01 What Cruiser RV publishes for the Shadow Cruiser
Cruiser RV, LLC, of Howe, Indiana, lists 8 Shadow Cruiser trailers in its 2025 Shadow Cruiser brochure. Cruiser RV 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 8; on the 8 that carry both that and a GVWR, the dry weight plus the carrying capacity equals the GVWR exactly on 0. (How the data is verified.)
02 Cruiser RV Shadow Cruiser models
Cruiser RV Shadow Cruiser · 8 models
| Model | Dry weight | Cargo (CCC) | GVWR | Tongue | Length | Sleeps | On this site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow Cruiser 235RBS | 5,284 lb | 2,282 lb | 7,598 lb | Not published by Cruiser RV | 25' 11" | 3-4 | Profiled |
| Shadow Cruiser 252RKS | 5,948 lb | 1,590 lb | 7,570 lb | Not published by Cruiser RV | 29' 5" | 5-6 | Profiled |
| Shadow Cruiser 251BHS | 6,140 lb | 1,662 lb | 7,834 lb | Not published by Cruiser RV | 30' 5" | 7-8 | Profiled |
| Shadow Cruiser 240RPD | 6,214 lb | 1,550 lb | 7,796 lb | Not published by Cruiser RV | 28' 9-1/4" | 3-4 | Profiled |
| Shadow Cruiser 261RB | 6,262 lb | 1,405 lb | 7,699 lb | Not published by Cruiser RV | 31' 4" | 5-6 | Profiled |
| Shadow Cruiser 292BHS | 6,932 lb | 2,776 lb | 9,470 lb | Not published by Cruiser RV | 33' 11" | 9+ | Profiled |
| Shadow Cruiser 300RLS | 7,440 lb | 2,418 lb | 9,890 lb | Not published by Cruiser RV | 34' 11" | 5-6 | Profiled |
| Shadow Cruiser 330BHS | 8,049 lb | 1,195 lb | 9,995 lb | Not published by Cruiser RV | 37' 11" | 9+ | Profiled |
Read from Cruiser RV’s 2025 Shadow Cruiser brochure, 5 Nov 2026. “Not published” means the maker prints no figure; nothing is filled from another model, year or dealer.
03 Reading Cruiser RV’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 12 recall campaigns affecting this line. The earliest was reported 5 Oct 2011 and the most recent 27 Mar 2024.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Mar 2024 | 24V235000 | Equipment | A circuit board that overheats increases the risk of a fire. |
| 8 Aug 2022 | 22V593000 | Equipment | An awning that drops or extends beyond normal operation can increase the risk of injury. |
| 21 Jul 2022 | 22V521000 | Equipment | The vehicle may be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 17 Jun 2022 | 22V433000 | Equipment | A gas leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire. |
| 6 May 2022 | 22V306000 | Electrical system | Electrical arcing between the exposed studs and nearby aluminum ducting can increase the risk of fire and injury. |
| 3 May 2022 | 22V293000 | Equipment | A gas leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire. |
| 20 Dec 2021 | 21V993000 | Tires | Incorrect tire information can allow the operator to install incorrect replacement tires, which can affect towing, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 4 Jun 2021 | 21V428000 | Equipment | Increased propane pressure can enlarge the flames in gas appliances, increasing the risk of a fire. |
| 22 Nov 2017 | 17V751000 | Equipment | In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury. |
| 29 Jul 2016 | 16V565000 | Electrical system | If the light overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire. |
| 19 Nov 2013 | 13V649000 | Latches/locks/linkages | If the deadbolt jams, the interior side of the door lock may also jam. A person inside the travel trailer at the time will then be locked in and be unable to exit… |
| 5 Oct 2011 | 11V497000 | Equipment | Failure to follow proper vehicle loading specifications because of a misprinted label could increase the risk of a crash. |
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 includes campaigns Heartland filed for the Shadow Cruiser while it owned Cruiser RV. Campaigns NHTSA files only under the separate Shadow Cruiser Ultra Lite and Shadow Cruiser LE series, and the 1996 campers of the earlier Shadow Cruiser company, are not counted here.
06 Owner-reported problems
Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about this line for model years 2005 on. The earliest was filed 26 Jul 2012 and the most recent 11 Sep 2026. The breakdown below is what those owners actually reported, grouped by the component NHTSA assigned.
What gets reported
| Component group | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 3 | 27% |
| Suspension | 3 | 27% |
| Equipment | 2 | 18% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 9% |
| Power train | 1 | 9% |
| Wheels | 1 | 9% |
Most recent reports
The most recent 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Sep 2026 | Suspension | — | Lippert Components Inc Frame & Suspension Failure The frame and weld show inadequate strength and poor bonding, causing the rear leafâspring hanger to separate from the frame during normal towing. The surrounding metal deformed as the hanger detached, and the failure occurred without any impact… |
| 12 Mar 2024 | Structure | — | The contact owns a 2016 Shadow Cruiser RV. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear leaf spring hanger and frame flanges fractured. The RV was diagnosed by an independent welder and the contact was informed that the leaf spring hanger and the frame flanges needed to… |
| 12 Oct 2021 | Equipment | — | The contact owns a 2019 Cruiser RV Shadow Cruiser RV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V428000 (Equipment) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The contact called the number listed on the recall notice and… |
| 7 Aug 2019 | Suspension | 2,000 | Two identical tow trailer rv"s made by cruiser RV 2018 &2019 model 225RBS Shadow Cruiser. Severe axle failures on both trailers after approx 2,000 miles use.severe camber & tires out of alignment,severe tire wear exposing steel belts.both campers have cracked frames above axle/spring mounts.the… |
| 16 Jul 2019 | Electrical system | 5,000 | Tl* the contact owns a 2016 cruiser RV Shadow Cruiser. While operating the vehicle, there was a grounding failure that caused an electrical shock when metal parts were contacted on the vehicle. While the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for routine maintenance, burned wires were located under… |
| 17 Aug 2017 | Power train | 5,000 | I have a Dexter 3500# dual axle on a 2017 cruiser RV Shadow Cruiser 280QBS that had a left rear tire completely wear out to treads with only about 5000 miles. RV was taken to service center when they found the lug nut holding the wheel on almost off. Dexter has refused to pay for the tire and… |
| 3 Jul 2014 | Wheels | 3,000 | Model 280QBS. We purchased this in July of 2011 and had gone on 4 local trips. We went on a vacation out west from derry nh. We stopped in rapid city, sd for several days. Another camper next to us had a Shadow Cruiser fun finder and told us he had issues with his tires. The tread had worn out. We… |
| 14 Dec 2013 | Suspension | 3,000 | With about 3000 miles on the unit I had tire failure at low speed. Problem was excess negative camber on wheels resulting in excessive tire wear in inside 1 1/2 inches of tire. If, tire failure had occurred at highway speed, could have been severe event. Cruiser RV would not accept any… |
| 29 Aug 2013 | Equipment › Recreational vehicle/trailer | — | Cpsc: I1380372A. 2013 Shadow Cruiser. Consumer stated she was having multiple problems with the trailer. *ln the consumer stated the slide out malfunctioned. It did not properly retract, when it was pulled in. The kitchen countertops and cutting board were warped after one use, the left front… |
| 21 Aug 2013 | Structure | 5 | The following is a the list of issues reported to pierce RV after our first trip on May 13, 2013: 1.SLIDE out malfunctions:does not properly retract or return-gaps 2.OUTDOOR kitchen countertop WARPED3.LEFT front stabilizer jack bent. List of issues reported to pierce RV June 17, 2013: 1.OVEN will… |
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.