Watch out!!! Grand design poor quality! Please do your research

[KrisWithaK]

I am posting today as my frustration level with Grand Design has hit an all-time high!!

First the sliding window on the back door broke the first day and when we reached out for replacement, they could not provide the part and communication stopped. Grand Design said the person that was handling our claim had left the company. (STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED after 4 years.)

The Oven went out due to the poor manufacturer that they used. Ovens had a known fault and the company that made them went out of business. Had to call them and explain that any manufacturer that sells a product must sell parts for 10 years after. After showing them this they then gave me a voucher for a new one.

The fireplace went out in the first 2 months and when you try to by the same brand it has 2 stars of review, just very cheap.

The furnace has had to have maintenance completed 3 times and went out the first 4 months of owning the camper. (limit switch and mother board, and 2 blower motors). Not only is this an inconvenience but the certified service centers will have your camper for months at a time and do poor work. It took the third service center and hours on the phone with tech support to finally find out that they had installed the wrong size ducting which is leading to the component failures. There should be 4 x 4in. ducting coming from your furnace and should push out at minimum 200CFM to prevent the furnace from overheating. On my camper there is 2 x 4in. ducts and 3 x 2-1/2in. ducts. The 2-1/2in. ducts only provide 65CFM which leads to the furnace overheating. Attached is the ducting diagram which shows that they cannot follow specifications when building these campers. I no longer trust their certified techs as they also did not know that the return air vents for the furnace are actually in the cabinets to the left and the right of the oven. They are on the bottom shelve and require 18in around them to be free and clear. The cabinets are 21 inches deep, however they cannot be utilized for storage as there needs to be good airflow into the cabinets, so you can't close the doors if using the furnace. I have attached the diagram from their user manual that explains this.

Air conditioner went out in the first few months due to the fan in the component not being screwed in and it chewed up the fan.

Below shows you how great their customer service is as well.

DO NOT BUY THE WARRANTEES!!!! They will make you bring in the entire camper at your cost and inconvenience. Then they will keep it for 3-8months repairing minor repairs as they have long lead times on parts.






Moderator edit: Attachments removed

 

[Bungy]

I’m sorry you have had all these problems with your trailer, at this point I think I’d sell it and move on.

 

[txloser]

I understand the frustration. We all have varying levels of inadequacies we’re willing to deal with. Sounds like you’ve found your limit.

RVing should be fun, but with challenges expected unfortunately. When the challenges outweigh the fun, it’s time to move on. Different RV or different fun.

 

[Conner58]

You can get a bad one of anything.
Our camper has been trouble free for 20 thousand miles.

 

[trailrydr]

Totally agree, that a product (once in awhile) can escape a manufacturer production line and quality control better practices. However, it makes no sense that a customer who purchases a product with warranty in good faith by either making payments or outright bought to have to succumb to poor acknowledgement, (in some cases multiple) warrantied repairs, and little to no compensation for (sometimes long-term) non-usage-time-lost from the manufacturer of said sold product.

This is the bridge too far IMO, and happens way to often in this industry - especially for new manufactured unpowered vehicles designed to be pulled down the road.

 

[CedarCreekWoody]

Nowhere does the OP mention his dealer. He should be working through his dealer as his advocate.

 

[Riverbug]

That is very definitely a string of bad luck. With that many issues, I wouldn't feel any less frustrated. Hope you are able to resolve everything and get to joy you expected when you purchased the unit. Or, move on to a different unit and try again. Whether it's a motor vehicle, RV, or anything else, this sometimes happens. It doesn't mean they are all the same. Also doesn't mean RVs in general don't leave a lot to be desired when it comes to manufacturing, assembly, and appliance selection. But the vast majority of owners do not have issues to the level you are experiencing. But for that part you have my sympathy and hope that you have better camping experiences in your future.

 

[Najataagihe]

DO NOT BUY THE WARRANTEES!!!! They will make you bring in the entire camper at your cost and inconvenience. Then they will keep it for 3-8months repairing minor repairs as they have long lead times on parts.

You don't have to BUY a warranty with Grand Design.

That sounds like one of the add-on warranties offered by dealers at time of sale as an "extended" warranty.

Time and time again, the folks here have advised that these are a total waste of money.

Forget "warranty-certified mechanics" as these guys are the cheapest the warranty issuer can find.

The lack of response on your warranty sounds like the grief I used to get from the extended warranty folks that you are REQUIRED to use by them (before I discovered what a rip-off those things are).

It does NOT sound like Grand Design's folks, at all.


Do yourself two favors:

1. Find a local independent RV repair person with a good reputation.
They are far more responsive than a corporate warranty "representative". It is worth the expense to get your unit repaired properly and quickly.

2. Call Grand Design directly for support. Even though it sounds like your unit is out of warranty, they are a great source of support.


That bit about the ducting being the wrong size sounds like the kind of nonsense a frustrated tech will invent to put blame on someone else.

Unless those diagrams the moderator removed came directly from Grand Design, I would trash them.


Also, please post what year and model you have.

I have yet to see one with the furnace return inside a cabinet next to the stove!

(Not saying it isn't, just that it is an unbelievably stupid idea.)


Most folks don't have as many problems as you, unless they haul their rigs across the country all the time, shaking them to bits.

I had untold numbers of problems with the suspension on one of my units, but it was a function of bad roads turning the rig into a "paint shaker" like you see at Lowe's!

Unfortunately, ALL RVs are built to a price point and darned near all of them use the same components from the same manufacturer (Lippert, I am looking at you...), so one brand is not necessarily built better than another.

Where the difference comes in is in the support after the sale.

Grand Design is one of the best in the business.

IN MY OPINION, Thor Industries is one of the worst.

I would not have anything made by Thor, including the Airstream (which used to be the premier brand in the industry, along with Avion).

It has saddened me, greatly, to see formerly outstanding brands being bought out by them.


Welcome to the forum!

You will find far more experience and competence on this forum than in most dealerships and the folks here are always more than willing to help.

We're glad you are here.

 

[redfernclan]

Hmmmm. One post to vent. No particulars. No real details.
Hope you feal better.

 

[txloser]

I completely agree on GD support. I’ve done Thor and it doesn’t even come close to GD support. My wife actually wants an Airstream to simplify things(strongly disagree), and my biggest issue beyond other obvious stuff it that it’s a Thor product with Thor support or lack there of.

The unit above has had excessive issues. Maybe a poor dealer has compounded the problems. Aside from a furnace issue I took to an outside source, GD and my dealer have been incredibly responsive and efficient in getting things done during the warranty period. For the first time I’m kind of bummed the warranty has ended. Usually it’s a bit liberating.

Also, agree that use is a factor. Lots of travel=more issues. We’ve had issues, but it’s traveled 11k miles this year. As does complexity of the unit. A single through frame slide travel trailer with one AC that does 6 weekend trips a year will be mostly trouble free. Or should be.

 

[lineman1234]

I always wonder. 1st post, very very negative, but is said to have had it 4 or so years.
It seems to happen a lot on vehicle forums. Just joined, this sucks, no one buy from them...........

Just last month i finished dealing with a Grand Design rep for cracks on my frame, 4 cracks, 2 on each side, not to be confused with the BIG discussion on frame flex.
I have a 2020 273mk 5ver. I didnt expect any help being the 3rd owner.

Without getting into the fix, i reported that the fix i chose was not worth submitting a claim and paid cash out of pocket and Grand Design and i are just fine. If, it cracks again, ill reopen the case and see if they are willing to do anything, if not, i am surly not going to bash them or be upset on a 5 year old 3rd owner camper.