Dear Dave,
Our unit is one year old, and Grand Design has been involved for some very quirky issues. Two weeks shy of the one-year mark we find out the floor is rotted under the side of our RV with the slide. I’m told it’s caused by driving in rain from wheel well spray. They are repairing this under warranty, but why would this happen in a one-year-old unit? We bought the Grand Design with the thought it was one of the better-made units. Were we wrong? What should we make sure they do to prevent future problems? Thank you. —Doreen, 2023 Grand Design 270BN
Dear Doreen,
When Grand Design debuted, they were the hottest units in the market. For several years they were the standard in quality and design with the Fenech brothers at the helm. They sold the company to Winnebago Industries, but it is still being run by the former head of the organization, Don Clark, who was with them early on.
What I have heard from dealers and other industry insiders is that Grand Design was left to be run the same without interference by Winnebago Corporate. However, there were very few companies that did not have some quality hiccups in the last few years with Covid, supply chain issues and overall demand.
I have also noticed that there have been several questions and comments pertaining to Grand Design here at RVtravel.com. But I do not think it’s fair to conclude that GD has dipped to a lower standard, but rather, the volume of units and the issues with getting parts and service has escalated the number of complaints.
Posed question to OEM about warranty claims
I posed this same question to my contact at one of the major original equipment manufacturers (OEM) that supplies air conditioners, furnaces, and other parts when dealers and even some manufacturers claimed their products were “dropping like flies.” He indicated that year more than 625,000 RVs were sold and about half of them used his company’s products—about 5 to 6 times more than ever. The warranty claim numbers or percentages were actually the lowest in the company’s history, but the volume made the actual numbers higher.
What created the “buzz” with dealers, manufacturers and owners was the long wait time to get into a service center and the supply chain issues. Normally if there is a warranty issue, the dealer takes care of it right away and it is business as usual. Make someone wait for six months and it becomes an epidemic.
Slide floor issue
Back to your slide room floor issue. This is what I found for a floorplan layout for your 270BN. You can see the slide room at the rear of the driver side, which would be starting over the axles. Typically, the underside of the floor is protected with a woven material that is moisture proof and spray from the tires should not affect it. Moisture can penetrate from the sidewall to floor seam, a tear or gap in the woven material, and other places. You did not state how large the area is or who is actually doing the repair; however, I assume it’s your selling dealer.
I would make sure the issue is documented with Grand Design corporate, which it should be since it is under a warranty. You should also have the facility conducting the repair verify where the moisture penetration was coming from and why it happened. Most likely it was an oversight in application of the material or a separation/gap.
Units go down the line and stop at several different points of assembly at the end of the day. They then pick up again the next day and sometimes there can be oversights in the assembly. Typically these would be identified during final inspection and a water test. However, it is almost impossible to test for moisture penetration from the tires while traveling from a factory standpoint.
Stay in close contact with the repair facility. Learn what caused the rotting, how it was fixed, and what assurance you have it will not happen again.
You might also enjoy this from Dave
To change flooring in my RV, how do I get under the slide—overextend it?
Dear Dave,
I’m trying to either replace the carpet or put vinyl click flooring in my RV. How do I get under the slide? People say block the top outside and bring it in slow and the slide will lift off the floor. Others say to overextend the slide, but that sounds scary. Any suggestions? —James, 2000 Winnebago Adventurer 35U
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Our insurance covered a $7K on-site kitchen slide floor replacement when it disintegrated. There was a foil barrier under the slide’s frig. Water got between the foil and the plastic bagged floor and could not evaporate. Those woven bags are water resistant, not water proof. While covered under storm damage, my personal opinion based on other slides, is the factory did a poor job of sealing the end wall to floor seam of the slide.
For what it is worth, the mobile tech did not use a factory floor but furniture grade plywood and laminated a plastic sheet to the bottom. It is better material and cost less than having a factory floor shipped.
Jim, you have good insurance to cover a rotting floor as storm damage.
I used to watch an RV show that often included a repair/modification segment. On one of those the Techs were replacing a rotted slide floor and used Marine Grade treated plywood and also put a heavy woven barrier under it. Looked great when they were done and it’s a lifetime floor fix. Quality would be building them like that the first time.
#1 mistake…buying a not so grand design product. I did…one time…I learned.
In addition to the last sentence of your article, Dave…” and get it in writing.”
Thank you, Dave! 🙂 Interesting to learn of Winnebago’s approach with Grand Design. I wonder if it is the same with Newmar? Thanks again and safe travels! 🙂
I would ask Grand Design to warranty the repair work for at least a year and get that in writing.
Our 2007 Tiffin Open Road B32 developed 1’x2’ rot in floor at outside leading corner of LR slide. It was right under the window in the front face of the slide. Turned out the factory skimped on both the dimension of the angle iron wrapping the corners as well as the caulk behind the iron. Whether driving in rain, dripping down from the window, or whatever, floor rotted. The repair involved chiseling back to dry wood, stubbing in plywood to match the hole, sealing all seams and then covering with Eterna-Bond. THEN replacing all lower edge angle iron w/ 2”x2” + adequate caulking.