The seller of this 1976 Dodge B200 van with a “Merry Miler” camper van conversion has a built-in sales pitch that they use to great effect: “Uncle Rico’s Van.” For those of you who are unfamiliar with the quirky 2004 comedy Napoleon Dynamite, that might be meaningless; however, if you’ve seen it, you know that Uncle Rico would indeed be smitten by this (claimed) 56,000-mile traveling treasure. From what I can tell, Merry Miler was headquartered in Garland, Texas, and converted Dodge (and Ford, and maybe others) vans into campers, a popular trade in the 1970s and ’80s. Painted in “Bright Green Metallic” and needing “some work but nothing major,” this Merry Miler is on eBay in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and it has a solitary bid of $6,000 so far.
Dodge B200 vans could be ordered with three engines in 1976, the base 318, the 360 seen here, and even a big 440. The seller says that the 360 has been “fully rebuilt” and has “documentation for all new parts and work.” Dodge materials are not very revealing when it comes to horsepower or even carburetion of its 1976 engine lineup (not uncommon in the ’70s, from what I’ve learned), but based on the picture above, I’d guess it’s a two barrel. Either way, it has a rebuilt carburetor with a new float (another reason I think it’s a two barrel), and the timing has been set; however, “additional tuning may be needed.”
When the engine was rebuilt, the van was also treated to the following: “new fuel pump, new radiator, new water pump, new hoses, new thermostat, rebuilt heads with new valves, stems [they may mean guides] and seals, new alternator, new starter, new fuel lines and new fuel sending unit.”
Even so, it’s hard to worry about what’s under the doghouse when you know that there are allergens to be stirred up in the original cabin, which is “ready for your camping and road trips.” As much as she’d like the look, my lovely bride would personally be doing no camping in this van due to the accumulated 49 years of dirt and mold, but maybe your bride/groom would be fine with it. Or maybe you’re single. The seller addresses this complication by saying that it could also be “modernized and upgraded.” It’s a real conundrum because any upgrades take away a lot of the charm. Tread lightly, I say.
As it stands, the seller says that six-footers can stand up in the cabin and the windows don’t leak, a real plus. Unfortunately, some of the accessories either don’t work or “[need] to be tested,” including the air conditioning, cruise control, and refrigerator. The van does have a propane stove, a sink, a “[hookup] for auxiliary power and one outlet.” It’s got sleeping room for four and comes with “two detachable tables” and stands.
This original-looking van takes you back to a time when a rig like this was more than you needed for a weekend (or longer) of camping. These days, 100-foot RVs seem to be all the rage, but even if this Dodge needs a little work here and there, it will be worth it for the stares and the nostalgia of driving something so unusual (on today’s roads). Uncle Rico might not be the kind of guy you want to base your life choices on, but he certainly wasn’t the first to drive a Dodge camper van.
The Canadian rock trio Rush toured with a van very much like this one in their early days too! From interviews I’ve seen, they remember it fondly.
I’m curious what the ladder in back is for. It seems too short to reach the roof and there doesn’t appear to be any tie-downs up there anyway. Usually a spare is hung on the back door.
Perhaps was there before the van was converted?
uncle Ricco
Not quite an “Uncle Rico” van. That one was a B300 with a Santana conversion. This is a B200 with a completely different kit.
Do you know what “unique” means?
It appears not.
Pretty cool.
Eeep, leave it to Barny,,,this is exactly what the old man had done to his Dodge van I spoke of. It was a “Maxi” van, and to repeat, I took the van to a place in Indiana where they cut the top open and mounted this top with about 4,000 sheet metal screws. The ride back was nothing like the ride there. It instantly turned a pretty nice van into one of the scariest vehicles I’ve driven. Cross winds or semis on 2 lanes would send you flying. Even the old man disliked it, and went with a bigger motorhome. Don’t get me wrong, I think for short trips it could work, but highway driving was downright dangerous. Hanging on to the steering wheel for dear life, not so merry now, eh?
I love it. And mold schmold, this is a nice week end or two or taking the innards apart restoring and cleaning and maybe replacing some stuff and re assembling to keep the originality. Love the 4000 sheet screws all around the top. ;). Maybe the only upgrade would be going to a four barrel for extra ommph. Now only if i could.convince wifey
I sure miss my 72′ Dodge Sportsman Royal Maxi B300. It also weaved all over the road at 110-120 MPH. Had a 340.
Ha ha!
That windshield will have to be replaced. It likely won’t pass inspection with the cloudy lamination around the edges.
The “Dodge Sheriff” had a TV ad with these and called them fun vehicles. The 440 version was probably a lot of fun with the frequent stops at the gas station, even way back then.
True, my 340 got 8 MPG with the stock 4.10 and I change it out to a 3.55 and then got 10 MPG, a 20% increase. YA!!!!!!
My Mom and dad bought a 1971 Ford van with the camper conversion supposedly the first ones made for Ford. They retired and drove all over the country with it. 302 engine. The only problem were the wheels. They cracked from the extra weight. Ford eventually replaced them or recalled them but my Dad had to replace the 2 that cracked while they were driving it.
The only thing missing for me is FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, but love it. My grandfather had a Dodge Tradesman extended window van. It was the perfect multi functional vehicle ever. Family hauler, Sunday school shuttle, work vehicle, and camper van.
Living out here in the west where the “wind comes sweepin’ down the trail” it looks like a good place to sleep (after the interior refurbishment) while the wind warnings are up. I had a ’79 B200 that I bought new with the 318 and 4 speed overdrive. I once got 20 mpg pulling my rally car on a trailer. (This was the tank full when the Illinois State Police followed me for 125 miles at 55 mph. ) I was also heading back to Illinois from Nevada when the PCA convention was over in Reno. Going across the Salt Flats (with the wind at my back) on I80 as fast as the van would go for many, many miles was fun. As I did have to worry about the Utah Highway Patrol. As they had their hands full of Porsche drivers. But the look from the Porsche guys as they went by not as fast as the normal 80mph drivers was fun. The speedometer only went to 80 or 85, I don’t remember. But I had done some work on the exhaust and the ignition. So I’m guessing we were over 100mph. As you can tell, I rarely drove “sanely” but I don’t remember the van being a gas hog. I would buy another one today( not a raised version) if I could find a nice one at a fair price.
If this van is rockin’ don’t bother knockin’. Ass, grass or gas, nobody rides for free. Oh, the good ol’ day’s.
Mike, I had that sticker on my van, but my girlfriend made me take it off. LOL
imagine 1 of these w/the extended rear (’98/03, 3500 model – we could spot them @ a distance due to the vertical seam added onto the last one on this grn job). They were l o n g (19.25 ft or 231.2 inches) babies. We called it ’turtle top’ but guys built em outa ply too. The wind is a problem west of the Missi.River. A few good low tanks should help – waste full, water full, gas (2?) full) but not as much an issue ‘back east’. The 4WD mentioned is seen here on the shorter models (break over angle). Many have successfully converted the modern van (Sprinter, Transit) no ’turtle top’ needed. I’d like a lill 4WD Astro (’99/05 as awd was PT then) w/a light top (for standing up under) to do my biding: “Here!”; “There!” (as the ’69 cheb 108 i6 did. Easy motor to access ’between’ the seats, ‘Cab Over’) ~
The drawback of a Dodge of this period; is the wiring harness.
I had to pull many and make them Stupid simple.
My go to diagram was that of a 62 VW Bug.
A long time ago a friend had a 77 Dodge 1 ton RV, 2 inch thick harness coming into the cab.
There was a short somewhere; dang thing nearly burnt to the ground, while he and his daughter were camping in it.
Very clean and the price is right with a rebuilt 360 engine