Grand Design 5th Wheel reviews

Review of My 2023 Grand Design Solitude 378MBS: Buyer Beware I purchased my 2023 Grand Design Solitude 378MBS in February 2023 from General RV in Huntley, Illinois. Initially, I noticed minor issues like trim pieces falling off the slides, which I considered typical for an RV. However, by May 2023, significant problems began to surface. My bedroom door frame came completely unhinged from the passenger side wall, and the front bedroom slide started rubbing the floor, leaving wood shavings behind after each trip. I naively thought these issues were normal. As summer approached, I noticed excessive rust on the frame and treated it with Rust-Oleum. Later in 2023, the mid-deck screws began to self-tap out of the passenger side wall. I screwed them back in, again thinking this was normal. By January 2024, my entire slide mechanism failed. When I contacted Grand Design's warranty department, they dismissed my claim. However, a mobile tech in Camp Verde, Arizona, confirmed the motor wasn’t installed properly from the factory and that my bedframe was falling apart. While the tech replaced the slide rails and motors under warranty, I have yet to be reimbursed for the labor expense, despite providing receipts. In March 2024, while traveling from Camp Verde, Arizona, to Mississippi, I lost my roof on the highway. The front membrane separated from the front cap despite my regular maintenance and inspections. Grand Design's warranty department initially gave me the runaround, requesting details down to the brand of lap-sealant used on the roof. It wasn’t until I posted pictures on their social media page that I received a response. Jessica from their social media department helped cover the roof repair under warranty, and I had a Flex Armor roof installed in June 2024. However, I am still waiting to be fully reimbursed for my nearly $1,000 hotel stay during the repair. At the end of June 2024, I discovered a Facebook page discussing Frame Flex and Failure. Upon investigating my Solitude, I found symptoms of frame flex, including front slide failure, roof delamination, and interior damage. Testing revealed over a half-inch deflection of the mid-deck. Further inspection showed that two of the three lag bolts on the passenger side were loose, and the bolts used were the wrong size—3/8 instead of 1/2 inch. Despite notifying Grand Design and requesting an SRT unit to meet me in South Dakota, I was told my unit was safe to tow. After discovering the lag bolt issue, I lost all faith in Grand Design. Lippert, the chassis designer, failed to properly coat the frame, leading to excessive rust far beyond what should be expected in a 2023 model. Despite my efforts to maintain the frame, the rust continues to spread, suggesting a very thin layer of paint was applied over an already rusting frame from the factory. To make matters worse, my front slide is beginning to fail again. There is a crack down the side wall internally, directly underneath the slide, and it makes a lot of cracking sounds when pushing the slide in and out. When the slide is fully retracted, it rubs along the floor, exacerbating the damage. An SRT unit is scheduled to come out in August, but given the numerous negative reports, I have little faith in their ability to address the root cause. I paid over $131,000 for this RV and strongly advise others to reconsider all their options before purchasing a product from Grand Design. Show less

Highest quality and livability. Construction of the 5th wheel is second to none. Lots of storage and lots of comfort. This camper travels well over the highway and isn't bothered by gusts of wind. The braking system is excellent giving great peace of mind. Show less

2020 Grand Design Solitude was perfect for our full-time living with kids. Large living room with 2 slide-outs and giant windows, large kitchen with island, 2 bedrooms (one fits a king size mattress) the other we converted to a bunk room, lots of storage, washer & dryer, large fresh water and gray tanks - all these made it comfortable for full time living and traveling. We got a nice solar setup and a generator and were able to boondock for over a week at a time. Lots of great memories! The 2020 model is also great because it is fairly new but still pre-pandemic so the quality is there. Show less

We purchased a 2021 ST382WB-R full paint, generator, disk breaks. Trailer looks great but that unfortunately is not the story. Window in living room shattered and then window in entrance door shattered. Both replaced by Grand Design. The trailer springs after 1 year became flat - took months to get replacements then GD only sent enough springs for one Axel. Took months to get from GD, these are Dexter Axels and I found them within 100 miles from my home - no good needs to come from GD. First trip out converter failed - we were parked in RV Park and I had to pay service call and I did get paid back for repair and unit. Front floor squeaks horribly and have been trying for all 3 years to get this fixed. Slide in bedroom floor had water damage and took in for repair and dealer sent pictures but I am out $2400 - this trailer is covered with RV Cover when not in use - less than 6,000 miles on trailer. Prior trailer I had almost 20 years without water damage. Now wood over dining slide fell off - damaged center island - nailed in with less than 1/4 of nail holding wood. All 3 trims over other slides are lose. This trip window in entrance door fell out on highway - hope no one was damaged or injured - seems dealer did not install replacement with inside bracket. Oh, microwave not working properly. Forgot switch that runs inverter that has rubber like cover has failed. Best part, call GD you will get a very nice person but be prepared to wait an hour of so. Guess I am not the only unsatisfied customer trying to get issues handled. This trailer cost well over $100,000 so not bottom basement trailer. I will not purchase another GD! Show less

Having owned and used my Grand Design Reflection for 6 months, I now have a better understanding of the positive and negative aspects of the equipment. For me the positives are as follows: 1. solar panel and 12V residential refrigerator. 2. Waste water output pipe 20" from ground. 3. Cabinets and pantry storage space. 4. Tankless hot water heater. 5. Fireplace colors and heat effectiveness. 6. Lots of power outlets. 7. Electric kitchen ceiling fan with wall controls. Vents to outside. Negatives that we have experienced are as follows: 1. Bathroom ceiling fan opens manually and fan switch located on ceiling fan. For shorter people this design does not work well without some form of stepping stool. Poor design! 2. Refrigerator door frequently comes open during travel. 3. Fifth wheel shakes when anyone is walking around inside. 4. Reclining chairs are not secure and move during travel. Show less

I’m sure everyone like my wife and I want to get away and an RV and enjoy the experience and go to different places. My wife and I had a 2009 stellar eclipse toy hauler over the years. We had to replace many of the junk parts that they put on this unit. My wife and I would always notice the Grand Design momentum has been the top of the class draft about buying one for six years and then decided this year. We pulled the plug and bought one. The momentum 320 G looks good from the outside, but things went wrong the very beginning on the first day of our first trip the middle air condition went out that took seven weeks to repair. On second trip the generator would start. It doesn’t look like a bright future for traveling in our Grand Design momentum 322. I’m expressing to you that the quality of products have no quality buyers beware Show less

Ours is a 2018 that we have had absolutely no problem with. I take that back, we had a small slide issue that Grand Design quickly provided us with a replacement part for no cost. We simply paid a RV mobile repair to install and its been great since! We have been living in ours since June 2022, purchased used. This has been an exceptional unit. Our 2022 Ram 3500 pulls this without issue. Lots of storage, I can't say enough great things about our home! Show less

This 5th wheel was very easy to pull with a F350 Diesel. The design with front living room is able to support 6 people. The couches make out into queen beds with a large curtain separating the front living area from the rest of the trailer. The half bath makes it nice for the people in the front and not disturb the people in the rear. The 5th wheel has solar panels, generator, residential size refrigerator, ice maker and washer and dryer. Show less

This model has exceptional storage capability. I like the distinct separation of each of the rooms especially separating the kitchen from the living area. The 5 slide-outs are deep and wide which is what makes a 5th wheel so much better than a motorhome. Show less

This was the perfect unit for our family. With the door on the bunk room, it acts like a full second bedroom with storage and a lot of space. The amount of kitchen storage and counter space really make this a great unit for long term trips or even RV Living! The large fridge is awesome! Dual gray tanks make it easy to last a week between dumps. Lots of outside storage and lighting. All around it was exactly what we wanted! Show less