Question on Kitchen Island

[USA in a Chevrolet]

I have read numerous posts about the kitchen island falling down. I have a couple of questions concerning this issue. First is this problem on all models of Solitude? I’ve seen threads about this issue on the 310. My model is the 345 & my Solitude was manufactured in early November of 2020. Was this issue corrected by Grand Design by this manufacture date?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[USA in a Chevrolet]

I’m a little surprised no one has replied to my post. Is the kitchen island collapsing just a Solitude 310 issue? I read a post concerning the issue that said that the 310 kitchen island has been better attached since mid fall of 2021 & I’m wondering how to find out if I should attempt strengthening the attachment on my 345 Solitude manufactured in mid November of 2020. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[NB Canada]

Are you having issues?


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

 

[USA in a Chevrolet]

Thanks for the reply. I’m not having issues. We’ve been living in our Solitude since we purchased it in late April but have only traveled about 2000 miles in it. Luckily we have traveled over mostly smooth roads. We are in LaGrange Indiana waiting for our appointment with Morryde Monday for disc brake install. At end of August we are going on a 10000 mile trip so I want to reinforce the kitchen island if Grand Design has not fixed this potential problem. How difficult is it to reinforce the island?

 

[WhittleBurner]

I think the island slipping down is an intermittent problem happening to just a few. The early Solitudes, the 369 comes to mind. If it makes you feel better and more confident add additional support. Better proactive than reactive..I don't recall the fix but if you poke around and search you will likely find it. Most construction of the islands are the same from the different models so the fix may be found in the Reflection or Momentum areas as well.

 

[Canyonlight]

Thanks for the reply. I’m not having issues. We’ve been living in our Solitude since we purchased it in late April but have only traveled about 2000 miles in it. Luckily we have traveled over mostly smooth roads. We are in LaGrange Indiana waiting for our appointment with Morryde Monday for disc brake install. At end of August we are going on a 10000 mile trip so I want to reinforce the kitchen island if Grand Design has not fixed this potential problem. How difficult is it to reinforce the island?

Both Rob [MENTION=870]Second Chance[/MENTION] and Brian [MENTION=1425]bertschb[/MENTION] (among a few others as I recall) have posted on this issue before on other threads here and elsewhere. I seem to recall that one or both also did a modification to their island. Maybe one or both of them will chime in or you can PM them.

I also seem to recall that GDRV was made aware and did make changes in production desing/build to address the very few situations where the center island did "drop" down.

Dan

 

[USA in a Chevrolet]

Thanks for the info. It’s very helpful & I will search the forums for the repair procedures. It’s great that so many owners are active on this forum.

 

[bertschb]

I’m a little surprised no one has replied to my post.

Sorry, I didn't see your post until today. I've only heard of a 310GK being affected but I'd be surprised if that was the only model. I would think other models have a similar island design but that's just a guess. I was proactive and modified ours. Only took a few minutes and a few shorts pieces of wood.

View facing the end of the island:


Looking at it from the side:


After staining the wood:

 

[USA in a Chevrolet]

Sorry, I didn't see your post until today. I've only heard of a 310GK being affected but I'd be surprised if that was the only model. I would think other models have a similar island design but that's just a guess. I was proactive and modified ours. Only took a few minutes and a few shorts pieces of wood.

View facing the end of the island:
View attachment 35740

Looking at it from the side:
View attachment 35741

After staining the wood:
View attachment 35742

Thanks. Did you do the modification proactively or were you having an issue?

 

[bertschb]

Thanks. Did you do the modification proactively or were you having an issue?

I was proactive. We haven't had any issues before or since the mod. We've towed the RV thousands of miles and live in it full time. I will say after watching the video of the failed 310GK kitchen island on Youtube my wife avoids loading the island cabinets with heavy items.

 

[USA in a Chevrolet]

I was proactive. We haven't had any issues before or since the mod. We've towed the RV thousands of miles and live in it full time. I will say after watching the video of the failed 310GK kitchen island on Youtube my wife avoids loading the island cabinets with heavy items.

Thanks. I’m trying to be proactive as well. I did see that a poster suggests repairing the island by removing the floor inside the cabinets. Did you consider that route?

 

[bertschb]

I did see that a poster suggests repairing the island by removing the floor inside the cabinets. Did you consider that route?

No, I was working on my solar project at the time when my wife asked me to reinforce the island. She did all the homework on what was required. I just followed her instructions and did the work as fast as possible so I could get back to my real project

 

[Second Chance]

Both Rob [MENTION=870]Second Chance[/MENTION] and Brian [MENTION=1425]bertschb[/MENTION] (among a few others as I recall) have posted on this issue before on other threads here and elsewhere. I seem to recall that one or both also did a modification to their island. Maybe one or both of them will chime in or you can PM them.

I also seem to recall that GDRV was made aware and did make changes in production desing/build to address the very few situations where the center island did "drop" down.

Dan

We have not had issues with the island on our 310GK... I don't remember if Brian [MENTION=1425]bertschb[/MENTION] has or not. I may have posted a link or reference to information about it.

Rob

 

[Dick Noble]

We had a problem with our island just after we bought it. Dealer (with GD's OK) reinforced it so that it did not lean when we leaned on it. Covered under warranty. I'm sure they had to get to it from under the 5er.

 

[gsmithrr]

The island in the 310GK has drawers on the right side then the sink and on the left an open cabinet where a dishwasher can be installed. Unlike a kitchen cabinet where the cabinet frame sits in the floor the island cabinet rests on a rectangular frame attached to the floor. It is supported by 2 screws at each end and the 1/4 inch plywood sides of the sink cabinet. The plywood is attached to the cabinet frame with 5/8 inch 16 gauge staples. If the screws on the left side are not installed properly or give way the staples in the plywood can fail to hold. There is more support at the right end and it is a shorter distance from the support. The easiest solution in my view is to remove the door at the left side (4 screws), then remove the floor of the cabinet (4 screws) and install a 1x3 to the end of island on the inside that rests on the frame. Use 1 !/4 inch screws or staples. DO NOT HAMMER.

I hope the photo inserted.
I'll do another post titled kitchen island construction with more details later today

 

[USA in a Chevrolet]

The island in the 310GK has drawers on the right side then the sink and on the left an open cabinet where a dishwasher can be installed. Unlike a kitchen cabinet where the cabinet frame sits in the floor the island cabinet rests on a rectangular frame attached to the floor. It is supported by 2 screws at each end and the 1/4 inch plywood sides of the sink cabinet. The plywood is attached to the cabinet frame with 5/8 inch 16 gauge staples. If the screws on the left side are not installed properly or give way the staples in the plywood can fail to hold. There is more support at the right end and it is a shorter distance from the support. The easiest solution in my view is to remove the door at the left side (4 screws), then remove the floor of the cabinet (4 screws) and install a 1x3 to the end of island on the inside that rests on the frame. Use 1 !/4 inch screws or staples. DO NOT HAMMER.
View attachment 35796
I hope the photo inserted.
I'll do another post titled kitchen island construction with more details later today

Thanks for the fix you made. I’m going to just what you suggested on my GK345. I might actually perform the fix in both ends just to add even more strength.

 

[USA in a Chevrolet]

The island in the 310GK has drawers on the right side then the sink and on the left an open cabinet where a dishwasher can be installed. Unlike a kitchen cabinet where the cabinet frame sits in the floor the island cabinet rests on a rectangular frame attached to the floor. It is supported by 2 screws at each end and the 1/4 inch plywood sides of the sink cabinet. The plywood is attached to the cabinet frame with 5/8 inch 16 gauge staples. If the screws on the left side are not installed properly or give way the staples in the plywood can fail to hold. There is more support at the right end and it is a shorter distance from the support. The easiest solution in my view is to remove the door at the left side (4 screws), then remove the floor of the cabinet (4 screws) and install a 1x3 to the end of island on the inside that rests on the frame. Use 1 !/4 inch screws or staples. DO NOT HAMMER.
View attachment 35796
I hope the photo inserted.
I'll do another post titled kitchen island construction with more details later today

Update on the 345GK. I decided to be proactive on the kitchen island & started with your suggestion of a 1” X 3” board. I was able to use 2” pocket screws to attach the board inside the base of the cabinet to the base of the island. It was surprisingly easy to access the area just as you described. In that area under the floor of the cabinet I found the factory prep water line & electrical receptacle for the dishwasher. There is also a furnace heating duct & the central vacuum toe kick. Next I went to the right side & removed all the drawers. I was able to reinforce that side as well by adding a 1” X1” board under the lowest drawer slides. The other thing I found was that the box at the back of the cabinet that supports the rear portions of the drawer slides was never attached to the floor of the cabinet. The single screw that was used was too short to reach the base of the cabinet & the box did not rest on the floor as there was a 1/4” space between the bottom of the frame & the floor. I put in a piece of 1/4” luan to fill in the space I feel much more confident now that the island will stay in place. I want to thank all of you for your posts on this subject. The posts were very helpful.

 

[Markb777]

Sorry, I didn't see your post until today. I've only heard of a 310GK being affected but I'd be surprised if that was the only model. I would think other models have a similar island design but that's just a guess. I was proactive and modified ours. Only took a few minutes and a few shorts pieces of wood.

Brian,
Although mine hasn't fallen yet, it's a bit wobbly at times and I would like to do the same as you.
Did you use a 1x2 and cut to the appropriate length?
Thanks,
Mark

 

[USA in a Chevrolet]

Brian,
Although mine hasn't fallen yet, it's a bit wobbly at times and I would like to do the same as you.
Did you use a 1x2 and cut to the appropriate length?
Thanks,
Mark

I cut a 10 X 3” to length & did the other things in my post.

 

[Markb777]

I cut a 10 X 3” to length & did the other things in my post.

Thank you, I'll give it a try.