Looking at new 2019 303 RLS Reflection-Concerned

[Munsey]

Hi All. My wife and I are looking at a new 5’er and seriously considering the 303 RLS. We looked at this very model last year (2018) and really liked it. Today we walked through a 2019 and It just felt different. The main difference I noticed was the floor, it felt spongy in and around the kitchen island. It didn’t feel anywhere near as solid as I remember it being. In the bathroom between the sliding bedroom pocket door and the shower, there was a horrible creak in the floor. I was surprised that this trailer left the factory sounding as bad as it did.

I pressed the salesman for more info about the spongy feel in the floor and he told me that they redesigned the floor about a year ago. He said it is now a floating floor as opposed to a joint system but wasn’t really able to explain how it was manufactured.

Can anyone shed some light on this “new” floor design and if it is a better system? Also wondering if this might have something to do with the slide out tearing the flooring material in some models?

[Bamaman]

If you're really serious about the 303, why don't you take a trip to Elkhart and take the Reflection factory tour? Your questions would be very valid to ask the tourguides about.

And if you decide to go with the 303, special order one and do a very, very thorough PDI at the selling dealer. Also, be very picky on the dealer you buy from to make sure they're one of the "good guys." Not all RV dealers are created equal.

The 303 and the 337 remain about the last of the original floorplans currently being made, and they're very popular units. I have the 337 bunkhouse model.

[huntr70]

I have the 337 bunkhouse model.

They never made a 337 bunkhouse model.

Maybe a 367? 311? 323?

[huntr70]

Hi All. My wife and I are looking at a new 5’er and seriously considering the 303 RLS. We looked at this very model last year (2018) and really liked it. Today we walked through a 2019 and It just felt different. The main difference I noticed was the floor, it felt spongy in and around the kitchen island. It didn’t feel anywhere near as solid as I remember it being. In the bathroom between the sliding bedroom pocket door and the shower, there was a horrible creak in the floor. I was surprised that this trailer left the factory sounding as bad as it did.

I pressed the salesman for more info about the spongy feel in the floor and he told me that they redesigned the floor about a year ago. He said it is now a floating floor as opposed to a joint system but wasn’t really able to explain how it was manufactured.

Can anyone shed some light on this “new” floor design and if it is a better system? Also wondering if this might have something to do with the slide out tearing the flooring material in some models?

I haven't heard of a flooring change in them.

[WhittleBurner]

If you want answers to construction and any other concerns the best thing is to call GD and ask. They have always been willing to answer questions.
Micah Staley is the general manager of the Reflection line.

Like suggested a plant tour could give you all the info you want and more.

[KirbyRVA]

When I walk near our kitchen island, I can see the island move just a little bit. I would not say the floor is spongy but it does give a bit in places. That is not uncommon with OSB flooring unless you stack it. We owned a modular lake home and it had two layers of OSB sub floor. It was sturdy.

OSB will always have more flex than an equivalent thickness plywood.

[Brewhedd]

Floor feels solid on our 312, can't say the same about the roof, it gives more than our last TT (FR Rockwood). Some things I noticed about this TT are the excessive number of small problems, a shower door track that leaked and a bedroom door that was damaged and not installed properly. Not to make it sound all bad because it's not but it seems while GD upgrades certain things some others are extremely cheap, like the TV and bathroom vent fan for instance. If you get to the point of buying one take a look at any underside bracing and the shower door track caulking as well as the installation of any appliances.

[Chiefblueman]

Hi All. My wife and I are looking at a new 5’er and seriously considering the 303 RLS. We looked at this very model last year (2018) and really liked it. Today we walked through a 2019 and It just felt different. The main difference I noticed was the floor, it felt spongy in and around the kitchen island. It didn’t feel anywhere near as solid as I remember it being. In the bathroom between the sliding bedroom pocket door and the shower, there was a horrible creak in the floor. I was surprised that this trailer left the factory sounding as bad as it did.

I pressed the salesman for more info about the spongy feel in the floor and he told me that they redesigned the floor about a year ago. He said it is now a floating floor as opposed to a joint system but wasn’t really able to explain how it was manufactured.

Can anyone shed some light on this “new” floor design and if it is a better system? Also wondering if this might have something to do with the slide out tearing the flooring material in some models?

The creaking bathroom floor has been talked about on this forum several times, although on earlier models. A floating floor? Floating on what? Something smells like the back end of a bull here. Good advice to call Grand Design and ask about that floating floor.

[Munsey]

Thanks for the replies. I called another dealership today and talked to one of their salesmen. He said he hasn’t heard of any changes to the flooring but is going to contact his factory rep and find out. I will post back what I find out.

I really like the floor plan of the 303, just want to make sure it is still a quality unit. When we were researching this last year the floor just felt more solid and there were no creaks in the floor of the units we walked through. I’ve also read some of the posts about the flooring tearing in some of these units and wasn’t sure if that was strictly a slide out issue or if it had anything to do with a new floor design or build technique.

[GeoffnCheri]

Hi All. My wife and I are looking at a new 5’er and seriously considering the 303 RLS. We looked at this very model last year (2018) and really liked it. Today we walked through a 2019 and It just felt different. The main difference I noticed was the floor, it felt spongy in and around the kitchen island. It didn’t feel anywhere near as solid as I remember it being. In the bathroom between the sliding bedroom pocket door and the shower, there was a horrible creak in the floor. I was surprised that this trailer left the factory sounding as bad as it did.

I pressed the salesman for more info about the spongy feel in the floor and he told me that they redesigned the floor about a year ago. He said it is now a floating floor as opposed to a joint system but wasn’t really able to explain how it was manufactured.

Can anyone shed some light on this “new” floor design and if it is a better system? Also wondering if this might have something to do with the slide out tearing the flooring material in some models?

2018 303 owner here. No spongy floor in our unit nor bathroom floor creak. It may be the particular unit on the lot and not inclusive off all 303's. I would visit another lot where I could go through a similar unit and see if the same issues exist.