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Brinkley RV Model Z Air 285

Travel trailerbuilt 2025– (in production)Better build tierFindable on the used market
WHAT ONE COSTS
$94,300MSRP today

Still in production. A used 2023 would run roughly $55,600.

WHAT IT WEIGHS BEHIND YOUR TRUCK
~11,008 lbestimated as towed, for 2 people

dry weight 9,691 lb + fresh water (62 gal, full) 517 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 around12,235 lb (10% margin)
GVWR (the sticker maximum)12,995 lb
Tongue weight, loaded~1,011 lb (9%: low, watch for sway)
WHICH TOW VEHICLES IT FITS: 27 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 285'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) '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-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) '17-1932,500 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) '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
Nissan Titan XD (Cummins diesel) '16-1912,710 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 1500 (5.7 Hemi eTorque, max tow) '19-2412,750 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
The 68it doesn't fit

These verdicts assume 2 people aboard with typical gear. See the margin for your truck and your crew →

THE SPECS
Length33.9 ft
Height (incl. A/C)11.8 ft
Width8.0 ft
Interior height7.0 ft
GVWR12,995 lb
Dry weight9,691 lb
Dry tongue weight890 lb
Sleeps4
Slide-outs2
Axles2
Fresh water62 gal
Grey water120 gal
Black water40 gal
Air conditioning36,000 BTU
Solar (standard)370 W

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

WHERE PEOPLE SLEEP
  • Rear bedroom queen w/ fireplace(Permanent)60×80
  • Sleeper dinette(Convertible)
HOW IT'S BUILT: 4/5
WallsLaminated fiberglass
FrameAluminum
RoofWalk-on
UnderbellyEnclosed

Brinkley RV (Better tier): Brinkley RV (independent, Goshen IN)

YEAR BY YEAR: WHAT CHANGED
  • 2025Introduced
  • 2026Moved to dealer-stock-only status
FINDING ONE

Findable: a few listed nationwide most weeks. Why: only 2 model years; still in production. Estimated from build volume and production span, not a count of live listings.

OUR TAKE

Couples plan built around a gourmet kitchen, sleeper dinette and a desk; now dealer stock only. Sleeps count derived from layout - Brinkley markets it as a 2-person coach.

OTHER MODEL Z AIR FLOORPLANS
Find one for sale

Live listings for the 285 on the big marketplaces. Each search opens pre-filled with this exact floorplan:

Inventory varies by site and day. Slim pickings? search the whole Model Z Air line ↗

Is the 285 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, switch on your hard limits, and watch the whole market re-rank around them. Every exclusion explained, every margin shown.

See where it ranks for you →

Data compiled from manufacturer spec sheets, retrieved 2026-07.