CamperHardlyKnowHer

KZ Sportsmen 281RL

Travel trailerbuilt 2017–18Mixed build tierFindable on the used market
WHAT ONE COSTS
$19,400est. used (2018, 8 yr old)

Sticker was $32,488 in 2018 — out of production since 2018, so the used market is the only way to buy one. Estimate assumes a 2018 unit.

WHAT IT WEIGHS BEHIND YOUR TRUCK
~7,377 lbestimated as towed, for 2 people

dry weight 6,260 lb + fresh water (38 gal, full) 317 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 around8,200 lb (10% margin)
GVWR (the sticker maximum)8,000 lb
Tongue weight, loaded~931 lb (13%)
WHICH TOW VEHICLES IT FITS — 51 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 281RL's published weights held steady.

VEHICLETOW RATINGVERDICT
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
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 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
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 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
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 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 44it doesn't fit
  • Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.7 Turbo HO, tow pkg) '23-26 — over by ~447 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.8 Duramax) '15-22 — over by ~447 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Traverse (tow pkg) '18-26 — over by ~2,877 lb loaded
  • Chrysler Pacifica '17-26 — over by ~4,137 lb loaded
  • Ford Bronco 4-dr (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '21-26 — over by ~3,327 lb loaded
  • Ford Explorer (3.0 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~2,337 lb loaded
  • Ford Maverick (2.0 EcoBoost, 4K tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~3,777 lb loaded
  • Ford Ranger (2.3 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '19-23 — over by ~627 lb loaded
  • Ford Ranger (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '24-26 — over by ~627 lb loaded
  • Ford Transit (HD tow pkg) '15-26 — over by ~1,167 lb loaded
  • GMC Acadia (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~2,877 lb loaded
  • GMC Hummer EV Pickup '22-26 — over by ~627 lb loaded
  • Honda Odyssey '18-26 — over by ~4,227 lb loaded
  • Honda Passport (AWD) '19-26 — over by ~2,877 lb loaded
  • Honda Pilot (AWD, tow pkg) '16-26 — over by ~2,877 lb loaded
  • Honda Ridgeline (AWD) '17-26 — over by ~2,877 lb loaded
  • Hyundai Palisade (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~2,877 lb loaded
  • Hyundai Santa Cruz (2.5T AWD) '22-26 — over by ~2,877 lb loaded
  • Jeep Gladiator (3.6 V6, max tow) '20-26 — over by ~447 lb loaded
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee (5.7 Hemi) '11-21 — over by ~897 lb loaded
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee (WL, tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~1,797 lb loaded
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee L (5.7 Hemi) '21-26 — over by ~897 lb loaded
  • Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4-dr (tow pkg) '18-26 — over by ~4,227 lb loaded
  • Kia Telluride (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~2,427 lb loaded
  • Lexus LX 600 '22-26 — over by ~177 lb loaded
  • Mazda CX-90 (3.3 turbo, tow pkg) '24-26 — over by ~2,877 lb loaded
  • Mercedes-Benz Sprinter '19-26 — over by ~627 lb loaded
  • Nissan Frontier (3.8 V6, tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~942 lb loaded
  • Nissan Pathfinder (tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~1,977 lb loaded
  • Ram ProMaster '14-26 — over by ~1,157 lb loaded
  • Rivian R1S '22-26 — over by ~447 lb loaded
  • Subaru Ascent '19-26 — over by ~2,877 lb loaded
  • Subaru Outback (XT / Wilderness) '20-26 — over by ~4,227 lb loaded
  • Tesla Model X (tow pkg) '16-26 — over by ~2,877 lb loaded
  • Tesla Model Y (tow pkg) '21-26 — over by ~4,227 lb loaded
  • Toyota 4Runner (4.0 V6) '11-24 — over by ~2,877 lb loaded
  • Toyota 4Runner (i-Force Max) '25-26 — over by ~1,977 lb loaded
  • Toyota Grand Highlander (i-Force Max) '24-26 — over by ~2,877 lb loaded
  • Toyota Highlander (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~2,877 lb loaded
  • Toyota Land Cruiser (i-Force Max) '24-26 — over by ~1,977 lb loaded
  • Toyota Sienna '21-26 — over by ~4,227 lb loaded
  • Toyota Tacoma (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '24-26 — over by ~1,527 lb loaded
  • Toyota Tacoma (V6, tow pkg) '16-23 — over by ~1,257 lb loaded
  • Volkswagen Atlas (tow pkg) '18-26 — over by ~2,877 lb loaded
THE SPECS
Length32.1 ft
Height (incl. A/C)11.3 ft
Width8.0 ft
Interior height6.8 ft
GVWR8,000 lb
Dry weight6,260 lb
Dry tongue weight790 lb
Sleeps6
Slide-outs1
Axles2
Fresh water38 gal
Grey water32 gal
Black water32 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)60×74
  • 2× Rear-lounge sofas convert(Convertible)—
HOW IT'S BUILT — 2/5
WallsWood frame + siding
FrameWood
RoofWalk-on
UnderbellyEnclosed

KZ (Mixed tier): KZ sits at the better end of the value tier: metal-sided stick construction like its budget rivals, but a 3/8" walk-on Tufflex roof, a standard enclosed and heated underbelly, and a 2-year hitch-to-bumper warranty put it a clear step above Hideout, Springdale or Salem FSX.

YEAR BY YEAR — WHAT CHANGED
  • 2017Introduced in the revived mainstream Sportsmen travel trailer range
  • 2018Final model year
FINDING ONE

Findable — a few listed nationwide most weeks. Why: KZ is a volume manufacturer; only 2 model years. Estimated from build volume and production span — not a count of live listings.

THE READ

A two-year rear-lounge couples plan from the last mainstream Sportsmen TT range before KZ split the line into SE, Classic and Select.

OTHER SPORTSMEN FLOORPLANS
130BH · 3,500 lb · sleeps 4130RB · 2,800 lb · sleeps 4130RD · 3,500 lb · sleeps 3160QB · 3,850 lb · sleeps 3160RBT · 3,500 lb · sleeps 7170MB · 4,400 lb · sleeps 3171BH · 4,800 lb · sleeps 8180BH · 3,750 lb · sleeps 5180RBT · 4,500 lb · sleeps 8181SS · 4,400 lb · sleeps 6190BH · 5,000 lb · sleeps 5191BHK · 4,800 lb · sleeps 6210RDSL · 7,000 lb · sleeps 6221RKSL · 7,000 lb · sleeps 4the whole line →
Is the 281RL 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.