Today’s RV review is the Grand Design Transcend 265BHT, which you can assume is a bunkhouse model just by the letters in the name. If you follow Grand Design, you’ll also know that, being in the Transcend family, it’s a wood-framed aluminum-skinned travel trailer known as a “stick-and-tin” trailer in the industry. That puts it more on the affordable end of Grand Design’s product line as this type of construction is less costly to build—which has some inherent issues that can be easily overcome.
As with any type of RV construction, there are a wide variety of ways of doing the job— some better than others. Naturally. The way Grand Design does the Transcend series is a bit better in this category with a more premium aluminum skin product and better-than-average insulation and build.
But there are also some real corners cut and some can make a difference to some buyers, others may not. Which, I guess, is why you come here to read these reviews! Whew.
First, let’s clear something up. As the Grand Design catalog gets bigger, to me, it also gets more confusing. There is the Transcend, which is this model, but there is also the Transcend Xplor and Transcend One. The latter two are much less well-equipped and built with less premium materials than the Transcend. Further, the Transcend, without the additional qualifying names, is a 50-amp rig, whereas that’s not necessarily true of the others.
I look at RVs all day and the names are a bit confusing. So I can’t imagine (which is another line from Grand Design—hehe) how the average customer can walk into a dealership and know what they’re getting. This isn’t that unusual in the RV industry, alas.
Start at the road with the Grand Design Transcend 265BHT
As you know, I’m a bit of a nut about RV suspension systems—which was only made more nutty when I got to ride in several fifth wheels. This uses off-brand tires on a simple leaf spring suspension. The good news is that KOA reports that you all are only driving about 72 miles on average for your camping adventures.
So, if you’re like lots of RVers and not doing much distance and only using your RV a few weeks a year, you should be okay. If you like to go, go, go, you can swap the suspension out. Or shop for an RV that already has a good suspension. Those tires, though, should just go right away.
I do like that Grand Design has the manual stabilizer jacks at a 45° angle to the chassis. I am told that makes them better stabilizers—which is sort of the whole point of these things.
There’s also only one sewer dump connection. Yippee.
Alternative uses for the Grand Design Transcend 265BHT
A lot of bunk model trailers have these bunk configurations that really do mess up the functionality of the trailer if you don’t have a bunch of folks joining you on your adventures.
Let’s say you realized that the grandkids or kids don’t have any interest in camping with you. Fine. When I was selling RVs, lots of people who bought bunk model trailers came to this realization.
That lower bunk could easily serve as a pet bed and Fido, or Mr. Meow Meow, would love that space to call their own.
The upper bunk, too, could be great for storage. Who doesn’t want more space for more stuff that, honestly, we’re really never going to use? Like pirate costumes. Not that I have any experience with that.
The steps to the lower bunk are pretty convenient for most creatures—whether two-legged or four—so it’s a good use of space.
But what’s different about this is that you also have good seating with both a couch and a larger U-shaped dinette in here. So you don’t sacrifice usable function just because Fido, er, Junior, has a place to crash.
Love it or not features in the Grand Design Transcend 265BHT
Something I know more than a few of you have shared with me is that you do not like RVs where the bathroom splits the rig into two, which is how this unit is configured. There’s a bedroom up front with a proper queen-sized bed, and then the main living space. The bathroom splits this rig in half.
I do like this and it was a draw on our newest rig—but I know this isn’t a universal draw. However, this bathroom does have good space if you’re okay with it bisecting the RV.
Thoughtful touches in the Grand Design Transcend 265BHT
Grand Design is good at little touches and, even here, in their more affordable models, that’s still true.
For example, the bedroom in this features a true queen-sized bed, and there’s a laundry chute that goes into the front pass-through storage. Nice. I wonder what your feelings are on the storage in the bedroom with the “closet” on the camp side being segmented by shelves and the one on the road side featuring full hanging height with a bar. Either side still has a drawer and some storage behind the closet for electronics or books or your guide to training monkeys.
The kitchen has a drawer with a trash can and another drawer, below the fridge, has pet bowls. Fido and Mr. Meow Meow will be happy.
There is only a three-burner stove. But there’s also a convection microwave in the kitchen, and I think this covers most bases. Many, many of you have told me you never use your RV oven.
Something I am torn about is the outside kitchen—which comes out the very backside of the RV. There’s a flat-top griddle and a small fridge back here, but it’s an unusual spot for this. I’m guessing polarizing again.
Boondocking and travel access in the Grand Design Transcend 265BHT
I’m not sure how much boondocking this rig would normally see in its life, but it can be done. There’s a minimum 200 watts of solar with a 30-amp charge controller.
As for access on the road, you can get to the bathroom through the front bedroom door. But the slide in this RV, in the main living space, does have the fridge in it. That means it’s quite blocked by the counter when the slide is closed. Not completely, but mostly so.
My thoughts on the Grand Design Transcend 265BHT
Overall I like the floor plan of this as it has a good feel for everyday use, not something you’ll find in all bunk model trailers. In fact, I could see this making sense for people who don’t intend on having human companions at all, as mentioned, but rather the furry kind.
Speaking of which—A friend of mine just saw someone with a 200-pound pig as a pet that they travel with. No, I’m serious. And it was in a Grand Design trailer, too.
And you’re going to have to insert your own doggone bacon jokes here.
But, for the way a lot of people travel, this might be a good choice. It is a very large travel trailer, so this is well into the three-quarter-ton territory, by my calculations. Does this bunk configuration make sense to you?
My thanks to my friend, Josh, from Bish’s RV for the photos and video.
MORE GRAND DESIGN REVIEWS:
- A first look at a 2025 Grand Design Lineage Series motorhome
- 2025 Grand Design RV Lineage Series F 31ZW Super C—Wow!
- Tour the 2024 Grand Design Momentum 22MAV toy hauler trailer
- 2025 Grand Design Imagine XLS 22RBE—nice floor plan
- Grand Design Transcend ONE 151BH—small and affordable
##RVT1201
If those bunks could be folded against the wall or removed, the plan might offer some flexible-use space, like some Embers have. But if the lower bunk is fixed in place because it covers the outdoor kitchen, forget it!
Of course, I wouldn’t buy this trailer just because of the Model T-vintage leaf springs. Especially since the only times we camp within 72 miles of home, we are dry camping at 8,000-10,000′ in a USFS campground or boondocking off a dirt road.
I’ll take a Rockwood/Flagstaff travel trailer over a GD every time. Torsion axles and Goodyear tires are winners for any type of use, including boondocking.
A pull-out trash can and laundry chute? Wow! It’s these simple things that we don’t really think about that are so important for everyday use. Now if we could only convince the manufacturers to stop using cheap suspension!
Thank you for the review, Tony, and for the added benefit it provides me. That is, you are slowly increasing my ability to cogently discuss towables. That matters, of course, because ~80% of RVs sold are in this category. So, until one understands towables, one really does not understand RVing. 🙂 Have a great week and safe travels!