RV Frame Flex, BROKE Slide, Suspension, Floor & More! WE TELL ALL!
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- Опубліковано 9 гру 2023
- #1StrangeAdventure #RVliving #RVissues
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✅ About this video:
In today's video, we're embarking on a journey from Indiana to Virginia with a few stops in-between. However, that's not the highlight. In this video, we're thrilled to finally share the information you've been eagerly anticipating. We'll be presenting a comprehensive rundown of the service papers provided by Grand Design RV.
This detailed breakdown will encompass all repairs conducted, showcasing instances where Grand Design went the extra mile, surpassing our expectations. For those who've been following our journey, you're aware that we've encountered a few hurdles. Nevertheless, we're immensely grateful for this community's support and for a brand that unequivocally stands behind its products.
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💚 SPECIAL THANK YOU to our Patrons! You all are the best 💚
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✅ About 1StrangeAdventure:
Hi, we're the Strange family (Harold, Cindy, Makayla & Nick). In our videos we take you along on our adventures. We have sold or stored almost everything and are now full-time RVers. This isn't just about "RV Life", it's about LIFE! The RV is our home but experiencing new locations, making memories and enjoying family time is what it is all about. If you are like us and enjoy those aspects of life, please consider joining the community. Subscribe, like, comment and share. It helps! Until the next STRANGE adventure, keep making your own!
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I am a welder that worked for😮 Libert components for a total of 11 years The first year I worked for them I Wilded frames RV frames That was in the early 2000s We always used quarter inch steel to build all the framesThe second time i worked for them was just the last 10 years and i retired in 2021i worked in axles then But we would hear about troubles in other departmentsThe RV manufacturers were having trouble with weight so they demanded that the frames be built with thinner steelTo save weight that's where all the trouble is coming from the frames that are built now are not as strong as they were in the early years
Interesting. Some of the welds I’ve seen on their frames… but then you look at the welds on their slide out brackets and stuff like that and they are very well done. Looking at some of the failures the welds didn’t look great but often it was the base metal that tore, and it was surprisingly thin walled stuff.
What the grade and heat of the steel they used lately. There are kinds of steel composition. I think they could have used 4130 steel and not increase the thickness and weight but be far better.
We were looking at moving from a travel trailer to a 5th wheel. We have changed our minds. Not contemplating getting one at all now, but, certainly not a Grand Design. That’s a negative ghost rider.
If you got a really good deal everything is repairable. Just take it to howe and have the kit bolted and welded in. Will never flex again.
I installed Sumosprings on day one over three years ago and I am 100% they are the reason why I havent any suspension issues. GD is trying to deflect blame.
Exactly
Giesis I just watched a video showing a sumo spring causing frame issues. I wish I could remember details but I can’t
@@nathanurick8320 ok. I’ll search for it
I added Sumosprings to my travel trailer, did 40,000 km on it and had no frame issues. I still had a leaf spring snap, and the roadside technician said if I did not have the Sumosprings support, likely I would have had a major accident, losing control of the rig.
Grand Design has had frame issues for a few years now as I’ve noticed by talking to quite a few people on my adventures and seen other UA-camrs complaining of the same issues. The frame flex causes most of the other issues like a waterfall. Glad they made things right for you and wish you luck in the future.
I agree. A frame that is already flexing is bound to put pressure on other components.
That is a lot to fix! Thanks for the update! I’m so glad they took such good care of you all! ❤
Been through all of that! GD definitely took care of us with the Frame Flex issue and went beyond with fixing other items we didn't know about. Just as you described. The Sumo Springs, wow!!!
Glad you guys got everything taken care of hopefully your problems are over. Safe travels!
Hope they did a better job than they did on My Bucket List Day's rig!!
So far so good... thanks!
Please do all consumers right and file a complaint with NHTSA (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration)! Everyone who has this issue needs to file a complaint, which will be the only way for these issues to be addressed. Enough people that file will cause the NHTSA to investigate and take appropriate steps against the manufacturer. They are the agency that can enforce a recall on these RV Manfactures!! Some frame flex is normal but frame failures have huge safety implications.
Totally agree. I don't understand why they don't. Lack of knowledge, scared to upset the industry, lawsuit, who knows. I will file if it happens to me I promise you I will.
You two need to watch My Bucket List Day Grand Design canceled their warranty !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Incorrect....they are out of warranty and GD said no more free repairs. A warranty is for a certain period of time not forever
Warranty ran out
I am not siding with any one, but I am opposed to installing anything between the spring hangers that places a load on the frame unless the frame is specifically designed to have that load placed there. As a welder fabricator for over 40 years, steel beams can be damaged by having forces excerted where it shouldn't be. I aggree with the welder that worked for Lippert in the early 2000's, the frames were thicker gauge and much less problematic. If the springs were actually bottoming out and causing damage to the frame from bottoming out, I would say something would need to be done, but I would recommend going to a heavier capacity spring. A Sumo spring will only compress so far and then it becomes like a block of wood . A leaf spring has more resistance as it is compressed further but never gets to where it is solid unless it actually hits the bottom of the frame. Some off road vehicles use what is called a hydraulic bump stop. It is like a shock absorber that comes into contact with the suspension and slows it down with oil dampening but falls short of a hard stop.
Great info. thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge.
I just got done replacing my 3500 lb springs on my 2018 Solitude 310GK with 4000 lb springs to better handle the load.@@1StrangeAdventure
Glad the GD finally came through for you. It sounds like many more people are still fighting.
Each time I watch one of your update videos my heart sinks a little bit more. Both for you and I must say for myself as I have a very similar grand design RV. In my case it’s a 397THS. The list you gave today was very helpful for things to check over in my own rig. Knock on wood, I have not had any of the issues that you’ve encountered. The bane of my existence has been the very overpriced generator that refuses to stay running week to week when off grid , luckily that has a four year warranty on it. I’m glad that everything finally worked out for you!
The other thing that got my attention in this video is the experience you’ve had with Thousand Trails. Again having a very similar rig to yours and having the top tier Thousand Trails membership, I’m extremely disappointed with it. not trying to start anything with my comment on this but I have found the parks to be old, small , crowded and filled with full timers and when I say full timers, those who do not leave the park. However, my biggest issue is I find the parks and the entryways and roadways to be much too small for a rig that is 43 feet long even after purchasing the plan I did I’ve stayed at two of their parks in two years and I cannot wait for the first opportunity to sell my membership.
Keep up the great work on the videos and good luck going forward!
Thanks for the comment. First, the 397 is a beautiful rig so congrats on that. I hope you don't ever deal with what we have dealt with and hopefully you can get the generator issue resolved. As for TT, we definitely feel your pain at times. While we have experienced the same, we have also stayed at some really nice places, especially in Florida. Our biggest issue is trying to find a place to stay in the winter that isn't fully booked, lol.
And that one reason is why I'm keeping my paid for home. Winter parking safe n sound.
We currently have a 28 line work order open on our new Rig, we feel you on the big work order
WOW, thanks y'all. We were so delighted to be able to spend time with y'all. I still say Nick is the nicest young man I've ever met.
Awww, thank you so much! It was great seeing you guys again!
We have a 1985 TravelAir 30' 5th wheel and we've debated trading up to something Bigger,Better and newer. Kinda am thinking of keeping what we have. We dont have the troubles of all the newer campers. Thanks for making up our minds. Great video.
Look into Outdoors RV-their chassis’ are made for the rig it’s for.
If it ain't broke,don't fix it....
Sumo springs!!!!!! Im lost for words. Thanks for letting us all know about trailer repairs. Keep your eyes on the prize. ALLIANCE!! 😉
Alliance has two sizes of I-beams the length of the rig…I see that as a potential weak spot & therefore potential breakage. I wrote them off right then. Brinkley has one decent sized I-beam for the length.
Interesting on the Sumo Springs. We were there in April and they said nothing about our sumo springs but did question our Goosebox when talking about the frame flex, guess I have some more researching to do.
Mine is one of those rigs they referenced about sumosprings. They tried to tell me that sumosprings caused structural issues on my BRAND NEW Solitude 390 that was broken FROM THE DEALER LOT on day one. I no longer have the sumo's on my trailer either because I don't want GD to have a reason to void my warranty.
Goodness, so many warranty repair items. This is the first time i have seen your channel so don’t know your rig’s age, nor I’d these items were warranted. It seems it may have been cheaper for them to replace your rig! 😀. Good luck folks.
Good job Harold and Cindy. I would be interested to know what Sumo springs have to say about that.
I have been so sorry to see all the problems you have gone through. Have any of these major issues been covered under warranty?
So so so sorry you are dealing with this. This is the 2nd video where I've seen the sumo springs "apparently" causing frame issues. The other video was more telling at the frame was bend directly above where the sumo spring was hitting the frame. I've seen way too many GD issues lately, so we decided on a Montana instead and just picked up a 2024.
Yep. Cause and effect. There's too many reasons why they cause problems.
You better take to a weld shop and have 3 crossmembers welded at the the spring hangers because your frame is going to crack at the pin box and crossmembers under the under belly.
They also have showers in the trucker area of the service plazas on the Ohio turnpike
I have been repairing. R V trailers for 45 years. I have customers trailers with the sumo springs. they tell me that it helps the ride and load carrying. But I have had suspicion that the sumo springs kept the suspension from flexing the way it was designed , causing the frame issue your trailer experienced
I think we're starting to have the same frame flex issue up front on our Solitude 382. Did they have you bring yours in to a dealership for verification of the issue first? I was told that Lippert needs measurements that are only done using a "25000lb tripod" .
Good video , do you y’all see a time when yall would be getting a smaller rv after both kids are at college
How,or did you disconnect your solar when welding was being done? im on split phase victron as well,I’ve heard people having issues with frying the systems when welding took place
I like the way you park your truck on the side of your RV near the slides! For protection right? Cuz I always worried about that vulnerability!
I don't own one of these beautiful rigs, way out of my price range, but I just saw another Tuber who has had just about the same problems in which GD sent a team to his place to do repairs and he ended going back to the main facility to get the correct repairs, Now the kicker is GD said they were done with any warranty work on his rig and going forward all repairs were on him, problem is some of the repairs have already failed, great company in my opinion, NOT.
If the Sumo Springs are the fault of the cross member failures the springs will have compression marks on the top or cracks if it compressed enuff to break crossmembers it also would of damaged the I beam that the crossmembers are welded to!
Ive seen the damage that holding tanks and fresh water tanks cause by traveling with 50% or more in the tanks but that too falls back on manufacturers thats why they say dont do it because it takes longer to weld extra bracing and straps to the tanks to prevent them from falling out.
GD is an excellent company they really do care about there customers but they to will try to redirect blame just like the rest.
I've always questioned the value of Sumo springs. They act as oversized bump stops. I think Sumo claim they act as dampeners but they use rubber-like poly. And that spring action tries to counter the leaf spring action that was originally designed to the trailer's min/max weight specs. In addition they introduce a new force into frame while limiting the hanger movement. It's no wonder the hangers eventually die.
I was wondering if grand design said what caused the frame issues, and I hope that they will remedy the problems
I have been looking at a lot of UA-cam videos showing cracked frames on GD 5th wheels. It would make sense that springs would crack a frame only if the contact area is too small for the weight. If you have a spring shackles or leaf in contact with say 5000# pushing against a 1" area the thin metal won't support it. Spread over a larger area of say two inches the contact doubles and Spreads the load.
I watched a UA-cam video where a man rented a camper in Alaska and hit a construction zone with uneven pavement. The tongue of the trailer folded and stayed bent severely. The rental place on a military base said all their rentals had this problem and it was caused by pressure from the equalizer hitch. When you look close you find his style of equalizer had one bold jaming down on the top connection point. All the stress was pushing at one tiny contact. My hitch spreads the weight over a sandwich of steel. Poor design is the root cause of many failures.
When I was in the Air Force if you rented equipment and it came back broken for any reason and you were junior enlisted, they would without question just blamed you and then you would have had to suffer the consequences of the UCMJ over it.
Thanks for sharing your experience. This has really made me shy away from GD. Not because of UA-camrs, but I know of at least 6 others that are not On social media with the same exact issues. Ridiculous.
Is it that there are so many GD trailers out there that there are so many GD repair videos ? I did see a video where the sumosprings did bend the lip of the frame..
Wish you luck. You people seem great and are very patient. Worked on RVs in the 70,s and 80,s. Nothing has changed. These traveling junks cannot sustain the vibration of travel. Unless you are very handy, stay away from purchasing. Good luck in your travels!
I'm confused what broke the front part of frame. Up by the fifth wheel? The sumo springs also?
Maybe it is good I haven't installed my Sumo springs yet?
My Bucket List Day channel has the same issues with their Momentum. GD fixed the welds, which failed again, and now they are not going to cover any more warranty work on the work they previously did. Hope you guys don't fall into that category if their work fails on your rig.
Totally agree. I am so glad everyone is sharing their issues. Saving others the headache
Yeah I saw his video last night, pretty poor help from GD , says a lot of their inferior products
How do you measure for frame flex at the kingpen or is it different for each rig?
Hi:
Your leaf springs distribute the load at four points. (Both sides).
If you add air bags or sumo springs, the entire load transfers to only two points, and that can break a frame.
This happens a lot on pickup trucks with too much inflation of the bags.
Exactly!! Seen ir happen myself.
Are you crazy? If that is so then every tractor trailer would be sitting on the side of the road with broken frames.
@@RalphERo824 LOL. You must be crazy comparing a tractor trailer to camper or pickup.
Almost purchased a used 22 GD solitude, glad I’ve done research seems like the frames are all junk. Will be going to Brinkley, you should do the same!
I believe both manufacturers utilize frames from the same company. Wishing you the best on your purchase.
Lippert frame is the problem.
Unless Brinkley ups the anti on their frame specs they can have the same problems since they too are using Lippert frames.
@@kerry4951 they reinforced their frames!
Guys as I understand it from my best friend who ordered a brinkley and is completely sold on them is lippert builds a much stronger frame for brinkley. Remember lippert only builds to manufacture specifications. My 2 cents worth hope I didn't offend anyone.
thanks of sharing ,since all frames have to have the ability to flex by nature . my question is why not call it for what it is FRAME FAILURE instead of FRAME FLEX? Sadly this is a huge issue with GD hope they take care of all their client across the nation having all this costly problem .
As a retired certified master tech,I agree with their decision to remove sumo springs,they are right,they restrict full travel....harley rvbroke
Thanks for the feedback!
I’ve acquired a set for my 376th but haven’t installed them yet. A little hesitant on not being able to collapse enough. I thought about getting the lighter weight version but then there can still be an issue with the rebound.
@@glengronewold2274 I put the Sumo's on my 22 376THS and I *thought* the trailer rode smoother ... any chucking I had while pulling it down the road was completely gone. HOWEVER ! ... inside the trailer, everything was tossed around and turned upside down like it had never done before. AND ! ... the steps to the bathroom/bedroom showed movement against the wall that had NEVER happened before. It wasn't just 1 road, it was all roads for the next 2 weeks - travelling everyday; chucking was gone but everything was always so tossed in the trailer that I'm taking them off before our our next travel day. $900 down the drain. BUT ! Glen ... I can sell you another slightly used set if you'd like to give them a try. Let me know.
For your own safety that kind of damage can NOT be fixed. If the frame was not built strong enough from the beginning welds will not last. Adding a few braces will not overcome this. Once the insurance industry finds out about these issues they most likely will not cover you. If Grand design will not guarantee the repairs they know repairs will not last.
I don't buy the Sumosprings explanation at all. No way the rear frame of a toy hauler has failed due to foam compressing....just saying.
I don’t either. This is a huge issue with so many rigs recently. It’s sad that these companies have no problem screwing people over in such huge ways.
Thanks for the feedback! Whether we agree or not, we chose to remove them based on their recommendations. We didn't want that to be a question should something else happen.
It seems to be a big issue for sure. Hoping they can take the repair info and engineer these problems out in the future.
Did they explain how exactly the cross members broke and where in relation to the side of each frame?
Regardless of the springs, if you were to run with the water tank full and that caused the break it would still mean that the cross members were inferior in strength or welding when fabricated.
Did they include pics of the breaks?
@glengronewold2274 Ridiculous, right. They give you a water tank, but you can't use it? 😆 🤣 😂 WTF!!!!!!!!!!! They are a joke.
I'm watching and waiting for some companies to fall on their face. Enough people are having SERIOUS flex frame issues, and it's getting out. Not everyone has sumo springs, yet it keeps happening. Karma will come for these jerks in Indiana, and I can't wait. It's crazy that the American dream is to ruin people's lives with dangerous products just to make a buck. These rvs are becoming useless, road hazards, and people are out of insane amounts of money. Someone should be held liable.
Professional word on the curb is Lippert makes these frames, and it's happening to more than just Grand Designs. All rv makers should have someone their inspecting the frames and welds before slapping them together with toothpicks, like they do. The greed her makes me sick.
So, until they make it right for everyone, I'll keep commenting on videos in hopes that the algorithm will get this to someone who can make this right or shine a bigger light on the crooks in this industry.
I wonder if travel trailers that have sumo springs installed on them are having frame issues as well. I was going to put some on ours. You would think it would remove some of the stress on the leaf springs.
It probably does relieve stress from the leaf springs but they are saying that added rigidness is was creates more pressure on the frame. I'm not sure what to think but will continue to research this issue.
I added Sumosprings to my travel trailer, did 40,000 km on it and had no frame issues. I still had a leaf spring snap, and the roadside technician said if I did not have the Sumosprings support, likely I would have had a major accident, losing control of the rig.
20:18
I wonder what Lippert says about the Sumo springs causing the frame issues because after all it is a Lippert designed and built frame.
From my information GD designs their frames not Lippert
They blame the sumo springs for the frame issues?? Sounds more to me like they need to retrain their welders on the frame line.. Doesn't make sense to me at all when sumo springs come standard equipment from another company (Brinkey)..
They informed us that the broken cross members were due to the Sumo springs. Whether we agree or not, we removed them in case something else ever happens.
I don't think it's the welders as much as it is the engineers who design the frames. They are not engineering the stress points correctly to handle the required forces of the road abuses. Look at a DRV or Riverstone frame compared to the cookie cutter Lippert frames.
Yours is the second video from a full time couple I’ve seen recently where the sumo spring did frame damage. In their case turning off a paved road to boondock they ended up with one side in a ditch. In the video where it happened it looked like they had escaped without damage. But in a subsequent video they found out that they had irreparable frame damaged caused by the sumos that ended up totaling their RV.
Other couple.
ua-cam.com/video/XtSsxr_vYvY/v-deo.htmlsi=-AGUBfFoOOkhL2Jc
I have to wonder if the Lippert Frames are too light and poorly made. Thanks for sharing.
They most likely are. I am a former Grand Design Momentum owner...I will never buy a Lippert Frame based RV again.
I'm surprised people are still buying Grand Design products. I came across bad reviews when researching our last camper purchase a few years ago and told my husband they were off our list. It's a damn shame these manufacturers keep giving buyers the short end of the stick when the problems have been reported for a few years already. Sorry for your bad experience.
Did GD cover the cost of the work??
I worked iron my whole life.
The Sumo springs have nothing to do with the floor.
That would be the crossmembers flexing or having the wall built between the crossmembers instead of on top to bear the weight.
Do Y’A get Rv parking Directions with U-R membership.
I would be curious to hear from others that have had frame issues as to whether they have sumo springs. Hmmmm…
You will probably find a mix of both. I would love to hear what the frame manufacturer and Sumo Springs thinks.
How much did it cost to get fixed
Frame flex issues are haunting many others, and my bet is most of those owners dont use Sumo Springs. Its just another way for GD to blame someone else for their lack luster frames that they spec out thru Lippert.
The difference is buying a rig before Covid and buying one after Covid. Always stay with a pre-Covid rig. Quality has gone way down for sure with all manufacturers.
I have a 2015 Dutchman voltage 3305 toy hauler 5th wheel. Wet weight is 16,500 lbs. LCI (Lippert) frame rating is 21,500 lbs. what is the fully loaded weight of your trailer and the weight rating of your frame? I take my 5th wheel on rough forest service roads in the Pacific Northwest. I hope I get a reply from you. The information will help me decide if I am going to have my frame and king pin box reinforced before it breaks.
Did they have to remove the upper front cap as well as the bottom?
The entire front end including all furniture, cabinets and slide was removed.
How much more travel does the suspension give you without the Sumo springs? What if the unit would bottom out on the springs? How many of these toy haulers are having these frame flex and breaking problems? Maybe just a bad frame design for all that weight? I mean you did have an issue right above the axles, coincidence or something real? Problem is an engineer would have to look at the whole thing to determine the cause. I guess you’ll find out in the next year or so. When does your warranty run out? Sorry, so many questions as I’m sure you had some of the same. Glad you’re fixed up, is it long term is the big ?
I can’t believe how many large GD’s are failing. What a nightmare. I swear sue them. They should recall every one of those …they’re so many of you guys on the Internet with frame flex issues. I’m so sorry I feel bad for you.
I hope I do not offend you by asking this question. All the repairs you spoke about that were completed, were they under warranty or did you have to pay for them out of pocket? TIA.
Are you full time? If so what did you do while rig is being fixed?
We are full timers. We actually rented another rig instead of getting a hotel room. That way we could still travel.
I am for sure don’t understand the sumo springs causing an issue. My thoughts would be why would Brinkley use them on there new model G if that was a known issue. So for that reason I can’t imagine they would have caused an issue in a Grand Design Momentum
That's a great question. 🤔
Yea, that excuse they used about the Sumosprings is complete BS. That is just GD setting the stage of pointing the finger to other direction rather than admitting their frame designs are not adequate.
We dumped our Thousand Trails membership when they got greedy and started letting nonmembers into the parks. It got to the point where we could no longer find available spaces where we wanted to go and good luck trying to find a buyer for your membership. Thousand Trails sucks.
never knew Ricky Gervais had an RV channel!
Welcome to the show!!! 🤣 First time for that one.
Sell it sell it sell it!!!!!!!
What does Sumo Spring have to say
We haven’t talked to them. My guess is they would point back at the manufacturer.
Why did the pinbox crack?
Great question! We’re not sure but we hope it doesn’t happen again.
Hmmm...well...hmmm. We have a Grand Design Reflection 5th wheel and just spent $5K on a kitchen slide repair. I took it to a service center recommended by Grand Design. The service tech said the issue we have is common with Grand Designs that use schwintec slides for large slide outs. They told us this was a design flaw...because newer Reflections use rack and pinion for large slide outs. Grand Design basically told us Too Bad So Sad. I will NEVER buy another Grand Design product. I used to think they were awesome but from my experience with them, they have lost their way. Glad they took care of this for you but broken welds...no bueno.
Hi guys. So sorry you’re dealing with all this. Geoff from My Bucket List Day has same issues. No sumos so don’t let GD get away with that excuse. Our Momentum busted welds and cross members. No sumos.
Thank you for the support! Hope you're able to get it resolved!
@@1StrangeAdventure we did. Bought a Brinkley. Had to take our losses. If we see you at one of the huddles we will catch up.
From watching many RV videos it seems Grand Design are among the worst RV’s. They use the weakest frames from their vendor possible. I noticed the UA-camrs that claim Grand Design are wonderful RV’s are Ambassadors for the brand and are essentially paid shills.
Frame Flex
Our cat is 20 lb he's not overweight do you know other people that travel with a cat
Great video guys. I don't understand though..why don't they use gussets and or fish plates to fix their design flaws. I simple weld over a cracked weld or cracked frame or cross member is like putting a bandaid on a bullet hole. I say that respectfully. It just doesn't make sense to me. Those lippert frames are not built to handle the stress put on them by the weight of the house and road stresses combined. I get it if you're going to buy it and park it for a few or six months, or even permanently. But for full-time travel, grand design and a few others need to hire an actual structural engineer
Are you running both wedges in your Sumo Springs?
None
Blaming sumo spring is BS. Brinkley puts them standard on there toy hauler That's grand design not taking responsibility for bad welds
I’m sorry about your frame failure problems but the Sumo Springs are not the cause. There are manufacturers that are actually installing them on campers as a cost saving measure for buyers in lieu of independent suspension. The blame lies with Lippert and Grand Design. I’ve not heard of any other manufacturers having frame failure because of the Sumo Springs.
They keep adding new systems to already heavy rigs, the engineering teams cannot keep up with them. Part of engineering is manufacturing engineering, figuring out how you're going to have to modify your current builds to incorportate new systems and changes to the original design and to make sure it's done properly. I don''t think that GD has been able to do this right given all the people I have seen who have had so many issues many of which are frame related.These complex 5th wheels are basically assembled by hand.
C4YT❤
Thanks!
Without sounding bad, I've got to tell you that making all the modifications to your rig should have voided your entire warranty. You got lucky that they even worked on it. I worked as a tech for over 40 years, and once a customer modifies any suspension, electrical or other major component, the warranty was voided in the manufacturer's data base. GD already has a bad reputation, now that you posted it online, no dealer or private party is going to purchase it.
Sumo springs are bolt on and didn’t require a modification. Adding floor to the garage and a bed to the bedroom has nothing to do with structural warranty. Not sure which modifications you’re referring to but they covered it because we’ve done nothing to modify or alter frame or components.
I just don't think campers are designed to handle the stress of high miles. I believe they are designed for couple weekends a few hours from home type of campers. Which is probably the majority of the market.
I agree but a lot of the manufacturers are marketing "for full-time families" which I would assume includes a higher number of miles... right?
@@1StrangeAdventure good question.
On my toy hauler, It looks like the previous owner fixed the frame on the driver's side. I added Sumos and had my frame crack behind the rear leaf spring perch on the passenger side. I don't see how the sumo could have caused my frame to crack behind the spring. Especially since the driver side had issues prior to the sumos.
I can tell you that the ride quality is much better with the sumos. I even have less sway issues with them on. This is a bumper pull for reference.
The real story is RVs are not designed to be used full time. They are built to be used 3 or 4 times a year with maybe one "long" trip. Construction is lousy but fairly light. What most rv users will reluctantly accept.
I have had reservations about Sumo Springs for this very reason. Interesting to see your experience. Makes me glad I didn't buy them!
Thanks for sharing!
They don't make the frames for these big rigs strong enough, trying to save money and giving up safety!!!!!!
That's why I didn't buy a Grand Design they are made so cheaply!!!!
OMG! another Grand Design with a bad frame. They seem to be all over the internet. You all need to start a class action.
Reducing suspension travel is never a good idea.
GD telling you that Sumo springs caused frame flex / cracks is a total load of BS. Just take a look at all the youtube videos of consumers with GD products without Sumo springs who have experienced flex / cracking and that should tell you, right there, that GD is trying to deflect blame and ownership of 5he problem. I’d be curious if GD has gone and made structural changes to their frame as a standard practice.
Their so called fix is just gonna break again. Sell it.
I smell some B.S.! The welds fracturing or breaking from four main frame is most likely due to in proper weld process or quality of materials is poor and really don’t meet spec. Or weld application is way to hot and to fast which does not allow for proper fill trying to get things done in hurry? Last but not least could be improper weld surface prep and weld penetration quality is poor and full of porosity with no surface penetration which would crack right off in short time. They need to review who doing there quality control program.
Now you can sell that POS
Clearly Grand Design has an issue with their rigs. I for one should not buy one used or new. Very disappointing.
Then Sell it
We love our home
@@1StrangeAdventure good idea bad idea?
i sure hate so many young couples buy into this terrible investment… the depreciation is staggering & the RV’s are all basically crap….