I am thinking about buying a Grand Design fifth wheel, but the company is only 2 years old. Does anybody have thoughts about buying from a new company?

Nothing beats a good inspection starting with the frame & how the running gear is attatched to it. Then it is a look in the basement to see how neat & tidy the wiring has been done. If all looks good after the how it is made stuff is looked at then go inside & start counting TVs, fabric colours & all the fluffy stuff.

I have looked at many trailers and I like what I have seen and read. In fact, I pick up my new Reflection 303RLS tomorrow, Tuesday April 8. There are not many constants in this world, sunrise, sunset, birth, death, taxes, all else is a******shoot. I don't want to sound contrite, but you take a chance with just about anything you buy now. Major components are all the same on trailers, you are looking at the reputation of the company for guidance. Grand Design has a good reputation and customer service reputation, they seem to go out of their way to help solve any issues. Dealers are the one thing that will make or break a manufacturer.

Lots of glitter, but holy******there is no, zip zero nada counter space in the kitchens. Since we cook and live in our fiver we like decent counter space.

We spent 3 years on vacations touring Trailers manuf. to observe building methods before we bought. If you can't do that, go to every RV show you can and crawl under, over, open every drawer, door etc. Sit on the pot, get in shower, "cook" a meal, "watch" TV and every other thing you would do.Jim

donn0128 wrote:Lots of glitter, but holy******there is no, zip zero nada counter space in the kitchens. Since we cook and live in our fiver we like decent counter space.Don't see this, as there is counter space next to cookstove, counter space either side of the sink island, and whole wall length counter space at the front hutch. More counter space than my current trailer has, at least double the amount. Maybe because we cook outside as much as we can, we just don't see the issue you do. I have a rather large kitchen counter space in my residental home, and I never have enough counter space when I cook. :)

new fifth wheel company | Good Sam Community

Mile_High
Explorer
Apr 07, 2014
beverlyg wrote:
I am thinking about buying a Grand Design fifth wheel, but the company is only 2 years old. Does anybody have thoughts about buying from a new company?

Bet you weren't bargaining for a counter space argument with this question :)

I bought from a 2 year old company, and there have been some growing pains. Things you would have thought they should have known were issues from experiences with other brands (given the employees all probably came from the other brands). On the upside, they are gunhoe about customer service and keeping you happy the first few years.
TheAmRheins
Explorer
Apr 07, 2014
Here's my take on new RV companies... when a new company starts out the head guys call the best people they know to hire in their key positions. Since their product is new, they have a little more time to build a good unit. When the orders start rolling in, they have to step up production and then hire anyone and everyone to meet demand - resulting in lower quality.

So, I would not buy the very first one a new company made, but I would rather buy one that was built before they get so "big" that quality begins to suffer.
pennysmom09
Explorer
Apr 07, 2014
We looked at this unit at the Tampa RV show and were impressed. However, after a second look, I didn't see any place for our clothes in the bedroom.
Gsport
Explorer
Apr 09, 2014
The Solitude has a full size chest and a nice size closet..
lpxguy
Explorer
Apr 09, 2014
Gsport wrote:
The Solitude has a full size chest and a nice size closet..

a full sized chest is almost always good:E
mileshuff
Explorer
Apr 09, 2014
The founders of Grande Design were part owners of Keystone. I don't care for Keystone myself but these new trailers seem quite bit nicer.
Mile_High
Explorer
Apr 09, 2014
lpxguy wrote:
Gsport wrote:
The Solitude has a full size chest and a nice size closet..

a full sized chest is almost always good:E
:)
R12RTee
Explorer
Apr 09, 2014
It would be well worth your time to take a trip to the mfg. in Middlebury, IN and take a tour of the plant. It's the only way to see the building process and to actually know what is marketing propaganda and what is factual.
goducks10
Explorer
Apr 09, 2014
Here's a video about Grand Designs 1st year of being in business.
There's an ad for about 20 sec at the start.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSIe-RAurq4#t=536
wilber1
Explorer
Apr 09, 2014
For quite a while we have been looking for a replacement for our ageing Titanium without success. Would buy another if they were still in business. We finally settled on the Reflection 303RLS as the compromise which best suited us for features, length and weight, so we have one on order. Two of the things that attracted us were the huge pantry and amount of counter space. The wardrobe slide in the bedroom doesn't give as much space as a bed slide unit but the bedroom layout is similar to our Titanium so we are used to it. Everything is a compromise and we weren't interested in going to a longer, heavier unit to get a bed slide.

One way the company maintains a price point is the lack of options. The only options offered on ours are a free standing dinette and thermopane windows. Anything else you want will have to be dealer installed or aftermarket. Like the Model T, you can have any colour scheme or decor you want as long as it is the single one they offer. Fortunately, we liked the one they offer.

Comments on the owners forum seem quite positive but of course nothing is perfect or trouble free. The company is very active on the forum, answering questions and seems genuinely interested in customer input. Bill Fenech, one of the founders is a frequent poster. I have emailed several questions to the company and they have been answered promptly.

Looking forward to getting it and hope the good first impression will be a lasting one.