Reflection 337 RLS question

[Bigiron]

We have put the 337 RLS on out top five list to replace our faithful Jayco Eagle TT. One thing I have noticed about the Reflection and other brands is how much the roof line slopes at the rear. It is not a bother, but is there a reason for this? Just curious. I turned to Grand Design after looking at Forest River and Heartland, but heard so many bad stories about quality and customer service. We looked at the Grand Design a year or so back and thought they were way out of our budget, but the Reflection is in our budget range, so I revisited the Grand Design and I believe the quality and customer service is far superior to the big brands.

 

[Dave and Monica]

The Reflection line would be classified as a 'mid-profile'...the Solitude is a 'full profile'. The full profile allows much higher slide out room height, 6' 8" as opposed to 6' 0" on the Reflection which would be similar to other manufacturers' offering in the same price range.

If you ever had the opportunity to visit the Elkart, IN area to do some plant tours, it would really aid in your decision amongst manufacturers.


Dave

 

[WhittleBurner]

It should be #1 on the list We've been very happy with our Reflection and you'll soon learn from reading here even the worst built GD trailers (everyone makes a bad one now and then) get issues settled by the factory if necessary.
GD customer relations is the best out there!
I second Dave, tour the factory if you can.

 

[Lingerlonger]

Welcome to the forum, bigiron.
Lots of potential owners follow this group for a while before making a decision. It is a very good place to ask questions and seek opinions.
We are very pleased with our 337RLS. I would comment on your question about the roofline, but I'm not sure I know what you mean.
Are you talking about the slope from front to rear, or from side to side?

K

 

[Cate&Rob]

Hi Bigiron,

One benefit of the roof slope is that it tucks the AC unit (at the back) below the 12 ft max height. Of course, if you add the optional front AC, that benefit goes away. We have a 303 . . . slightly smaller than the 337 . . . headroom is 6'6" in the bedroom, 8' at the entry door and 7' at the back couch.

Rob

 

[Bigiron]

Welcome to the forum, bigiron.
Lots of potential owners follow this group for a while before making a decision. It is a very good place to ask questions and seek opinions.
We are very pleased with our 337RLS. I would comment on your question about the roofline, but I'm not sure I know what you mean.
Are you talking about the slope from front to rear, or from side to side?

K

Yes, the slope from front to rear. As was mentioned above I see the "full profile" with the roof line more or less straight, but the "mid profile" seem to slope back at the rear. Not a big issue, but just curious as to the reasoning. I need to measure my slides in the Jayco, which I am OK with and never hit my head to see if the mid profile slide height would be an issue. We are also looking at the Solitude 320X, so that might give more headroom.

 

[Bigiron]

The Reflection line would be classified as a 'mid-profile'...the Solitude is a 'full profile'. The full profile allows much higher slide out room height, 6' 8" as opposed to 6' 0" on the Reflection which would be similar to other manufacturers' offering in the same price range.

If you ever had the opportunity to visit the Elkart, IN area to do some plant tours, it would really aid in your decision amongst manufacturers.


Dave

We would enjoy a trip to the factory, but we live in south Florida with kids in school and the scheduling would be difficult. The great thing is there are many brands close to us so we can really see what all manufacturers have to offer.

 

[Bigiron]

Hi Bigiron,

One benefit of the roof slope is that it tucks the AC unit (at the back) below the 12 ft max height. Of course, if you add the optional front AC, that benefit goes away. We have a 303 . . . slightly smaller than the 337 . . . headroom is 6'6" in the bedroom, 8' at the entry door and 7' at the back couch.

Rob

OK, now it starting to come together. 7' is not bad at all. One thing I have noticed is that the full profile trailers sometimes seem to be just too tall and seem cavernous and often too tall if that makes any sense. We would love to get into a 40'er, but it seems to limit where you can stay and they start to get very heavy and we have to nurse our old F-250 along for a few more years, so we need to buy within the t/v capabilities for now. Plus as the kids get older they may not want to go with mom and dad, so we are keeping things reasonable for now. Thanks for the feedback...good info for sure!

 

[Paul & Deb]

Bigiron, we also thought a Grand Design 5th wheel would be out of our price range but were very pleasantly surprised when we went to deal on one. It is so much more quality for the money than any brand we looked at.

As far as the 337RLS model in the overall line up goes, a must for me was matching the rear living floor plan that had recliners directly across from the TV with the shortest unit I could get with factory 16" wheel and tire combination. I did not want to settle for 15" wheel and have to come up with the modifications to get the larger tires. The 337RLS met those requirements plus way more than we expected we could get.

Good luck with making your decision.

 

[Bigiron]

Bigiron, we also thought a Grand Design 5th wheel would be out of our price range but were very pleasantly surprised when we went to deal on one. It is so much more quality for the money than any brand we looked at.

As far as the 337RLS model in the overall line up goes, a must for me was matching the rear living floor plan that had recliners directly across from the TV with the shortest unit I could get with factory 16" wheel and tire combination. I did not want to settle for 15" wheel and have to come up with the modifications to get the larger tires. The 337RLS met those requirements plus way more than we expected we could get.

Good luck with making your decision.

Absolutely. The chairs facing the wall unit is a must. The rear entertainment is OK, but I like to stare straight at the TV. And yes as far as tires. I put hi spec wheels and load range E tires on my Jayco. I was happy to see GD using them out of the box. One thing I find odd is they use 6 lug wheels instead of 8. I know the wheels and tires can handle the weight, but I am questioning why the 6000# axles. Seems to put tires and axles over the limit at close to 14,000 GVWR. I'll have to look closer at that.

 

[Lingerlonger]

Re: Seems to put tires and axles over the limit at close to 14,000 GVWR. I'll have to look closer at that.

Don't forget that in a 5W, not all the weight is on the axles.
25% or so is on the pin box/tow vehicle.

K

 

[TucsonJim]

BTW, the wheels are rated for 3200# each.

 

[Bigiron]

Re: Seems to put tires and axles over the limit at close to 14,000 GVWR. I'll have to look closer at that.

Don't forget that in a 5W, not all the weight is on the axles.
25% or so is on the pin box/tow vehicle.

K

Ok, gotcha good detail right there. Good info for sure. Thanks!

 

[Bigiron]

BTW, the wheels are rated for 3200# each.

Thanks for the info. I actually forgot what the wheels were rated for. Thanks for checking that for me.

 

[Scott and Jan]

Bigiron, it sounds like we have a lot in common. Both live in FL. Both have kids still in school. We too are nursing our old F350 for a few more years. Both had Jayco TT.
Might as well make it 5 for 5 and get the 337RLS Reflection too, you'll love it.

 

[Gale-n8gs]

Of that 14000# GVW, 2500 to 3000 will be on the pin. So the axles are seeing 5500 to 5750 each.
I spent a lot of time doing the calcs and making inquiries before ordering my 337RLS. It should be here is about a month.

 

[Bamaman]

OK, now it starting to come together. 7' is not bad at all. One thing I have noticed is that the full profile trailers sometimes seem to be just too tall and seem cavernous and often too tall if that makes any sense. We would love to get into a 40'er, but it seems to limit where you can stay and they start to get very heavy and we have to nurse our old F-250 along for a few more years, so we need to buy within the t/v capabilities for now. Plus as the kids get older they may not want to go with mom and dad, so we are keeping things reasonable for now. Thanks for the feedback...good info for sure!

I bought a Reflection 323BHS trailer that could be pulled with my 2003 F250 crewcab 7.3 diesel. We are not suffering an any way. Our trailer's 11k dry weight and 2000 lbs. pin weight is about as much as I'd want to tow. After pulling through it through the Smokies last week, it's the brakes that limit us towing as much as pin weight.