AuctionsDodge
Trending

Old-School RV Life: 1977 Dodge B300 Xplorer 224 Up for Auction

Classic Mopar Van Turned Camper With Vintage Style and Modern Updates

If you’re into old-school vans, road trips, or just want something totally different for your next camping adventure, you’ll want to check out this 1977 Dodge Tradesman B300 Xplorer 224 Motorhome currently live on BringATrailer.com. It’s a full-size Class B motorhome built by Frank Industries out of Brown City, Michigan, and it’s loaded with period charm, Mopar muscle, and modern updates where it counts. Bidding ends Wednesday, May 28 at 1:38 p.m. EDT.

Classic Mopar Under the Hood – 

1977 Dodge Tradesman B300 Xplorer 224 Motorhome. (BringATrailer).

This Xplorer 224 rides on a Dodge B300 1-ton van chassis and is powered by a legendary 5.9-liter (360 cubic-inch) LA-series 2BBL V8 paired to a durable A727 TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic. While the motorhome passed a California smog test in 2021, the seller notes it stalls if you give it too much throttle when it’s cold—likely a carburetor tuning issue.

Old School Style, Rebuilt Basics – 

1977 Dodge Tradesman B300 Xplorer 224 Motorhome. (BringATrailer).

The white steel and fiberglass body sports freshly repainted green stripes and brand-new Xplorer badges. The seller has also had fiberglass repairs done at the rear and had the bumper re-chromed. However, there are signs of age with corrosion spots on the doors, body, and undercarriage, along with some discoloration around the rear window. It’s not perfect—but that’s half the charm.

Camper Conversion Done Right – 

1977 Dodge Tradesman B300 Xplorer 224 Motorhome. (BringATrailer).

The original Xplorer conversion added 3 feet to the chassis and a dropped floor for more headroom inside. In the cabin, you’ll find front vinyl bucket seats and working air conditioning (with a new compressor and receiver drier). The cruise control doesn’t work, and the fuel gauge is quirky, but the bones are solid. Suspension updates in 2021 include new front components and an extra leaf spring out back for stability.

Comfy and Functional Interior – 

1977 Dodge Tradesman B300 Xplorer 224 Motorhome. (BringATrailer).

The interior includes a rear sleeping area big enough for a full-size mattress (replaced in 2022), and a convertible dinette bed measuring 6 feet by 37 inches. Sunbrella and vinyl upholstery, new foam, blackout curtains, and new carpeting give the space a freshened-up vibe. There’s also a heater, a closet, and a functional kitchenette with a faucet, two-burner stove, and fridge. A hot water heater is needed, but the propane and water systems were serviced in December 2021.

Bathroom and Tech Touches – 

1977 Dodge Tradesman B300 Xplorer 224 Motorhome. (BringATrailer).

Surprisingly, the Xplorer also packs a bathroom with a toilet, sink, and shower head. A rearview camera and a replacement gauge cluster add some modern convenience. The original cluster (showing 81k miles) is included, but the new one reads about 89k miles. Total mileage is unknown, though the seller has driven it around 2,000 miles since 2021.

The Bottom Line – 

1977 Dodge Tradesman B300 Xplorer 224 Motorhome. (BringATrailer).

If you’re looking for something cooler than a ProMaster and far more character-rich than any rental camper, this 1977 Dodge Xplorer is a throwback worth bidding on. It’s got vintage vibes, practical upgrades, and a real V8 under the hood. A few quirks? Sure. But that’s what makes it a true classic.

1977 Dodge Tradesman B300 Xplorer 224 Image Gallery:

Robert S. Miller

Robert S. Miller is a diehard Mopar enthusiast who lives and breathes all that is Mopar. The Michigander is not only the Editor for MoparInsiders.com, 5thGenRams.com, and HDRams.com but an automotive photographer. He is an avid fan of offshore powerboat racing, which he travels the country to take part in.

Related Articles

Loading new replies...

Ram has two glaring segment holes, compact and mid-size trucks in its current lineup and they seem rather complacent and to be just dragging their feet with the situation. Why this new and I would guess, capable compact Ram truck, not register on the” let’s test it in our market” meter is also a mystery. Texas might be the perfect place to test market a few dozen of these trucks to see if they gain traction with a very sophisticated truck audience and also determine in a real American world reality if a South American sourced compact truck has the goods to bring it stateside. Just saying, not like we got something in the wings.
As our very intuitive friends at Mopar Insiders alluded to, its too bad the Rampage will be reserved for Latin America. Imagine that Ram South America has a compact truck and the North American market just ignores the potential slight to our pride, the doubts of our engineering talent and the whole stink smell of it all. Leaves everyone wondering what the heck is going on at Ram???

Reply 1 like

click to expand...

Cheap, fuel-efficient cars are what people are looking for right now, not electric ones. It blows my mind Stellantis doesn't get that, yet their CEO complains about electric cars everyday. They could make a killing and have their Belvidere plant back and running with mild investment.

Reply 4 likes

Electric is DOA but these myopic executive types are ignoring the obvious. Worst of all valuable resources and finances are being misdirected to this myth of electric cars saving the environment. They can believe what they choose, hug all the trees they want, unless it violates their financial duty to stockholders and the forces of the marketplace and consumer choice. Maybe if they had their priorities right and their heads on straight and some guts, this Renegade would be running down the Belvedere production lines in short order. If it were only egg on the face consequences at risk here, no big deal, but Stellantis is heading on a fools mission to a bridge too far and ignoring, perhaps out of hubris, the wisdom of the ordinary Joes and common sense putting the whole company at risk. We get it, they don’t.

Reply 1 like

click to expand...

Electric is DOA but these myopic executive types are ignoring the obvious. Worst of all valuable resources and finances are being misdirected to this myth of electric cars saving the environment. They can believe what they choose, hug all the trees they want, unless it violates their financial duty to stockholders and the forces of the marketplace and consumer choice. Maybe if they had their priorities right and their heads on straight and some guts, this Renegade would be running down the Belvedere production lines in short order. If it were only egg on the face consequences at risk here, no big deal, but Stellantis is heading on a fools mission to a bridge too far and ignoring, perhaps out of hubris, the wisdom of the ordinary Joes and common sense putting the whole company at risk. We get it, they don’t.

But the government insists we want electric vehicles........

So, hedge your bet and work on an electric midsiz

Reply 1 like

click to expand...

But the government insists we want electric vehicles........

So, hedge your bet and work on an electric midsize, but bring this truck now for those who really have no interest in carrying a 400 mile long extension cord.....

Reply Like

Back to top button