01 What KZ publishes for the Sportster
K. Z., Inc. lists 5 Sportster toy haulers in its 2024 Sportster brochure. KZ prints a dry weight for every one profiled here, and each has a page of its own. It prints a GVWR for every one too. It prints a net carrying capacity for 5; on the 5 that carry both that and a GVWR, the dry weight plus the carrying capacity equals the GVWR exactly on 5. (How the data is verified.)
02 KZ Sportster models
KZ Sportster · 5 models
| Model | Dry weight | Cargo (CCC) | GVWR | Tongue | Length | Sleeps | On this site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportster 270THR | 6,840 lb | 3,160 lb | 10,000 lb | 980 lb | 30' 8" | 4 | Profiled |
| Sportster 301THR | 8,220 lb | 2,780 lb | 11,000 lb | 1,380 lb | 35' 10" | 8 | Profiled |
| Sportster 280TH | 8,310 lb | 3,190 lb | 11,500 lb | 1,680 lb | 32' 6" | 7 | Profiled |
| Sportster 331TH13 | 9,800 lb | 3,195 lb | 12,995 lb | 2,300 lb | 38' 6" | 8 | Profiled |
| Sportster 353TH13 | 11,070 lb | 2,925 lb | 13,995 lb | 2,640 lb | 40' 6" | 6 | Profiled |
Read from KZ’s 2024 Sportster brochure, 6 Nov 2026. “Not published” means the maker prints no figure; nothing is filled from another model, year or dealer.
03 Reading KZ’s figures
A maker’s published weight is for a base trailer; options and dealer-installed equipment add weight to any particular unit. The federal weight label inside the trailer carries its own unloaded weight, cargo carrying capacity and GVWR (49 CFR 567 and 571.120): read it on the unit itself before any towing decision.
05 Recalls
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns affecting this line. The earliest was reported 27 Mar 2006 and the most recent 29 Jul 2022.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jul 2022 | 22V552000 | Structure | An awning that drops or extends beyond normal operation can increase the risk of injury. |
| 27 Aug 2021 | 21V670000 | Equipment | Increased propane pressure can enlarge the flames in gas appliances, increasing the risk of a fire. |
| 21 Nov 2017 | 17V749000 | Equipment | In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury. |
| 23 Aug 2017 | 17V518000 | Tires | Premature tire wear, may result in sudden tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 15 Nov 2016 | 16V823000 | Equipment | If the hinges separate from the ladder while in use, the ladder may fall from the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. |
| 24 Jan 2011 | 11V022000 | Equipment | The sensing algorithm or thermal switch installed to shut off power to the refrigerator when high temperatures are detected due to a possible hydrogen gas leak may… |
| 12 Nov 2010 | 10V559000 | Equipment | This could result in a fire. |
| 28 Mar 2007 | 07V145000 | Structure | A person could be injured should the step give way while being used to enter or exit the trailer. |
| 27 Mar 2006 | 06V081000 | Equipment | This does not meet the requirements of the standard. |
Coverage is not complete: this list is a starting point, not a clearance (how it is built), so check a specific VIN at NHTSA before you buy and again before you tow.
This count covers campaigns NHTSA files under the plain KZ Sportster name. Campaigns filed under KZ’s other Sportster names (Sportster X, Sportsmen Sportster, Escalade Sportster and others) count on their own pages or are not counted here.
06 Owner-reported problems
Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about this line for model years 2005 on. 1 more, for earlier or unrecorded model years, is not counted. The earliest was filed 20 Jul 2009 and the most recent 16 Aug 2022. The breakdown below is what those owners actually reported, grouped by the component NHTSA assigned.
Safety outcomes in this set: 1 reported injury. These are the owner’s own account of what happened and have not been verified by NHTSA.
What gets reported
| Component group | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 3 | 50% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 17% |
| Structure | 1 | 17% |
| Suspension | 1 | 17% |
Most recent reports
The 6 owner reports filed on this line, newest first. Wording is NHTSA’s summary of what the owner described.
| Filed | Component | Miles | What the owner reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Aug 2022 | Tires | — | The contact owns a 2020 KZRV Sportster equipped with Trailer King Tire II ST Radial, Tire Line: N/A, Tire Size: ST 235/80/R16, and DOT Number:1ADB5TRT1. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, he heard an abnormal popping sound emitting from the trailer. Upon inspection, the contact… |
| 12 Jun 2019 | Suspension › Rear › Axle › Non-powered axle… | — | After purchasing our 2014 kzrv, we found that the axels installed on the RV were undr rated. After a number of emails and phone calls with kz, they indicated they would replace the axels but delayed by not calling back and moving forward with the repair. As of right now, they claims the part will… |
| 24 Mar 2014 | Latches/locks/linkages | — | Tl* the contact owns a 2009 kzrv sportsman RV. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign ID number: 13V49000 (lock cylinder ) but was not able to get a response from the manufacturer for the recall repairs. The contact made numerous attempts via e-mail and phone but the manufacturer was… |
| 17 Jul 2013 | Tires | 1,500 | Two tire failures belt separation. Spare put on for first one and new tire purchased for second failure. Normal driving, tires inflated to 80 PSI and checked before each trip. After tire takes on a snow cone appearance it will run very hot and wear very fast. RV dealer is trying to get warranty on… |
| 7 Mar 2013 | Structure › Body | 0 | Tl* the contact owns a 2006 kzrv sportster trailer. The contact that stated the rear door cable springs failed and struck the contact's wife. The contact's wife sustained severe head injuries and was placed in critical condition. The manufacturer was notified who stated that they no longer use the… |
| 20 Jul 2009 | Tires | 6,000 | Tire tread detached from tire tearing up trailer. Tires were not 2 years old & were purchased new. Tire pressure was checked just prior to trip & was accurate. Tire did not blow it still had air in it until the next day. Vehicle was traveling at 60 MPH on interstate when tire tread came apart… |
How this count is drawn. A report is counted here only when NHTSA’s own model field names this line. What the owner typed in the description is never used to attribute a report: our line names are ordinary English words, and an owner writing “imagine my surprise when the axle went” or naming the state of Montana is not reporting a Grand Design Imagine or a Keystone Montana.
Read these as reports, not as findings. Complaints are submitted by owners and NHTSA does not verify them; no complaint here has been confirmed as a defect, and none of them is a recall. The sample is also self-selected — only owners motivated to file appear in it — so a high count tracks how many units a line sold at least as much as how well it was built. Use the pattern, not the total: a component that keeps recurring is worth inspecting on any used unit. File or search complaints at NHTSA.