Exterior wall bump/bubble

[tcjohnson]

This past weekend while camping at Yogi Jellystone Park in Sturgeon Bay, WI we noticed a bump on the exterior wall. Was wondering if anyone else has seen this on their exterior walls. Bump measures about 4"x9" and about 3/16" high, and hard (will not push in). Should I be concerned? and is there a fix? Have taken pictures but hard to see bump/bubble.



Have marked bump with 4 dots. Have also checked sealant around bedroom window and it appears to be good.

 

[JCR GD]

That appears to be near the overhang "joint" to main body. I would watch the bubble carefully as you load and unload the pin onto the hitch to see if there is any change. Might be a failing frame causing flex and creating the bubble.

 

[tcjohnson]

That appears to be near the overhang "joint" to main body. I would watch the bubble carefully as you load and unload the pin onto the hitch to see if there is any change. Might be a failing frame causing flex and creating the bubble.

That a little scary to think about! But will watch, its only on the curb side of trailer at this point. I'm considering taking it to the dealer Thur. for their input plus GD notification also. Thanks Jim

 

[JCR GD]

Yes, hopefully that is not it... Good luck!

 

[Cate&Rob]

Hi Terry,

We have a similar bulge in the same area.
Ours is about the same size and protrusion, but is vertical.
We have owned our Reflection for over a year and towed thousands of miles (on some really rough interstates)
. . . and the bulge has not changed.
I think it is part of the aluminum wall frame that was not perfectly flat when the wall skin was installed.
One of the things I hope to learn more about at the Rally plant tour.

Rob

 

[tcjohnson]

Thanks for info Rob, will continue to watch. Have made an appointment for Thrus. afternoon with dealer, just so it will be on the record with GD.

 

[tcjohnson]

Good news!, I guess, Grand Design has agreed to repair the bump under the 3 year warranty of the sidewall structure. They have also agreed to pick it up and take it to GD for repair and return it. We have NC trip scheduled for Sept. 25th so will have to wait until Oct. to get it repaired. Not sure what the repair will be, but it sounded like they were going to address it from the outside (according to the dealer service rep.). Will try to find out more once GD begins repair next month. For know a sigh of relief!

 

[Cate&Rob]

Hi Terry,

Same news here . . . "Good news . . . I guess". Showed JD and the Grand Design body shop guys, the bulge in our sidewall, at the Rally. They said that this is not a structural issue, but is a sidewall problem that should not be like that. At their initiative, I will bring it back to the factory repair centre and they will make this right. (I have to bring it back and forth across the Canada/US border to avoid a whole lot of paperwork . . . but GD will cover all travel costs). Where else would you find a company with this level of attention to doing the right thing for their customers ??

Rob

 

[JCR GD]

Great news guys!

 

[tcjohnson]

Hi Terry,

Same news here . . . "Good news . . . I guess". Showed JD and the Grand Design body shop guys, the bulge in our sidewall, at the Rally. They said that this is not a structural issue, but is a sidewall problem that should not be like that. At their initiative, I will bring it back to the factory repair centre and they will make this right. (I have to bring it back and forth across the Canada/US border to avoid a whole lot of paperwork . . . but GD will cover all travel costs). Where else would you find a company with this level of attention to doing the right thing for their customers ??

Rob

That's great Rob, It's good hear it's not a structural problem. Thanks for for the information.

Terry

 

[tcjohnson]

*Update* Trailer back from GD (Feb.2016), complete right side replaced by GD factory facility. They even added the solar receptacle to the front of the trailer under the battery vent and replaced a broken propane tank strap. Very pleased with GD and glad I had it repair this time of the year since it was at GD from Oct. to Feb., saved on winter storage fees this winter. Now will begin reloading it for our trip to North Carolina after Easter this month.

Rob&Cate hope your repairs went as well as ours. Happy 2016 camping!

Did I say "I'm VERY pleased with our GD Reflection 293 repair"

 

[Trooper1974]

Its great that we all own a Grand Design, no other manufacture would have done that. Terry and Cathy what part of North Carolina are you coming to. We live in NC, give us a shout when you get here.

 

[Cate&Rob]

*Update* Rob&Cate hope your repairs went as well as ours. Happy 2016 camping!
Did I say "I'm VERY pleased with our GD Reflection 293 repair"

Terry & Cathy,

Really pleased (but not surprised) to hear how well your side wall replacement went.
Our timing was rushed to get this done before our "snowbird winter" in Florida, so we rescheduled for this coming April.

JD identified this as a problem that needed fixing, at the 2015 Rally. I was really hoping that it would not be. We are so pleased with how everything fits and works and seals . . . that I was willing to live with the original 8" bulge that prompted the concern. But, JD was right, the bulge has progressed up the wall. As I understand it, this is a seam in the veneer below the outer finish layer. Not structural . . . but not as it should be. So, we will follow JD's advice and bring our Reflection back to GDRV in April.

I would be worried about "someone messin' with my Reflection" if I did not completely trust that Andy, JD, Jerry and the rest of the GDRV team will make this even better than it is now. (This would not be something that you would even want to talk to your dealer about !)

Rob

 

[Paul & Deb]

Wow, that is getting worse.

 

[Trooper1974]

Terry & Cathy,

Really pleased (but not surprised) to hear how well your side wall replacement went.
Our timing was rushed to get this done before our "snowbird winter" in Florida, so we rescheduled for this coming April.

JD identified this as a problem that needed fixing, at the 2015 Rally. I was really hoping that it would not be. We are so pleased with how everything fits and works and seals . . . that I was willing to live with the original 8" bulge that prompted the concern. But, JD was right, the bulge has progressed up the wall. As I understand it, this is a seam in the veneer below the outer finish layer. Not structural . . . but not as it should be. So, we will follow JD's advice and bring our Reflection back to GDRV in April.

I would be worried about "someone messin' with my Reflection" if I did not completely trust that Andy, JD, Jerry and the rest of the GDRV team will make this even better than it is now. (This would not be something that you would even want to talk to your dealer about !)

Rob

Rob
Who at Grand Design did you talk to about your sidewall problem? We bought our 303 in December and took delivery on it on January 18. We have only been out in it one time. Today as we were looking at it we noticed on the street side area that it looks like the sidewall is starting to buck out. The area is right under our bedroom slide out. If you could let me know who you contacted about your trailer at GD so I can contact them about ours I would appreciate it. We are planning on coming to the Rally in August so they could maybe look at it then. We would like to use it this summer if possible.
Thanks for your help.
Aaron

 

[tcjohnson]

Hi, Aaron & Debbie, We will be traveling to Fuquay-Varina south of Raleigh to spend a week or two with our two granddaughters. We travel right past Pilot Mtn. on our way south down I77, I74, & US52. Will keep you in mind, enjoy the 2016 camping season. Sorry it took so long to reply.

 

[tcjohnson]

Terry & Cathy,

Really pleased (but not surprised) to hear how well your side wall replacement went.
Our timing was rushed to get this done before our "snowbird winter" in Florida, so we rescheduled for this coming April.

JD identified this as a problem that needed fixing, at the 2015 Rally. I was really hoping that it would not be. We are so pleased with how everything fits and works and seals . . . that I was willing to live with the original 8" bulge that prompted the concern. But, JD was right, the bulge has progressed up the wall. As I understand it, this is a seam in the veneer below the outer finish layer. Not structural . . . but not as it should be. So, we will follow JD's advice and bring our Reflection back to GDRV in April.

I would be worried about "someone messin' with my Reflection" if I did not completely trust that Andy, JD, Jerry and the rest of the GDRV team will make this even better than it is now. (This would not be something that you would even want to talk to your dealer about !)

Rob

Rob, That really is starting to look pretty bad. Hope your repair goes as good as ours did. We can't even tell that they replaced the whole side except that you have new door keys because it's a new door. I'm sure GD will do you right.

 

[Cate&Rob]

Rob
Who at Grand Design did you talk to about your sidewall problem? We bought our 303 in December and took delivery on it on January 18. We have only been out in it one time. Today as we were looking at it we noticed on the street side area that it looks like the sidewall is starting to buck out. The area is right under our bedroom slide out. If you could let me know who you contacted about your trailer at GD so I can contact them about ours I would appreciate it. We are planning on coming to the Rally in August so they could maybe look at it then. We would like to use it this summer if possible.
Thanks for your help.
Aaron

Hi Aaron,

Missed your reply/question from a couple of days ago.

JD Adams [email protected] is the GDRV Regional Service Manager who first identified this as something that needed fixing.
The GDRV manufacturing process leaves some of the framework "slightly visible" so your issue may not be a concern.
I would suggest sending pictures to JD to get his opinion.
If you plan to have this done around the Rally time, you will need to book this early . . . they get busy with lots of folks who have the same plan.

Rob

 

[Mr Lucky]

Following this conversation. More good info to know!