The perfect vehicle to haul your barn finds home from a vintage motorcycle swap meet. Or even maybe a microcar, if a person were into such things. This 2000 Dodge Ram Van 3500 Maxi is the longest cargo van Dodge made at the time, and this one can be found here on craigslist in Spokane, Washington. The seller is asking $7,800. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Tony P. for the tip!
There may be cheaper vans, and there are certainly bigger vans, cube vans, and other cargo vehicles for hauling your vintage vehicles, but not many can fit under a regular garage door. Although at around 19-feet 4-inches long, you’d better make sure it’ll fit in your garage first. I had a white 1976 Dodge Maxi Van for a cleaning service I owned in the 80s and early 90s, and I thought that van was long, but it was only 212 inches compared to 231 inches for this van.
Bright White is the color here, and I’d want to continue that black molding across the two back doors if this were my van. I know, who cares, it’s a van for hauling stuff, who cares what it looks like. I still cared what my utility vehicles looked like, even 30-40 years ago. This van looks almost perfect, and the third-generation Dodge Ram vans (1998-2003) were pretty nice in having a bit more front interior room due to the engine and transmission being moved forward a bit. I couldn’t find a 2000 Dodge Ram Van brochure, but here’s one from 1999.
The cockpit or front passenger compartment of this Dodge van looks great to me. We don’t know if the driver’s seat is as nice as the Mist Gray vinyl passenger seat because it’s covered in all of the photos. The seller doesn’t mention any issues, so I’m guessing the seat is just fine. With just 29,260 miles, this one has barely been used over the last 26 years. The huge rear cargo area looks good, but I’d want at least some sort of rubber flooring back there. I can’t tell if it’s wet or has been coated with something or what’s going on.
An engine photo in a craigslist ad?! Well done, seller! This is the biggest engine for these vans, a Dodge Magnum 360-cu.in. OHV fuel-injected V8, which was rated at around 250 horsepower and 335 lb-ft of torque when new. Passing through a four-speed automatic and sending power to the rear wheels, the seller says this van runs and drives perfectly with no leaks or anything like that, and everything works as it should. Could any of you put this Ram Van to work hauling your vintage motorcycles to shows or to the trails? I sure could.
Great Van. It’s litterally not even broke in yet. My father had a mid 80’s One ton Dodge Van with a 360. Boy did that thing pull ( this was in the late 80’s). I’m wondering if someone would convert this into a camper van? Thanks for the brochure link Scotty!! I always enjoy looking at them and thinking this is what I would have grabbed if I were in a dealership thinking of purchasing something.
Looking at the cracks in between the tire treads makes me think this isn’t an honest deal…..the cargo area looks really used………
In some ways, better than a pickup! No need to buy a trailer or even a tonneau to keep your latest garage sale barn find from prying eyes and just as lockable if not more so. Will haul just about the same weight as that $48000 1500 series work truck and attract less attention. if you need to catch a nap there’s practically more room in here than my first apartment had available.
Not a bad price for a useful tool.
This is like one of those vans you see on SVU – LAW AND ORDER. I would have to pass on this one.
The only thing this isn’t is all wheel drive.
The van looks great everywhere but in the engine area. That looks a wholelot more than 29k miles. Can’t tell if it has AC though,
The ac evaporator is on the l/h side in the eng pic but whether it works? I love these 1ton Dodges! Wish I could afford it. I wonder how much it would cost for a van customizer co. to cut out window openings and install junk-yard passenger van windows with new rubber. For me, after multiple 3/4 ton Dodge vans w/5.2L in them. My 1st 1ton w/the 5.9L I thought; ‘Sell my clothes, I’m going to heaven!’ What an engine.
Shame about the body damage on drivers side. Ad says newer tires, but they are weather cracked along treads…..hmmmm. Floor looks like maybe Rhino lined. It would be a good hauler, but needs some work first.
Thanks, Rick! I should have mentioned the rust along the seams, a few dents, and the overall “used” look to this van. I got caught up in what I could haul with it and didn’t dig into it enough. Thanks!
These were great rigs. A lot were turned into mini campers. If you’re looking for something to haul with you need look no further.
Can’t go wrong with a 1 ton chasis van or pickup. 👍
From the under the hood picture, it looks like it does have A/C
Good call on this van having AC, folks. I zoomed in on the dash photo, and it shows that it had factory air-conditioning. According to page 10 of this 1999 Dodge Van brochure (I couldn’t find one for 2000), air-conditioning and heaters in the back were optional for the 2500 and 3500 vans. You can see a little heater above each wheel well in the photo of the rear cargo that I linked in the fourth paragraph.
https://www.auto-brochures.com/makes/Dodge/Ram%20Van/Dodge_US%20RamVan_1990.pdf
You could convert this into a 1 bdr apt and rent it out. If the mileage is real, it’s a hard 29k. The one big plus is, the 360 is an outstanding engine.