Recreation by Design reviews

I am extremely disappointed with my experience with Grand Design. For more than a year, I have dealt with repeated issues and defects with my trailer, many of which have made the unit completely unusable. Despite multiple attempts to seek support and a resolution, the process has been slow, frustrating, and has required constant follow-up on my part. My RV has spent months in storage because it cannot be safely or reliably used, yet I have continued to incur monthly loan payments, insurance costs, storage fees, and additional travel expenses due to breakdowns and mechanical failures. In total, the financial loss and lost use have been significant. Several major issues have occurred, including but not limited to: Electrical malfunctions that remain unresolved Axle and suspension concerns Flooring and wall problems Hot water heater failures Multiple campground disruptions due to malfunctioning components Despite all of this, Grand Design has repeatedly refused to consider a full refund—even though the situation was escalated to management back in April 2025, and a refund was initially discussed as a potential solution. Instead, I was offered a monetary amount that does not come close to covering the actual costs, time lost, or frustration experienced over the past year. The compensation offered feels dismissive considering the long-term impact of these ongoing issues. Additionally, communication has been inconsistent, and I have often been left waiting days for responses on matters that should be treated urgently. Grand Design markets itself as a company that “stands behind its product,” but my experience has not reflected that promise. After more than a year of unresolved problems, excessive repair needs, and thousands of dollars lost, I cannot recommend Grand Design to anyone looking for a reliable RV or a company that takes accountability for its product failures. I hope this review encourages more transparency, better customer support, and a higher standard of responsibility for those who invest significant money into these units with the expectation of quality and reliability. Show less

The worst. Drawers/cabinets falling apart. Pipes leaking, paneling and trip falling down...a lot. Skirting brackets loose. Multiple issues with AC/Heater. Slide outs not working. Door not latching. Refrigerator/ Freezer doors not latching. I have had a lot of travel trailers, and this is far and away the worst piece of junk. Show less

This RV, on a Mercedes-Benz Chassis rides as comfortably as anything you have ever driven, true Mercedes-Benz comfort. The bathroom could be a bit larger, but other than that, no complaints. The Onan generator and on-board LP gas tank are very convenient. Show less

This travel Trailer is great to tow though i use an equalizer hitch and a 3500 diesel to pull it. Even in very strong winds this trailer pulls very nicely. We have two adult sized special needs men and the bunkhouse is perfect for them. The primary bedroom has enough room when the slide is out to allow dressing in that room. The kitchen and living room are very roomy and makes cooking easy and out of the way of others that are watching tv etc. Only issues we have had is a broken refer latch and a piece of trim fell off inside. This floor plan is perfect for our needs. Show less

The floor plan is absolutely amazing. It feels so open and easy to move around in. The counter space is unmatched that is for sure. Plus the bathroom is perfectly sized and has lots of storage. The ability to drive our truck and not have to get a fifth wheel hitch but have a fifth wheel feel is perfection. We use our truck bed for hauling other things so this is the best of both worlds. Best travel trailer design I have ever seen. Show less

We had a 42 foot Alpine, and traded it in on this one, as we planned to travel more and the ease of smaller unit appealed to us. We are retirees, and hoped this would be our 6th and final RV. What a mistake!!! Nothing but problems from the start. First trip (end of September) my feet froze while doing Dishes....the wind was very noticeable under the sink and cabinets. The dealer said the furnace needed a fresh air intake from inside the trailer.... but, the wind was coming in when we were NOT using the furnace! They fixed with spray foaming all the "holes". The sliding door in the bedroom continued to come off the rails every time we moved. There was a freezer tray missing, and the fridge made a God awful noise every time it kicked in! We were told all these noises were normal, yet, never experienced in the 5 other Brand new units we owned! Also, the flimsy little plastic bar that was to hold the fridge doors closed, just bent, and allowed the door to open several times. They offered to "sell" us a latch (are you kidding me!?) We finally fixed it ourselves with a latch used to babyproof cupboard doors!Although equipped with a solar panel, the hot water on demand makes it difficult to boon dock as you use a half tank of water for it to get warm depleting water supply, and filling tanks! There was a screw under the lino in the bedroom, that we fortunately caught soon enough that a hole was not created. Although our vehicles receive radio reception - the indoor radio does not receive anything! Our next trip was to Southern USA in February. We had been on the road for over a week, but it was when we got to California that it was warm enough to just have the screen door open. That s when we noticed the door was falling apart. It was progressively getting more and more difficult to close, and at times it took two of us to actually close it! The bottom corner of the door was cracked, peeling was being hid behind the plate of the screen door. Long story short it took THREE (3) doors before they finally got it right.....and it still is giving us grief. Doesn't close properly. The table had to be replaced because it started cracking.....obviously they stained it prior to it being properly dried. Grand Design finally, in good faith, gave us an additional 6 months warranty - but as this was granted in October, it would run out before we actually got to use the trailer again, so really, was it in good faith? Not! I know there are law suits regarding the frames of some of the models....although our unit isn't listed in the law suit yet, I'm sure it is the problem with the door not closing properly. In any case, I know it wont be our last RV, but will steer very clear of Grand Design, and really any dealership that sells them as our experience with the dealer was about as good as with the manufacturer. Good luck! Show less

Save your money and buy a different brand, I understand things fall apart while your towing your camper, but for them to use 1/8” staples to attaché trim moldings and self taping screws to hold in the fuse box that completely fell apart while towing is a joke. We are now dealing with roof leaks and dry rot, woke up to a puddles of water in the bedroom, called an RV repair guy and he went up on the roof and there are bubbles everywhere, the roof is separating from the membrane, by the way the roof was serviced by the dealer 5 months ago, and they said its all good, now certain spots your foot will go through if you stepped hard enough! Should have bought the Jayco, the $8K difference is well worth it! We’ll see what’s next! But what a lemon. And no customer service department will not do a damn thing. Show less

This camper is three years old! The bedroom window frame is falling in, it isn't covered by the warranty, the refrigerator died over the weekend, this is the second refrigerator in this rig. They did replace the bathroom faucet for customer service reasons. I am so disappointed with this company. This is my second Grand Design, I upgraded from a 2017 Reflection because of the quality. This one is pure crap and I am so disappointed. I spent a lot on this and every weekend I wonder what next? Show less

After having a great 9 years with my grand design reflection I made the mistake of trading it in on a new solitude. They are allowing lippert to put sub par equipment in their RV's. The tankless water heater(Furrion) had to be replaced at 6 months, I have been without a fridge(12 volt furrion) for 2 months. Dealerships don't even want to mess with them, Lippert is holding them up for getting parts now that I finally got it in . Also having problems with the tank valves which I never had in 9 years with the reflection. I bought a $147,000. lemon, never again. Grand design has went downhill and is no longer deserving of their previous reputation Show less

BEWARE OF GRAND DESIGN RV AWNINGS Grand Design installs the Solera 3000 Awning by Lippert, which is a design disaster. It can’t shed rainwater, so water pools on top until the awning collapses under its own weight. When I asked for help, I was told it’s “only meant as a sunshade” – not for rain. That’s unacceptable on a product built for outdoor use. Buyers, beware. Show less