Brinkley Model Z 3200 Review: Rear-Kitchen Luxury Fifth Wheel
If you’ve been waiting for a Brinkley floorplan that feels more like a condo on wheels, the Brinkley Model Z 3200 is probably it. This rear-kitchen luxury fifth wheel keeps the camp cook a part of the conversation, gives you a massive sectional with five recliners, and adds a “big-brother” bedroom and closet that the smaller Z 2700 just can’t match.
In this Brinkley Model Z 3200 review, we’ll walk through:
- Key specs & who it’s built for
- The rear kitchen and “glamping-approved” storage
- The big L-sofa lounge and do-it-all dinette/desk
- Bedroom, bath, and true-to-Brinkley fit and finish
- Towing requirements & tank capacities
- Pros, cons, and how it compares to the Z 2700
Table of Contents
Z 3200 Living & Lounge
Z 3200 Rear Kitchen
Z 3200 Windows & Climate
Z 3200 Bedroom
Z 3200 Bathroom
Z 3200 Construction
Z 3200 Who is it For
Z 3200 FAQ
Quick Specs: Brinkley Model Z 3200 at a Glance
According to Brinkley and Bish’s RV, the Model Z 3200 is a mid-profile luxury fifth wheel designed for extended or full-time use.
Key Specs (approximate):
- Length: 34′ 11″
- Width: 8′
- Exterior height: 13′ 2″
- Slides: 3 (dual opposing flush-floor super slides in the living/kitchen + bedroom slide)
- Dry weight: ~12,476 lbs
- GVWR: 15,495 lbs
- Hitch weight (empty): ~2,250 lbs
- Fresh water: 75 gal
- Gray water: 120 gal total (dual 45-gal tanks cross-plumbed + 30-gal kitchen tank)
- Black tank: 45 gal
- Tires: 215/75R17.5, H-rated
- Standard solar: 370W panel with Victron components (controller/inverter hardware)
Who it’s for:
- Couples who cook a lot and want a residential rear kitchen
- Full-timers or seasonal campers who need serious storage & a walk-in-style closet
- RVers who want Brinkley’s high-end fit and finish without going to a 38–40 ft rig
- Anyone who loves to host friends or family inside on rainy or cold days
Not for: half-ton trucks, gigantic families, or shoppers hunting for the cheapest possible fifth wheel.
Living & Lounge: Five Recliners and a Jumbotron TV
The Z 3200’s living area a space you can actually live in, and Josh the RV Nerd shows you why!
Wraparound L-Sofa with Five Recliners
Along the camp side and back wall you get a wraparound sectional with five reclining seats.
Note, you can’t run all five recliners at once, two of them will fight for floor space. But the flexibility is worth the trade.
- Lounge along the long leg of the L-sofa and stretch out
- Use individual recliners when you want your own space.
- Treat the corner as a cozy nap spot or overflow sleeping for extra grandchildren
The giant smart TV (“jumbotron”) is directly across from the main recliners, so there’s no neck-cranking to watch a game or movie. Even when you’re in the kitchen, you’re still facing the TV and the people in the lounge, no more disappearing into a separate room just because you’re the chef for the night!
Brinkley’s “Do-It-All” Dinette / Desk
Next to the sofa is Brinkley’s signature convertible table system, essentially a multi-use desk and dinette hybrid. Brinkley RV
It can be:
- A two-person desk with room for dual monitors
- A four-person dinette for meals or game night
- A compact work-from-camp setup, then it tucks away for travel
The table doesn’t flip like a traditional freestanding dinette.
Rear Kitchen: Why It’s a “Glamping-Approved” Layout
The Brinkley Z 3200 is a kitchen that the cook in the family will love!
Tons of Counter Space, Thoughtful Power Placement
The Z 3200 features a true rear kitchen that wraps around the back wall with:
- Long, continuous countertop runs
- A one-piece farm sink with full-width roll-up drying rack
- Solid-surface counters throughout
- Rear prep space by the sink plus additional prep space along the off-camp side slide
Because you can’t always run outlets where you want on laminated slide walls, Brinkley splits the strategy:
- Back wall: outlets are right at countertop level (perfect for coffee makers, blenders, air fryers).
- Slide side: some outlets tuck under overhead cabinets where wiring can be run cleanly.
80″ Pantry & Dovetail Drawer Storage
The 3200’s kitchen storage is one of its biggest selling points:
- 80″ pantry with pull-out drawers and appliance outlets for things like coffee makers or Instant Pots.
- Dovetail, full-extension drawers where storage is at waist height or below, so “the storage comes to you.”
- Overhead cabinets sized for plates, bowls, and mugs in places that actually make sense.
Under the stove you even get a large pull-out drawer instead of a dead void. Brinkley clearly tried to use every nook and cranny.
Pet-Friendly Details & Dishwasher Prep
A few “only Brinkley” touches:
- Dual trash bins (trash + recycling) on pull-outs
- Magnetic pet dishes that can clip to the island base and collapse away when not needed
- Dishwasher prep under the sink, with trash already handled elsewhere so you’re not sacrificing your wastebasket space
The end result is a rear kitchen that feels more like a small residential kitchen than a typical RV galley, and it’s open to the living room instead of cut off.
Windows, Light, and Climate Control
The Z 3200 doesn’t have full-wall windows on the camp side the way some Model Z floorplans do, but it still gives you:
- Square “Euro-style” windows with clean trim and minimal visible fasteners
- A mix of view-only windows and operating windows with day/night roller shades for airflow and privacy
- A smart shade setup:
- Windows with day + night shades open for airflow
- Night-shade-only windows are fixed glass
For climate:
- Dual-AC setup:
18,000 BTU Furrion ChillCube in the main living area - 13,500 BTU dedicated to the bedroom/bath
- Ducted air upstairs so both the bedroom and bathroom share the smaller, dedicated unit
- Forced-air heated underbelly with tank pads and radiant barrier applied to the underbelly sheathing for cold-weather protection
The Brinkley Model Z 3200 is not marketed as a true winter expedition RV, but it’s clearly built with extended-season camping in mind.
Bedroom: East-West King Slide & Real Closet Space
The big difference between the Model Z 2700 and 3200 is upstairs.
Instead of a north-south bed like the 2700, the 3200 upgrades to an east-west bed slide with:
- Standard king bed (RV king)
- Lift-up storage with finished flooring and rounded edges under the bed (no shin-gouging OSB)
- Side shelves with 110V + USB-A + USB-C for phones, CPAP-sized devices, and tablets
- Motion-activated toe-kick lights that come on when you swing your legs out of bed at night
Across from the bed, you get:
- Seven dresser drawers (3 small, 4 large), all dovetailed and soft-close
- A hidden sliding dresser top compartment you can use as storage or for documents and valuables
- Prep for a cordless stick vac
The front closet can be:
- Stackable or combo washer/dryer closet, or
- A big walk-in-style wardrobe if you don’t need onboard laundry
For full-timers, this bedroom/closet arrangement is a huge step up from the Z 2700’s more compact north-south bed layout.
Bathroom: Tall Shower & Thoughtful Plumbing
The bathroom is one of those “small things done right” spaces:
- 79.5″ ceiling height in the shower area, plus skylight—so if you’re a bit over 6′ tall you still have headroom.
- Corner wire racks are already installed for shampoo and soap—no need to stick your own in place.
- Linen closet accessible right from the bathroom instead of being buried in some hallway cavity.
The toilet area uses a raised plumbing base under the porcelain foot-flush toilet. That weird raised box is actually doing two important jobs:
- Allows Brinkley to route plumbing away from the front pass-through storage (no pipes stealing your cargo space).
- Gives them a place to run a heat vent in the bathroom wall, not in the floor, reducing dirt and pet hair collecting in floor ducts.
They even pre-backed a shower-wall section for a fold-down seat if you ever want to add one later.
Fit, Finish, and Construction Details
Brinkley’s entire brand is built on the perfect fit and finish, and the Z 3200 shows that off:
- Exposed screw heads are almost nonexistent in the visible living area; most slide fascia screws from the backside.
- Minimal gimp/crown molding used to hide joints—the sidewall-to-roof connection has to be cleaner because there’s nothing covering it.
- CraftSense™ wood trim construction and residential-style cabinet faces with soft-close doors and drawers throughout, including the bathroom.
Outside, the Z series includes:
- Automotive-grade painted front cap and exterior lighting
- H-rated tires on heavy-duty axles
- Touring-coil suspension with upgraded CURT Helux™ pin box for a more “independent-suspension-like” ride without a $20,000 aftermarket IS upgrade
- Heated, enclosed underbelly with tank pads
- Front pass-through storage that’s forced-air heated
- 3-year seal & gasket warranty, which is unusually generous in the towable RV world
On the roof, you get the 370W panel with Victron power components, a favorite among techs for reliability and smart-monitoring options.
Towing: What Truck Do You Really Need?
Let’s be clear, this is not a half-ton fifth wheel.
With a dry hitch weight around 2,250 lbs and a GVWR of 15,495 lbs, you’re squarely in heavy-duty ¾-ton or 1-ton single-rear-wheel territory, depending on how much cargo and aftermarket gear you add.
- Plan on at least a properly spec’d ¾-ton truck with adequate payload.
- Many owners will feel more comfortable with a 1-ton SRW if they travel heavy or full-time.
At about 35 ft long, the Z 3200 also benefits in real-world towing, the tire track of the trailer tends to closely mirror the truck’s tracks, making it feel surprisingly “natural” to tow for its size.
If you’re unsure whether your current truck is enough, send your numbers through a tow guide and have an outfitter double-check them before you buy.
Tank Capacities & Camping Style
For a couples’ rig, the tank setup is one of the 3200’s strengths:
- 75 gal fresh water
- 90 gal cross-plumbed gray for bathroom/laundry
- 30 gal separate gray for the rear kitchen
- 45 gal black
This gives you enough gray water for real showers and dishwashing during extended stays, especially if you’re hooked up to city water and just managing waste capacity.
You will have two gray dump points, which is normal for many rear-kitchen fifth wheels. Brinkley at least gives you two sewer hose carriers and electric dump valves with manual overrides to make managing that easier.
Who the Brinkley Model Z 3200 Is Best For
Great fit if you:
- Want a rear kitchen that genuinely works for everyday cooking
- Travel as a couple (with occasional guests) and prioritize lounge comfort over bunk space
- Plan to camp often or full-time and need better storage, closet space, and laundry prep
- Appreciate higher-end construction details and are okay paying more for them
You might want something else if you:
- Only have a half-ton truck
- Need bunks for multiple kids (you’ll want a bunkhouse or toy hauler instead)
- Put outdoor kitchens above interior kitchens in your priorities
- Need a rig under 30 ft for strict national-park size limits
If you like the look of the 3200 but want something slightly smaller and lighter, the Model Z 2700 gives you a similar living room and kitchen with a simpler bedroom
FAQ: Brinkley Model Z 3200
How long is the Brinkley Model Z 3200?
The Z 3200 is about 34′ 11″ long, nose to tail.
How much does the Brinkley Model Z 3200 weigh?
Dry weight: ~12,476 lbs
GVWR: 15,495 lbs
Hitch weight (empty): about 2,250 lbs
Loaded for travel, many owners will be in the 13,500–14,500 lb range depending on cargo.
Can I tow a Model Z 3200 with a half-ton truck?
No. With its hitch weight and GVWR, you should not be shopping this rig for any half-ton, even “max tow” packages. You’ll want a properly equipped ¾-ton or 1-ton truck with enough payload and rear-axle capacity
Is the Brinkley Model Z 3200 good for full-time RV living?
Yes, Brinkley designs the Model Z series with extended-stay and full-time use in mind. The 3200’s large pantry, big closet, washer/dryer prep, heated underbelly, and quality power system make it a strong candidate for full-timers who want a sub-35-ft footprint.
Brinkley Model Z 3200
The Brinkley Model Z 3200 is exactly what it looks like on paper, a rear-kitchen luxury fifth wheel that actually lives like a small home.
From the touring-coil suspension and Victron-powered solar to the thoughtful details like motion lights, pet-friendly touches, and a truly glamping-worthy kitchen, it feels like an RV built by people who have actually camped.
Whether you are a couple that loves to cook, host friends, and need real seating and storage – the Brinkley Model Z 3200 is a floorplan that just might check all of your boxes!