CamperHardlyKnowHer

Starcraft Travel Star 278BHS

Travel trailerbuilt 2012–13Mixed build tierFindable 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
~8,925 lbestimated as towed, for 2 people

dry weight 7,520 lb + fresh water (72.6 gal, full) 605 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 around9,920 lb (10% margin)
GVWR (the sticker maximum)9,950 lb
Tongue weight, loaded~1,531 lb (17% — high, eats payload)
WHICH TOW VEHICLES IT FITS — 37 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 278BHS'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
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
Jeep Wagoneer (Hurricane, max tow) '22-2610,000 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 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 58it doesn't fit
  • Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.7 Turbo HO, tow pkg) '23-26 — over by ~1,995 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.8 Duramax) '15-22 — over by ~1,995 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Suburban (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26 — over by ~1,455 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Tahoe (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26 — over by ~1,365 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Traverse (tow pkg) '18-26 — over by ~4,425 lb loaded
  • Chrysler Pacifica '17-26 — over by ~5,685 lb loaded
  • Dodge Durango (5.7 / 6.4 Hemi, tow pkg) '14-26 — over by ~1,095 lb loaded
  • Ford Bronco 4-dr (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '21-26 — over by ~4,875 lb loaded
  • Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '18-24 — over by ~555 lb loaded
  • Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '25-26 — over by ~285 lb loaded
  • Ford Explorer (3.0 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~3,885 lb loaded
  • Ford Maverick (2.0 EcoBoost, 4K tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~5,325 lb loaded
  • Ford Ranger (2.3 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '19-23 — over by ~2,175 lb loaded
  • Ford Ranger (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '24-26 — over by ~2,175 lb loaded
  • Ford Transit (HD tow pkg) '15-26 — over by ~2,715 lb loaded
  • GMC Acadia (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~4,425 lb loaded
  • GMC Hummer EV Pickup '22-26 — over by ~2,175 lb loaded
  • GMC Yukon / Yukon XL (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26 — over by ~1,365 lb loaded
  • Honda Odyssey '18-26 — over by ~5,775 lb loaded
  • Honda Passport (AWD) '19-26 — over by ~4,425 lb loaded
  • Honda Pilot (AWD, tow pkg) '16-26 — over by ~4,425 lb loaded
  • Honda Ridgeline (AWD) '17-26 — over by ~4,425 lb loaded
  • Hyundai Palisade (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~4,425 lb loaded
  • Hyundai Santa Cruz (2.5T AWD) '22-26 — over by ~4,425 lb loaded
  • Jeep Gladiator (3.6 V6, max tow) '20-26 — over by ~1,995 lb loaded
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee (5.7 Hemi) '11-21 — over by ~2,445 lb loaded
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee (WL, tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~3,345 lb loaded
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee L (5.7 Hemi) '21-26 — over by ~2,445 lb loaded
  • Jeep Grand Wagoneer (Hurricane, max tow) '22-26 — over by ~60 lb loaded
  • Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4-dr (tow pkg) '18-26 — over by ~5,775 lb loaded
  • Kia Telluride (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~3,975 lb loaded
  • Land Rover Defender '20-26 — over by ~1,545 lb loaded
  • Land Rover Discovery '17-26 — over by ~1,545 lb loaded
  • Lexus GX 550 (tow pkg) '24-26 — over by ~740 lb loaded
  • Lexus LX 600 '22-26 — over by ~1,725 lb loaded
  • Mazda CX-90 (3.3 turbo, tow pkg) '24-26 — over by ~4,425 lb loaded
  • Mercedes-Benz Sprinter '19-26 — over by ~2,175 lb loaded
  • Nissan Armada (3.5 twin-turbo, tow pkg) '25-26 — over by ~1,275 lb loaded
  • Nissan Armada (tow pkg) '17-24 — over by ~1,275 lb loaded
  • Nissan Frontier (3.8 V6, tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~2,490 lb loaded
  • Nissan Pathfinder (tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~3,525 lb loaded
  • Nissan Titan (5.6 V8, tow pkg) '17-24 — over by ~140 lb loaded
  • Ram ProMaster '14-26 — over by ~2,705 lb loaded
  • Rivian R1S '22-26 — over by ~1,995 lb loaded
  • Subaru Ascent '19-26 — over by ~4,425 lb loaded
  • Subaru Outback (XT / Wilderness) '20-26 — over by ~5,775 lb loaded
  • Tesla Model X (tow pkg) '16-26 — over by ~4,425 lb loaded
  • Tesla Model Y (tow pkg) '21-26 — over by ~5,775 lb loaded
  • Toyota 4Runner (4.0 V6) '11-24 — over by ~4,425 lb loaded
  • Toyota 4Runner (i-Force Max) '25-26 — over by ~3,525 lb loaded
  • Toyota Grand Highlander (i-Force Max) '24-26 — over by ~4,425 lb loaded
  • Toyota Highlander (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~4,425 lb loaded
  • Toyota Land Cruiser (i-Force Max) '24-26 — over by ~3,525 lb loaded
  • Toyota Sequoia (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '23-26 — over by ~355 lb loaded
  • Toyota Sienna '21-26 — over by ~5,775 lb loaded
  • Toyota Tacoma (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '24-26 — over by ~3,075 lb loaded
  • Toyota Tacoma (V6, tow pkg) '16-23 — over by ~2,805 lb loaded
  • Volkswagen Atlas (tow pkg) '18-26 — over by ~4,425 lb loaded
THE SPECS
Length31.5 ft
Height (incl. A/C)12.0 ft
GVWR9,950 lb
Dry weight7,520 lb
Dry tongue weight1,290 lb
Sleeps8
Slide-outs2
Axles2
Fresh water72.6 gal
Grey water62 gal
Black water31 gal
Awning14 ft

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

WHERE PEOPLE SLEEP
  • 1× Front queen bed in nose(Permanent)—
  • 2× Rear bunks(Permanent)—
  • 2× Dinette and sofa convert(Convertible)—
HOW IT'S BUILT — 3/5
WallsLaminated fiberglass
FrameAluminum
RoofWalk-on
UnderbellyOpen

Starcraft (Mixed tier): Starcraft RV (Jayco / Thor Industries), Middlebury IN

YEAR BY YEAR — WHAT CHANGED
  • 2012Introduced
  • 2013Final year
FINDING ONE

Findable — a few listed nationwide most weeks. Why: Starcraft is a volume manufacturer; only 2 model years; 13 years out of production. Estimated from build volume and production span — not a count of live listings.

THE READ

Bunkhouse fifth wheel; 1,290 lb pin is manageable for a well-optioned half-ton.

OTHER TRAVEL STAR FLOORPLANS
186RD · 4,475 lb · sleeps 8187TB · 4,475 lb · sleeps 819CK · 5,000 lb · sleeps 8207RB · 4,950 lb · sleeps 821SB · 5,000 lb · sleeps 10227CKS · 5,975 lb · sleeps 8229TB · 5,450 lb · sleeps 10239TBS · 6,500 lb · sleeps 10244DS · 7,000 lb · sleeps 4245RBS · 6,250 lb · sleeps 6245RKS · 6,500 lb · sleeps 6274RKS · 7,750 lb · sleeps 6275RKS · 9,950 lb · sleeps 6276RKS · 10,250 lb · sleeps 6the whole line →
Is the 278BHS 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.