2024 Imagine 2500RL just falling apart

[Thraka]

I'm not sure what to do. We took it on a few short trips for a few months and then brought it back to the dealer to fix the issues we discovered. There's very few dealers anywhere near us so it seems we're stuck with this one. They're terrible. They kept the unit for 2 months and did all the fixes the day I picked it up. The fixes weren't really done properly and I still have 75% of the problems.

I picked it up then because I was doing a trip from Washington state to Colorado. This is my 3rd long trip I've done but first in a grand design. Halfway through we started noticing things falling apart. Now I have these issues and I don't want to even work with this dealership ever again. What do I do?

1. Storage above couch is stripping screws
2. T Molding on slide out wall coming off
3. Whole panel fell off of slide out wall

Trying to add photos...

 

[Soundsailor]

I'm not sure what to do. We took it on a few short trips for a few months and then brought it back to the dealer to fix the issues we discovered. There's very few dealers anywhere near us so it seems we're stuck with this one. They're terrible. They kept the unit for 2 months and did all the fixes the day I picked it up. The fixes weren't really done properly and I still have 75% of the problems.

I picked it up then because I was doing a trip from Washington state to Colorado. This is my 3rd long trip I've done but first in a grand design. Halfway through we started noticing things falling apart. Now I have these issues and I don't want to even work with this dealership ever again. What do I do?

1. Storage above couch is stripping screws
2. T Molding on slide out wall coming off
3. Whole panel fell off of slide out wall

Trying to add photos...

Sorry to hear of your trouble, yes, some dealers can be difficult to work with. I've had good luck reaching out to GD customer service using my VIN. Sometimes they will pay for a mobile tech to do warranty work, or they will ship you a part if you're willing to install it yourself. The more you're able to fix things yourself, the less time your rig will spend at the dealer's, and the more time you'll be able to enjoy camping. You may find that the quality of your work is better than the dealer's.

 

[Thraka]

Thanks for the advice. I'm definitely handy enough to do whatever needs to be done. I would love to talk to customer service and avoid this dealership forever. According to the paperwork they gave me about my repairs (one complaint was gutter problems) they triaged the day after I dropped it off and suggested that the entire gutter needed replacing because it installed wrong at the factory. Fast forward to when I picked it up and the work they did was a simple reseal which didn't work. Ugh.

 

[triplethreat]

Moving this to the Imagine Section of the Forum

 

[sande005]

Always call Grand Design first about warranty claims. THEN deal with a dealer if you must. But better is to ask GD to sign off on a mobile tech OR any other qualified repair place. They almost always will do either. In the old days, they only stipulated to not take the unit to Camping World. But now that they hav a limited number of shared locations with them, that may have changed. In any event, they never require you to use only a Grand Design dealer.
That said - other dealers can be as problematic. Some may refuse because you did not buy from them. Some may not agree to do submit the warranty work, and want you to pay full price instead. Some may put you at the bottom of the list, and it will take forever to get to yours. But there are some that will treat you fairly...so it can be worth your time to investigate alternatives.
Once your warranty expires, you really are free to go to anyone. I have a small independent shop near me, and have had a couple of ace mobile techs do work on mine. Rates were well below the dealer rates, and the work was A-1.

 

[Cpb9294]

Sorry for your issues.
Your experience is typical of all the new TT experiences we have had.

We've been owners of 3 units in 24 years of tt ownership. The first one I was a newbe and thought dealers would have the skill set to handle simple stuff.

Little did I know that these units need constant attention.
Honestly I don't even consider a dealer for repairs. I cannot begin to recall all the items that should have been under warranty that I just fixed myself.

I budget about $2 to $3,000 for early on fixes. Everything from appliances, fireplaces, cheap China tires, audio and TV's, China wheel bearings,. And dont get me started on the plumbing leaks!!!... I could go on and on.

Just consider it the cost of having the benefits of the freedom and alternative travel options it gives us.

Eventually things smooth out

 

[SGT ROC]

I'm not sure what to do. We took it on a few short trips for a few months and then brought it back to the dealer to fix the issues we discovered. There's very few dealers anywhere near us so it seems we're stuck with this one. They're terrible. They kept the unit for 2 months and did all the fixes the day I picked it up. The fixes weren't really done properly and I still have 75% of the problems.

I picked it up then because I was doing a trip from Washington state to Colorado. This is my 3rd long trip I've done but first in a grand design. Halfway through we started noticing things falling apart. Now I have these issues and I don't want to even work with this dealership ever again. What do I do?

1. Storage above couch is stripping screws
2. T Molding on slide out wall coming off
3. Whole panel fell off of slide out wall

Trying to add photos...

View attachment 51916
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I've had a few minor issues with mine. Calling Grand Design was a great experience for me for help. I then would call the dealership, as stated above. My dealership is great, but too far away, so I do the repairs myself. Even out of warranty I have gotten parts from grand design, or even small items from my dealer. When re-attaching the molding, shelf and so on, use glue where possible, and mechanical Fastners. I have never yet had to go back to repair something a second time.

 

[jas451]

I'm not sure what to do. We took it on a few short trips for a few months and then brought it back to the dealer to fix the issues we discovered. There's very few dealers anywhere near us so it seems we're stuck with this one. They're terrible. They kept the unit for 2 months and did all the fixes the day I picked it up. The fixes weren't really done properly and I still have 75% of the problems.

I picked it up then because I was doing a trip from Washington state to Colorado. This is my 3rd long trip I've done but first in a grand design. Halfway through we started noticing things falling apart. Now I have these issues and I don't want to even work with this dealership ever again. What do I do?

1. Storage above couch is stripping screws
2. T Molding on slide out wall coming off
3. Whole panel fell off of slide out wall

Trying to add photos...

View attachment 51916
View attachment 51917
View attachment 51918

Those seem fairly minor in relation to the big picture, but frustrating none the less. Frame issues, de-lamination, or roof would be a lot worse. Luckily we have a mobile tech who has been to the Lippert 'school' and certified by GD, so he has been here to check out our short cycling AC issue, which GD paid for. I've questioned him about the roof and he explained the process when they build them. Ours is a 2023 22MLE, he looked at the build date, and it is 12/2022. He said that it qualifies as a 'Covid trailer', and he told me about legitimate nightmares of some of the products that they put out during covid. Not just GD, but Forest River, all of them. He mentioned one customer with a class C FR unit that the owner couldn't understand why when she used the sink she had a big mess on the floor....come to find out none of the drain pipes had been connected during manufacturing. We bought ours 4 hours away in Iowa, even though there are a couple of dealers nearby in KC which we could probably use if we had a major issue. Just don't want to have to hook up unless I really have to, so I do everything I can myself. You gotta pick your battles....

 

[Riverbug]

I'm with others that do their own work. Decided years ago that there really isn't anything that I find worth the hassle and wasted time of taking our RV's to a dealership. I do everything myself. It gets done faster and better than anything I've ever had done at a dealership.

 

[TsnTexas]

I'm not sure what to do. We took it on a few short trips for a few months and then brought it back to the dealer to fix the issues we discovered. There's very few dealers anywhere near us so it seems we're stuck with this one. They're terrible. They kept the unit for 2 months and did all the fixes the day I picked it up. The fixes weren't really done properly and I still have 75% of the problems.

I picked it up then because I was doing a trip from Washington state to Colorado. This is my 3rd long trip I've done but first in a grand design. Halfway through we started noticing things falling apart. Now I have these issues and I don't want to even work with this dealership ever again. What do I do?

1. Storage above couch is stripping screws
2. T Molding on slide out wall coming off
3. Whole panel fell off of slide out wall

Trying to add photos...

View attachment 109013
View attachment 109014
View attachment 109015

I'm not sure what to do. We took it on a few short trips for a few months and then brought it back to the dealer to fix the issues we discovered. There's very few dealers anywhere near us so it seems we're stuck with this one. They're terrible. They kept the unit for 2 months and did all the fixes the day I picked it up. The fixes weren't really done properly and I still have 75% of the problems.

I picked it up then because I was doing a trip from Washington state to Colorado. This is my 3rd long trip I've done but first in a grand design. Halfway through we started noticing things falling apart. Now I have these issues and I don't want to even work with this dealership ever again. What do I do?

1. Storage above couch is stripping screws
2. T Molding on slide out wall coming off
3. Whole panel fell off of slide out wall

Trying to add photos...

View attachment 109013
View attachment 109014
View attachment 109015

I’m really sorry to hear about the issues you’ve had, especially since we just bought the 2500RL 2025 model.
If fact we’ve yet to take our shakedown trip and will be sure to post any problems we encounter.

 

[Eleven99]

Yeah, this has been our experience. After taking our TT in for the 90 warranty items and the dealership keeping the rig for 2 months. We picked it up and they didn't touch but just a few things. After emailing the service manager and hearing nothing but excuses and I am sorry. I decided that this will have to be up to me. I consider myself handy, so I pulled some wood glue, nail gun and some mask tape and fixed falling drawer bottoms, molding, doors, roll up blinds, etc.

This is not a position that I want to be in, but I feel as long as my unit is sound and sealed properly....I can deal with the rest of it.

I am really sorry for you....we dropped a lot of money for our units and we should not be experiencing these issues, but we are in the thick of it now. I hope that it worked out for you.

 

[SSROSS]

Another option is an independent shop, we have one up here that will try to work with the various manufacturers to fix your rig. I talked with them when I first bought my rig and they said they had worked with Grand Design in the past. I had asked because the closest dealer near me is awful.

 

[Eleven99]

Another option is an independent shop, we have one up here that will try to work with the various manufacturers to fix your rig. I talked with them when I first bought my rig and they said they had worked with Grand Design in the past. I had asked because the closest dealer near me is awful.

I do agree...if you can find an independent shop that will be great. We actually found one family shop really close to us. I heard some rumors about how well they treated customers and great repair work. This shop recently did my Moryde suspension upgrade and they did a fine job!