The 1970s were a time when vans became overwhelmingly popular.  The supply of muscle cars dried up, and folks began looking for other vehicles to spend their time and money.  While custom vans with wall-to-wall shag carpeting, airbrushed murals, and plexiglass windows were the rage, others spent their money on van-based recreational vehicles.  Weekend fun machines like this 1978 Dodge TransVan by Champion for sale on Craigslist in sunny Phoenix, Arizona were sold through television commercials. They became a staple of campgrounds, recreation areas, and suburban driveways across our great land.  This rare and somewhat modified four-wheel drive version has been stripped out inside and needs extensive work.  The good news is that a handy adventurer can pick up this rock-crawling camper with four-wheel drive for $4,700.  Is this the type of seventies van project that appeals to you?  Thanks to Henry R. for the tip!

So, what exactly is a TransVan?  In the seventies and early eighties, Champion Home Builder’s TransVan Michigan subsidiary manufactured van cab and chassis-based RVs in lengths of 17 to 23 feet.  With a body formed with aluminum sheets backed by hard foam with likely fiberglass end caps, these Class B motorhomes were designed to be much more driveable than the average recreational vehicle.  The idea was that they could be used for weekend jaunts by customers who also saw the appeal of having a smaller RV around as an occasional vehicle.  This limited size also meant that the full features of a traditional RV would not be available.  TransVan owners could count on having a bed or two, a chemical toilet with an enclosure that hid the user but not the odors, a sink, and a mini-refrigerator.

Many of these colorful, distinctly painted TransVans were sold through television commercials to people looking to try out camping for the first time.  Customers could choose from 17, 19, 21, and 23-foot lengths with either a Ford, Chevrolet, or Dodge van front end and chassis.  They could also add options like an Onan generator, different interior configurations, and even a four-wheel-drive option was available on Dodge-powered TransVans.  While these vans sold well despite the fuel crunches of the seventies, customers complained mainly about the height of the vehicles inside.  The interior was a little over five feet high and customers didn’t like stooping as they moved back and forth inside.  Others complained about having just a single door to exit the rear of the vehicle.

Some of the complaints didn’t take into account the reasoning for the design in the first place.  The point of these vehicles was to have a small, occasional-use RV that a couple could enjoy for a short jaunt.  Anything longer accentuated the lack of space and features inherent in an RV of this size.  As any seasoned camper knows, such small confines are difficult to endure with someone you love when the weather turns bad.  When you add multiple people you love, that love tends to wane as the hours pass.  Any of you who are not campers and want to test this theory are welcome to spend this weekend in a spare bedroom with your entire family and a portable toilet.  The major positive that TransVan had over its competition is that its construction methods were quite durable and weathertight in comparison to its competitors.  Many of these unique and visually distinctive RVs still prowl the roads and haunt the backyards of rural America.

The 1978 TransVan you see here is one of those survivors, albeit a rather rough one.  It was built on a Dodge B300 dually chassis and has received work to give it more ground clearance than it had when it rolled off the showroom floor 47 years ago.  The seller tells us that it has 68,000 miles on the odometer and it does run and drive somewhat.  Running around the neighborhood is okay, but the seller implies that a longer jaunt may necessitate some prep work before departing.  Under the hood is a 5.9 liter Dodge V-8 and we assume that a Torque Flight automatic handles the shifting duties.  As you can see from the pictures, most of the interior has been stripped out and the exterior will need refurbishment before the van can be considered presentable again.

The refurbishment of this TransVan may be difficult.  Many recreational vehicles of this era were constructed uniquely.  The cab and chassis rolled down the line and the interior pieces were installed before the body was lowered down around it.  This allowed for appliances and furniture to be larger than the openings in the body.  While the TransVan may have been constructed differently, everything you put in it has to come through the rear door or a window has to be removed.  The good news is that technology has improved a lot over the past four decades.  Creating a very efficient appliance and lighting system in the confines of the groovy seventies body could be an interesting exercise in technological updating.  With the added benefit of a stout four-wheel-drive system, this TransVan could be quite the traveling companion for someone with skills and an understanding of the vehicle’s attributes and limitations.

Would you be willing to take on a refurbishment project like this one?   How would you build this TransVan if it were yours?  Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments.