Grand Design frame flexing.
- Thread starter daje58
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All frames flex. Quite a lot. Lippert manufactures the frames, so your first contact should be them.
Scott'n'Wendy
Senior Member
Lippert frame flexing has been going on since at least 2005..they won't buy it back but will fix if you have a flex issue. All other mass produced brands have the same flexing, it's not just GD, they all have it..so there isn't anywhere else to go anyway.
Scott'n'Wendy
Senior Member
Have you contacted GD to get the flex resolved?
You didn't specify what you have, or specifically what you are considering frame flex. If frames didn't flex, they would outright break.
There is a TSB out to check for frame flex and repair.
If you are worried about frame flex, buy a motorhome.
I’d be curious as well. Primarily to find out at what point one should be concerned.
I had some leveling issues last trip out. Mostly self induced. The frame definitely flexed. My screen door was jamming in the door frame and my w/d closet door wouldn’t latch shut. Fixed my leveling issues and it all lined up again.
Trip before that, the small nails that attach the back wall behind the front cap in the w/d closet pulled out causing that wall to be lose. Figured there was flex while going down down the road that caused that.
I explained both of these event to myself as being frame flex, but didn’t find it out of the ordinary for the conditions.
I had my RV in for preventive maintenance last fall and had them do the flex measurements per TSB24-001. It did fail and they found some cracks to fix. They also installed the larger bolts in all of the holes inside behind the sofas.
I had some concerns on frame flex with mine, and working with GD, had the dealer do the service bulletin. The flex was measured at 1/16", well within the 3/8" max flex. They also changed the 3/8" lag bolts to the 1/2" bolts, and add the additional ones. I was surprised at the measurement, and expected more. I have somewhere around 18,000 miles on mine. I am actually picking up my trailer tomorrow from the dealer.
When you ask a question like this you should at least respond in some manner so that we know you're not just trolling. As stated above, the frames do flex, otherwise they break. When frame flex is an ISSUE and causes other problems (cracks in the frame and separation at joints) is when Manufacturer of the unit and the frame need contacted for repair. Also, as stated, the issue is not only with Grand Design. It seems drop frames are susceptible no matter the RV manufacturer. In the Grand Design lineup that is the Solitude and Momentum 5th wheel lines. Lippert Makes the frames.
Steve and Barb T.
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I replaced my entire bumper with a much heavier gauge bumper and use a bolt on receiver with no problems. I carry 2 e-bikes that weigh a total of 150Lbs plus the bike rack. With the lighter bumper I got a lot of front and back flexing. Bumper done by a steel fabricator for $300 including painting. Also haul Kayaks on same receiver but different rack. This is with a 310GK 2017.
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I suggest you check fb page gd major issues managed by pete west. A lot of info there.
Charbouc
New Member
You should file a formal complaint to NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). They are studying these type of complaints.
Scott'n'Wendy
Senior Member
A lot of the same old stuff some people like to stir up since...well.... since I've been RV'ing..1997.
I guess they make money out of it.
I agree 1000%.
I kind of found Lippert's response directly to the NHTSA in their on-going GD frame flex investigation somewhat interesting though I personally don't believe what they are saying based upon an LCI shop saying it's across manufacturers.
"Per Grand Design, the frame flex is only occurring in the upper deck area of the fifth wheel and is resulting in cosmetic defects such as moving sidewalls, damage to cabinets, binding doors, etc. However, Lippert believes that the effects of frame flex may also extend back to the front axle of the trailer. While Lippert provides frames for multiple trailer manufacturers, the majority of complaints are for these Grand Design products."
"Per Grand Design, the frame flex is only occurring in the upper deck area of the fifth wheel and is resulting in cosmetic defects such as moving sidewalls, damage to cabinets, binding doors, etc. However, Lippert believes that the effects of frame flex may also extend back to the front axle of the trailer. While Lippert provides frames for multiple trailer manufacturers, the majority of complaints are for these Grand Design products."
18CrewDually
Senior Member
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Well it's funny they call it "cosmetic" because there is a particular Brinkley model that is now cracking the sidewall at the upper slide and they're saying the same thing. It's BS and I questioned the owner of Brinkley how are they claiming cosmetic when you have to bring it to a specialized approved shop of their choice for all kinds of welding and supports added.
Why can't people just admit when they F up?
Hard to trust any of them. Actually frankly, you can't.
And yes, it's nothing new or exclusive. I had a 2007 Forest River Wildcat 32QBBS that sheared the crossmembers in the upper chassis pinbox crossmembers. In the end Lippert said we can tell how to fix it but would help any further. Ended up beefing it up and repairing it myself in the dead of winter. Lippert was pretty disappointing. But we love rving so here I am.
@18CrewDually I've had mine to the factory for excessive flex twice now - April 2024 I pulled it out but their paperwork didn't match what I found when I got it back and I had additional symptoms. GD hauled it back early Nov and I just got it back later January - this time with a lot of extra steel welded on. To be honest, I believe all of my issues with 'flex' were the result of Lippert incorrectly mounting the spring hangers so that the axles were not aligned perpendicular to the frame nor equidistant to the equalizer side-to-side. LCI came over to GD to 'fully' inspect the frame and somehow missed a crack in the web ahead of the equalizer. Their report was a grammatical embarrassment. I have no confidence in Lippert chassis quality.
MichealWhelan
New Member
We are (were) seriously considering the purchase of a Solitude. This talk of frame flexing makes me a bit nervous. If I were to purchase a GD Solitude I would expect them to take of a frame issue. I bought from them not Lippert. Sounds like passing the buck to avoid correcting a known issue... especially under warranty! There appear to be a lot of these complaints in here. Is this normal for GD?
So far as I have seen, GD is the only one that has stepped up to the plate and extended the frame warranty to 5 years. I do not recall any other manufacturer that has it that long. Also, all the new frames have the extra lag bolts, with a larger size for all lag bolts, that the older ones did not have.
The one thing I can say, is when I expressed concern about possible frame flex, GD was very pro on getting it checked out, and emailed me every week to check on the status. That seems to be pretty good in my book.
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