this, full time, for about six years, roughly as long as he's been a travel photographer.

Schrock inside his sprinter van home. Courtesy of Quin Schrock

Quin Schrock's sprinter van conversion is only the latest chapter in his life on the road. He's lived like this, full time, for about six years, roughly as long as he's been a travel photographer.

Schrock told Insider that despite having limited square footage, he doesn't see living out of a van as "downsizing." Instead, he says he's "always slightly upgrading."

Schrock bought his latest Mercedes-Benz sprinter van for about $57,000 but estimates that it cost him about $90,000, in total, after factoring in all of the adjustments and modifications he made.

The van before the conversion. Courtesy of Quin Schrock

Schrock bought his latest Mercedes-Benz sprinter van for about $57,000 but estimates that it cost him about $90,000, in total, after factoring in all of the adjustments and modifications he made.

Schrock calls the sprinter his "quarantine baby" after he spent a good chunk of 2020 converting it from a van into a mobile tiny home.

Schrock's converted van interior. Courtesy of Quin Schrock

He started work on the new van in March and finished the bulk of the work in August. He has been living in the van since then.

Schrock outside the converted van. Courtesy of Quin Schrock

While this wasn't his first conversion, he wanted this van to look different from the ones he'd owned before.

The van Schrock lived in before his latest conversion. Courtesy of Quin Schrock

Schrock started the conversion process by cutting "a bunch of huge holes" in the van.

Schrock at the beginning of the transformation. Courtesy of Quin Schrock

Schrock gave Insider a walkthrough of his van. As soon as you step into the space, you're greeted by a seating area.

The seating area with the table and a footrest that doubles as shoe storage. Courtesy of Quin Schrock

The van's fridge and freezer are under the bench in the seating area. To the left of the bench, in the kitchen area, he has dual induction ovens, a toaster oven, and an extendable faucet.

The induction oven. Courtesy of Quin Schrock

The van's fridge and freezer are under the bench in the seating area. To the left of the bench, in the kitchen area, he has dual induction ovens, a toaster oven, and an extendable faucet.

The van has several "secret" storage compartments that disappear into the wooden paneling. One wouldn't notice them unless they were open.

The secret compartments for spice, oils, and toiletries. Courtesy of Quin Schrock

Schrock even has a mirror, right above the faucet, that also disappears into the wall, as demonstrated below.

The mirror that disappears into the wall. Courtesy of Quin Schrock

Schrock watches TV on a Samsung Galaxy tablet.

Schrock's "TV." Courtesy of Quin Schrock

The van has a queen-sized bed that can extend to an even more spacious king-sized bed if you leave the door in the back open.

The king-sized bed. Courtesy of Quin Schrock

A solar roof deck sits on top of the van.

The roof deck. Courtesy of Quin Schrock

Schrock built the van so it can be self-sufficient for up to two weeks.

The inside of the van. Courtesy of Quin Schrock

Schrock says that, for him, the hardest part about living on the road full-time is the maintenance and not having unlimited water.

The compost toilet. Courtesy of Quin Schrock

The biggest surprise about living on the road, Schrock says, has been how easy and enjoyable it actually is.

The van before the transformation. Courtesy of Quin Schrock

The longer you do full-time van life, "the more you get it dialed," Schrock says.

Schrock pictured inside the van. Courtesy of Quin Schrock

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A photographer lives full-time in a 66-square-foot van that has a king-size bed, roof deck, and secret compartments that disappear into the walls

Quin Schrock's sprinter van conversion is only the latest chapter in his life on the road. He's lived like this, full time, for about six years, roughly as long as he's been a travel photographer.

Schrock told Insider that despite having limited square footage, he doesn't see living out of a van as "downsizing." Instead, he says he's "always slightly upgrading."

Schrock bought his latest Mercedes-Benz sprinter van for about $57,000 but estimates that it cost him about $90,000, in total, after factoring in all of the adjustments and modifications he made.

Schrock calls the sprinter his "quarantine baby" after he spent a good chunk of 2020 converting it from a van into a mobile tiny home.

He started work on the new van in March and finished the bulk of the work in August. He has been living in the van since then.

While this wasn't his first conversion, he wanted this van to look different from the ones he'd owned before.

Schrock started the conversion process by cutting "a bunch of huge holes" in the van.

Schrock gave Insider a walkthrough of his van. As soon as you step into the space, you're greeted by a seating area.

The van's fridge and freezer are under the bench in the seating area. To the left of the bench, in the kitchen area, he has dual induction ovens, a toaster oven, and an extendable faucet.

The van has several "secret" storage compartments that disappear into the wooden paneling. One wouldn't notice them unless they were open.

Schrock even has a mirror, right above the faucet, that also disappears into the wall, as demonstrated below.

Schrock watches TV on a Samsung Galaxy tablet.

The van has a queen-sized bed that can extend to an even more spacious king-sized bed if you leave the door in the back open.

A solar roof deck sits on top of the van.

Schrock built the van so it can be self-sufficient for up to two weeks.

Schrock says that, for him, the hardest part about living on the road full-time is the maintenance and not having unlimited water.

The biggest surprise about living on the road, Schrock says, has been how easy and enjoyable it actually is.

The longer you do full-time van life, "the more you get it dialed," Schrock says.