For quite a few reasons, Grand Design has made a strong name for themselves. Ever since the purchase by Winnebago, it seems I hear more and more about Grand Design—and what I hear are good things. So while we looked at the Alliance Paradigm 310RL on Friday, today I’m taking a look at something more of you may be familiar with, the Grand Design Reflection 337RLS.
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Standout features in the Grand Design Reflection
While details and specifications are one thing, probably the most impressive thing Grand Design has done is establish a relationship with their customers and practiced good follow-up. While this seems like basic business marketing 101, it’s actually not the case in the RV industry. Grand Design has managed to create a loyal fan base who are happy to tell others what they like about their rigs.
The positive feelings about these are not without warrant. The interiors are stylishly conservative and very tasteful no matter which model you choose, and this is certainly the case here. The cabinetry is well finished and pocket screwed and glued with quality woods and hinges.
I can usually find things that might become annoyances over time with many rigs, but not as much here. Just about all the functionality is going to serve someone well over time.
That’s especially true in the kitchen area. There’s a huge residential-size oven with a high-quality three-burner cooktop along with a very sizable microwave above that. Coolness comes from a Furrion 12-volt double-door refrigerator—which is a really nice unit.
In fact, I noticed that while more RV manufacturers are starting to do away with overhead cabinets, that’s not at all the case here. So storage is absolutely abundant. That includes from the island to the kitchen itself to the front wall of the main living space, which features a coffee bar to the pantry. While some folks want this feature or that feature, nobody ever wants less storage space.
Unique touches in the Reflection
One of the unique touches I really liked centered around the dinette. It has an ottoman on the wall side and then two dining room chairs on the other. That ottoman can be a foot rest if you’re sitting on the couch along the back wall, but can also be good seating. Bonus—there’s storage in the ottoman too.
If you’re also working from the road, this could be a good desk with all your “work stuff” in that ottoman. Then, at night, when it’s time to catch a movie or whatever, you can slide it over to the couch and put your feet up on it—mentally putting your feet on your work.
But, even more, there is an absolutely huge window at the dinette and lots of windows on the camp side of this rig. I love all these windows, but particularly the large window by the dinette.
Of course, there are also theater seats directly across from the TV and electric fireplace.
More good features
Grand Design also has a control panel that most people could figure out in no time. But for nerds like myself, there is also the option of using your phone to control things. So there’s something here no matter which side of the digital divide you’re on, with both sides getting just what they want.
Speaking of controls, upstairs in the bathroom, which has more storage and a good amount of space to accomplish what you’ve come here for, there are the controls for the on-demand water heater. As long as you have water, propane and 12 volts of power, you have hot water.
This fifth wheel was tested down to 0° F and is well suited to cold weather camping. There are heating pads on the rather substantial tanks, and the underbelly is also heated.
Speaking of the furnace, there are no vents in the floor to fill with gunk and blow back at you once you kick the furnace on.
Something I haven’t seen demonstrated is the steps on this rig. The steps themselves can be rotated so that you can sweep underneath them and then the “top” faces outside when the whole mechanism is folded in. Check out Josh’s video attached for more details about this—it’s slick.
In summary
There is literally no measure of the value of communicating with your customers and making sure to listen to them. But Grand Design’s passionate owner base is certainly an example of the value of this, and the sales of this brand are, as well.
The Grand Design Reflection versus the Alliance Paradigm
As for the Grand Design Reflection versus yesterday’s Alliance Paradigm, I just really like the Paradigm a lot. It also hits just about all the points missing here, but it’s also about ten grand more. Whether that’s worth the difference to you or not, I still think you’re doing yourself a disservice by not at least looking at that model if this is the neighborhood you’re in.
I would love to read your comments and suggestions over on our new forums, where you can weigh in and start or join a discussion about all things RV. Here’s a link to my RV Reviews Forum.
Tony comes to RVTravel having worked at an RV dealership and been a life long RV enthusiast. He also has written the syndicated Curbside column about cars. You can find his writing here and at StressLessCamping where he also has a podcast about the RV life with his wife.
These RV reviews are written based on information provided by the manufacturers along with our writer’s own research. We receive no money or other financial benefits from these reviews. They are intended only as a brief overview of the vehicle, not a comprehensive critique, which would require a thorough inspection and/or test drive.
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Am very impressed with GD. Would be at top of list as They get Business 101. We now deal directly with them as our Dealer does leave a lot of Consumer Smarts to be desired. Assume there is Mfr/Dealer contract in place. Point #3 in each Mfr/Dealer Contract must be Consumer or Business 101 driven!! Included stated & enforced by Mfr.
Cheers.
Hi, Tony!
This is kind of “off-topic” but, in watching Josh’s video I see it now says Bish’s RV. I thought Uncle Josh worked for Hazlett RV. Did he change jobs? Just curiosity here – been a fan of Uncle Josh since before I ever heard of RVTravel.com! LOL
Hi, Lindalee. In case Tony doesn’t see this, I’ll just let you know that Haylett RV was sold to Bish’s a few months ago. Josh the RV Nerd (cool dude!) is still doing videos, luckily. Here’s a recent article by Mike Gast on RVtravel.com about the sale: https://www.rvtravel.com/josh-rv-nerd-creating-videos-sale-haylett-rv-rvt-1034b/ Also, Josh has a couple of videos explaining the sale on his YouTube channel. Just look for Josh the RV Nerd and he explains it (very reassuringly, BTW). I’m the night owl, so I’m responding to your comment tonight. Tony is the early bird, so he might respond in the morning. Have a good night. 🙂 –Diane
Grand Design is like all the other manufacturers. Huge amount of money, for less than inferior quality. My 2020 Imagine:
1. Waste valves leak (I installed a master valve)
2. Interior trim falls off ( I used brads and adhesive to replace the tiny pins GD used.
3. Barn door hold backs ( 1/4″ paracord) break while on the road. (I installed clevis pins)
4. DVD player that won’t play blu-ray.
(I installed aftermarket entertainment unit)
5. Oven cannot keep consistent Temps.
( we avoid using the oven)
This was just the first 6 months. We love this RV (our 3rd), but like all of them, they sacrifice QC for production quotas.
I don’t disagree that ALL RVs have quality issues.
However the oven is a supplier issue, almost NObody installs Blue Ray players for some reason, and the waste valves are also a supplier-side issue.
What really needs to happen is to limit the consolidation in the RV industry with big companies getting bigger. More smaller suppliers typically makes for more competition and better overall quality for everyone.
Further it wasn’t until the auto industry adopted serious automation that quality improved yet RVs are predominantly built by hand. If someone has a lousy day that could result in a lousy product for you.
But if you think that’s bad, some of the things folks have shared with me are truly horrible. So I would say GD does put out a good quality product within the space that is American RVs.
Tony, I am always loathe to point out an inaccuracy in any of your pieces. However, the faux pas in your article today touches on an issue that GD is recently trying to correct. Your piece today gives cover to GD. Josh Winters only compounds this in his vlog. This Reflection does not have “digital controls” to supplement the “traditional” buttons. In fact, if you watch Josh’s vlog you will see there is a big hole in the wall directly above the button panel where the multiplex touch screen control panel is supposed to be installed. You will understand of what I’m talking when you re-read your review of November 3, 2021 on the 2022 GD 380 FL 5th wheel. In that piece you direct the reader’s attention to the wall on the right hand side of the stairwell, and directly across from the button board. In the photo one can see the LCI multiplex touch screen control panel. That is like the InCommand in Keystones, and the BMPRO in Jaycos. A Bluetooth phone connection is not a control panel.
Hey, if I’m wrong, I’m wrong so I appreciate the updates. There were a few on this model, actually. Was off my game it seems.
We’ve owned our Grand Design Reflection 320MKS for just under a year now. We are very happy with it overall. What really has impressed me is Grand Design’s customer service. We had an issue with a television that had been installed at our dealership and to make a long story short, the dealership refused to replace it as it only carried a 90 day warranty (one year manufacturer) through them. Grand Design told us to go ahead and purchase a new television and then within a week, had sent us a check for the purchase price. A small token, but one that we believed spoke very highly of their customer service.
I see “bedside tables” in the pictures. They are big enough for putting the simple things you’d want to put there. I’m not sure about CPAP machines. I’ve never seen one.
I think I mentioned way back on another review, we met someone at a campground years ago that had a Reflection. He took us on a tour and we were impressed. But, HIS major complaint was that you couldn’t open just one slide. You opened them all, or none. I wonder if this has changed. I would not want that problem.
Hi Tommy. We have a 2021 Reflection 295RL and we can open all slides independently so this must have been corrected.
Good to hear. Grand Design must have listened to some owners.
Grand Design 337RLS does have side tables by the queen bed. It also has HD wet bolts on springs and Cree 3000 equalizer.
You’re mistaken.
Will double check and appreciate the heads-up!!