I want to help you enjoy the RVing experience even more by sharing the RV information I learn. RV Tips, How To, Tours, New Products, and your general topics surrounding RVing are what we are all about.
Looking at the Victron inverter for my 50 amp rv. needing a dual 120 output, this seems to do everything I need except the wattage. 3000 watts seems like it isn't going to run both ac units. I see Victron makes a 5000 watt output unit, but is it dual 120 volt as well?
A couple of comments. The table looks nice. Will go look to buy. I use the gloves when working on my vehicles. I have never worn gloves for dumping, etc. Never an issue. Have owned motorhomes since 1979. Water filters. I have had motorhomes with filters, but don't go out of my way to filter. Municipalities spend many of our bucks to provide good water at the faucet. On the same subject, we do not buy bottled water and use the water from our water tank. Refer back to 1979.
I like the Champion generators with he 30 amp RV plugs and remote start. Started out with a 3150, then upgraded to the 4650. The remote start is the way to go.
Dave, I enjoy your videos, one question, when winterizing I heard you mention blowing out the lines. I’ve always filled the lines with RV safe antifreeze. I have a new 5th wheel coming any day now, which is equipped with a tankless water heater. In your opinion what’s the difference between the two methods? Thanks Jon
Thanks Jared, now I know what it looks like and how you did your repair. Ours is a 2019 Solitude S-Class and so far 25000 miles, I don't see an issue but that is not to say there isn't one on ours as well, it just hasn't shown up yet.. Its what you can't see that will bite you. A few years back before all this frame breakage started, looking at these nice new Reflection, Solitudes and Momentums on the dealer's lots, you would never know what troubles were lurking behind the walls. I'm not left or right, about in the middle, but so far as a GDRV owner, I am not happy with their response. It's too much CYA and they are now paying for it.
Thanks for this video it was very informative. You may know more about this than I do, but doesn’t Lippert only build the frames based on the engineering designs provided by the manufacturer? Additionally, don’t the walls get attached by the actual manufacturer, in this case Grand Design, and not by Lippert staff. If both questions are a yes, then it seems to me that they actual construction issues start and end with the manufacturer and not with Lippert the company specifically. I agree with you that the information sent out by Grand Design was late and apparently not enough, but at least you got something from them. We have a Forest River product and when we had some issues with the construction I never got any responses from them and I submitted no less than 3 queries on a slide issue. Eventually I had to pay a 3rd party vendor to make the retailers and while it wasn’t too expensive it still would have been nice to know that the manufacturer was responsive and cared about our unit, which happens to be s flagship model.
He is on point here folks! We keep a small pump garden sprayer with some ant/bug insecticide. Just spray anything that contact the ground. Ants are particularly troublesome. We also spray the entire perimeter of the slide opening as ants will walk down tree limbs and join the party from above! You can use natural items like permethrin. Even a homemade garlic solution works!.
OMG THANK YOU Give me the info up from!! PLEASE!! I will watch to the end if it’s info relevant to my situation I will give you a thumbs up for not wasting my time!!
I watched a video from an " RV Technician " who actually blamed RV owners for broken frames, saying they are not setting them up properly as far as the hitch. This is usually done by the dealer after purchase. I really think you probably did a better job as far as repairs than the manufacturer is concerned. I think people need to boycot RV dealers, putting pressure on the whole industry. If no one is buying these junk RV's it will hurt them where it counts, financially. Eather start making better RV's, or go out of business. It's not rocket science.
Title of video, “…is it worth it?” You only provided one side. How much does it cost? How long is the course? If it’s 2 weeks long for a couple, and costs $5k. Yeah, maybe. If it’s 4 days and costs $20k, not so much.
This was a well thought out and repairs video. The thing with the bigger toy haulers is the gusset in the corners essential on the slide. But it's still a very well-done video. It's not a very easy repair process for a novice, but slow and easy. You can do this.
I did the Hanes fan upgrade on both of my fans and installed a maxxair vent cover to fit over my vent covers. Works great! Easy install, looks great and is reversible which is pretty awesome.
Again, where is the great clothing closet and storage? People are living in these expensive trailer. We need all requirements met, not just for travelling
Of course I'm hopeful that Winnebago and Grand Design fix this but from what I'm seeing... they just want to point fingers. Did you notice how that letter gently implied Lippert (sp?) may have been responsible? Did you know that RV dealerships are refusing to take these Grand Design models in on trade for fear of liability? That destroys the value of Grand Design trailers because nobody is going to want to buy them, new or used. Why a five year "extended" warranty? Why not a lifetime warranty? Oh, I see... I guess they aren't that confident in their trailer frames. Well, largely because of that attitude... I'm not confident in them and I certainly won't be buying one.
One might like to rally up all the bad welding and cracked frames ,plus the missing bolts and the design of how the walls are secured or in many cases aren't secured . Isn't it amazing how other brands have Lippert Frames,but are built stronger and are better designs from the RV manufacturers.Still waiting for the truth about what steel is being used and where it's from . It's obvious that a frame has been chosen to cater to a wide range of models,that probably hasn't worked for GD. I wouldn't down play the seriousness of what customers have been dealing with,what has increased is the lack of trust for a once great family manufacturer , corporate adds new clouds overhead !
Having watched this and many other frame flex/failure videos, I would never buy a large 5th wheel from any of the US manufacturers. They clearly have no idea how to build anything with structural integrity, even for $150,000 or more. Badly welded steel frames, lag bolts drilled into split, soft wood inside square tubes, terrible workmanship, little to no dealer support, worthless warranties - I will stay in hotels and avoid all the hassles. I know, we probably couldn't afford properly engineered and well-built products, but these are just plain junk and I will never buy one. If ever there was a case for government-enforced design standards and inspections, this has to be it. Wake up RV industry - you have just burned us too often with your pathetically bad products and poor customer support.
I think the repairs you made while done well, are only part of the issue. The frame itself needs to be reinforced to minimize some of the stresses being applied to the walls that are causing the shearing and the loose screws. And, attaching a wall through just aluminum tubing and small wooden inserts is not enough. It looks like what you did, will be effective, and hopefully you have no other issues. When we first started camping 5 years ago, Grand Design was held up as a leader in the industry for quality and customer service. Things are much different today. I would not consider a Grand Design at any price. Sad.
So for years, GD has rejected the notion that there was a wide spread problem and now per that letter (10:46), GD is now "working with the frame supplier, a third party structural engineering firm, and industry experts". Why....I thought there was no issue? A 5 year warranty starting for the 2020 model year? Please...the problem stems back further than that and they know it! "Do the right thing, put people first and be the best"? Sounds like more lip service to me. I think you can tell what camp I fall into.....
This could be good for someone that has a residential fridge and you just want power to that. Previous owners put a residential fridge in our RV and that’s the main reason we can’t do any long trips off grid.
You never cease to amaze me Jared. You just jump right in and get things done no matter how complicated. You are fearless. You sure saved a lot of time in the shop. I’m in awe. Hope you had help. I don’t understand why GD wouldn’t have put out a statement earlier just saying they know about the problem and are working on a solution.
Do you think transporting these rigs have anything to do with the drivers who haul them? I’ve seen them out in the desert crossing bumps like 4 wheels drive. Or going 70 and passing other rigs I think the owners who misuse them b need to have a warrenty
