New fifth wheel drove home need to return to dealer

[jackstrat]

Bought fifth wheel at Campers Inn and was unaware there would be a problem with the height of the automatic jacks that sit under the Grand Design Reflection, also with the length of the tire to pin distance. Looking for information on New Hampshire laws that will help us in returning to Campers Inn. They said we could exchange for another trailer that would work for our yard which we found, shorter distance and higher jacks hoping to swap and get some money back. That surely was not the case. Much cheaper fifth wheel and they wanted us to give them 5000 more. Need to find some loop hole to try and not loose so much money on returning this fifth wheel. Any help?

[crcr]

All58Parks wrote:
I would look into getting an excavating company to regrade your yard. I had to do a little of this with my new TT to make it easier to park, since it was several feet longer than the old one. Didn't cost much at all. It doesn't seem likely that you'll run into much of a problem in campgrounds, unless you're planning to do some off-road boondocking.

x2

This is exactly what I would do.

[JW_of_Opechee_S]

I wouldn't be in a hurry to return something I liked just because of an issue at home. I would solve the home issue which may mean backing the wheels of the camper onto planks in order to raise it enough for the rear jacks and then use cement block or similar for the front. Send me a PM if you want and I can probably stop by and help you figure it out before you make a costly decision.

[Devocamper]

How about a little land scaping? when we purchased our current 5th wheel we knew we had to have the pitch of our driveway lowered and had it done before we brought it home . Maybe the extra money the dealer wants could be spent correcting to area your trying to park the larger trailer in. Maybe a better option if you like the trailer that much?

[1492]

Moved from Forum Technical Support

[jackstrat]

Thank you for the information!

[TucsonJim]

Let me suggest that before you turn it back in for another model that you visit the Grand Design owner's forum and solicit some advice on how to deal with the issue. Post it in the tech section and both forum members and Grand Design will try to help you with a solution. They are a very helpful group and many of the owners are engineers with years of manufacturing experience.

I own a Grand Design, and one of their key benefits is the superb customer service you can receive. Give their customer service line a call on Tuesday (after the holiday) and see if they have any suggestions on how proceed. Their number is 574-825-9679.

Just a thought... Grand Design just recently switch all their units to auto levelers. The older manual levelers provided much higher ground clearance. For the $5K loss you'd be taking, you could easily remove the auto leveling system and install the manual leveling system for much less money. And you might even be able to sell the automatic system and actually be ahead on the deal.

Grand Design Owner's Forum

Jim

[Nicholsfamily05]

Can you post a picture of the unit and truck together and apart so we can get an idea. Looking it up online he pictures seem to be normal of any other fifth wheel.

We have an issue with our fifth wheel of getting it up the driveway as he rear bumper hits and wants to drag. We just purchased a new house and well I measured to the frame and not bumper. Don't know why I did but eh my fault. So for the time being it is parked else where while we find a crew to come in and rear slop our driveway. Once that is done it would fit nicely up it.

We haven't had any issues with any campground since we purchased it in 2014. It's 40 feet so it's pretty good length. As for turning and backing into spots we haven't had one yet where we weren't able to get into.

i know in our state once the title has been assigned to an owner other than a dealer it's considered used. Can't be sold as new so your the next buyer can't take advantage of the same interests rates or financing specials that come with new units.

I would have to agree with the other posters of have a crew come in and level it our use the money they want to charge you for a nice storage spot.

[jackstrat]

We have 6 total jacks, it is 22 feet from the pin the the first wheel. Our last trailer was 19 feet from the pin, we really didn't think it would make such a big difference. Thanks for the info!

[stickdog]

djgarcia wrote:

eHoefler wrote:
You need to elaborate. Height of automatic jacks??? Pin to tire distance???

X1, If I understand your problem, one solution is to adjust the 5th. wheel hitch to it's highest level and reverse the axles so they are located under the springs. Not a big deal and you might even ask the dealer to do it for you as a customer satisfaction effort.

+1

Plus a little back and forth practice should take care of the length problem.

[MarkTwain]

eHoefler wrote:
You need to elaborate. Height of automatic jacks??? Pin to tire distance???

X1, If I understand your problem, one solution is to adjust the 5th. wheel hitch to it's highest level and reverse the axles so they are located under the springs. Not a big deal and you might even ask the dealer to do it for you as a customer satisfaction effort.

[thecdnmole]

jackstrat wrote:
I should have added the jacks hit the ground when we are maneuvering the unit into the parking spot.

How about a picture showing this? Maybe they aren't retracting all the way? Go look at a similar trailer and see if it's the same. As other have suggested, modification is cheaper than trading. But, if the length is now a problem, guess you have no option than to sell and buy again.

[Ozlander]

I've never seen a 5th wheel where the jack clearance was only 6" when fully raised.

[All58Parks]

I would look into getting an excavating company to regrade your yard. I had to do a little of this with my new TT to make it easier to park, since it was several feet longer than the old one. Didn't cost much at all. It doesn't seem likely that you'll run into much of a problem in campgrounds, unless you're planning to do some off-road boondocking.

[drmopar]

Suggest removing the jacks and have something else fabricated. Make it your own now. Good luck.

[jackstrat]

I should have added the jacks hit the ground when we are maneuvering the unit into the parking spot.