Is the 355 discontinued?

[MonkeyMan]

Hi All,

My wife and I have been looking at all sorts of toyhaulers on our quest to upgrade from a 20' MXT travel trailer/toyhauler (too much stuff and an 80lb lab) and on a whim decided to take a look at the Momentums.

Well, not sure if it was a good thing or bad because now that's all we can think about! Anything we see we immediately compare to a Momentum and it obviously doesn't stack up well for the competition. Now we just have to help justify the additional cost in our minds.

However - my question for this forum is whether or not the 355 is being discontinued. The model is still listed on GD's site - but mentions dealer stock only which leads me to believe they're not making it. We were lucky enough to see all three versions 385/380/355 at our local dealer and are leaning to the 355 for our needs (and the fact that it's slightly shorter). Just curious I guess.

Also - I've searched through this site and there's a lot of good info - but I'm looking for opinions on slide toppers. Are they recommended, nice to have or stay away? Any recommendations appreciated!

Thx
Mike (MonkeyMan)

 

[huntr70]

The 355 will be going away.

There are 2 new models coming to replace it, the 350 and 328 M-class Momentum's.

Both will be lighter than the previous Momentum's, with all the features that made the Momentum popular.

 

[Glazier]

That sounds interesting. I wonder if the new M frame will be similar to the X frame on the Solitude? Grand Design does the best job in the industry listening to it's customers, I would be interested in a lighter Momentum.

 

[gordofuchs]

Also - I've searched through this site and there's a lot of good info - but I'm looking for opinions on slide toppers. Are they recommended, nice to have or stay away? Any recommendations appreciated!

Thx
Mike (MonkeyMan)[/QUOTE]

My wife and I were looking at fifth wheels for the last two years, and recently pulled the trigger on a 2015 Solitude 305RE. During that time we went back and forth on slide toppers, pros and cons. The first trip we made, I went topside to sweep the slides off. I did a visual inspection and noticed that the outermost seam had peeled back about an inch, for about a five inch stretch on two corners of the slides. At that point, the slides had been activated by us less than a dozen times. The tape on the seam went back into place, but not as good as it should have. I know that it will get worse and needs to be repaired. That situation made my decision easy to not have toppers installed, at this time. The good thing is that it forces me to go topside, prior to retracting the slides, as they need to be sweep off. While I am up there, I do a visual of the entire roof, and the top of the slides.

Gord and Janet Fuchs
Northfield Center, Ohio

 

[MonkeyMan]

My wife and I were looking at fifth wheels for the last two years, and recently pulled the trigger on a 2015 Solitude 305RE. During that time we went back and forth on slide toppers, pros and cons. The first trip we made, I went topside to sweep the slides off. I did a visual inspection and noticed that the outermost seam had peeled back about an inch, for about a five inch stretch on two corners of the slides. At that point, the slides had been activated by us less than a dozen times. The tape on the seam went back into place, but not as good as it should have. I know that it will get worse and needs to be repaired. That situation made my decision easy to not have toppers installed, at this time. The good thing is that it forces me to go topside, prior to retracting the slides, as they need to be sweep off. While I am up there, I do a visual of the entire roof, and the top of the slides.

Gord and Janet Fuchs
Northfield Center, Ohio

Thanks Gord - I actually hadn't even considered the need to sweep debris and the opportunity to get a look at the slides....guess I'm still learning.

I'll keep it in mind as we continue our 'journey'.

 

[Loaded 385TH]

Hello I do not know about the 355 is being discontinued I will ask my contact at Grand Design for you! Here are some pictures of the new 350M M-Class

 

[Loaded 385TH]

Some More pictures of the 350M M-Class

 

[Loaded 385TH]

I see Grand Design Website on the 355TH says Dealer Stock only and their are 17 of them left on RV Trader witch are all 2014's models.

 

[MonkeyMan]

Some More pictures of the 350M M-Class

Wow - the 350 M-Class looks pretty cool.....it's time to stop looking.

Any idea timing and MSRP?

 

[Lingerlonger]

Regarding opinions on slide toppers......

I have had 4 different trailers w/slides and have not had toppers on any of them. I believe it comes down to personal preference.

I believe some debris (leaves, pine needles, etc) can still blow up under the toppers, so you would still have to clean the slides
before retracting sometimes. I have also heard that they tend to flap a lot in a strong breeze. That would be annoying to me.

If I camped more often in blazing hot environments, I might give them more consideration just for the insulation value.
I will say however, my current GD Reflection 337 is the first one we have owned where the head of the bed is directly in a slideout.
The sound of that pounding rain on a recent trip had me thinking some about a topper to deaden the sound.

Just my 2 cents.......

 

[Loaded 385TH]

The 350M M-Class has a 11’ garage As for time line I would think soon and MSRP not sure yet. They are introducing the 350M (11’ garage version) to the dealers this week. I'm waiting for the 388M I have been looking for months and I keep coming back to Grand Design's Momentum Series Toy Haulers. I can not find any thing in it's class of Toy Haulers. We sold our 2003 Monaco Dynasty and now own a 2013 43' Road Warrior 400RW that I picked up on a trade Brand New never used for $30k

 

[lajones]

NICE!!! I look forward to seeing the new designs.

 

[KZ]

Having seen the 350M and it does not allow refer access when closed.

 

[Steve and Cill]

Here are some pictures of the new 350M M-Class

So that's the "white beast" we saw during the factory tour!

Steve

 

[Jahna]

Here is my take on slide toppers. We camp in Southern Ontario, New York and adjoining states and our preferred camp ground is heavily treed therefore there can be a lot of debris on the unit. In addition we camp four seasons. Our first travel trailer did not have a slide topper and it was horrible. We always had to clean the top of the slide to get rid of all kinds of mess. Snow, slush and ice was a nightmare as is wet leaves and pine needles in the fall. All to often we brought this mess inside via the slide, especially if we closed up wet. Our next unit we had a slide topper installed before delivery. When we traded in, the slide was pristine despite the fact we do far more nights then the average family and in all weather. I have seen inches of snow slide right off as I pull in the slide, in fact it's fun to watch and made even better if hubby is not as attentive as he should be and the snow falls on him. We didn't even have so much as a pine needle on our slide let alone fallen leaves, sap and all other sorts of natures wonder. Seeing we had so much success with our previous slide toppers we opted for three on this unit.

As weekend campers ladders quickly become a chore if after every relaxing trip you have to get up and clean three slides every weekend. It's not like you can stand on a picnic table like we did with the travel trailer. To us this extra work defeats the reason we went hard sided to begin with, less work.

While we have had very windy conditions and I never heard our toppers flap, we are not on the coast, nor have we ever camped there. I think like everything personal experiences and needs will differ. Once we branch out to vastly different locations I am sure we will come up with a situation that will make us say why did we, but then again, for what we are doing now, I would never be without the toppers. For us the investment was and remains well worth it.

 

[MonkeyMan]

Having seen the 350M and it does not allow refer access when closed.

I'm assuming that's the same scenario on the 355 - with the slide in can you get to the fridge?

Actually, looking at the floorplan - with the slides in it doesn't appear that you have access through to the garage on the 355 either, do you?

Thx to everyone for their input and suggestions BTW - greatly appreciated!!

 

[JDWHSKY]

Regarding opinions on slide toppers......

I have had 4 different trailers w/slides and have not had toppers on any of them. I believe it comes down to personal preference.

I believe some debris (leaves, pine needles, etc) can still blow up under the toppers, so you would still have to clean the slides
before retracting sometimes. I have also heard that they tend to flap a lot in a strong breeze. That would be annoying to me.

If I camped more often in blazing hot environments, I might give them more consideration just for the insulation value.
I will say however, my current GD Reflection 337 is the first one we have owned where the head of the bed is directly in a slideout.
The sound of that pounding rain on a recent trip had me thinking some about a topper to deaden the sound.

Just my 2 cents.......

Ken:

We have a annoying sound in the bedroom when it rains. Did you go with slide toppers or another option?

Thanks …. Don

 

[Lingerlonger]

Ken:

We have a annoying sound in the bedroom when it rains. Did you go with slide toppers or another option?

Thanks …. Don

Don -- Five years later and I have NOT added a slide topper to the bedroom (or the other two slides.)
I guess I have learned to live with the noise from the rain. It rarely bothers us. I'm a pretty deep sleeper.

K

 

[JDWHSKY]

Thanks Ken for your reply. Don't know what we'll do to deaden the sound of pouring rain - toppers or foam ear plugs but will try the ear plugs first.

Thanks again …. Don