adventurechuck wrote:
2012Coleman wrote:
I'd like to see the negative reviews on Grand Design.
Here's what I was referring to... these are all recent. I was pretty much headed that direction but this many complaints have me wondering.
https://reviews.birdeye.com/grand-design-recreational-vehicles-472431648
I read through all the complaints (2 pages worth) and find nothing different here than an any other RV on the road. The complaints are typical. Furniture that is uncomfortable, and problem with pipes freezing, and furnaces not keeping up. I know, for $95,000 one would expect more. But when purchasing, you always have the option to walk away if you do your research ahead of time, (and I think the OP IS doing his homework so he's not going in blind and dumb and falling for every trick salesman and manufacturers pull.)
But as far as the Grand Design goes, it probably is one of the better RV's. Furniture can be swapped out. If you're really interested in a specific model, then challenge the salesmen for different furniture, especially if it is stand alone furniture and not built in.
Cold weather camping? I do not think there is any RV that is truly zero degree weather factory ready. All of them take some extra precautions and prep work before winter hits.
Furnaces and air conditioners? A simple bit of math vs the size of the camper and you'll be able to figure out immediately if the furnace or air conditioner will perform under the extreme conditions (true for any camper).... which, by the way, none will. That's why there are so many threads on these forums about adding second air conditioners or upgrading from 13,500 to 15,000 BTU's and why furnaces run 24x7 when the temperatures get below 32 degrees. This is all typical of an RV. Nothing unusual. This is just the nature of the animal.
The thing you have to ask and REALLY look for is the overall construction which separates the low-end from the high end. Wall construction, roof, frame, windows, structurally, how sound is the camper? Can it take a beating? Can it be lived in 24x7 (if you are planning full timing). Can it be drug across the country from coast to coast 50 times and still not fall apart. That's where the real "quality" makes the big difference and separates the sheep from the goats.
Most of the items they are complaining about on that site are really superficial, and probably people so picky, they really don't have a clue.
About customer service and manufacturers. There are some folks who are so "self-entitled" they truly believe everyone should bow down to them and worship their feet! When something takes longer than 15 seconds they complain. They expect everyone to jump because they snap their fingers. Then cry like babies when they don't get their way IMMEDIATELY! Reading through the posts, it appears that Grand Design did help and did their best to accommodate every issue. For some cry-babies though, it wasn't enough or fast enough. One thing you learn with RV ownership is to take your time .... with everything... When camping you should not be in a rush, enjoy the moment, traveling and the destination. Enjoy the pre-trip planning and packing. Enjoy the return home and the unpacking. Take your time traveling, see the sites, smell the roses. AND when it comes to working with dealers and manufacturers, you can't rush that along either. This is truly a misconception to a lot of folks have. Spend $95,000 on an RV and they expect everyone to snap at their command. Um... face it ... you are not FIRST in line YET! You have a few folks ahead of you sir!
I don't own a Grand Design, but I've seen several of them and talked to their owners. I'm impressed by the Grand Design, and every owner I've talked to has had nothing but good things to say. Only one lady I talked to didn't like their floor plan, but nothing negative about the actual camper integrity itself. I have no investment in Grand Design, but I do get my feathers ruffled when I read reviews like these. They sound like cry babies who are truly clueless.
From my perspective, if you can afford the Grand Design, you won't be going wrong. But I do love my Keystone Outback and it's been a fantastic camper too! And cost a lot less.
