The Smuggle Bus Is An Epic 1973 Dodge B200 4×4 Van

A few years ago, Eric Ammerman spotted this 1973 Dodge B200 Tradesman 4×4 van and tried to buy it, but the owner was not ready to sell. Eric says, “I have always been a fan of vans, especially 4×4 vans. I have come very close to buying Quigley Ford vans but never found the perfect one. When I saw pictures of this van a few years ago, it was all I could think about. I had to have it. It is a Mopar product, and my career and rigs have always been Jeeps. Finally, the owner agreed to sell it, and I jumped on it as fast as I could.” With that, the build of what Eric calls the “Smuggle Bus” began.

Purchased Sight Unseen

Eric, Director of Off-Road Market for TYRI Off-Road Lighting, says the van was converted to four-wheel drive in 1975 at Burbank 4×4. The original owner used it to explore Baja, Mexico, and the van spent most of its life there and in southern California. “After the original owner was done with the van,” Eric says, “he sold it to legendary van builder and restorer Chris White of Vans LTD in Santa Rosa, California, who gave it its second life and made several great modifications. He later sold it to the third owner in Idaho, who kept it running and driving in the mountains before I got a hold of it.”

The van was purchased sight unseen, and two of Eric’s friends drove from Michigan to Idaho to pick it up. The two, Nick Wimme, a design engineer at TYRI, and Greg Henderson, President of Unofficial Use Only, completed the mission. Amazingly, the only hiccup along the way was when the van’s alternator failed. It was a minor setback, however. A local O’Reilly Auto Parts store delivered a replacement to them at a rest stop on I-80, and the van was soon rolling east again.

Wrenching Binge

Once in Michigan, Nick, officially the van’s “builder,” launched into a three-and-a-half-week wrenching blitz to prep the van for the drive to the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The goal was to have it on display at the TYRI booth. During the run to Vegas, the van would also be pulling a trailer and would join the Unofficial Road to SEMA, which supports SEMA Cares.

New, And New-That-Look-Old Bits

Along with mechanical upgrades, several new parts were added to the exterior to complement the vintage bolt-ons. The van’s old Ramsey winch was pulled and replaced with a Warn 8274. It sits on a new winch plate crafted to look as weathered as the front bumper. Other exterior touches include a ladder with rough-looking welds that match the era, an Unofficial Use Only rear rack, and a Power Tank system. The van also carries a full spread of TYRI lighting, and Eric notes that output tops 100,000 effective lumens. Finally, Alan Close of APOC Design finished the look with sharp TYRI Mining graphics and related logos.

Inside, the van’s features include Overland Vehicle Systems slide-out storage, a Dometic CFX5 dual-zone electric cooler, a Trigger 6 Shooter switch controller, a Midland GMRS radio, and a seven-roller hot dog roller. (Eric is a self-avowed hot dog enthusiast.)

Mechanical Specs

Smuggle Bus, named for its many runs between Baja, Mexico, and the United States, is powered by a 360-cubic-inch V8 paired with a TorqueFlite 727 automatic transmission. Power moves to a Dana 44 front axle and a Dana 60 rear axle through an NP205 two-speed transfer case. Leaf springs support both ends. The van rolls on 35×12.50R17LT Amp Tires Mud Terrain Attack M/T A tires mounted on Dirty Life Roadkill Race 9400 forged beadlock wheels fitted with Powertank Monster Valves.

Driven Over 7,000 Miles So Far

The van successfully made the trek to Vegas, where it drew a huge crowd of admirers at the TYRI booth. It also completed the trip back to Michigan, needing only repairs to the power steering pump and a front wheel bearing along the way. Eric says the van has already logged more than 7,000 miles since he bought it.

There is still plenty ahead for the van, which is an incredible piece of 4×4 history.  Eric says, “This is the van I have always wanted, and I cannot wait to make memories with my family in it.”

Photos by TYRI, Tara McGovern, Taylor Hurley, and Ken Brubaker