Every time I see a Dodge Xplorer camper van I get the urge to hit the road as I’ve wanted to do with one of these things since I was a nerdy kid reading Motorhome Life and Camper Coachman magazines. The seller has this 1977 Dodge B300 Xplorer van posted here on craigslist in the Delta, Iowa area and they’re asking $6,300. Thanks to Gunter K. for sending in this tip! Here’s the original listing.
Yeah, I was “that kid”, the one you probably made fun of and probably still do. Reading camper magazines, who does that before they’re even ten years old let alone before they’re sixty years old? Life sure seemed simple in those days, dreaming about getting a van camper and driving around the west, maybe having a mini bike strapped to the back bumper and riding that around campgrounds. Ahhh… then life slaps you back to reality. What was I talking about again?
Over five decades ago, Ray Frank started Xplorer after having success with his revolutionary fiberglass motorhomes and his company, Frank Motor Homes. He ended up selling that company which evolved into Dodge Motor Home because of their success in using Dodge chassis, which grew into Travco. He wanted a small motorhome and in 1967, the Class-B (van-based) Xplorer was the culmination of his efforts. They really are unique.
You’ve most likely seen Xplorer van campers in the past as we’ve featured a few of them and one thing that makes them stand out, or maybe not stand out – as in not having a raised roof – is the recessed floor as seen in the above photo. It’s a unique idea and it allowed owners to park them in their regular garages as they weren’t any higher than a normal van yet still gave six feet of headroom.
The owner of this one has provided a lot of photos inside and out, but sadly there are no photos of the cab portion at all and no engine photos. This one has a Dodge 360 cubic-inch V8 and it’s a running, driving van but it hasn’t had a lot of use over the last several years.
What better way to end than with a photo of the bathroom. Yes, this van has a full bathroom with a shower which is pretty amazing. Being forty-five years old, it needs lots of updating inside and probably mechanically but I would love to own one of these someday. How about you?
Very cool, needs avocado green appliances and orange shag carpet to knock it out of the park. Too bad gas isn’t still a $1 a gallon…
This would make an awesome project for anyone who wants to keep as much as stock original, or to upgrade certain things, make it more up to date. The only thing mechanical I’d upgrade would be to give it a Cummins ISB 5.9 litre Turbo Diesel, like that offered in the Dodge Ram 2500 or 3500 and a compatible automatic gearbox,
Hey Scotty – nice one and great write-up as always. The dropped floor seems like a genius idea for a one-adult setup but I wonder how it works for two adults passing one another in the aisle. I like the compact size and you have an extra bed for kids. I also dream of touring in an RV some day, and normally gravitate toward the 24-ish ft Class A models, but this seems to have all the basics in a lighter more fuel-efficient envelope.
Size matters
I started with a class a 23 ft
Then 27,30,32,34,36
Swithched to 36 fifthwheel
And big f350
Then 27 fifthwheel and short f150
And now have a 24 ft class c and have kept the fifthwheel
While traveling with smaller is easier , you are missing so many conveniences that cannot be put in such a small container
This is good for a loner or a tiny couple , cause everything is tinie , tiny
I have an ’89 Xplorer with the dropped floor AND a raised roof, but at 6’4″ I still can’t stand up in it! Great camper, I love mine, it has a 318 and I just drove it from Virginia to Florida and managed to get 16 mpg out out of it (65 mph and under)
Reminds me of old boats.. so much work even for a skilled person. The new ones are outrageous prices hard to win
At the very least the Lazy A$$ seller could unload the van off the trailer BEFORE his took his CL ad pictures.
Sitting on that trailer really makes me want to stop up and pay $6300 for that lump!
I had one of these about 10 years ago. It was nice, but very tight to move around in it. Without an over drive amd built when we had a 55mph speed limit anything over 60-65mph and the engine would close to 4k ram’s. It was fun for a while though….
What I want to do when I graduate from high school is take my ‘93 hardbody and go across Canada, tenting along the way and going on trails with my best friend. thanks BF
Had one, 10 miles to the gal., but you don’t use it every day. It has a purpose.