I’m a transporter and I shipped the Grand Design Imagine and Reflection series of trailers for a year. These are some of the best pulling trailers I have ever dealt with. The Imagine sits several inches lower than most travel trailers. I noticed as well the axle placement is different than most trailers and with this combo makes a nice riding trailer. I went to a Jayco/Heartland Ridge yard and I’m contemplating going back to the Grand Design Yard, just because of how well they pull.
We have a GD rig, love it and love GD. They are fantastic to deal with. First manufacturer I've been able to speak with directly who will help me directly and take care of my concerns/questions/issues/etc... This is my 4th rig in 8 years.
We have lived in a Grand Design 310 GK for 2 yes now. Very small issues except for the kitchen Trash Bin "Extension Track" fastening structure. Love ours (2 years of research before retirement came). No regrets. Steve & Cyndie
I study the trailers for three years the best grand design is the better one and a safer one just reamber you get what you pay for keep this in mind money 💰 is the fackter its like a smart car for cheep price our a Cadillac what can you afford
We just upgraded from our Highland Ridge to a Grand Design Solitude 3740BH. We always wanted to have a Grand Design since we first walked through one. Finally found one that fit us.
I have a 2018 Grand Design 2670MK Imagine and its great ! The office area in it totally sold me to begin with, many great features as well and feels so well built!
I am sorry that some have had a bad experience because we have great customer service. Had opportunity to meet the factory rep for the Northwest after our purchase. Received some great tips. We're looking forward to another great season traveling.
my father purchased a solitude grand design 5th wheel. I do feel they are made better than average. I heard very good things about the customer service...but... the back window glass broke. getting a replacement from my dealer was crazy. They sent a new one and it came broken. The handle on the window caused it to break on shipping. we called grand design directly and explained the issues with shipping. they sent another one but we warned them they have to either take the handle off or package it differently. they sent another... it was broken again. They didn't take our advise. the 3rd time and two months later was the SAME issue. By this time our heads where exploding. many calls back and forth from the factory. They finally offered to send out the handle separate and we hobbled together the few broken ones to make a whole. luckily all this happened during the winter months when we didnt camp. the point is- I heard all the rave about customer service and we received mediocre at best. I didn't get the impression we were working with sharp people looking to fix the issue quickly. with all that being said, the product is better, and I don't think i would have gotten any better service from any other rv company. lol. I'll still favor Grand Design.
We're picking up a Grand Design Imagine 2600RB in the spring. Having it set up as a couples trailer and plan to do some serious traveling. Pulling it with a RAM 2500 diesel. Good times to be had. Cheers 🇨🇦
My wife and I really enjoy your channel. We've been RV'ing for nearly 15 years now going from a Pop-Up camper, Travel Trailer BH, 5th wheel, and currently back to a Travel Trailer. We are recent empty nesters and are looking to go semi full time. At least 2 and 3 months at a time. We have the truck, a F350 DRW. Now its time to look for our next trailer. The Grand Designs are definitely in the mix.
we like the fact that you asked that on this unit because we were looking for a unit with two doors is what we want because we worry of fire and we wanted the extra door
I just purchased a Momentum 25G and took it out on a trip for the first time two weeks ago. I really like the design and the lay out of it. I like the Bunk bed and all the space you have when the toys are out. I love the 3-season doors concept and the "patio" you create when the ramp is up. However, I don't like the poor workmanship/quality of materials used. When we arrived to the campsite I found a screw laying on the floor next to one of the recliners and another one in the corner by the sink, the one for the recliner home reinstalled after flipping it over and realizing it belonged there (all others were loose) the one found by the corner, I could never locate where it came from. While camping I realized the three season doors where completely out of adjustment. the lady that gave us the walk thru at the dealership told us that they couldn't close properly because the trailer "was not level" and a technician was replacing the exhaust fan above the kitchen area (not even out of the dealer's parking lot and already fixing known issues.) after I returned from my camping trip, it took me a good deal of time to fix the 3-season doors. Mind you the dealership is about 45 miles away from home and it is not worth my while to make appointment and take a day off to take it back to get fixed if i can do it myself. This is my 5th travel trailer I’ve purchased (2nd from last dealership) and NEVER had to fix issues on anything while I owned them. I did improvements, but never fix stuff or improve stuff on a new trailer like this one. I did look for a place to write a review in the grand design webpage to no avail, and since lately I’ve been watching lots of videos in you tube to improve my momentum, I decided to write my comments here. I hope they are helpful for when you make a decision to buy a toy-hauler/travel trailer.
This interview would have been much better if you let them talk more. Your video title says you "ask". This interview felt more like I "tell" them. Great RV and I will definitely research more into this model. I love your videos and this was just a constructive feedback. Thanks.
Got this unit 4 months ago only had a couple of issues with it. Me my wife and 4 of our 6 kids have lived in this for going on 3 months now. This is leaps and bounds over our 2014 Keystone Bullet 286QBS! We love it!! The issues were a leak on the 90 degree fitting for the out side flex hose, and the A/C vent was to close to the top of the ductwork on the vent closest to the A/C so it wasn’t blowing, contacted Grand Design, they covered everything. I will say the only negative so far is the bunkhouse vents for the furnace blow cooler air than the rest of the trailer but other than that no complaints.
Let's hope as they get bigger they not only get better, keep the prices reasonable but also don't let their success get to their heads as with some other manufacturers who have big names and garbage products.
Wish we would have seen this trailer before we bought ours. Yes, very similar livingroom kitchen area. The only trailer we saw that had seats directly infront of the t.v. That's the main reason we bought it
I was looking at different 5th wheels when I came across another video you had put out on what to look for in a 5th wheel, I started my search for a 5th wheel that didn't have laminated sidewalls, one with a drop Z frame, look at the amount and type of insulation in the walls, ceiling and the floors, then when I picked out a manufacturer then I looked at floor plans, two days ago I decided on the Grand Design Solitude 373FB. The whole process took a few months but in the end I know a lot about the RV I am ordering and it's all thanks to you and your video as to what to look for. The only disadvantage to the Grand Design was it does have a laminated sidewall. So thank you for your wisdom and putting it video form to help others.
The Grand Design is a great camper. I agree the layouts are great. You are going to have problems with any RV you buy. I feel the Grand Design is a better quality than some of the other competitors.
I agree with Chris Beach's comment; the RV business is all about getting them down the line and out the door with enough quality to look good on the sales floor and then let the customer and service center worry about warranty items. One question I would love answered by an RV manufacturer is: Does any manufacturer in the industry own a vacuum? I recently (April 2019) purchased a Grand Design Momentum 28G, which makes this my 5th RV starting with a tent trailer working my way up. With each RV I have purchased including the 28G, I find debris, saw dust, metal shavings, left over wiring etc. does it really take that long to vacuum up these items prior to covering it up? Now to my recent purchase of the 28G and the issues I am running into. Over Memorial Day weekend we were out camping and it rained. This was the second outing and first time raining while out. The slides leaked as if there were no seals at all. I contacted Grand Design to let them know of this and a number of other warranty issues. I also, set up an appointment with the service center I purchased the unit from. The service center was able to get me in, but it was about a week until they had an opening. When I took the trailer in, I asked to talk with the service manager, because as you can imagine I was a little upset given this is a brand new RV and after spending over a thousand dollars on a PDI, I was curious to know how they could let this get through with such an issue. I also reviewed my other warranty issues with him, the service manager informed me that they do not conduct leak tests as part of their PDI...I told him maybe they should start. He then spent the next 30 mins or so, identifying what his shop would and would not do. The end result was they fixed a couple of the cosmetic items and was unable to replicate any leak at all. As soon as I got back home I put the hose on spray mode and simulated rain and within a few minutes was able to replicate the leaks on both slide. Needless to say, I will not be working with the service center again. I have continued to communicate with Grand Design's Regional Service Center Manager who identified that I could find any qualified shop to work with. The only problem with this I found out is none of the service centers I have contacted that have good ratings etc. will perform manufacturer’s warranty work due to the limited amount the manufacturer is willing to pay. Fast forward to August 2019, I still have leaking slides and have not found a service center willing to work on the RV. I have found another leak that seems to be coming from the outside kitchen area. In my frustration, I have contacted Lippert (the manufacturer of the slides) to see if there is anything they can or are willing to do to help, I am waiting to hear back from them. In the mean time I will be using my Harbor Freight blue tarps to cover my 50+K Toy Hauler as I make my way to Utah for an extended camping trip. It will be a good selling point for Grand Design to have tarps all over the roof and covering the slides. One of the reasons I went with Grand Design is because of the good feedback I have heard and read on line concerning their customer service. So far I have not seen anything that puts them above any other manufacture I have bought from in the past. What I would have been great customer service, is for them to coordinate a mobile service to come to my house and at least take care of the leaking slides. For anybody making a purchase with Grand Design or some other manufacturer, I truly hope you have a more positive experience with both the service center and manufacturer.
wouldn't it make more sense to build a trailer WITHOUT any issues. It is entirely possible to do, manufactures have built in the expectation that ALL trailers will have issues so you don't complain when they do. ALL in an effort to increase their bottom line and turn a higher profit for repair facilities. Manufactures could make them better if customers demanded better.
Walk-through bathrooms are for the birds. That said, I'm getting a Reflection 285BHTS (no walk-through), the GDs were the nicest we've seen, and the counter space just sold it for us. Going to pull it with a F150 V8 that we're planning to trade in in the fall, so if it struggles we'll get something tougher.
I looked at momentum’s before buying my voltage. The prices was crazy compared to others. They had the same issues as any other manufacturer. Doors weren’t closing, trim wasn’t lined up and other small things I’m sure the dealer would have fixed before purchasing so I don’t think there any better especially at their price point. I think their pdi is a sales tactic and bs IMO.
We have a 2023 Grand Design Reflection RV. We have about three different warranty's on it. So far the issue we have had has cost us about six hundred dollars in service calls. We have not had very good customer service.
I have a Jayflight 32bhds that has the dinette, sofa and tv arrangement JD was talking about as so bad, and yes he is right. It does both me some but not a lot. I would consider it for my next one, however I find myself sitting in the dinette watching tv anyway. I am very happy with that floor plan. Each to their own, it sounds like JD had the same layout.
I love my Imagine 2600RB, 2 years no issues yet compared to other people i know, my f150 pulls this no problem, no weight distribution hitch nor sway control ,
Once manufacturers start building a decent roof then I will believe they are a step above. All aluminum or fiberglass would be nice compared to the standard with 20 lbs of crap dicor to seal it. RV Roof Install on UA-cam makes an excellent roof that all companies can learn from.
just subscribed to your show become when we ask a question you take your time to awnsers questions thanks keep the videos coming because we're looking to buy a new rv in the next coming year
You are right that they hit the mark in placing the TV in front of the chairs but then they went and placed the TV up high right under the ceiling. What were they thinking about on that. It did not look like there was anything special about that cabinet that required such an awkward placement. It is funny that the rep was aware of folks getting a sore neck having to cock their head to the side but then not pick up on getting a sore neck form tilting upward to see the TV. Overall I like their products, especially the Image 2970RL.
The only issue is the shitjack right next to the galley. The aroma of the old lady’s fine country cooking is quickly extinguished by the vapors from the shitjack.
Grand Design is using Swintek slides. Had a rig for six years and couldn’t keep them from breaking. Saw all the videos on maintenance. Mr. Swintek sold to Lippert ( wonder why, lawsuits probably.) Owners Input from Grand Design forum will tell you a clearer picture. Just bought a Cardinal RV, is so nice (uses all rack and pinion slides). Too many quality features to mention here.
@@lbeck119 My Jayco bed slide was Swintek, broke also before two years. My big slide jumped track, could not be fixed in the field. (Falling out and twisted, so ugly.) Traded it in for the Cardinal, they use 1" plywood floors for the slides! Good luck!
Wife and I went through the GD "dog and pony" show back in 2015. Had to hear how the company came about, etc. Interesting story. We considered the Solitude but ended up going with a Montana with a rear den floorplan. In the end, it is always about the floor plan, GD is a high-quality maker, but there are others too.
In any RV with slides, I want to see it closed up. Can I use the bathroom without opening a slide? Can I store groceries while at the Walmart parking Lot? Can I get a cold drink without being at a campsite? Half of RV'ing is getting there. I want to take a nap in a rest stop without deploying everything and having a generator!
I watched this video was impressed and looked at the Imagine xls 23bhe unit at one of the RV shows. My wife loves the layout. However I noticed that the unit we looked at was 650lb heavier than the GD web page specs for UVW of 5325! That is a huge discrepancy! We were told that most 23bhe units come under 5400lb by one of the reps at the show but I have been unable to find one. All units that we were able to find on dealer lots varried from 5516lb to 5983lb. thy all have the same equipment, no added options so why the weight differnce on the smae build? I thought that the 23bhe was designed to be a lighter alternative to the Imagine 2400BH. I can't get a strraigh answear from dealers about what is going on with the 500 lb weight variability. It makes a big differene as you can potentially have as much as 1600lb ccc or as little as 1100lb with no real good reason for one or the other. Frustrating. GD please check your QC system becisue something is ammiss here...
In case you don't know, Grand Design has been bought by Winnebago. I bought a 2019 Reflection 312BHTS travel trailer a few months ago. Shower track leaked, Door jamb and trim cracked and didn't close properly, broken skirt bracing (3), frame rusted at delivery, awning doesn't close straight, recliners held in place by one piece of metal bent over one side rail of one recliner and screwed to floor, shower enclosure walls are separating from bathroom walls. These are some of the issues, over 20 in total. Maybe at one time GD lived up to their claims of a superior workforce and build quality.
that is what happens when new owners come into play.. a great product out the window with higher price along with extreme maintenace cost. if you cant beat them, buy them
I looked at Artic Fox’s but they had such bad customer service from the reviews I read I decided to go with a GD. No problems so far and am very happy.
I like the Solitude's, but they don't have a whisper quiet A/C, and I've listened to their unit running and it's much louder than the whisper. I wish they would make the jump to whisper.
The best thing that Grand Design does is marketing. But that doesn't make them better. Since their startup the company has sold out twice and now are pretty much the same as all the others. I consider them the Camping World of the manufacturer brands. All hype.
Just starting to look for a TT. Sorry, I'd love an Airstream right, but who can afford one🤣. Having said that, I'm getting the impression that Grand Designs are very nice and people seem to like and I haven't heard any bad reviews. So I am leaning towards a GD a year to a few years old as our first unit. Right now our leading unit we'd like to see ourselves in is a 247BH. One concern we have is another item to maintain and also weight. It's well within the two and payload capacity of my truck, but may take it into the mountains at some point and the no slides model, while smaller didn't seem overly small. Where am I going wrong?
I'd really like a review of the Momentum fifth wheel. Looking to go full time in something like a Momentum. Really like and trust the opinion and observations of BTBRV. Also, BTBRV, would like your view on what to tow it with. Thinking you're not going to be recommending anything other than a dually but that's ok!
We compared the Coachmen 287BHDS (Freedom Express Ultralight) to the GD 2800BH and were underwhelmed by the hyped-up superiority of the Grand Design. The Coachmen was supplied with many upgrades that brought it close to the 2800BH in price and really made the Coachmen shine. The floor plan is almost identical and where it is different, the GD is the lesser desirable option. I'm sure all the GD buyers will validate their purchase with all kinds of facts and subjective comments but I will continue to enjoy the advantages of the Coachmen.
No, they're nice but I've had quite a few issues with my Grand Design compared to the Starcraft that I traded in for it. The slide out seal design on the Grand Designs is just terrible and they seem to not be able to hang a door square for some reason, both interior and exterior doors. Oh, they haven't figured out how to hang the awnings square either.
Hey Big Truck, have you ever done a dash cam review or shootout? That would be a great video. I saw your link to the dash cam you use, but I’m wondering if you did some comparison shopping. Love your channel and production values.
My dad just bought a grand design imagine and it is a quality RV but let me tell you it is no Rockwood. There are things that Grand Design didn't do that Rockwood does in the same floor plan. I was actually quite disappointed in it. Didn't say that to my dad though did not want to be a bummer
I felt the same way. I was looking at a GD Imagine and a Palomino Solaire. The Solaire blew GD out of the water. We've had ours over a year now with no real issues. No bent axles, no flattened springs. Matter of fact, our Solaire has torflex axles. No structural or utility issues whatsoever. One year warranty inspection was for minor trim and cosmetic issues. The only thing that broke was the vent cover. The dealer replaced it with a MaxxAir fan with free labor. We feel our Solaire was a much better camper and a deal for the money.
I have been looking at TT. After some of the things I’ve seen on UA-cam I’m actually in fear of buying one. From the cheap frames and walls, horrible sealing of outer walls and water damage, axles being weak and wall trims falling off. I’m now wondering what to do cause I’m wanting to travel
I been researching for 4 years we have decided on the Lance 1995 seemingly best construction warranty resale value if buy at lazydays you get many bonuses and 1 years night camping
We currently have a Forest River Wildwood. We are going to trade it in for an Imagine. I wish we would have just bought it instead of what we have. Too many issues.
Looked at the Imagine and was N O T impressed. Half the cabinets did not close properly. If that’s how they build the imagine I don’t want a higher end from them.
I was hoping you would do a video on grand design. Unfortunately we have to sell our travel trailer due to high medical bills but hopefully someday. If anyone is looking for a travel trailer in San Antonio area let me know!
I have to say that the 200 point inspections on each coach is something I have to say is not true. We went to look at the Imagine trailers and the sales person told us about the inspections on all trailers. There was a drawer in the bathroom that was almost 1inch out from the face frame on one side. There was a molding loose and hanging and my wife noticed screws showing under the flooring. When I pointed all the quality issues out to the salesman he made the excuse that sometimes they need RV's and tell the manufacture just send what you have as fast as they can ship so they may not go through the inspections. I told him that was BS and if it was inspected I would fire the person doing the inspections. My point is I don't think they are any different from all the other manufactures. Yes in the beginning I believe they did all the inspections but now when things are rolling fast and things are selling they are doing no better than anyone else that builds a quality trailer..
I work for Grand design and I can tell you that is not the case, we still PDI every coach, I can't speak for the Imagine plant but my plant never let's a bad coach go out that door.
Unfortunately right now their inspections that they do before they send them are really not good. They are missing so many things. A lot of them are little things but there’s a lot of them. They need to slow down and check them properly not just whip them out the door because they’re making money. It’s great that they have a service that will back them up but who wants to keep bringing the trailer back to be fixed and waiting for it to get done. I want it to be right the first time or at least try to be close.
I’m new to the RV world plus I live in Alaska so I’m not able to go to a lot the RV dealers to know the differences between the various brands. Keystone is a popular brand up here. I’m curious how the quality of Grand Design stacks up to Arctic Fox or Nash RVs (both made by Northwood Mfg), which is what I’m considering ordering in January. It’d be great to get some feedback on this, thanks! Great videos keep ‘em coming I’ve learned quite a bit from watching them.
AKBRONCOSFAN007 so the Outdoors RV Creekside 21 RBS and Timber Ridge 24RKS we have owned and used over 300 nights have been flawless. I had to snug up a water fitting after winterizing and a bracket holding the lower fairing had a snapped self tapping screw. We looked at the Grand Design not sure about the use of fibreglass insulation and OSB instead of marine plywood and fibreglass and foam composite wall panels. Just my 2 cents. Arctic Fox makes great units as well they are used a lot by Rig workers in Northern Alberta all year round with skirting.
Maybe you could take a little vacation south to the big RV shows or dealers and check them out? In Florida a ton of RV dealers especially around Tampa. Gigantic dealer there called Lazy Days may acres of RV's several manufactures there. However if you're gonna be up north. you'll need the well insulated RV's designed for cold weather, which only a handful of companies make them for extreme cold.
Single Axel “ AIM” Series or Double Axel 17 MKE XLS Series - EASILY TOWABLE BY 1/2 Ton Rigs ! Ranger/ Colorado/ Canyon/ Gladiator models all come to mind ? 🤗
I'm in the research stage checking out various toy haulers to upgrade and upsize from what I currently own and I've seen a LOT of posts around the internet from owners of various name brands and it seems the common thread is terrible customer support from the manufacturer when something under warranty breaks. That's including people that own Grand Design RVs. It's making me wonder if I should just keep my existing toy hauler if the customer service is going to be a headache.
My mother just bought a ATC toy hauler and my goodness are they nice you should definitely do a review on them you won’t be disappointed (aluminum trailer company )
From what I have seen GD and now Riverstone too they have some nicer finishes and products that you can touch and feel...build quality is about the same as a lot of others...insulation is no different than others in the price range. My real issue is that they still cheap out on the important stuff like suspension (no independent suspension, and the lowest rating they can get away with) and tires. Several of the You-tubers that own GD have paid well over $10K to get 8,000 lbs Independent suspensions with disc brake installed and proper H rated tires. Plus there is no ability to do "real" customization, no 100% carpet delete, still have cheap leveling systems, counter tops, flooring, no dovetailed drawers etc. By the time you do all the upgrades that you see being done, you might as well have purchased a Luxe...for a little more money you can design your own at New Horizons. I normally would also say go with a DRV instead, however, since Thor bought them out the quality i has definitely been effected.
I would like to see what you would think of their Momentum 381M. I am comparing it against the Keystone Raptor 415 and I wonder now about which brand to go with. Both of the floor plans are veeery simular.
All suppliers have issues ? The Dealer is the Most Important Cog in the Wheel ? Most exaggerations or misrepresentations take place at that level ? Mine had multiple small problems that I blamed Grand Design Quality Control for UNTIL I FOUND OUT IT WAS USED AT LEAST ONE RV SHOW and then sent to the nearest dealer for sale AS NEW ! How many folks poked and prodded the steps and furniture innocently ? Theater seats and controls were probably used in a few days more than my wife and I would use in Years ? Dishonest - Illegal - Unethical ? To be determined 🤨
Did I miss the part where you were going to talk about 1/2 ton tow ability?
I’m a transporter and I shipped the Grand Design Imagine and Reflection series of trailers for a year. These are some of the best pulling trailers I have ever dealt with.
The Imagine sits several inches lower than most travel trailers. I noticed as well the axle placement is different than most trailers and with this combo makes a nice riding trailer.
I went to a Jayco/Heartland Ridge yard and I’m contemplating going back to the Grand Design Yard, just because of how well they pull.
We have a GD rig, love it and love GD. They are fantastic to deal with. First manufacturer I've been able to speak with directly who will help me directly and take care of my concerns/questions/issues/etc... This is my 4th rig in 8 years.
We have lived in a Grand Design 310 GK for 2 yes now. Very small issues except for the kitchen Trash Bin "Extension Track" fastening structure. Love ours (2 years of research before retirement came). No regrets. Steve & Cyndie
I study the trailers for three years the best grand design is the better one and a safer one just reamber you get what you pay for keep this in mind money 💰 is the fackter its like a smart car for cheep price our a Cadillac what can you afford
One of the best interviewers of RV reviews I've ever seen. Thank you!
We just upgraded from our Highland Ridge to a Grand Design Solitude 3740BH. We always wanted to have a Grand Design since we first walked through one. Finally found one that fit us.
How has that grand design been holding up compared to the Highland Ridge?
I have a 2018 Grand Design 2670MK Imagine and its great ! The office area in it totally sold me to begin with, many great features as well and feels so well built!
I am sorry that some have had a bad experience because we have great customer service. Had opportunity to meet the factory rep for the Northwest after our purchase. Received some great tips. We're looking forward to another great season traveling.
my father purchased a solitude grand design 5th wheel. I do feel they are made better than average. I heard very good things about the customer service...but... the back window glass broke. getting a replacement from my dealer was crazy. They sent a new one and it came broken.
The handle on the window caused it to break on shipping. we called grand design directly and explained the issues with shipping. they sent another one but we warned them they have to either take the handle off or package it differently. they sent another... it was broken again.
They didn't take our advise. the 3rd time and two months later was the SAME issue. By this time our heads where exploding. many calls back and forth from the factory. They finally offered to send out the handle separate and we hobbled together the few broken ones to make a whole. luckily all this happened during the winter months when we didnt camp.
the point is- I heard all the rave about customer service and we received mediocre at best. I didn't get the impression we were working with sharp people looking to fix the issue quickly.
with all that being said, the product is better, and I don't think i would have gotten any better service from any other rv company. lol. I'll still favor Grand Design.
Since RV isn't covered by the lemon law they always take their time to fix whatever it's wrong with your unit.
We're picking up a Grand Design Imagine 2600RB in the spring. Having it set up as a couples trailer and plan to do some serious traveling. Pulling it with a RAM 2500 diesel. Good times to be had. Cheers 🇨🇦
Did you end up getting the 2600RB? If so how is it? My wife and I are considering the same model.
My wife and I really enjoy your channel. We've been RV'ing for nearly 15 years now going from a Pop-Up camper, Travel Trailer BH, 5th wheel, and currently back to a Travel Trailer. We are recent empty nesters and are looking to go semi full time. At least 2 and 3 months at a time. We have the truck, a F350 DRW. Now its time to look for our next trailer. The Grand Designs are definitely in the mix.
we like the fact that you asked that on this unit because we were looking for a unit with two doors is what we want because we worry of fire and we wanted the extra door
I just purchased a Momentum 25G and took it out on a trip for the first time two weeks ago. I really like the design and the lay out of it. I like the Bunk bed and all the space you have when the toys are out. I love the 3-season doors concept and the "patio" you create when the ramp is up. However, I don't like the poor workmanship/quality of materials used. When we arrived to the campsite I found a screw laying on the floor next to one of the recliners and another one in the corner by the sink, the one for the recliner home reinstalled after flipping it over and realizing it belonged there (all others were loose) the one found by the corner, I could never locate where it came from. While camping I realized the three season doors where completely out of adjustment. the lady that gave us the walk thru at the dealership told us that they couldn't close properly because the trailer "was not level" and a technician was replacing the exhaust fan above the kitchen area (not even out of the dealer's parking lot and already fixing known issues.) after I returned from my camping trip, it took me a good deal of time to fix the 3-season doors. Mind you the dealership is about 45 miles away from home and it is not worth my while to make appointment and take a day off to take it back to get fixed if i can do it myself. This is my 5th travel trailer I’ve purchased (2nd from last dealership) and NEVER had to fix issues on anything while I owned them. I did improvements, but never fix stuff or improve stuff on a new trailer like this one. I did look for a place to write a review in the grand design webpage to no avail, and since lately I’ve been watching lots of videos in you tube to improve my momentum, I decided to write my comments here. I hope they are helpful for when you make a decision to buy a toy-hauler/travel trailer.
This interview would have been much better if you let them talk more. Your video title says you "ask". This interview felt more like I "tell" them.
Great RV and I will definitely research more into this model. I love your videos and this was just a constructive feedback. Thanks.
Got this unit 4 months ago only had a couple of issues with it. Me my wife and 4 of our 6 kids have lived in this for going on 3 months now. This is leaps and bounds over our 2014 Keystone Bullet 286QBS! We love it!! The issues were a leak on the 90 degree fitting for the out side flex hose, and the A/C vent was to close to the top of the ductwork on the vent closest to the A/C so it wasn’t blowing, contacted Grand Design, they covered everything. I will say the only negative so far is the bunkhouse vents for the furnace blow cooler air than the rest of the trailer but other than that no complaints.
Let's hope as they get bigger they not only get better, keep the prices reasonable but also don't let their success get to their heads as with some other manufacturers who have big names and garbage products.
Thank you for taking the time to meet with the factory rep. It's nice to hear a kinda of behind the scenes from them.
Wish we would have seen this trailer before we bought ours. Yes, very similar livingroom kitchen area. The only trailer we saw that had seats directly infront of the t.v. That's the main reason we bought it
I was looking at different 5th wheels when I came across another video you had put out on what to look for in a 5th wheel, I started my search for a 5th wheel that didn't have laminated sidewalls, one with a drop Z frame, look at the amount and type of insulation in the walls, ceiling and the floors, then when I picked out a manufacturer then I looked at floor plans, two days ago I decided on the Grand Design Solitude 373FB. The whole process took a few months but in the end I know a lot about the RV I am ordering and it's all thanks to you and your video as to what to look for. The only disadvantage to the Grand Design was it does have a laminated sidewall. So thank you for your wisdom and putting it video form to help others.
The Grand Design is a great camper. I agree the layouts are great. You are going to have problems with any RV you buy. I feel the Grand Design is a better quality than some of the other competitors.
My neighbor recently bought a Grand Design unit and it is nice and looks and feels well made.
I agree with Chris Beach's comment; the RV business is all about getting them down the line and out the door with enough quality to look good on the sales floor and then let the customer and service center worry about warranty items.
One question I would love answered by an RV manufacturer is: Does any manufacturer in the industry own a vacuum? I recently (April 2019) purchased a Grand Design Momentum 28G, which makes this my 5th RV starting with a tent trailer working my way up. With each RV I have purchased including the 28G, I find debris, saw dust, metal shavings, left over wiring etc.
does it really take that long to vacuum up these items prior to covering it up?
Now to my recent purchase of the 28G and the issues I am running into. Over Memorial Day weekend we were out camping and it rained. This was the second outing and first time raining while out. The slides leaked as if there were no seals at all. I contacted Grand Design to let them know of this and a number of other warranty issues. I also, set up an appointment with the service center I purchased the unit from. The service center was able to get me in, but it was about a week until they had an opening. When I took the trailer in, I asked to talk with the service manager, because as you can imagine I was a little upset given this is a brand new RV and after spending over a thousand dollars on a PDI, I was curious to know how they could let this get through with such an issue. I also reviewed my other warranty issues with him, the service manager informed me that they do not conduct leak tests as part of their PDI...I told him maybe they should start. He then spent the next 30 mins or so, identifying what his shop would and would not do. The end result was they fixed a couple of the cosmetic items and was unable to replicate any leak at all. As soon as I got back home I put the hose on spray mode and simulated rain and within a few minutes was able to replicate the leaks on both slide.
Needless to say, I will not be working with the service center again. I have continued to communicate with Grand Design's Regional Service Center Manager who identified that I could find any qualified shop to work with. The only problem with this I found out is none of the service centers I have contacted that have good ratings etc. will perform manufacturer’s warranty work due to the limited amount the manufacturer is willing to pay.
Fast forward to August 2019, I still have leaking slides and have not found a service center willing to work on the RV. I have found another leak that seems to be coming from the outside kitchen area. In my frustration, I have contacted Lippert (the manufacturer of the slides) to see if there is anything they can or are willing to do to help, I am waiting to hear back from them. In the mean time I will be using my Harbor Freight blue tarps to cover my 50+K Toy Hauler as I make my way to Utah for an extended camping trip.
It will be a good selling point for Grand Design to have tarps all over the roof and covering the slides.
One of the reasons I went with Grand Design is because of the good feedback I have heard and read on line concerning their customer service. So far I have not seen anything that puts them above any other manufacture I have bought from in the past. What I would have been great customer service, is for them to coordinate a mobile service to come to my house and at least take care of the leaking slides.
For anybody making a purchase with Grand Design or some other manufacturer, I truly hope you have a more positive experience with both the service center and manufacturer.
Never discussed 1/2 ton. Whole reason I watched
Have a GD 375res and we love it! All trailers have issues. GD has fewer and they are better about repairs.
wouldn't it make more sense to build a trailer WITHOUT any issues. It is entirely possible to do, manufactures have built in the expectation that ALL trailers will have issues so you don't complain when they do. ALL in an effort to increase their bottom line and turn a higher profit for repair facilities. Manufactures could make them better if customers demanded better.
We just bought a 2600RB today. We are so excited. It just feels like it is a quality unit.
We did as well purchase the 2600RB. Looking forward to the 2021 camping season!
Walk-through bathrooms are for the birds. That said, I'm getting a Reflection 285BHTS (no walk-through), the GDs were the nicest we've seen, and the counter space just sold it for us. Going to pull it with a F150 V8 that we're planning to trade in in the fall, so if it struggles we'll get something tougher.
I looked at momentum’s before buying my voltage. The prices was crazy compared to others. They had the same issues as any other manufacturer. Doors weren’t closing, trim wasn’t lined up and other small things I’m sure the dealer would have fixed before purchasing so I don’t think there any better especially at their price point. I think their pdi is a sales tactic and bs IMO.
C&E Tate we love our momentum, never go back.
agreed. You can’t inspect quality into a product.
We have a 2023 Grand Design Reflection RV. We have about three different warranty's on it. So far the issue we have had has cost us about six hundred dollars in service calls. We have not had very good customer service.
Sweet that you were able to talk with a factory rep about the TT.
We love our 2021 Transend 261Bh...and our 2021 Ram 1500 hemi with tow set up/ sway bars...has no problems!
I have a Jayflight 32bhds that has the dinette, sofa and tv arrangement JD was talking about as so bad, and yes he is right. It does both me some but not a lot. I would consider it for my next one, however I find myself sitting in the dinette watching tv anyway. I am very happy with that floor plan. Each to their own, it sounds like JD had the same layout.
I love my Imagine 2600RB, 2 years no issues yet compared to other people i know, my f150 pulls this no problem, no weight distribution hitch nor sway control ,
Plz Let the rep speak . I love this set up
Once manufacturers start building a decent roof then I will believe they are a step above. All aluminum or fiberglass would be nice compared to the standard with 20 lbs of crap dicor to seal it. RV Roof Install on UA-cam makes an excellent roof that all companies can learn from.
just subscribed to your show become when we ask a question you take your time to awnsers questions thanks keep the videos coming because we're looking to buy a new rv in the next coming year
You are right that they hit the mark in placing the TV in front of the chairs but then they went and placed the TV up high right under the ceiling. What were they thinking about on that. It did not look like there was anything special about that cabinet that required such an awkward placement. It is funny that the rep was aware of folks getting a sore neck having to cock their head to the side but then not pick up on getting a sore neck form tilting upward to see the TV.
Overall I like their products, especially the Image 2970RL.
The only issue is the shitjack right next to the galley. The aroma of the old lady’s fine country cooking is quickly extinguished by the vapors from the shitjack.
maybe put some chemicals in your tank...just sayin
I've had one for 2 years now. Great trailer. Only problems I've had are the mirrors falling out. Literally all of them. They only siliconed them.
Grand Design is using Swintek slides. Had a rig for six years and couldn’t keep them from breaking. Saw all the videos on maintenance. Mr. Swintek sold to Lippert ( wonder why, lawsuits probably.) Owners Input from Grand Design forum will tell you a clearer picture. Just bought a Cardinal RV, is so nice (uses all rack and pinion slides). Too many quality features to mention here.
For my 2021 351.... The bedroom slide is the only one that has swintek..... Both main slides are hydraulic
@@lbeck119 My Jayco bed slide was Swintek, broke also before two years. My big slide jumped track, could not be fixed in the field. (Falling out and twisted, so ugly.) Traded it in for the Cardinal, they use 1" plywood floors for the slides! Good luck!
Wife and I went through the GD "dog and pony" show back in 2015. Had to hear how the company came about, etc. Interesting story. We considered the Solitude but ended up going with a Montana with a rear den floorplan. In the end, it is always about the floor plan, GD is a high-quality maker, but there are others too.
Wow- between the comments and other videos, I'm glad I'm gonna build my own. Great to ee ideas from your videos, though.
In any RV with slides, I want to see it closed up. Can I use the bathroom without opening a slide? Can I store groceries while at the Walmart parking Lot? Can I get a cold drink without being at a campsite? Half of RV'ing is getting there. I want to take a nap in a rest stop without deploying everything and having a generator!
We have the 2800BH. We love it.
I watched this video was impressed and looked at the Imagine xls 23bhe unit at one of the RV shows. My wife loves the layout. However I noticed that the unit we looked at was 650lb heavier than the GD web page specs for UVW of 5325! That is a huge discrepancy! We were told that most 23bhe units come under 5400lb by one of the reps at the show but I have been unable to find one. All units that we were able to find on dealer lots varried from 5516lb to 5983lb. thy all have the same equipment, no added options so why the weight differnce on the smae build? I thought that the 23bhe was designed to be a lighter alternative to the Imagine 2400BH. I can't get a strraigh answear from dealers about what is going on with the 500 lb weight variability. It makes a big differene as you can potentially have as much as 1600lb ccc or as little as 1100lb with no real good reason for one or the other. Frustrating. GD please check your QC system becisue something is ammiss here...
Had a hard time hearing and understanding him. Might have asked how and where the company has changed since being purchased by Winnebago.
In case you don't know, Grand Design has been bought by Winnebago. I bought a 2019 Reflection 312BHTS travel trailer a few months ago. Shower track leaked, Door jamb and trim cracked and didn't close properly, broken skirt bracing (3), frame rusted at delivery, awning doesn't close straight, recliners held in place by one piece of metal bent over one side rail of one recliner and screwed to floor, shower enclosure walls are separating from bathroom walls. These are some of the issues, over 20 in total. Maybe at one time GD lived up to their claims of a superior workforce and build quality.
that is what happens when new owners come into play.. a great product out the window with higher price along with extreme maintenace cost.
if you cant beat them, buy them
I would love to see this video revisited.
Wow! Why did it sound like you made the perfect sales pitch for Paul following the intro??
I looked at Artic Fox’s but they had such bad customer service from the reviews I read I decided to go with a GD. No problems so far and am very happy.
My Favorite manufacture !!
👍🏻👍🏻
I like the Solitude's, but they don't have a whisper quiet A/C, and I've listened to their unit running and it's much louder than the whisper. I wish they would make the jump to whisper.
"Fresh off the grill...last night."
If they use torsion axles instead of the old-school leaf springs and 15" to 16" wheels with a 2.5" lift, it would be awesome.
The best thing that Grand Design does is marketing. But that doesn't make them better. Since their startup the company has sold out twice and now are pretty much the same as all the others. I consider them the Camping World of the manufacturer brands. All hype.
Just starting to look for a TT. Sorry, I'd love an Airstream right, but who can afford one🤣. Having said that, I'm getting the impression that Grand Designs are very nice and people seem to like and I haven't heard any bad reviews. So I am leaning towards a GD a year to a few years old as our first unit. Right now our leading unit we'd like to see ourselves in is a 247BH. One concern we have is another item to maintain and also weight. It's well within the two and payload capacity of my truck, but may take it into the mountains at some point and the no slides model, while smaller didn't seem overly small. Where am I going wrong?
I own a Grand Design 395 Momentum. They're all polished turds..
Tongue and groove plywood floors or OSB? Same question for roof. China bomb tires or Goodyear endurance standard?
Thank you, very informative. I’m with ya, that’s one great layout, wow.
I'd really like a review of the Momentum fifth wheel. Looking to go full time in something like a Momentum. Really like and trust the opinion and observations of BTBRV.
Also, BTBRV, would like your view on what to tow it with. Thinking you're not going to be recommending anything other than a dually but that's ok!
That was an interesting floor design to watch, but I got the feeling Paul was the sidekick on that video.
We compared the Coachmen 287BHDS (Freedom Express Ultralight) to the GD 2800BH and were underwhelmed by the hyped-up superiority of the Grand Design. The Coachmen was supplied with many upgrades that brought it close to the 2800BH in price and really made the Coachmen shine. The floor plan is almost identical and where it is different, the GD is the lesser desirable option. I'm sure all the GD buyers will validate their purchase with all kinds of facts and subjective comments but I will continue to enjoy the advantages of the Coachmen.
No, they're nice but I've had quite a few issues with my Grand Design compared to the Starcraft that I traded in for it. The slide out seal design on the Grand Designs is just terrible and they seem to not be able to hang a door square for some reason, both interior and exterior doors. Oh, they haven't figured out how to hang the awnings square either.
Did Jason Garrett already get fired from the Cowboys?
The question for you BTBRV... Do you think I should buy a Grand Design Reflection 312BHTS over a Forest River or Heartland Product for full timing?
Hey Big Truck, have you ever done a dash cam review or shootout?
That would be a great video. I saw your link to the dash cam you use, but I’m wondering if you did some comparison shopping.
Love your channel and production values.
Second thought I hope you do a review on them they are about to take over the market of toy hauler
My dad just bought a grand design imagine and it is a quality RV but let me tell you it is no Rockwood. There are things that Grand Design didn't do that Rockwood does in the same floor plan. I was actually quite disappointed in it. Didn't say that to my dad though did not want to be a bummer
I felt the same way. I was looking at a GD Imagine and a Palomino Solaire. The Solaire blew GD out of the water. We've had ours over a year now with no real issues. No bent axles, no flattened springs. Matter of fact, our Solaire has torflex axles. No structural or utility issues whatsoever. One year warranty inspection was for minor trim and cosmetic issues. The only thing that broke was the vent cover. The dealer replaced it with a MaxxAir fan with free labor. We feel our Solaire was a much better camper and a deal for the money.
I have been looking at TT. After some of the things I’ve seen on UA-cam I’m actually in fear of buying one. From the cheap frames and walls, horrible sealing of outer walls and water damage, axles being weak and wall trims falling off. I’m now wondering what to do cause I’m wanting to travel
I been researching for 4 years we have decided on the Lance 1995 seemingly best construction warranty resale value if buy at lazydays you get many bonuses and 1 years night camping
oh no, I wanted to hear the part about half ton tow ability!
I have a Ford F-150 with a 5.0 liter V8, which can tow up to 9400 pounds. I'm looking at the 2800BH, 6500# dry. No problem.
We currently have a Forest River Wildwood. We are going to trade it in for an Imagine. I wish we would have just bought it instead of what we have. Too many issues.
Looked at the Imagine and was N O T impressed. Half the cabinets did not close properly. If that’s how they build the imagine I don’t want a higher end from them.
azimmey that’s probably the dealership left it open and people broke it by slamming cabinets. I have a grand design and nothing broke.
I was hoping you would do a video on grand design. Unfortunately we have to sell our travel trailer due to high medical bills but hopefully someday. If anyone is looking for a travel trailer in San Antonio area let me know!
I just purchased a 2022 Momentum and the Refrigerator does not WORK. ONE week and no warranty yet. I will keep you informed. Thanks
How is no one talking about seeing the man behind the camera!?!?!?! Thank you Ray Ban Sunglasses!!
I have to say that the 200 point inspections on each coach is something I have to say is not true. We went to look at the Imagine trailers and the sales person told us about the inspections on all trailers. There was a drawer in the bathroom that was almost 1inch out from the face frame on one side. There was a molding loose and hanging and my wife noticed screws showing under the flooring. When I pointed all the quality issues out to the salesman he made the excuse that sometimes they need RV's and tell the manufacture just send what you have as fast as they can ship so they may not go through the inspections. I told him that was BS and if it was inspected I would fire the person doing the inspections. My point is I don't think they are any different from all the other manufactures. Yes in the beginning I believe they did all the inspections but now when things are rolling fast and things are selling they are doing no better than anyone else that builds a quality trailer..
I work for Grand design and I can tell you that is not the case, we still PDI every coach, I can't speak for the Imagine plant but my plant never let's a bad coach go out that door.
They didn’t stand behind ours when we found the heater cage had been bent they wouldn’t replace it and the ducting wasn’t even connected
Unfortunately right now their inspections that they do before they send them are really not good. They are missing so many things. A lot of them are little things but there’s a lot of them. They need to slow down and check them properly not just whip them out the door because they’re making money. It’s great that they have a service that will back them up but who wants to keep bringing the trailer back to be fixed and waiting for it to get done. I want it to be right the first time or at least try to be close.
Cool i enjoyed that happy thanksgiving
I’m new to the RV world plus I live in Alaska so I’m not able to go to a lot the RV dealers to know the differences between the various brands. Keystone is a popular brand up here. I’m curious how the quality of Grand Design stacks up to Arctic Fox or Nash RVs (both made by Northwood Mfg), which is what I’m considering ordering in January. It’d be great to get some feedback on this, thanks! Great videos keep ‘em coming I’ve learned quite a bit from watching them.
AKBRONCOSFAN007 so the Outdoors RV Creekside 21 RBS and Timber Ridge 24RKS we have owned and used over 300 nights have been flawless. I had to snug up a water fitting after winterizing and a bracket holding the lower fairing had a snapped self tapping screw. We looked at the Grand Design not sure about the use of fibreglass insulation and OSB instead of marine plywood and fibreglass and foam composite wall panels. Just my 2 cents. Arctic Fox makes great units as well they are used a lot by Rig workers in Northern Alberta all year round with skirting.
Maybe you could take a little vacation south to the big RV shows or dealers and check them out? In Florida a ton of RV dealers especially around Tampa. Gigantic dealer there called Lazy Days may acres of RV's several manufactures there. However if you're gonna be up north. you'll need the well insulated RV's designed for cold weather, which only a handful of companies make them for extreme cold.
Check the forums now, there's plenty of people who say this company, above others, doesn't stand behind their brand.
Single Axel “ AIM” Series or Double Axel 17 MKE XLS Series - EASILY TOWABLE BY 1/2 Ton Rigs ! Ranger/ Colorado/ Canyon/ Gladiator models all come to mind ? 🤗
I wish they had more king bed options.
Are you going to ask about Azdel?
You sure sound a LOT like 'Josh the RV Nerd' on another UA-cam channel.
Yes but josh gives info on rvs that you will never hear from anyone else
@@cappyjpadgett I like Josh.
Good show, but think I’d prefer robot assembly😊
Somewhere in a dark corner of Indiana is a factory full of drunk leprechauns who build RVs! GD leprechauns just drink a little less.
$
I'm in the research stage checking out various toy haulers to upgrade and upsize from what I currently own and I've seen a LOT of posts around the internet from owners of various name brands and it seems the common thread is terrible customer support from the manufacturer when something under warranty breaks. That's including people that own Grand Design RVs. It's making me wonder if I should just keep my existing toy hauler if the customer service is going to be a headache.
My mother just bought a ATC toy hauler and my goodness are they nice you should definitely do a review on them you won’t be disappointed (aluminum trailer company )
nick samay Agreed, ATC seems to build a lifetime product. They have some things to learn about floor plans though.
what about the bunkhouse?
From what I have seen GD and now Riverstone too they have some nicer finishes and products that you can touch and feel...build quality is about the same as a lot of others...insulation is no different than others in the price range. My real issue is that they still cheap out on the important stuff like suspension (no independent suspension, and the lowest rating they can get away with) and tires. Several of the You-tubers that own GD have paid well over $10K to get 8,000 lbs Independent suspensions with disc brake installed and proper H rated tires. Plus there is no ability to do "real" customization, no 100% carpet delete, still have cheap leveling systems, counter tops, flooring, no dovetailed drawers etc. By the time you do all the upgrades that you see being done, you might as well have purchased a Luxe...for a little more money you can design your own at New Horizons. I normally would also say go with a DRV instead, however, since Thor bought them out the quality i has definitely been effected.
I would like to see what you would think of their Momentum 381M. I am comparing it against the Keystone Raptor 415 and I wonder now about which brand to go with. Both of the floor plans are veeery simular.
All suppliers have issues ? The Dealer is the Most Important Cog in the Wheel ? Most exaggerations or misrepresentations take place at that level ? Mine had multiple small problems that I blamed Grand Design Quality Control for UNTIL I FOUND OUT IT WAS USED AT LEAST ONE RV SHOW and then sent to the nearest dealer for sale AS NEW ! How many folks poked and prodded the steps and furniture innocently ? Theater seats and controls were probably used in a few days more than my wife and I would use in Years ? Dishonest - Illegal - Unethical ? To be determined 🤨
Wow I so wish I was there I need to come there so I can do a trade in of mines.
My 385th 2017 burnt to the ground at 7months old it had a faulty wiring problem
Did you ever mention the model of this TT?
The answer is no.I bought a Bullet Premier 26rpbr by Keystone . Build just as well and a better buy. Spread axes for road stability
I helped build this exact unit they are standing in...
D Sawyer and................no comment?
Just thought it was cool.
Did I miss the towing with a half ton question?
next video sir
Yippee, been waiting for your thoughts on Grand Design ... will there be one on Momentum 397TH?
Any RVs that you recommend for us traveling oilfield guys that have 1500s?? Sunset trails look promising
Imagine makes an XLS lighter weight series, typically no slide outs, and the 2150 2600 regular imagines fit many 1500's
I haul a 36' Coachman Freedom Express with my F150 in helper bags no problem. And it's a ton of room.