A woman's side-by-side photos show what it's really like to live in a 70-square-foot van

Monica HumphriesAug 5, 2020, 03:01 IST

Sydney Ferbrache has lived in a van for the last two and a half years.@divineontheroad/Instagram

Sydney Ferbrache has lived in a van for the last two and a half years.
While photos can make it look like Ferbrache is living the dream — flourishing hikes, picturesque mountains, and starry nights — she said that's just one aspect of the lifestyle.
For Ferbrache, tiny living also involves sandy sheets, piles of dishes, and lasting impressions of raising a dog in her van.

Sydney Ferbrache is currently heading to Yellowstone National Park. For Ferbrache, the 3,500-square-mile park is more than canyons and nature, it's the place where she's felt the freest.

The national park was the first destination on her journey of living full-time in a van. Two and a half years later, she's revisiting the park for the first time.

Countless hikes, new friendships, and personal growth are positive takeaways from her lifestyle. But there are some less positive parts, too. Her van has 130,000 miles, she lives with broken appliances, and she's spent the last two years showering outdoors.

"From a distance, [the van] looks beautiful and magnificent, but when you get up to the nitty-gritty, things are literally falling apart and hanging on by a thread," she told Insider.

At the same time, there's not a thing about her lifestyle she would change, the 25-year-old said.

A few years ago, Ferbrache was working full-time as a restaurant manager in Chicago, Illinois, while balancing a full college course load. After years of 70-hour workweeks, Ferbrache left the industry.

She stumbled upon van life and started reading blogs, watching videos, and researching. She purchased and renovated a Ford Transit, and set out for Yellowstone National Park with her puppy, Ella.

Over two years later and another dog added to the family, Ferbrache hasn't looked back. However, she did note that sometimes social media can create an idealistic version of reality.

"It's a beautiful life. When you pull up to the mountains and you have it all to yourself, it's an incredibly freeing feeling and that's what brings more and more people to this lifestyle," she said. "But the other side of things is also very real."

Ferbrache has a blog and podcast where she candidly discusses life in a van, and most recently, she took her TikTok followers on a "realistic van tour."

Ferbrache shared with Insider a few aspects of the life people rarely gather from Instagram.

Ferbrache joked that behind those idealistic Instagram pictures are piles of dirty dishes, a mountain of clothes, and jam-packed storage space.

Things like dishes and clothes pile up even quicker in the small space. @divineontheroad/Instagram

Ferbrache has what she calls "driving days," which involve leaving her campsite to run errands in the nearest city. She'll complete a long list of chores, including laundry, grocery shopping, and showering.

"By the time I pull into where I'm going to sleep for the night, my van is unrecognizable," she said.

Instagram users rarely share photos of their messy vans, but with so little space, clutter happens fast, Ferbrache said.

"In a matter of 20 minutes, your van can become absolute chaos," she told Insider.

Ferbrache has what she calls driving days, which involve leaving her campsite to run errands in the nearest city. She'll complete a long list of chores, including laundry, grocery shopping, and showering.

By the time I pull into where I'm going to sleep for the night, my van is unrecognizable, she said.

Instagram users rarely share photos of their messy vans, but with so little space, clutter happens fast, Ferbrache said.

In a matter of 20 minutes, your van can become absolute chaos, she told Insider.

Raising her puppy, Ella, in a van yields cute photos, but Ella also left plenty of scratches and bite marks throughout the van.

Ferbrache said Ella loves living in the van. @divineontheroad/Instagram

One of the consequences of raising a puppy in a small space is that they scratch, claw, and bite nearly everything. Ferbrache got Ella when she was just a few months old, so Ella was trained in the perimeters of the van.

"I raised a puppy in here, so there are bite marks and scratch marks everywhere from her just tearing the van up," she said.

Fortunately, most photos are taken from a distance, so her viewers rarely see the remnants of Ella's growing pains.

I raised a puppy in here, so there are bite marks and scratch marks everywhere from her just tearing the van up, she said.

Fortunately, most photos are taken from a distance, so her viewers rarely see the remnants of Ella's growing pains.

Photos all across Instagram promote a convertible bed-to-table van layout, but Ferbrache says few people actually use the table part.

Vans might offer different layouts, but that doesn't mean you'll end up using the features. @divineontheroad/Instagram

When Ferbrache researched van restorations, she landed on a popular layout where the van's bed converts into two benches and a table.

Influencers often share photos of this layout and advertise how simple it can be to switch between the two setups, but Ferbrache said that's far from the reality.

"Every time I meet those people in real life, I ask them, do you actually use the benches and table? And they always say no," she said.

Ferbrache explained that switching between layouts can take time and it's hard to find a place to store all the bedding.

When Ferbrache researched van restorations, she landed on a popular layout where the van's bed converts into two benches and a table.

Influencers often share photos of this layout and advertise how simple it can be to switch between the two setups, but Ferbrache said that's far from the reality.

Every time I meet those people in real life, I ask them, do you actually use the benches and table? And they always say no, she said.

Ferbrache explained that switching between layouts can take time and it's hard to find a place to store all the bedding.

The bed might be perfectly made, but pull back the sheets and there's a good chance some sand or wine has snuck its way onto the mattress.

Ferbrache said it's impossible to have a sand and dirt-free van when you're constantly outdoors. @divineontheroad/Instagram

Ferbrache shared that it's nearly impossible to avoid sand and dirt when you're traveling, hiking, and exploring mountains, deserts, and lakes — especially with two dogs.

And even when the sheets are clean, they won't last long.

"Every time I wash my sheets, I either spill a glass of red wine on it or my dog gets sick on it," she said. "You cover it up and take a picture and act like that didn't just happen."

Ferbrache shared that it's nearly impossible to avoid sand and dirt when you're traveling, hiking, and exploring mountains, deserts, and lakes — especially with two dogs.

And even when the sheets are clean, they won't last long.

Every time I wash my sheets, I either spill a glass of red wine on it or my dog gets sick on it, she said. You cover it up and take a picture and act like that didn't just happen.

Ferbrache shattered her induction stove and has been relying on a butane stove since.

After breaking the induction stove, it's just been easier to use a butane stove, she said. @divineontheroad/Instagram

Ferbrache's bright-blue kettle and butane stove make for cute pictures, but the reality is that her stove broke and it's not worth it to repair.

She said people living in a van have to learn to go with the flow. When your stove cracks, you have to figure out the easiest, most affordable solution.

Another example she shared in her TikTok video was a clogged drain. Ferbrache had to adapt while it was getting fixed.

Her solution? A bucket and some soap. Although it doesn't make for the prettiest Instagram post, it does get the job done.

Ferbrache's bright-blue kettle and butane stove make for cute pictures, but the reality is that her stove broke and it's not worth it to repair.

She said people living in a van have to learn to go with the flow. When your stove cracks, you have to figure out the easiest, most affordable solution.

Another example she shared in her TikTok video was a clogged drain. Ferbrache had to adapt while it was getting fixed.

Her solution? A bucket and some soap. Although it doesn't make for the prettiest Instagram post, it does get the job done.

An outdoor shower might sound dreamy, but it's just a $30 contraption that hangs from the roof of Ferbrache's van.

When she doesn't use the outdoor shower, Ferbrache heads to the gym. @divineontheroad/Instagram

Ferbrache's outdoor shower might not have strong water pressure or hot water, but it gets her clean.

"It's just a different kind of shower," she said.

Details like where people shower or use the restroom are sometimes forgotten on picturesque social-media feeds.

Ferbrache emphasized the importance of researching van life. Instagram doesn't always showcase tougher conversations, like how people use the restroom, where you store your clothes, or how you stay safe.

Ferbrache's outdoor shower might not have strong water pressure or hot water, but it gets her clean.

It's just a different kind of shower, she said.

Details like where people shower or use the restroom are sometimes forgotten on picturesque social-media feeds.

People constantly envision Ferbrache spending her days hiking and exploring, but in reality, she still has to make an income.

Ferbrache said she often has to remind people that she's built this success independently. @divineontheroad/Instagram

Ferbrache said she's constantly hearing that it "must be nice to be a trust-fund child or have parents with a ton of money."

But that's far from reality. "My mom works in retail and my dad's a retired fireman, I'm not exactly cashing in their checks," she said.

Her feed highlights gorgeous landscapes and fun hikes, but Ferbrache is still spending hours hunched over a laptop working.

Ferbrache freelances and has spent years creating a more sustainable, remote income for herself. Even then, it's not always consistent.

"I will have a month where I'm feasting and the next month is famine," she said.

Ferbrache said she's constantly hearing that it must be nice to be a trust-fund child or have parents with a ton of money.

But that's far from reality. My mom works in retail and my dad's a retired fireman, I'm not exactly cashing in their checks, she said.

Her feed highlights gorgeous landscapes and fun hikes, but Ferbrache is still spending hours hunched over a laptop working.

Ferbrache freelances and has spent years creating a more sustainable, remote income for herself. Even then, it's not always consistent.

I will have a month where I'm feasting and the next month is famine, she said.

From a distance, Ferbrache's van is bright white, but up close you can see the lasting impressions from raising two dogs in a smaller space.

Her van's trimming reflects the two years spent living with two dogs. @divineontheroad/Instagram

"The devil is in the details" might be the most accurate phrase to describe Ferbrache's life.

From far away, her van still looks bright white and freshly painted. Up close, visitors can see the wear and tear of living in a van for more than two years.

Things like the van's trimming, drawers, and cabinets have dirt marks.

But beyond the dirt, dishes, and cramped quarters, Sydney doesn't regret a thing.

"I personally think because of the challenges and the beauty of it, I will always reflect on this as the best time of my entire life."

The devil is in the details might be the most accurate phrase to describe Ferbrache's life.