Used to be a full time RVDreamer. Hung up keys to our Dutch Star two years ago. Mistake. Selling the farm and want to get back on the road. Looking at fivers now. Anyone have good/bad experiences with a Grand Design brand?
Rickl said
11:55 AM Jun 27, 2016
Here is a great place to get started - www.granddesignowners.com. We haven't taken delivery of our unit yet, it's a Solitude 375RE-R. As soon as we sell our house and I'm 99% sure it will close we will take delivery. (the dealer agreed to this arrangement when we ordered our unit).
We looked at a number of 5th wheels and had it narrowed down to the Solitude or the Landmark. But in the end decided on the Solitude as I can add the Mor-ryde IS and disc brakes and still be under what I had to pay for a Landmark. Like everything it was compromising what we wanted/needed to what we were willing to spend.
I think you will see that Grand Design seems to go out of their way to handle issues.
NWescapee said
01:03 PM Jun 27, 2016
Red and Pam (forum name, El Rojo and Pam) are on their second Grand Design, they would be a good source of real world experience.
-- Edited by NWescapee on Monday 27th of June 2016 01:04:32 PM
el Rojo and Pam said
07:30 PM Jun 27, 2016
As Ruth said we are on our second Grand Design product. The first a Solitude and then we went with Momentum (I missed my garage). Both have been very good trailers, the Momentum was our 13th RV. The customer service is second to none. If you have any specific questions ask away.
Red
MooreFun said
09:08 AM Jul 1, 2016
Thanks for all your help. Sold our farm today so now the fun of choosing a rig begins!! See ya down the road!
Second Chance said
02:19 PM Jul 1, 2016
At this point, we've been 10 months full-time in our Grand Design Reflection fifth wheel. We love the floor plan and the 337RLS is a good match for our truck. I'm not a fan, however, of the Lippert frames and suspension and GD is not at the level of DRV and other "high-end" RVs (you get what you pay for). As stated, though, Grand Design goes out of their way to resolve issues. With one exception, we've only had minor problems, so far. The exception is tire wear caused by what is probably a bent axle or spindle. GD has inferred that I "curbed" the unit - which I haven't. The wheel has toe-in rather than toe-out which is what would result from running a front trailer wheel into something. In addition, the tire wear occurred over the entire first 7,000 miles on the unit which supports the theory that it was delivered with the problem pre-existing. The issue is yet to be resolved but it's looking like it might be on my dime (or tens of thousands of dimes...).
Rob
mikec54 said
01:03 PM Aug 24, 2016
Red- you mentioned that first had a Solitude and now have a Momentum. We are first time buyers and were looking at the Solitude. Which do you prefer? I understand that the Momentum line is lighter and costs less. Just thinking about longevity. Also what recommendations do have have for size of truck for towing. I see that some folks are towing with an F-250 on the Momentum. I was under the impression that a 350 or the 3500 series in GMS or Dodge is a good option.
Thanks,
Mike
Second Chance said
01:34 PM Aug 24, 2016
mikec54 wrote:
Red- you mentioned that first had a Solitude and now have a Momentum. We are first time buyers and were looking at the Solitude. Which do you prefer? I understand that the Momentum line is lighter and costs less. Just thinking about longevity. Also what recommendations do have have for size of truck for towing. I see that some folks are towing with an F-250 on the Momentum. I was under the impression that a 350 or the 3500 series in GMS or Dodge is a good option.
Thanks,
Mike
Mike,
You're probably thinking of the Reflection series rather than Momentum. Momentum units are the toy haulers and tend to be heavy. Solitude is the "top-of-the-line" fifth wheel and the Reflection series are "medium profile" and somewhat lighter. They also have some even lighter units at the smaller end of the Reflection range. Some of the Reflections you can tow with a 3/4 ton truck (we do our Reflection), but the Solitudes and Momentums, in my opinion, should be behind a 1-ton truck (my preference would be DRW). GD's web site will explain everything:
https://www.granddesignrv.com/
Rob
-- Edited by Second Chance on Wednesday 24th of August 2016 01:36:03 PM
el Rojo and Pam said
02:16 PM Aug 24, 2016
Mike, I think Rob gave you a pretty good answer on that. If you have any more questions we are here to help.
Red
Singing4MyJesus said
09:44 PM Nov 8, 2016
My husband and I bought a 2016 Grand Design Solitude 379FL right before Memorial Day and took delivery of it two weeks later. We held and estate sale over Labor Day (nothing in storage) and downsized from 1800sq ft to our "Beautiful Behemoth." We have been living in it full time since October 1 of this year. We will not retire until December 2019 and we won't even get our truck until 2018, but we decided we wanted to practice retirement, do some mods and work out kinks and bugs prior to full-timing on the road. We are on a Grand Design Forum which we love, but this was our first forum when we were starting to think about retirement and we were looking. We have had good response from Grand Design on some issues we've had but all in all we love it. Front living is the best!
Used to be a full time RVDreamer. Hung up keys to our Dutch Star two years ago. Mistake. Selling the farm and want to get back on the road. Looking at fivers now. Anyone have good/bad experiences with a Grand Design brand?
We looked at a number of 5th wheels and had it narrowed down to the Solitude or the Landmark. But in the end decided on the Solitude as I can add the Mor-ryde IS and disc brakes and still be under what I had to pay for a Landmark. Like everything it was compromising what we wanted/needed to what we were willing to spend.
I think you will see that Grand Design seems to go out of their way to handle issues.
Red and Pam (forum name, El Rojo and Pam) are on their second Grand Design, they would be a good source of real world experience.
-- Edited by NWescapee on Monday 27th of June 2016 01:04:32 PM
Red
At this point, we've been 10 months full-time in our Grand Design Reflection fifth wheel. We love the floor plan and the 337RLS is a good match for our truck. I'm not a fan, however, of the Lippert frames and suspension and GD is not at the level of DRV and other "high-end" RVs (you get what you pay for). As stated, though, Grand Design goes out of their way to resolve issues. With one exception, we've only had minor problems, so far. The exception is tire wear caused by what is probably a bent axle or spindle. GD has inferred that I "curbed" the unit - which I haven't. The wheel has toe-in rather than toe-out which is what would result from running a front trailer wheel into something. In addition, the tire wear occurred over the entire first 7,000 miles on the unit which supports the theory that it was delivered with the problem pre-existing. The issue is yet to be resolved but it's looking like it might be on my dime (or tens of thousands of dimes...).
Rob
Red- you mentioned that first had a Solitude and now have a Momentum. We are first time buyers and were looking at the Solitude. Which do you prefer? I understand that the Momentum line is lighter and costs less. Just thinking about longevity. Also what recommendations do have have for size of truck for towing. I see that some folks are towing with an F-250 on the Momentum. I was under the impression that a 350 or the 3500 series in GMS or Dodge is a good option.
Thanks,
Mike
Mike,
You're probably thinking of the Reflection series rather than Momentum. Momentum units are the toy haulers and tend to be heavy. Solitude is the "top-of-the-line" fifth wheel and the Reflection series are "medium profile" and somewhat lighter. They also have some even lighter units at the smaller end of the Reflection range. Some of the Reflections you can tow with a 3/4 ton truck (we do our Reflection), but the Solitudes and Momentums, in my opinion, should be behind a 1-ton truck (my preference would be DRW). GD's web site will explain everything:
https://www.granddesignrv.com/
Rob
-- Edited by Second Chance on Wednesday 24th of August 2016 01:36:03 PM
Red