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Jayco vs Grand Design

ChrispyjCSLT22
Explorer II
Explorer II

New to this forum and this will be my very first travel trailer. All perspectives welcomed and appreciated.. After the Tampa show, these are the 2 I like the most.. The Rep said GD uses OSB vs we use plywood and he feels that because of this, GD is less quailty.. I thought it would be best to try and ask actual Jayco owners.. Thoughts between these 2?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxHlBhwduwQ

 

****VS****

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLsoi9LtYWQ

 

 

 

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22 REPLIES 22

I appreciate your response. but how do I tell the frame height? it doesn't say on either MFGs website.. I do know that the jayco has the BAL A frame with huckbolts from Norco vs the GD has the welded frame from lippert, but I'm weary of Lippert with all the frame flex issues GD is having right now..

I can appreciate the engineering lesson given to you but the RV industry does not use exotic or high strength materials in their frames. Yes, a box beam can be built strong enough to attach aircraft wings to but we are talking about building as cheaply as possible. That precludes exotic materials being used. 
 I have had three trailers: one with a 4" frame which did ok but lots of things needed to be resecured due to flexing. The 5" frame was actually the most rigid as it had an "I" beam with 1/4" material all around but was very heavy for the size and the current unit has a 6" "I" beam that is about 3/16" thick and is very rigid without adding a lot of weight. I have no experience with Huck fastened frames but they have been used on frames for semis for many years.


2020 Keystone Cougar 22RBS, Ram 1500, two Jacks and plenty of time to roam!
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits. A.E.
Good Sam Life Member

Finding the frame size is easy. Measure from the top to the bottom ( or bottom to the top if you are right handed ) and you will know how big the frame is. The tongue is the same size as the frame but is usually a box shape and a lot of frames are "I" or "C" shaped.


2020 Keystone Cougar 22RBS, Ram 1500, two Jacks and plenty of time to roam!
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits. A.E.
Good Sam Life Member

I plan to hit some lots later this month into next month and I will bring the tape measure.. and speaking of frames,  how does something like this happen?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHk5oThyHL8&t=6s

 

 

This video will highlight my experience with a bent frame on a 2021 Springdale by Keystone travel trailer. You will see what happened, why it happened and what the final outcome was. Did the manufacturer stand by their product? Did the extended warranty we purchased cover everything? Watch this ...

The height of the frame (I.e.: the web of the beam) is not the sole determining factor for the strength of the frame. The flexural strength of the beam (section modulus) is determined by several factors, depth of the web being only one such factor. I can make a 2-inch webbed beam with a higher section modulus than a 6-inch webbed beam, by easily changing one of several factors which could include thickness, steel strength, shape of the section, cutouts, etc.. The thing is, you could easily by fooled by a manufacturer by looks alone without knowing which one actually has the higher section modulus. And good luck trying to find that little nugget of information.

this is soo above my paygrade..

Basically the first sentence says it all. To paraphrase: The frame height alone does not determine the strength of the frame.

Gotcha.  what are your thoughts between the 2 campers?