Built during COVID concerns ?

[mjguth]

FWIW,

Today received an email from Grand Design stating they are extending warranty coverage and allowing warranty to be transferred. Unfortunately trashed that email. Reach out to GD to confirm this policy.

FWIW2 - my 2021 Imaging 2500RL, build date May 2020, has had no significant issues. I think they still had parts in the warehouse so all my appliances, etc. are what was intended for my build.

happy camping!

 

[PeterInNH]

FWIW,

Today received an email from Grand Design stating they are extending warranty coverage and allowing warranty to be transferred. Unfortunately trashed that email. Reach out to GD to confirm this policy.

FWIW2 - my 2021 Imaging 2500RL, build date May 2020, has had no significant issues. I think they still had parts in the warehouse so all my appliances, etc. are what was intended for my build.

happy camping!

Someone else posted an update that I ran across earlier as well. Great news. Thanks !

 

[DaveInTN]

One of the issues during covid was people rushing out to buy RVs without proper research/knowledge/experience. That is likely a significant contributor to the covid issues and not the rigs themselves. As others mentioned, sourcing parts was a huge issue so substitutes from other suppliers may not have been vetted properly. That was a problem across most industries.

I agree that this at least partially contributed to the Covid build perception. So many people that never would have been RV owners bought them in haste as a replacement for their family hotel resort vacations that were sidelined due to travel restrictions and closures. Their purchases were in many cases spurred on by unrealistic Instagram and Tic Tok videos by "influencers" touting the RV way of life. A lot of these people went into RV ownership with expectations that quality would be comparable to their vehicles. Most of us that have done this for a long time understand that we need to be mechanically inclined to keep these things operating properly, or at least have a good RV technician or service center you trust. I think that concept became a shock to many people that jumped in during the pandemic.

 

[PeterInNH]

Most of us that have done this for a long time understand that we need to be mechanically inclined to keep these things operating properly, or at least have a good RV technician or service center you trust.

Becoming increasing clear, and scary lol, to me ! Thank goodness for places like this one !

 

[goducks14]

As has been said, "You need to be rich or handy to own an RV" Simple example is needing to drop $4K to replace the Schwintek slide out.

 

[wrp75_CO]

I agree that this at least partially contributed to the Covid build perception. So many people that never would have been RV owners bought them in haste as a replacement for their family hotel resort vacations that were sidelined due to travel restrictions and closures. Their purchases were in many cases spurred on by unrealistic Instagram and Tic Tok videos by "influencers" touting the RV way of life. A lot of these people went into RV ownership with expectations that quality would be comparable to their vehicles. Most of us that have done this for a long time understand that we need to be mechanically inclined to keep these things operating properly, or at least have a good RV technician or service center you trust. I think that concept became a shock to many people that jumped in during the pandemic.

More to the point: "So many people... bought them..." That is, demand went WAY up during COVID. To meet that demand, a lot of manufacturers started throwing out RVs as fast as possible, and what mediocre quality control they had went out the window. I'm not sure if we should lump GD into that group or not - but that's why I wouldn't even look at a RV built from ~ 2020-2023.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

More to the point: "So many people... bought them..." That is, demand went WAY up during COVID. To meet that demand, a lot of manufacturers started throwing out RVs as fast as possible, and what mediocre quality control they had went out the window. I'm not sure if we should lump GD into that group or not - but that's why I wouldn't even look at a RV built from ~ 2020-2023.

To each their own. I don't agree with your assessment. The quality of our 2021 is similar to our 2005 as far as quality control. I'll bet 2020-2023 units are built every bit as well as your 2015......or any other year

 

[ajg617]

To each their own. I don't agree with your assessment. The quality of our 2021 is similar to our 2005 as far as quality control. I'll bet 2020-2023 units are built every bit as well as your 2015......or any other year

Concur. Also, keep in mind the severe labor shortage at GD and its suppliers during that time - one reason GD stopped building quite a number of floor plans in order to keep production quantities up for the most popular models. That doesn't necessarily equate to a reduction in quality. I've had no issues with the build quality of our Dec 2021 build even though I've had suspension issues which, pick your make/model/year, are going to bite a certain number of folks.

 

[Wileykid]

Concur. Also, keep in mind the severe labor shortage at GD and its suppliers during that time - one reason GD stopped building quite a number of floor plans in order to keep production quantities up for the most popular models. That doesn't necessarily equate to a reduction in quality. I've had no issues with the build quality of our Dec 2021 build even though I've had suspension issues which, pick your make/model/year, are going to bite a certain number of folks.

Same here, my trailer was built in March of 2021, and other than the suspension issues I have had, the trailer itself has been good. The only thing inside my trailer that has broken is the fireplace heater (cheap fireplace that is used in multiple different manufactures trailers), and a plumbing water valve that I probably contributed to, and fixed.