2015 Reflection 29RS Only one major regret

[ElaineM]

We took our new RV out this weekend. (39 miles from home) It is a 2015 29rs Reflection. I really love the RV, BUT I can't believe no one has mentioned the step height! The step leading to the bedroom is 11 1/2" high. The code for a NC home is 7". I would have chosen a different Grand Design RV if I had noticed that when we looked at RV's. Hubby has trouble with his knees and it made it difficult for him when we were out this weekend. There is also a step in the bedroom leading to the bathroom. So pay attention when you are choosing an RV!) He is going to try to make new steps for it. I definitely would have purchased a different model with shorter steps if I had noticed it during our walk through.

It is beautiful and does pull very well.

No issues on our first outing either. Everything worked beautifully!

 

[TucsonJim]

It's great that your first trip was uneventful (except for the step issue). Our last RV was actually 12-1/4 inches from the ground to the first step on level ground. Sometimes, it was not nearly so much if the ground was sloped. But, we found a great solution which you might look into. I'm attaching a link for a portable step which we used on our last rig. You can set it for either 3 inches or 8 inches depending on how far your Reflection's step is from the ground. We felt overall, it was a very safe, effective and comfortable solution for us.

http://www.amazon.com/Stromberg-Car...7067809&sr=8-2&keywords=aluminum+folding+step

Jim

 

[Scott and Jan]

Glad to hear you had no issues on your first trip. That's always a good feeling after reading some troubles others have on first trips. Hopefully you can figure out a solution for your steps. Congrats.

 

[ElaineM]

It is not the first step outside. The steps outside are 9". They are not bad at all. It is the step leading to the landing for the bathroom and bedroom. Hubby thinks he can make a removable rounded step.

 

[ElaineM]

Scott and Jan, I was looking at the floor plans for the 337 RLS. Does it have such a high step going into the bedroom and bathroom level? It looks like you have an extra step that ours doesn't.

But yes it is beautiful and works perfectly. Just a bit tough on old knees.

 

[Scott and Jan]

1st step is 8 3/4", next two are each 8 1/2"

 

[ElaineM]

Yours are perfect! Our first step is 11 1/2 the next one is 10 1/2. If we love RVing as much as I think we will we will have to replace ours with that model. We will probably retire in a couple of years. Florida is looking pretty good for the winter! I think I could live in one of these. They are so pretty!



Sorry it is a vertical picture but it rotates overtime I upload it.
But I am sure you can see what I mean.

 

[Scott and Jan]

Thanks, we think ours is perfect too. We could live in ours too, unfortunately we still have a lot of years.
Hope your husband can alter your steps so he can comfortably enjoy your new Reflection.

 

[huntr70]

The LITE series are lower profile than the 337RLS, so there is not as much height to go up.

 

[goducks14]

You never walked up into the bedroom before you bought it? We noticed the high steps right away. The other thing that bothers me about the 29RS and 27RL is the heater vent in the sofa. What if the sofa has an issue and it needs to be replaced? The heat vent would have to be repositioned to the floor.

 

[ElaineM]

Yes, I walked up to the bedroom. Totally my fault for not paying better attention. We had walked into about 5 others first and the Grand Design was so impressive that I didn't notice or care about the step until I ran in and out of the RV all weekend!

Hubby has his own tractor trailer shop so I am sure he can come up with something to make it better. We will probably keep it a couple of years and then sell it to replace it with another Grand Design. I am sure they will be #1 by then and we will have to pay much more to own one!

 

[goducks14]

Understandable. Our 1st TT we bought we never really checked out how it would be to actually use everything in it. Coming from a tent the TT seemed like a castle. Come to find out we could barely sit on the toilet without hitting our heads on the door.

 

[ElaineM]

The Grand Design did seem like a castle compared to the other TT we looked at. We didn't see anything we would have bought until we walked into the 27rs. Then we went into the 29rs. Hubby said the vent in the couch didn't bother him. If the couch needed replaced we would order one from the company or fix it to make it work. I would go off every weekend if I could.

We should have had the salesman show us everything made by Grand Design. I do think Grand Design should have an engineer address the high step issue, it can't be that hard to fix, can it? It sure is a beautiful RV!

 

[Eaglehead]

Our 303rls has the same issue. The steps are confined by 2 factors, Rise and run ,which is dictated by the floor level from the entry to the floor level to the bedroom therefore that height difference is divided by 2 which gives you the abnormal height of the step. If you tried to make a shorter step so you could have 3 in that space they would be so shallow your foot wouldn't fit on it. To keep the foot depth plus add a step you would have a step blocking the doorway as you enter or at the bedroom level you would be past the bathroom door. At that point you would be doing some framing modification.

 

[Cate&Rob]

Well said, Eaglehead !
I was trying to compose a post to say exactly that . . . when your reply popped up.

Rob

 

[ElaineM]

Hubby tried to explain to me what he is going to do. I kind of understand. The first rounded step is very deep. (from the front of the step to the back of the step. He is going to make two new steps. There is about 4 inches from the step to the frame of the door. He is going to use that space. He will cut two new steps not as deep but about 7" (I think) He will raise the original bottom step up to the small light that lights the stairs. That will cut the amount of space up to the landing to 6" (again something like that if I follow him correctly.) If you cut off the rounded front it is still deep. The new steps will be slighly rounded in the center. I will post a picture when he is finished. He said the original steps will still be there and he can put them back but no one would want them back when they see it.

 

[Cate&Rob]

Hi ElaineM,

I will be interested to see how this turns out.
It looks like the plan is to have the steps overlap.
This might work well for going up, with sufficient "toe space", but might create very narrow "heels only" steps coming down.

Rob

 

[ElaineM]

I will also be interested to see how it turns out. He assures me they will be full steps.

 

[Paul & Deb]

Don't let this issue keep you from loving your unit or having difficulty using it. It IS FIXABLE! We had the same issue in our last 5th wheel and I modified it from the 2 tall steps to 3 reasonable steps. Here are some pictures, granted from another brand trailer, it all works out about the same. If you guys can't do this yourself I'm certain a local handyman/carpenter can do it for you.

Here's a few shots just to give you the idea.

This was how it started:


And the process and end result:

 

[ElaineM]

Thank you for posting that! That is very similar to ours. Ours has the same extra space toward the door and living area. Hubby says ours will be similar but it has a metal box framing that you can see from the outside storage area. It is such a great design except for that step.