What does the future hold for Grand Design RV? That’s an entirely open question, in my opinion. As I say in this video (which also announces the big changes coming to the RV Travel YouTube channel), the company is at a precarious point in its history.
As you may know, there has been a spate of stories (including one by RVtravel.com’s Cheri Sicard with a video from Jason Epperson from RV Miles) talking about Grand Design’s fifth wheel trailers’ “frame flex issues,” including cracking, bending, and otherwise becoming unsafe.
The stories abound. Do a bit of Googling or YouTube searching and you’ll see a raft of articles and videos about this problem.
Now, a disclaimer: None of these videos prove that Grand Design RV is negligent or derelict or anything of the kind. That hasn’t been established. What is known is that, right now, it’s a huge problem for the company on a reputational level.
How a company reacts is critical
As I point out in the video, the way a company reacts in these types of situations is critical. How Grand Design responds to the public can go a long way toward deciding whether this does enormous long-term damage or is nothing more than a pothole in the road.
Thus far, Grand Design RV has made no public announcements that I’ve been able to find. (If I’m wrong and have missed something, I’ll update the story.) I’m sure they’re investigating right now and trying to determine the truth.
Still, if I were running PR for the company, I would have issued some kind of press release stating, at the very least, that Grand Design RV is aware of the potential issue and looking into it. I haven’t seen anything from Winnebago, either (Winnebago owns Grand Design). Such a notice, even if it didn’t go into any detail at all, would provide some level of reassurance to current and potential customers that they’re “on it.”
Remaining silent is not the right move
Remaining silent is almost never the right move in these situations. People naturally wonder why there’s been no communication with the public, and Grand Design RV not addressing the issue makes the public even more suspicious, whether fair or not. Folks start wondering if there’s something to hide. (Again, I’m not claiming that Grand Design is hiding anything—just that radio silence raises questions.)
We’ll keep following this story, so stay tuned. Watch the video I recorded on this topic below. In the meantime, let us know in the comments if you have a Grand Design RV and, if so, if you’ve had any issues with frame flex.
##RVT1146b
“Grand Design (GD) FLEX Frame”. 7 minutes and 50 second talking head video with ZERO FACTS. Not one bit of fact or any engineering backup to show any viewer there is anything to the story. Had this talking head bothered to research he would have found what GD has done to ensure their product is safe. Nothing more than sensationalism to try and attack GD and to get YOU to subscribe to the new RELAUNCH of his UTube channel. IMO another dismal attempt at journalism.
Agreed.
There’s definitely been a lot of noise from a quite vocal few but ominously missing from all the narratives is root cause. Materials have predictive characteristics, they either bend or they break when their tensile strength is exceeded. Until someone actually shows the root cause, it’s all just clickbait for YouTube hits to me…..
Being one of hundreds of GD momentum RV owners with documented frame failure I respectfully disagree with your comment. Our unit along with hundreds of others is at GD because it’s rendered unsafe. This video is true. Check out our FB group for details and specifics. Grand Design RV Frame Failure.
Liz, please provide the specific root cause that provides factual testimony to your failure being the result of defect. That’s what’s missing in all the dialog.
There’s no disagreement on “Frame failures” occurring, it’s the ominous omission of the root cause for what caused metal to bend/break.
Absent a truthful, factual and unbiased failure analysis, discussion dissolves into an exchange of opinions that typically favors the carrier of the opinion.
Can you please share the facts on your event?
Spot on !!!!
I started to watch the video of “Talking Head” He annoyed me so much I Immediately clicked out. And as you said. No Facts!
That’s the point. Determine the facts. Any engineer welcomes the facts. It’s an issue that must be addressed.
Check out our FB group for info on hundreds of momentum’s with documented frame failure issues. Grand Design RV Frame Failure. I don’t know this guy at all but he speaks the truth.
Will be interesting. No company has jumped on the YT influencer game like GD has. Perhaps they slowed down their influencer support ($) as sales have slowed and people aren’t happy
Exactly. People need to go to YouTube and watch the actual interview with Lippert engineers. I can’t believe that rvtravel is letting this talking head ramble on about something that he is totally unqualified to speak about access to their website and to their subscribers.
Qualified or unqualified his info is accurate. Check out our FB page for specifics. Grand Design RV Frame Failure.
RV Travel published this link under the disguise of news when it is opinion. Or I tuned into the wrong video. I was looking for information and not an editorial…
So, continues the quest for information
In the late 1980’s I bought a Weekender TT by Fleetwood, The front frame broke 3 times and after fixing it twice the company refused the third service and told me that the unit was not meant to be used every weekend, I had it fixed by my local welder and it lasted me many more years, I knew it wasn’t top of the line when I bought it but I didn’t expect frame issues.
I never knew RVs could only be used on certain weekends
only in months with 2 full moon occurrences and when driven by left handed albinos who can play the violin with their feet while blindfolded
2017 Momentum – no problems thus far.
Thank you, for revitalizing the RV Travel YouTube channel, Keith. 🙂 It seems some unfortunate timing has cast you/your introductory video in a bad light. The video with Lippert referred to below was published on YouTube earlier this week by Big Truck Big RV (https://youtu.be/GF-lsJ7c8vg?feature=shared). He interviewed two Lippert employees, one an engineer about the flexing. Two more parts to follow. Lippert was open and apparently forthright, so a very informative video.
Thanks, Neal! I actually just posted a short on the channel about that Big Truck, Big RV interview. It’s awesome. Really informative and well worth watching.
You’re welcome, Keith! 🙂
A lot of probably’s, I’m sure’s and must be’s in this video but I’m ok with that because in the very first sentence of the article he does state “in my opinion”. This does not really concern me as I don’t own a Grand Design, but there are a LOT of them out there! Last campground we were in there were 21 sites and we counted 5 at one point, that’s 25%!!
It concerns every RV customer of any brand! I don’t own a GD, but I know my RV uses a Lippert frame. Lippert and manufacturer engineers need to know exactly what the safe frame size is for any RV. Maybe there needs to be a 10 year frame and suspension warranty.
Exceeding CCC could be one issue. There is such a range of cargo capacity on 5th wheels that it is quite easy to overload some of the 1/2 ton models. This is one reason we chose our Montana that has a rated 3,900 CCC. We max out at about 2,500 lbs as we do not want to have frame or axle issues. As it is we had one leaf spring shackle separate from the frame and needed a new one welded into place. Seems like this is a common occurrence, which is crazy IMHO!
Same here on our Montana 3121RL.
That’s an EXCELLENT article on Grand Design frame flex issues. Very objective. He’s not trashing Grand Design or saying buy something else.
He has a VERY valid point that GD needs to address this head-on.
It’s not frame flex it’s frame failure. Very serious. Check out our FB group Grand Design RV Frame Failure for details.
I think there are other manufacturers that are having the same problem, but I guess it’s more fun and easier to pick on one particular company. I watched the video and honestly, this is the worst kind of journalism. “I attended an RV show and talked to a GD employee . . . and I’m surprised he didn’t know anything.” I wouldn’t think a guy babysitting RVs at an RV show would be an expert. Of course, he won’t reveal the show or employee because he better protect his “sources.” Then he pointed a finger at a YouTuber, but again, wouldn’t name names, because I guess this guy thinks he’s another Bob Woodward. Yeah, I probably won’t be watching the RVTravel YouTube channel in the future.
While not loaded with details this issue is accurate and would encourage you to continue following. The issue is widespread at GD but one off with other manufacturers. Check out our FB page for details. He was right to sniff the issues about GD. Our page is Grand Design RV Frame Failure.
I’ve always like Grand Design, but read a lot about owners have issue with them. They had a model I looked at and would have bought new had I known about that model. I looked at a used one last year, but price was too high. I would be cautious about buying a new one. While some may not like this article. It’s good you let us know there are issues.
Yes. Significant frame failure issues. Check out our FB group Grand Design RV Frame Issues for specifics.
Have a 2022 Reflection 303RLS and have not seen an issue.
Right now mostly 5th wheel momentum’s but we’ve heard about some reflections with issues. Check out our FB group.
I’ve watched a few of the videos and also follow some GD owners who haven’t had any issues. One thing I’ve noticed about the ones who are having problems is they all seem to have the washer and dryer in the front. I’ve yet to hear of anyone with mid laundry having an issue. Could the extra weight be a cause? Could it be the spin cycle 😁?
Not all of them. The 376th has the W/D almost right over the back axle.
Not true. Ours has severe frame failure with no WD anywhere in the unit. Check out our FB group. Grand Design RV Frame Failure
This is a huge issue that has been going on for several years across several manufacturers. Now, most information is actively removed or buried on Facebook owner’s groups. Most reputable trailer manufacturers have teamed with Lippert to offer repairs, albeit quietly. There just aren’t enough factory welding crews to do it all quickly – our appointment is scheduled 7 months out. We quickly learned the solution is to get info through private messages with your FB owner’s group admin’s then handle it quietly, without making any social media waves. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but quiet negotiation between Lippert and the RV manufacturer is the key.
This is accurate. Check out our FB group called Grand Design RV Frame Failure for additional details.
I think we heard you the 12th time you responded. When you claim you understand GD knew and did nothing, what source did this come from ?
We have just purchased our 3rd Grand Design Reflection RV. The reason? We have loved different models and the different sizes and just decided to downsize. I can say our Grand Design RV’s have traveled from Virginia to as far as North Dakota and Texas. We have never had a problem with any of them, which is why we bought our 3rd. We love them. We love the build, we love the attention to detail and have been proud owners of all 3 of them. I hope that this situation gets resolved before all this negative press ruins their reputation. We do indeed need the facts, and I watched this video to see what the exact problems are with the frame but found out nothing of value.
Significant issues effecting hundreds of momentum RVs. Check out our FB group to see the concerns. Grand Design RV Frame Failure
The problem isn’t Grand Designs, it’s Lipperts. And Lippert is standing behind people with problems. It appears to affect only people with goosenecks.
It appears that mine is starting to flex and I did the gooseneck conversion. But GD told me it had to be watched over the course of 3 months and it has to be done at a dealer. We live full-time (stationary for the most part) so taking it out of town to a dealer is problematic because we don’t have a place to stay.
Please join our FB group called Grand Design RV Frame Failure for additional details.
Lippert builds to GD specifications. My understanding is Lippert pointed out the design flaw to GD and GD did nothing.
This is just another reason to not purchase a GD product (plumbing is the other well known issue with GD). In general the entire industry needs to be better regulated because, in my opinion, I think they all have been churning out garbage since covid. We were thinking about upgrading our trailer but after going through a couple of dealer lots and seeing brand new trailers with parts already falling off we decided that we would be better off keeping our 2016 model. I think the only way to perhaps get them to start producing a product worth the money they are asking is to have a few class action suits brought against the manufacturers.
They have been churning out garbage since the crash in 2008/2009. I had 2 Forest River RV’s for 10 years (5 years each) with zero issues, not even a flat tire in 10 years. Neither one saw a service dept either. 1- a 2005 toyhauler & 2- a 2010 Class A Gas. We decided to “upgrade” to a diesel pusher. In 2015 we took delivery & it was literally a pile of you know what. We ended up suing the mfger (not Forest River). We settled for a 2016 which was better but also had a host of issues. Ended up selling it & the whole ordeal stole 3 years of my life. We now have a 2002 Holiday Rambler DP & its built like a tank!
Based upon my experience with a 3 month struggle to be reimbursed by GD for a recalled propane regulator; I predict they will fail spectacularly and further damage their reputation.
How about you report on all the other companies that are having the exact same issues, instead of just picking on one of them? This is an industry-wide issue among similar models, not just a Grand Design issue. Lippert builds the frames for the entire industry. Grand Design only builds the box that sits on them… It is only my opinion but as far as I am concerned, your credibility stinks.
Good to see the GD Pom Pom Squad Emergency Alert System is at peak efficiency. Any negative public discourse about GD brings them out like a stick bring shoved into a hornets nest. “Protect the hive at all costs”
GD has a frame issue, GD has publicly ignored the issue, GD has denied repairs to owners. GD has swept negative comments about this issue from their social media accounts. No amount of angry buzzing from the hive will change these facts.
This an accurate summary. I’m happy to share our personal experience with this. Spot on.
Nailed it! You see it on the FB forum all the time.
Cripes. “I’m going to tell you that you should be scared. I’m not going to give you any specifics, and am purposely hiding the names of persons and events, and I’m not going to tell you how to fix your problem…. but trust me… you should be scared.” This was less than 10 seconds of value packed into an 8 minute video.
Please check out our Facebook group called Grand Design RV Frame Failure. Feel free to inbox or message me with questions about the group and why my husband and I started it. Liz Corey. liz_corey@yahoo.com
I had another brand 5er that developed frame problems. The frame flexed between the front and rear axles. The repair tech told me it was because of the stress put on the frame when tight turning while backing. The frame size had not changed since they started raising the frames so high above the tires. This increase in height resulted in increased leverage in twisting the frame. In 2019 Lippert had crews traveling the country repairing the frames. They repaired mine twice. One of the techs told me he had repaired frames on 21 different makers. That it is not the RV maker issue. My feeling the RV maker did not order the appropriate frame size. Lippert repaired my 2017 RV in 2019 by
This reporter obviously doesn’t know much. Grand Design doesn’t make the frames lippert does. Lippert also makes th frames for all of the other rv brands too. Grand Design has a seller reputation of taking care of problems where other brands don’t.
Yes, Lippert makes GD frames, along w/ the frames for literally dozens of other brands. Note, however, that Lippert constructs the frames per the design given to them by each RV maker. Each maker’s engr’g team decides on the mat’l specs, weld’g processes, strengthen’g features (e.g. gussets/braces), etc. to give to Lippert for each model’s intended carry’g capacity, overall wt, balance, & assumed flex/bouncing environment. So, a rash of flex issues IS on GD’s engr’g team, not Lippert. Lastly, GD does have a reputation for making good, which is why I purchased a GD 5er…I hope they come thru on this issue!!!
Northwood makes their own frames.
So does Outdoors RV
Had a Momentum 328 G. Started with nose cabinetry busting up. Scrapes on the walls where stairs and cabinetry rubbed. We were blamed by GD. Long story short we traded it in for a huge loss. Dealer said they’d be able to get it fixed easier than we could.
Grand design owned one and they are horrible. we told them about another issue that their problems and attitude would catch up with them and it has. This is only the begining of their downfall and don’t forget they have left keystone and noW Gd to go to brinkley.