Grand Design frame flexing.

[MichealWhelan]

Thanks. This is good news, as Solitude is a real interest to us. Are there any other issues we should look for with Solitude?

 

[Wileykid]

Thanks. This is good news, as Solitude is a real interest to us. Are there any other issues we should look for with Solitude?

I have a Momentum, so hopefully someone with a Solitude will comment. You could also go to the Solitude section where they hang out and ask.

Only comment I have is, all the manufacturers seem to have issue's, sad as that is, what makes the difference to me is what they do about it.

 

[Calbar]

Thanks. This is good news, as Solitude is a real interest to us. Are there any other issues we should look for with Solitude?

We have a 2022 Solitude. We had quite a few issues the first couple of trips out, such as leaking black water valve, screw coming through the floor, leaking shower track due to poor caulking, slideout trim fell off while travelling, bent axle spindle and furnace issue that needed the motor replaced. We had the frame flex TSB done as well where they put larger lugs in and in all the holes. Maybe more issues than some and less than others. So far, knock on wood, been good for the last year or two. None of these could have been found though before we travelled. I did a thorough inspection before we bought and at PDI too.

Rob

 

[huntr70]

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?

Do your research.......GD is just the latest handling the problem, and the one most "picked on" by social media since the the newer hot rod on the market.

I have recently heard that Brinkley is getting cracked sidewalls due to flex, and we have personally fixed more Keystone 5th wheels for flex than anything.

GD has also installed the larger lag bolts and is using all the holes in the frame for the last year and a half, and no issues.

 

[ajg617]

@huntr70 Side question. Other than the slowdown in demand since covid, has the GD re-sale market been impacted over and above because of the rampant social media blather?

 

[huntr70]

@huntr70 Side question. Other than the slowdown in demand since covid, has the GD re-sale market been impacted over and above because of the rampant social media blather?

Not really. Most people are intelligent enough to d their own homework and not believe everything they read on the internet.

Our pre-owned sales are strong. New are pretty even, where we normally are this time of year.

Toyhaulers have exploded the last 2 weeks for some reason. We sold 5 Momentums and 2 Fuzions in the last 2 weeks, in the dead of winter. We are at a Show this weekend, so we'll get a better feel of the general camping community.

 

[ajg617]

Thanks. This is good news, as Solitude is a real interest to us. Are there any other issues we should look for with Solitude?

Check to see if your kitchen island rocks side to side excessively. GD factory thought mine rocked too much so they added support all the way around while there for other repairs. Hopefully they've strengthened it a bit more with the new models. Everything GD put above has been fine for me so far and I do have a Covid build. Any problems I've had were the result of poor repairs by dealer or repairs the dealer said they did but in fact did not.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

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.

And I had a 2006 Titanium and back then the bigger fifth wheels had similar issues. Every large production manufacturer of RV's out there has the same issues with the lippert frames..for over 20 years...under engineered and too weak in the 'Z' area.
I'm not trying to excuse it, just point out that wherever you go..whatever large production manufacturer.....Grand Design, Brinkley, Thor, the same issue is there.

 

[FreshwaterFisherman]

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.

In regard to bumping the warranty to five years, has anyone heard of that warranty being extended to second owners?
We have a low mile 2022-351M.

 

[ajg617]

In regard to bumping the warranty to five years, has anyone heard of that warranty being extended to second owners?
We have a low mile 2022-351M.

Yes it is. Notify Grand Design of your ownership.

New 1-3-5 Year Transferrable Warranty | Grand Design

Effective immediately, our one-year base warranty, 3-year structural warranty and new 5-year frame warranty are all transferable to subsequent owners during the warranty period based on the original purchase date.

www.granddesignrv.com

 

[FreshwaterFisherman]

Yes it is. Notify Grand Design of your ownership.

New 1-3-5 Year Transferrable Warranty | Grand Design

Effective immediately, our one-year base warranty, 3-year structural warranty and new 5-year frame warranty are all transferable to subsequent owners during the warranty period based on the original purchase date.

www.granddesignrv.com

Thank you so much for your response!
As a new member, I can see this group to be a very helpful resource! Lots of experienced folks out there.
Also, this info gives confidence that if we have an issue, we would have a leg to stand on if needed.
I have been camping for going on 50 years, but never with a rig this big! Mostly TT and truck campers. The wife and I now want to travel in a little more comfort!

 

[ajg617]

Thank you so much for your response!
As a new member, I can see this group to be a very helpful resource! Lots of experienced folks out there.
Also, this info gives confidence that if we have an issue, we would have a leg to stand on if needed.
I have been camping for going on 50 years, but never with a rig this big! Mostly TT and truck campers. The wife and I now want to travel in a little more comfort!

Enjoy your new-to-you camper. This is a great forum with a lot of very helpful folks that have been there and done that. Enormous help for me pre-purchase, trip planning, repair, improvements.

 

[palmeris]

All frames flex. Quite a lot. Lippert manufactures the frames, so your first contact should be them.

Did he buy it from Lippert?

 

[jkwilson]

Did he buy it from Lippert?

Doesn’t matter. The owner’s manual says the components are warranted by their manufacturers, not GD. No point adding another level of delay to the process.

 

[palmeris]

Doesn’t matter. The owner’s manual says the components are warranted by their manufacturers, not GD. No point adding another level of delay to the process.

Disagree. Review the legal documents of the attached expressed warranty and you will see where the first contact must be made and the time frame required..

And exactly what does GD "manufacture" anyway?

 

[Hoopy Frood]

Disagree. Review the legal documents of the attached expressed warranty and you will see where the first contact must be made and the time frame required..

And exactly what does GD "manufacture" anyway?

I'm not sure that "manufacture" is the correct term. I believe "assemble" is a more accurate term.

 

[txloser]

I'm not sure that "manufacture" is the correct term. I believe "assemble" is a more accurate term.

True. These are staple together models.

 

[palmeris]

And they dont manufacture staples either

 

[poohbear]

In regard to bumping the warranty to five years, has anyone heard of that warranty being extended to second owners?
We have a low mile 2022-351M.

Yes they do. GD extended ours when I registered with them

 

[triplethreat]

This thread has been locked, at least for the time being. It is under discussion by the moderators and at this time, there is a lot of info in the two pages, but there is also some "going off the rails" stuff too.