01 What makes it unique
KZ lists the 2021 Sportsmen LE 281BHKLE at 6,390 lb dry, a GVWR of 8,000 lb, a net carrying capacity of 1,610 lb and a tongue weight of 750 lb. Its dry weight plus its carrying capacity comes to exactly its GVWR.
It is 32' 1" long and 10' 8" high. KZ prints its tanks as 45 gal fresh, 64 gal grey, 32 gal black.
Among the 14 Sportsmen LE floorplans KZ’s 2021 Sportsmen SE and LE brochure lists with a published dry weight, it is number 9 from the lightest, in a range from 4,520 lb (Sportsmen LE 200THLE) to 8,130 lb (Sportsmen LE 333KBKLE). Every figure in that comparison is KZ’s, for the same model year.
Every number on this page was read on 6 Nov 2026 from KZ’s 2021 Sportsmen SE and LE brochure, the maker’s own dated document for model year 2021.
How the 281BHKLE differs from the other thirteen Sportsmen LE floorplans. Most distinctive first. How these ranks are worked out.
- Tongue weight as a share of dry weight, 11.7%: second-smallest of fourteen, between the 241RKLE (9.9%) and the 332BHKLE (11.8%).
- Dry weight, 6,390 lb: sixth-heaviest of fourteen, between the 291THLE (6,340 lb) and the 301RKLE (6,610 lb).
- Sleeping capacity, 9: shared with the 333KBKLE; of fourteen, eleven smaller and one larger, nearest the 291THLE (8) and the 332BHKLE (10).
- Cargo capacity, 1,610 lb: seventh-smallest of fourteen, between the 241RKLE (1,550 lb) and the 312FKLE (1,620 lb).
- Cargo capacity as a share of GVWR, 20.1%: seventh-largest of fourteen, between the 333KBKLE (18.7%) and the 241RKLE (22.1%).
- Length, 32 ft 1 in: seventh-longest of fourteen, between the 270THLE (30 ft 10 in) and the 291THLE (33 ft 10 in).
- Grey tank, 64 gal: largest of fourteen, level with the 241RKLE, 301RKLE and 312FKLE; next are the 200THLE, 231BHKLE and eight others (32 gal).
- Tongue weight, 750 lb: shared with the 261RLLE; of fourteen, four lighter and eight heavier, nearest the 251RLLE (730 lb) and the 332BHKLE (870 lb).
- GVWR, 8,000 lb: shared with the 301RKLE; of fourteen, five lower and seven higher, nearest the 200THLE, 241RKLE and two others (7,000 lb) and the 250THLE, 270THLE and four others (8,800 lb).
Next to the 291THLE, the nearest lighter floorplan by dry weight, the 281BHKLE is 50 lb heavier by dry weight, has a GVWR 800 lb lower, has 850 lb less cargo capacity, has a tongue weight 420 lb lighter, is 1 ft 9 in shorter, stands 1 in lower, has a grey tank 32 gal larger and sleeps one more; the two publish the same interior height, fresh tank and black tank.
Next to the 301RKLE, the nearest heavier floorplan by dry weight, the 281BHKLE is 220 lb lighter by dry weight, has 220 lb more cargo capacity, has a tongue weight 140 lb lighter, is 2 ft 4 in shorter and sleeps five more; the two publish the same GVWR, exterior height, interior height, fresh tank, grey tank and black tank.
02 Full specifications
Dimensions
- Exterior length
- 32' 1"
- Exterior height
- 10' 8"
- Exterior width
- 96"
- Interior height
- 78"
Weights
- Dry / unit base weight (UVW)
- 6,390 lb
- GVWR (max loaded)
- 8,000 lb
- Net cargo / payload (CCC)
- 1,610 lb
- Hitch / tongue weight
- 750 lb
Capacities
- Fresh water
- 45 gal
- Grey water
- 64 gal
- Black water
- 32 gal
Running gear
- Hitch type
- Bumper pull
- Tire size
- 15"
Sleeping & layout
- Sleeps
- 9
- Dry Axle Weight*
- 5,640
- Refrigerator (cu. feet)
- 7
- Water Heater Cap. (gal. G/E w/DSI)
- 6
- LP Gas Cap. (lbs.)
- 40
- Furnace BTUs (1,000s)
- 30
- Model year source
- Spec page 3 footer prints "2 0 2 1 SPORTSMEN LE TRAVEL TRAILERS & TOY HAULERS" (letter-spaced); KZ also files it under 2021 (kz-rv.com/brochures/2021/).
- Weight basis (as printed)
- *This weight reflects the rolling average unit weight for each model. Your trailer weight will vary according to optional equipment.
- Length basis (as printed)
- ** Exterior length is measured from rear of bumper to leading edge of coupler.
- Awning
- 20'
How these published figures sit against the rest of the catalogue: travel trailer tongue weight by size; fresh, grey and black tank sizes; camper trailer size chart.
Drawn to scale
Weight budget
Size, with end view
Holding tanks
Axles, wheels and nose shape are schematic; not a floorplan. Data: dataset.
Towing it
Check your vehicle. Enter the ratings from your owner’s manual and the door-pillar placard.
Compares your figures with this page’s published GVWR (8,000 lb) and the upper loaded tongue estimate (1,200 lb, a rule of thumb). Your vehicle’s placard and the trailer’s own weight label govern.
Loaded range: 10–15% of GVWR on the tongue, a rule of thumb, not a measurement of this unit. No truck ratings or hitch classes (why; NHTSA, DOT HS 809 433).
03 The Sportsmen LE floorplan family
KZ’s 2021 Sportsmen SE and LE brochure lists 14 Sportsmen LE floorplans; every one with a printed weight has a page here.
| Floorplan | Nominal | Sleeps | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sportsmen LE 200THLE | 24' 3" | 4 | Profiled |
| Sportsmen LE 231BHKLE | 26' 5" | 7 | Profiled |
| Sportsmen LE 250THLE | 29' 1" | 6 | Profiled |
| Sportsmen LE 251RLLE | 28' 7" | 6 | Profiled |
| Sportsmen LE 241RKLE | 28' 2" | 5 | Profiled |
| Sportsmen LE 270THLE | 30' 10" | 6 | Profiled |
| Sportsmen LE 261RLLE | 30' 8" | 5 | Profiled |
| Sportsmen LE 291THLE | 33' 10" | 8 | Profiled |
| Sportsmen LE 281BHKLE | 32' 1" | 9 | Profiled |
| Sportsmen LE 301RKLE | 34' 5" | 4 | Profiled |
| Sportsmen LE 312FKLE | 35' 5" | 4 | Profiled |
| Sportsmen LE 332BHKLE | 37' 3" | 10 | Profiled |
| Sportsmen LE 303KBLE | 34' 7" | 5 | Profiled |
| Sportsmen LE 333KBKLE | 38' | 9 | Profiled |
KZ’s 2021 Sportsmen SE and LE brochure lists 14 Sportsmen LE floorplans. Every one with a printed weight has a page here.
04 Notes on this floorplan
What KZ does not publish for the Sportsmen LE 281BHKLE
Nothing is filled from a sibling model, a different model year or a dealer listing.
Read the label on the trailer
Federal rules put a load-carrying label inside every RV trailer: its unloaded weight with full propane, its cargo carrying capacity and its GVWR (49 CFR 571.110 and 571.120). Those figures come from the trailer itself and govern the towing decision.
05 How it compares
6,340 lb dry and 8,800 lb GVWR, against this model’s 6,390 lb and 8,000 lb.
6,610 lb dry and 8,000 lb GVWR, against this model’s 6,390 lb and 8,000 lb.
06 Loading it for a trip
A full 45-gallon fresh tank is about 374 lb of water (water counts as cargo: 49 CFR 571.110 S9.3.2), 23% of the Sportsmen LE 281BHKLE’s 1,610 lb cargo capacity, leaving 1,236 lb (137 lb per rated berth). Across 14 Sportsmen LE floorplans the water share runs 11% to 38%, and 6 give up more than this one. Nearest on that share: Sportsmen LE 312FKLE at 23% and Sportsmen LE 241RKLE at 24%. Your own unit’s figure is on the label inside its entry door (49 CFR 571.110 S9.3.3).
07 Where this floorplan sits
Closest sibling: the Sportsmen LE 301RKLE, nearest on the published figures. It differs on 5 of the 9 fields both publish (this plan first): length 32 ft 1 in vs 34 ft 5 in; sleeps 9 vs 4; dry weight 6,390 lb vs 6,610 lb; cargo capacity 1,610 lb vs 1,390 lb; hitch weight 750 lb vs 890 lb. They match on GVWR, fresh tank, grey tank and black tank.
| Sportsmen LE plans | This plan | Position, low to high | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| GVWR (lb) | 8,000 | 6–7 of 14 | 6,000–9,995 |
| Dry weight (lb) | 6,390 | 9 of 14 | 4,520–8,130 |
| Cargo capacity (lb) | 1,610 | 7 of 14 | 980–3,530 |
| Hitch weight (lb) | 750 | 5–6 of 14 | 540–1,280 |
| Length | 32 ft 1 in | 8 of 14 | 24 ft 3 in–38 ft 0 in |
| Grey tank (gal) | 64 | 11–14 of 14 | 32–64 |
| Sleeps | 9 | 12–13 of 14 | 4–10 |
Either side of it by GVWR: Sportsmen LE 261RLLE is 1,000 lb lighter (7,000 lb GVWR); Sportsmen LE 301RKLE matches it at 8,000 lb GVWR.
| Nearest Sportsmen LE siblings | Length | Sleeps | Dry (lb) | GVWR (lb) | CCC (lb) | Hitch (lb) | Fresh (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportsmen LE 281BHKLE | 32 ft 1 in | 9 | 6,390 | 8,000 | 1,610 | 750 | 45 |
| Sportsmen LE 301RKLE | 34 ft 5 in | 4 | 6,610 | 8,000 | 1,390 | 890 | 45 |
| Sportsmen LE 312FKLE | 35 ft 5 in | 4 | 7,180 | 8,800 | 1,620 | 970 | 45 |
| Sportsmen LE 241RKLE | 28 ft 2 in | 5 | 5,450 | 7,000 | 1,550 | 540 | 45 |
| Sportsmen LE 332BHKLE | 37 ft 3 in | 10 | 7,360 | 8,800 | 1,440 | 870 | 45 |
| Sportsmen LE 251RLLE | 28 ft 7 in | 6 | 5,370 | 7,000 | 1,630 | 730 | 45 |
All 14 Sportsmen LE floorplans: Sportsmen LE line hub.
| Other lines, nearest by GVWR | GVWR (lb) | Dry (lb) | Sleeps | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportsmen LE 281BHKLE | 8,000 | 6,390 | 9 | 32 ft 1 in |
| Jay Flight 236THW | 8,000 | 5,230 | 6 | 28 ft 4 in |
| Lance Travel Trailer 2255 | 8,000 | 5,425 | 4 | 27 ft 10 in |
| Octane 209 | 8,000 | 5,520 | — | 25 ft 3 in |
| Sportsmen Show Stopper LE S314BHKSS | 8,000 | 6,240 | — | 32 ft 10 in |
| Sportsmen Show Stopper S314BHKSS | 8,000 | 6,210 | — | 32 ft 10 in |
| Sportsmen 261BHK | 8,000 | 6,300 | 9 | 31 ft 7 in |
Against the Sportsmen LE 281BHKLE: the Jay Flight 236THW is 4 ft shorter and sleeps 3 fewer; the Lance Travel Trailer 2255 is 4 ft shorter and sleeps 5 fewer; the Octane 209 is 7 ft shorter.
08 Common questions about the Sportsmen LE 281BHKLE
How much does the Sportsmen LE 281BHKLE weigh?
6,390 lb dry; 8,000 lb GVWR, the most it may weigh loaded.
How much can the Sportsmen LE 281BHKLE carry?
1,610 lb, 20% of its GVWR (median across 1,416 travel trailers here: 23%). A full fresh tank uses 374 lb of it.
What is the tongue weight of the Sportsmen LE 281BHKLE?
750 lb as published, 12% of the dry weight (median across 2,002 travel trailers here: 12%).
What size tow vehicle does the Sportsmen LE 281BHKLE need?
A tow rating of at least 8,000 lb, plus payload for the loaded tongue weight, passengers and cargo.
How many people does the Sportsmen LE 281BHKLE sleep?
It is rated to sleep 9. 1 of the 14 Sportsmen LE floorplans that publish a count sleep more.
What are the tank capacities on the Sportsmen LE 281BHKLE?
Fresh 45, grey 64, black 32 gallons. Off hookups, fresh water runs out first.
How long is the Sportsmen LE 281BHKLE?
32' 1" overall, tongue or pin box included.
From the figures above.
09 What this page publishes, and what it does not
13 of the 18 fields this catalogue tracks are published for the Sportsmen LE 281BHKLE. Not published: slide count, axle count, refrigerator, air conditioning, tire size (a description is published, a size is not).
Sourcing rules: methodology.
10 Manuals & documents
Sources: kz-rv.com (linked below); the full source note is at the foot of the page.
11 NHTSA safety record
NHTSA holds 2 recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints (model years 2005 on) against the Sportsmen LE line (a recall and a complaint are not the same thing).
Too few reports to show a pattern. 2 complaints have been filed on this line — not enough to say what fails most often. They cover equipment.
Recall coverage here is not complete, and complaints are owners’ unverified reports (how this record is built). Check a specific VIN at NHTSA before you buy. Full tables are on the Sportsmen LE line page.