Dutchmen Aerolite 281RLSS

Name: Dutchmen Aerolite 281RLSS
Brand: Dutchmen

Travel trailerbuilt 2016–18Mixed build tierFindable on the used market

WHAT ONE COSTS

$20,700est. used (2018, 8 yr old)

Sticker was $34,658 in 2016. Out of production since 2018, so the used market is the only way to buy one. Estimate assumes a 2018 unit.

WHAT IT WEIGHS BEHIND YOUR TRUCK

~7,600 lbestimated as towed, for 2 people

dry weight 6,647 lb + fresh water (52 gal, full) 434 lb + propane + battery 200 lb + gear for 2 600 lb (capped at its own rating). Brochure dry weight omits water, propane, batteries and your gear; this estimate doesn't.

You want a tow rating around8,445 lb (10% margin)

GVWR (the sticker maximum)7,600 lb

Tongue weight, loaded~975 lb (13%)

Cargo capacity953 lb

WHICH TOW VEHICLES IT FITS: 46 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 281RLSS's published weights held steady.

VEHICLE	TOW RATING	VERDICT
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 1500 (6.2 V8, max tow) '19-26	13,300 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax, max tow) '24-26	22,500 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax) '20-23	18,510 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax) '11-19	18,100 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 3500HD (Duramax DRW, gooseneck) '20-26	36,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 3500HD (Duramax DRW, gooseneck) '11-19	23,300 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (max tow) '14-18	12,500 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado EV (4WT) '24-26	12,500 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Dodge Durango (5.7 / 6.4 Hemi, tow pkg) '14-26	8,700 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '25-26	9,600 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '18-24	9,300 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '24-26	13,500 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '15-20	13,200 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '21-23	14,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '11-14	11,300 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 Lightning (max trailer tow) '22-26	10,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 diesel, gooseneck) '20-22	22,800 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 diesel, tow pkg) '17-19	18,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 diesel) '11-16	16,600 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 HO diesel, gooseneck) '23-26	23,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 diesel DRW, gooseneck) '17-19	32,500 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 diesel DRW, gooseneck) '20-22	37,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 diesel DRW, gooseneck) '11-16	21,600 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 HO diesel DRW, gooseneck) '23-26	38,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-450 Super Duty (6.7 HO diesel DRW, gooseneck) '23-26	40,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
GMC Sierra EV '24-26	12,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Jeep Grand Wagoneer (Hurricane, max tow) '22-26	9,850 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Jeep Wagoneer (Hurricane, max tow) '22-26	10,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Lexus GX 550 (tow pkg) '24-26	9,096 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Armada (3.5 twin-turbo, tow pkg) '25-26	8,500 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Armada (tow pkg) '17-24	8,500 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Titan (5.6 V8, tow pkg) '17-24	9,760 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Titan XD (Cummins diesel) '16-19	12,710 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 1500 (3.0 Hurricane, max tow) '25-26	11,610 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 1500 (5.7 Hemi eTorque, max tow) '19-24	12,750 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 1500 (5.7 Hemi, max tow) '11-18	10,620 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 2500 (6.7 Cummins HO) '19-26	20,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 2500 (6.7 Cummins) '11-18	17,980 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins DRW, gooseneck) '13-18	31,210 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins HO DRW, gooseneck) '25-26	36,610 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins HO DRW, gooseneck) '19-24	37,090 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Rivian R1T '22-26	11,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Tesla Cybertruck '24-26	11,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Sequoia (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '23-26	9,520 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Tundra (5.7 V8, tow pkg) '11-21	10,200 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Tundra (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '22-26	12,000 lb	fits, loaded, with 10% margin

The 49it doesn't fit

Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.7 Turbo HO, tow pkg) '23-26: over by ~670 lb loaded
Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.8 Duramax) '15-22: over by ~670 lb loaded
Chevrolet Suburban (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26: over by ~130 lb loaded
Chevrolet Tahoe (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26: over by ~40 lb loaded
Chevrolet Traverse (tow pkg) '18-26: over by ~3,100 lb loaded
Chrysler Pacifica '17-26: over by ~4,360 lb loaded
Ford Bronco 4-dr (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '21-26: over by ~3,550 lb loaded
Ford Explorer (3.0 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '20-26: over by ~2,560 lb loaded
Ford Maverick (2.0 EcoBoost, 4K tow pkg) '22-26: over by ~4,000 lb loaded
Ford Ranger (2.3 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '19-23: over by ~850 lb loaded
Ford Ranger (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '24-26: over by ~850 lb loaded
Ford Transit (HD tow pkg) '15-26: over by ~1,390 lb loaded
GMC Acadia (tow pkg) '20-26: over by ~3,100 lb loaded
GMC Hummer EV Pickup '22-26: over by ~850 lb loaded
GMC Yukon / Yukon XL (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26: over by ~40 lb loaded
Honda Odyssey '18-26: over by ~4,450 lb loaded
Honda Passport (AWD) '19-26: over by ~3,100 lb loaded
Honda Pilot (AWD, tow pkg) '16-26: over by ~3,100 lb loaded
Honda Ridgeline (AWD) '17-26: over by ~3,100 lb loaded
Hyundai Palisade (tow pkg) '20-26: over by ~3,100 lb loaded
Hyundai Santa Cruz (2.5T AWD) '22-26: over by ~3,100 lb loaded
Jeep Gladiator (3.6 V6, max tow) '20-26: over by ~670 lb loaded
Jeep Grand Cherokee (5.7 Hemi) '11-21: over by ~1,120 lb loaded
Jeep Grand Cherokee (WL, tow pkg) '22-26: over by ~2,020 lb loaded
Jeep Grand Cherokee L (5.7 Hemi) '21-26: over by ~1,120 lb loaded
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4-dr (tow pkg) '18-26: over by ~4,450 lb loaded
Kia Telluride (tow pkg) '20-26: over by ~2,650 lb loaded
Land Rover Defender '20-26: over by ~220 lb loaded
Land Rover Discovery '17-26: over by ~220 lb loaded
Lexus LX 600 '22-26: over by ~400 lb loaded
Mazda CX-90 (3.3 turbo, tow pkg) '24-26: over by ~3,100 lb loaded
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter '19-26: over by ~850 lb loaded
Nissan Frontier (3.8 V6, tow pkg) '22-26: over by ~1,165 lb loaded
Nissan Pathfinder (tow pkg) '22-26: over by ~2,200 lb loaded
Ram ProMaster '14-26: over by ~1,380 lb loaded
Rivian R1S '22-26: over by ~670 lb loaded
Subaru Ascent '19-26: over by ~3,100 lb loaded
Subaru Outback (XT / Wilderness) '20-26: over by ~4,450 lb loaded
Tesla Model X (tow pkg) '16-26: over by ~3,100 lb loaded
Tesla Model Y (tow pkg) '21-26: over by ~4,450 lb loaded
Toyota 4Runner (4.0 V6) '11-24: over by ~3,100 lb loaded
Toyota 4Runner (i-Force Max) '25-26: over by ~2,200 lb loaded
Toyota Grand Highlander (i-Force Max) '24-26: over by ~3,100 lb loaded
Toyota Highlander (tow pkg) '20-26: over by ~3,100 lb loaded
Toyota Land Cruiser (i-Force Max) '24-26: over by ~2,200 lb loaded
Toyota Sienna '21-26: over by ~4,450 lb loaded
Toyota Tacoma (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '24-26: over by ~1,750 lb loaded
Toyota Tacoma (V6, tow pkg) '16-23: over by ~1,480 lb loaded
Volkswagen Atlas (tow pkg) '18-26: over by ~3,100 lb loaded

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

THE SPECS

Length32.2 ft

Height (incl. A/C)11.2 ft

Width8.0 ft

GVWR7,600 lb

Dry weight6,647 lb

Dry tongue weight853 lb

Cargo capacity953 lb

Sleeps4

Slide-outs2

Axles2

Fresh water52 gal

Grey water39 gal

Black water28 gal

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

WHERE PEOPLE SLEEP

1× Front queen bed(Permanent)—
1× Rear sofa converts(Convertible)—

HOW IT'S BUILT: 4/5

WallsLaminated fiberglass

FrameAluminum

RoofWalk-on

UnderbellyEnclosed

Dutchmen (Mixed tier): Aerolite

YEAR BY YEAR: WHAT CHANGED

2016Introduced

FINDING ONE

Findable: a few listed nationwide most weeks. Why: Dutchmen is a volume manufacturer. Estimated from build volume and production span, not a count of live listings.

OUR TAKE

Rear-living couples trailer with opposing slides - lots of lounge, little cargo margin.

OTHER AEROLITE FLOORPLANS

174E · 3,850 lb · sleeps 4 204ES · 6,600 lb · sleeps 6 2110RBSL · 6,600 lb · sleeps 4 2133RB · 7,600 lb · sleeps 4 213RBSL · 6,600 lb · sleeps 4 221BHSL · 6,600 lb · sleeps 6 224ES · 6,600 lb · sleeps 6 2320BHSL · 6,600 lb · sleeps 7 2423BH · 7,600 lb · sleeps 8 242BHSL · 6,600 lb · sleeps 8 2520RKSL · 7,600 lb · sleeps 4 2573BH · 9,680 lb · sleeps 8 272RBSS · 9,680 lb · sleeps 6 2733RB · 9,680 lb · sleeps 6 the whole line →

Find one for sale

Live listings for the 281RLSS on the big marketplaces. Each search opens pre-filled with this exact floorplan:

RV Trader ↗Camping World ↗FB Marketplace ↗Google ↗

Inventory varies by site and day. Slim pickings? search the whole Aerolite line ↗

Is the 281RLSS 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 dealer and aggregator listings, retrieved 2026-07.