I bought a 2017...but its actually a 2016

Late July 2016 I bought a 2017 Grand Design Imagine 2800bh. The dealer at the time had only 2017 models on the lot, 2016’s were gone and only 2016 literature was available.

90 days after my purchase Grand Design released a well planned and advertised list of updates and design changes at the factory. They did so all at once in September (not incrementally) without changing the model year or model number.

Thus my 2017 is not a 2017…it is a 1:1 match for 2016 models and literature.

While I'm happy with my 2800bh I feel very deceived by Grand Design.

Many will say this is normal, that these are mid-model year updates, incremental updates, and or rolling updates. While that is common, look again what happened here. This was not one, two or even three major or minor updates during a model year of production. And my unit is not missing just a few “rolling updates” compared to the advertised 2017’s. I am missing ALL significant design changes and a DOZEN or so updates and standard items that were once options.

In short, Grand Design deceptively bumped the model year on their 2016 versions just ahead of their very well known and significant 2017 model changes were put into production, advertised the updates, and made the cut off date well known. This is anything but a rolling change!

If you have been deceived by an RV manufacture similar to this...please file a complaint.

File BBB complaint here;

https://www.bbb.org/northernindiana/business-reviews/recreational-vehicles-dealers/grand-design-rv-in-middlebury-in-90096345

FTC complaint (follow the Automotive path I was directed)

https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1

The image below is the advertisement released on 9-14-16 by Grand Design and the spreadsheet below that is my own, that shows only the differences between my unit and real 2017 units. (I am actually missing a couple items, and I purposely excluded 3 other true rolling changes made after September 2016)

Seeking Advice

RinconVTR
Explorer
Jan 22, 2017
Look, I loved the unit at the time of purchase and I love it now. None of that love distracts me from forming a strong complaint. I understand the majority of posts against my complaint, but none of which change my opinion of what occurred was wrong.

Never would I say RV OEM's should not have the right to make running changes at anytime, as their statements say.

I have 2016 literature from the January 2016 show and also the dealer when I made the purchase on precisely August 4th, 2016. They are identical. I have nothing added or subtracted.

On 9-14-2016 Grand Design published advertisements and released an all new brochure for 2017 models and these units were already on dealer lots on this date.

My intent of posting and filing complaints;

1- OEM's limit how many rolling changes they make at one time specific time without changing a model year or number or make sure many of them are rolled in before the model year is changed.

2. MOST IMPORTANTLY, be more diligent about model year changes when there is a well planned significant list of updates with all new corresponding literature AND a hard change over date for all the above.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jan 22, 2017
RAS43 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
I bought a 2000 Ford ranger, that is what the CL add said. When I looked later the "TITLE" said 1999!!!

MY fault for not checking. The OP needs to LOOK at his title, it will specifically say 2016 or 2017. OP what is it?????????

He admitted 2 days ago that it is titled as a 2017. Case closed IMO!

Thanks, I missed it. I agree!
SparkDr
Explorer
Jan 22, 2017
"I think you're wrong about this. I don't think you wanted Jayco's anti-sway system. Mine is a 2017, bought in September of 2016, and they were no longer installing the anti sway on the TT's. Apparently it didn't work, and caused some crashes or near crashes. Jayco recalled all TT's equipped with it to disable or remove it. All dealers were instructed to disable it in any units they had on the lot, and to quit even mentioning it. I asked the salesman because I had read about, and he just said "You don't want it, and we aren't allowed to sell a trailer so equipped."

I hadn't heard any of this, but it only aids to validate many of the points being made in this thread. I didn't fret, I moved on, I got over not having something that someone else would have in the same model year and I haven't looked back. I guess it also reinforces the "be careful what you wish for" mantra. Thanks for the informational heads-up.
RAS43
Explorer III
Jan 22, 2017
Cummins12V98 wrote:
I bought a 2000 Ford ranger, that is what the CL add said. When I looked later the "TITLE" said 1999!!!

MY fault for not checking. The OP needs to LOOK at his title, it will specifically say 2016 or 2017. OP what is it?????????

He admitted 2 days ago that it is titled as a 2017. Case closed IMO!
RPreeb
Explorer
Jan 22, 2017
SparkDr wrote:
My early 2016 Jayco does not have the electronic trailer sway control introduced in later 2016's. Would I like to have this feature? You bet I would. Did the manufacturer and/or dealer have any knowledge of this forthcoming change when I bought mine? Probably yes on both counts. But the simple fact of the matter is that I purchased a TT based on a known list of standard features and options for that specific unit AND that these features and options were acceptable to me without further recourse the moment I completed the transaction. As adults, we don't get "restarts", "do-overs", and "go backs" once we've put our name to a purchase contract and taken delivery. Empathy comes easy due to my similar desire to "have it all', but sympathy escapes me on this one. By his own admission, OP avers that these type of changes are commonplace in the RV industry. As such, his continual droning on of injustice and impropriety only sound of sour grapes. Legally, professionally, and ethically both the mfg and dealer have done nothing wrong. This leaves the OP with no leg (or valid soapbox) left to stand on. Thus, I cannot and will not support any cry to join his misguided cause.

I think you're wrong about this. I don't think you wanted Jayco's anti-sway system. Mine is a 2017, bought in September of 2016, and they were no longer installing the anti sway on the TT's. Apparently it didn't work, and caused some crashes or near crashes. Jayco recalled all TT's equipped with it to disable or remove it. All dealers were instructed to disable it in any units they had on the lot, and to quit even mentioning it. I asked the salesman because I had read about, and he just said "You don't want it, and we aren't allowed to sell a trailer so equipped."
SparkDr
Explorer
Jan 22, 2017
My early 2016 Jayco does not have the electronic trailer sway control introduced in later 2016's. Would I like to have this feature? You bet I would. Did the manufacturer and/or dealer have any knowledge of this forthcoming change when I bought mine? Probably yes on both counts. But the simple fact of the matter is that I purchased a TT based on a known list of standard features and options for that specific unit AND that these features and options were acceptable to me without further recourse the moment I completed the transaction. As adults, we don't get "restarts", "do-overs", and "go backs" once we've put our name to a purchase contract and taken delivery. Empathy comes easy due to my similar desire to "have it all', but sympathy escapes me on this one. By his own admission, OP avers that these type of changes are commonplace in the RV industry. As such, his continual droning on of injustice and impropriety only sound of sour grapes. Legally, professionally, and ethically both the mfg and dealer have done nothing wrong. This leaves the OP with no leg (or valid soapbox) left to stand on. Thus, I cannot and will not support any cry to join his misguided cause.
bpounds
Nomad
Jan 22, 2017
In some states the only date on a title is "First Sold" date. That is not a model year. The VIN is the only official source for model year.
ppine
Explorer II
Jan 22, 2017
I bought a nice used boat from a private party listed as a 2005. When we go the bank and looked at the title it said 2004. It did not stop me from buying the boats, but it left a bad taste. From now on, check your labels, titles and evidence of what model you are actually buying.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jan 22, 2017
We ordered our MS on 1/15 and assumed it would be a 15. It came Titled as a 16.
allen8106
Explorer
Jan 22, 2017
FWIW, I visited with an RV manufacturers rep at an RV show last week. He told me new model years typically start production in March, so 2018's will start down the production line March 2017.