CamperHardlyKnowHer

Gulf Stream Ameri-Lite 238RK

Travel trailerbuilt 2018– (in production)Budget build tierCommon on the used market
WHAT ONE COSTS
—price not published

The maker never published an MSRP for this floorplan. Unknown is not cheap — treat any asking price against comparable models, not against zero.

WHAT IT WEIGHS BEHIND YOUR TRUCK
~5,807 lbestimated as towed, for 2 people

dry weight 4,815 lb + fresh water (23 gal, full) 192 lb + propane + battery 200 lb + gear for 2 600 lb. Brochure dry weight omits water, propane, batteries and your gear; this estimate doesn't.

You want a tow rating around6,455 lb (10% margin)
GVWR (the sticker maximum)7,680 lb
Tongue weight, loaded~772 lb (13%)
Cargo capacity2,865 lb
WHICH TOW VEHICLES IT FITS — 67 OF 95

Judged the way the app judges: estimated loaded weight against each vehicle's rating less a 10% margin — per model year, because the 238RK's published weights held steady.

VEHICLETOW RATINGVERDICT
Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.7 Turbo HO, tow pkg) '23-267,700 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.8 Duramax) '15-227,700 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 1500 (6.2 V8, max tow) '19-2613,300 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax, max tow) '24-2622,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax) '20-2318,510 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax) '11-1918,100 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 3500HD (Duramax DRW, gooseneck) '20-2636,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 3500HD (Duramax DRW, gooseneck) '11-1923,300 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (max tow) '14-1812,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado EV (4WT) '24-2612,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Suburban (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-268,300 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Tahoe (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-268,400 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Dodge Durango (5.7 / 6.4 Hemi, tow pkg) '14-268,700 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '18-249,300 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '25-269,600 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '24-2613,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '11-1411,300 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '15-2013,200 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '21-2314,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 Lightning (max trailer tow) '22-2610,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 diesel, gooseneck) '20-2222,800 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 diesel, tow pkg) '17-1918,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 diesel) '11-1616,600 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 HO diesel, gooseneck) '23-2623,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 diesel DRW, gooseneck) '20-2237,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 diesel DRW, gooseneck) '17-1932,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 diesel DRW, gooseneck) '11-1621,600 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 HO diesel DRW, gooseneck) '23-2638,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-450 Super Duty (6.7 HO diesel DRW, gooseneck) '23-2640,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford Ranger (2.3 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '19-237,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford Ranger (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '24-267,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford Transit (HD tow pkg) '15-266,900 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
GMC Hummer EV Pickup '22-267,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
GMC Sierra EV '24-2612,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
GMC Yukon / Yukon XL (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-268,400 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Jeep Gladiator (3.6 V6, max tow) '20-267,700 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Jeep Grand Cherokee (5.7 Hemi) '11-217,200 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Jeep Grand Cherokee L (5.7 Hemi) '21-267,200 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Jeep Grand Wagoneer (Hurricane, max tow) '22-269,850 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Jeep Wagoneer (Hurricane, max tow) '22-2610,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Land Rover Defender '20-268,201 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Land Rover Discovery '17-268,201 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Lexus GX 550 (tow pkg) '24-269,096 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Lexus LX 600 '22-268,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter '19-267,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Armada (3.5 twin-turbo, tow pkg) '25-268,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Armada (tow pkg) '17-248,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Frontier (3.8 V6, tow pkg) '22-267,150 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Titan (5.6 V8, tow pkg) '17-249,760 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Titan XD (Cummins diesel) '16-1912,710 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 1500 (3.0 Hurricane, max tow) '25-2611,610 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 1500 (5.7 Hemi eTorque, max tow) '19-2412,750 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 1500 (5.7 Hemi, max tow) '11-1810,620 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 2500 (6.7 Cummins HO) '19-2620,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 2500 (6.7 Cummins) '11-1817,980 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins DRW, gooseneck) '13-1831,210 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins HO DRW, gooseneck) '25-2636,610 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins HO DRW, gooseneck) '19-2437,090 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram ProMaster '14-266,910 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Rivian R1S '22-267,700 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Rivian R1T '22-2611,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Tesla Cybertruck '24-2611,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Sequoia (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '23-269,520 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Tacoma (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '24-266,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Tacoma (V6, tow pkg) '16-236,800 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Tundra (5.7 V8, tow pkg) '11-2110,200 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Tundra (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '22-2612,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
The 28it doesn't fit
  • Chevrolet Traverse (tow pkg) '18-26 — over by ~1,307 lb loaded
  • Chrysler Pacifica '17-26 — over by ~2,567 lb loaded
  • Ford Bronco 4-dr (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '21-26 — over by ~1,757 lb loaded
  • Ford Explorer (3.0 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~767 lb loaded
  • Ford Maverick (2.0 EcoBoost, 4K tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~2,207 lb loaded
  • GMC Acadia (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~1,307 lb loaded
  • Honda Odyssey '18-26 — over by ~2,657 lb loaded
  • Honda Passport (AWD) '19-26 — over by ~1,307 lb loaded
  • Honda Pilot (AWD, tow pkg) '16-26 — over by ~1,307 lb loaded
  • Honda Ridgeline (AWD) '17-26 — over by ~1,307 lb loaded
  • Hyundai Palisade (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~1,307 lb loaded
  • Hyundai Santa Cruz (2.5T AWD) '22-26 — over by ~1,307 lb loaded
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee (WL, tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~227 lb loaded
  • Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4-dr (tow pkg) '18-26 — over by ~2,657 lb loaded
  • Kia Telluride (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~857 lb loaded
  • Mazda CX-90 (3.3 turbo, tow pkg) '24-26 — over by ~1,307 lb loaded
  • Nissan Pathfinder (tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~407 lb loaded
  • Subaru Ascent '19-26 — over by ~1,307 lb loaded
  • Subaru Outback (XT / Wilderness) '20-26 — over by ~2,657 lb loaded
  • Tesla Model X (tow pkg) '16-26 — over by ~1,307 lb loaded
  • Tesla Model Y (tow pkg) '21-26 — over by ~2,657 lb loaded
  • Toyota 4Runner (4.0 V6) '11-24 — over by ~1,307 lb loaded
  • Toyota 4Runner (i-Force Max) '25-26 — over by ~407 lb loaded
  • Toyota Grand Highlander (i-Force Max) '24-26 — over by ~1,307 lb loaded
  • Toyota Highlander (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~1,307 lb loaded
  • Toyota Land Cruiser (i-Force Max) '24-26 — over by ~407 lb loaded
  • Toyota Sienna '21-26 — over by ~2,657 lb loaded
  • Volkswagen Atlas (tow pkg) '18-26 — over by ~1,307 lb loaded
THE SPECS
Length28.5 ft
Height (incl. A/C)11.1 ft
Width8.0 ft
Interior height6.7 ft
GVWR7,680 lb
Dry weight4,815 lb
Dry tongue weight640 lb
Cargo capacity2,865 lb
Sleeps4
Slide-outs1
Axles2
Fresh water23 gal
Grey water68 gal
Black water34 gal
Air conditioning13,500 BTU

A missing row means the maker never published that figure — unknown, not zero.

WHERE PEOPLE SLEEP
  • 1× Front queen bed(Permanent)—
  • 1× Booth dinette(Convertible)—
HOW IT'S BUILT — 2/5
WallsAluminum / metal van
FrameWood
RoofStandard
UnderbellyOpen

Gulf Stream (Budget tier): Ameri-Lite is Gulf Stream's price-leader line - wood studs, fiberglass batt insulation, aluminum siding and a one-piece vinyl roof - and it collects the water-intrusion and warranty complaints typical of the budget tier.

YEAR BY YEAR — WHAT CHANGED
  • 2018Introduced
FINDING ONE

Common — usually several for sale within a day’s drive. Why: Gulf Stream is a volume manufacturer; 9-year production run; still in production. Estimated from build volume and production span — not a count of live listings.

THE READ

Rear-kitchen plan with a 68 gal grey tank. GVWR = dry + NCC (2,865 lb).

OTHER AMERI-LITE FLOORPLANS
134BH · 3,900 lb · sleeps 4134RD · 3,900 lb · sleeps 214RE · 3,800 lb · sleeps 215TH · 3,980 lb · sleeps 316RBT · 3,840 lb · sleeps 316RD · 3,930 lb · sleeps 2177BH · 3,830 lb · sleeps 5178RB · 4,000 lb · sleeps 3189DD · 3,850 lb · sleeps 518QB · 3,500 lb · sleeps 420RBS · 7,387 lb · sleeps 4221RK · 7,560 lb · sleeps 4228SB · 5,730 lb · sleeps 622RSD · 7,490 lb · sleeps 4the whole line →
Is the 238RK your #1 — or just a spec sheet?

These are the facts. Whether it beats the other six thousand rigs for you depends on what you care about — set your priorities as sliders and watch the whole market re-rank around them. Nothing gets hidden, everything gets explained.

Rank it against your setup →

Data compiled from dealer and aggregator listings, retrieved 2026-07.