Campers of all shapes and sizes, from monstrous motorhomes to tow-behind trailers, are often purchased for a specific purpose: a retirement, an upcoming road trip – perhaps even an expectation of frequent tailgating at upcoming sporting events. Sometimes, the owners squeeze every ounce of enjoyment out of their purchase, logging miles upon miles of adventures. Other times, life either gets in the way or retirement doesn’t last nearly as long as expected, and the big-ticket purchase sits, like a huge TV that never gets watched. This 1987 Dodge 2500 Ram Van “Xplorer” conversion listed here on eBay has just 60,000 original miles and retains its full interior with all the comforts of home, listed with no reserve and bidding at $9,900.

These days, if that scenario were to play out, it might be a Sprinter conversion that set the original owner back $60K or so that we find locked away with under 85,000 miles. I can already see those vehicles commanding big money on the collector vehicle market, so perhaps it’s best to take a step back in time and consider a slightly older version of the same concept. This Dodge Xplorer was certainly the equivalent of a loaded-up Sprinter back in the middle 80s, and it’s still quite feature-rich by today’s standards, with bathroom and shower, kitchen, sleeping quarters, television, swivel front seats, multiple power outlets, and more. The monochromatic paint scheme makes it look like a television news van from this angle, however.

Yes, the interior absolutely feels quite vintage compared to a modern-day conversion van, but therein lies the charm. Of course, you could also elect to tastefully upgrade it, but the van life contingent would likely raise a ruckus if you dare to alter this perfectly preserved cabin (I might have a bone to pick, too!) The upholstery looks to be in fantastic shape, as do the carpets. There’s ample daylighting from the windows and a full galley with kitchen featuring a propane stove, hot/cold sink, refrigerator, a retractable counter panel, and an Onan 3.0RV gas generator. The layout is smart and clean, and looks quite livable. 

The driver’s compartment is in a similar state, and those swiveling bucket seats are a wonderful feature for a camper van like this. There’s a retrofit kit for my 2003 Eurovan to put swivel seats in front, and I’m seriously considering it – except I’d have to remove the sweet rear-facing middle row of captain’s chairs, which I’m not inclined to do. This Dodge is powered by a reliable 360 V8 that benefits from a recent tuneup, and the automatic transmission is said to shift smoothly through the gears. The brakes are responsive and the tires have plenty of tread, and the seller notes it happily drives down the highway. I doubt this Dodge will crest $15,000, and even if it does, it still looks like a smarter investment than the big bucks required to buy its modern-day equivalent.