Daisy really is adorable. She just wants some play time. From the comments a lot of people must have missed the drone footage of the models side by side. Stay safe and healthy.
Great review. Nice way to review an rv of any kind. Your video you referenced on weights is the best on the Internet, no joke. When I started learning for our full time journey, I saw your video drop and it’s THE ONE! It finally ALL made sense. And I have pointed SO MANY people to that video when the topic comes up in any Facebook group or anywhere. Natural teacher! Always appreciative of your content.
We bought a 28RL a few months ago and have had it out on a couple of 3-4 day trips also as a shakedown. We went from an older class A to this trailer so we're still trying to figure out where things will go. Thanks for the suggestions how to set things up, the mirror idea is brilliant, I doubt we'd ever come up with that on our own. We have a 3 week trip coming up which will be the true test so your ideas and comments help more than you know. Full disclosure, when we were researching RV'ing I used to watch your channel and really enjoyed it but when we bought our Class A I drifted away. However, we've since gone with our a trailer I'm back in the fold as a subscriber. 😊 FYI, we tow with a 2021 Duramax 2500 and you don't even know it's there. Although GD's literature call Reflection half ton towable I don't think I'd ever consider doing that. Thanks for all of your work, maybe we'll run into you one day.
Those darn black shades. I don’t mind so much. Sometimes wish I had the black out roller shades though. Since they’re slightly transparent, you can see outside during the day, which means people can see INSIDE at night with lights on 😱🙈 I covered my precut Reflectix Insulation with black material and just keep them between window and the shade in the bedroom 99% of the time haha Easy to remove if we want the view or open windows. The rest of the camper I don’t mind so much.
We just love watching your videos! Love how genuine you both are! We aren't even campers but we are so intrigue by it all. So educational. Keep doing these videos!
Love it when you’re told. 1/2 ton truck will handle this rig. I have had 5 5th wheels and would not even begin to think about pulling one with a 1/2 ton truck. TT - some models, but nit this. And, until GD gets all their issues sorted out, I’d avoid the product line.
May I ask what issues do Grand Design have? From my understanding.They're one of the better Production r v manufacturers. And who would you choose over them?
Both the Momentum and Solitude are being plagued by the frame issues (from Lippert) that is basically separating portions of the coach, especially around the pinbox and then towards the rear bedroom areas. In additional, GD is notorious for water leaks due to poor plumbing installations. Unfotunately, since the prior senior guy left GD and went to start up Brinkley - it's been pretty much downhill for GD since, and, the "frame flex" issue does not seem to be addressed very well. or taking care of customers with the issue. GD had a really good reputation, until these issue started up, most notably with the frame. Who would I choose - good question, as the only one that seems to really excel on quality now is Brinkley - but they are way overpriced, to my think inking. Having had 4, 5th wheels, we now have a Tiffin DP motorhome.
Oh I see.I haven't heard any of those issues.I'm on my second RV and 1st 5th wheel. I have a Prime Time 1245.And I haven't had any of those issues.Just small cosmetic stuff over the past 7 years.. But thanks for the info.Because I was considering a Grand Design.Once I sell this one in several years.
Almost all the windows face away from the campsite! Reverse the slides and I'm interested. Much of this one is like our R150 273MK. IMHO smaller and simpler is not necessarily 'entry level'
This smaller RV does fit your needs. Maybe this would be harder for you to adapt to fulll time living in, but for people that have. not experienced a 48 foot RV full time can work in 31 feet. Thank you for your tour and comments.
We don't have a GD, but a Heritage Glenn 286RL, very similar layout. We love it, it's small enough to get into most state parks. Only thing I saw I'm jealous of was the handrail going up the steps toward the bedroom, our doesn't have that, but it will. Thanks for the tour.
Thank you guys , for going through an entry level fifth wheel with such detail and your ideas of how you would make it a full time living space. Would love to see more with your views ..
Great entry level for weekender. And yes, I have a Ram 1500 "heavy" GCWR @ 17k w/trailer @ 11k . With that said, don't max out your ride. This warrants a 3/4 ton... who knows? You'll want to upgrade the trailer someday. Great weekender trailer for a couple.
Great video and review you guy's. If you get the chance, i think if you did the same thing with a 337 RLS you would be impressed with everything it offers. We are at the tail end of our first ever 6 month snowbird season with our new 2022 337 and are loving it and everything it offers. Thanks Again and Safe Travels in 2024.
Hey Chad & Tara I'm still loving my Reflection 337 RLS. 4 years full time. But you are getting better MPG towing that small Reflection! You have to be missing your awesome Indian bike. Take care, Mike
I just bought a 2023 Grand Design Reflection 150 series 295RL as my entry level Fifth Wheel. It’s 33 foot. It looks a lot like that but some nicer features. I LOVE GDRV and your videos! Thank you!
We have the 2020 150 Series Reflection 28 RFS. Pretty much the same unit with the slides switched. What I don't understand is where did the pantry go? We love the unit. You are right about the bedroom, but it is what it is. The lack of slides in the bedroom is meant to reduce the pin weight making it '1/2 don't towable.
Nice rig, you can tell its smaller than ya'lls rig, but until you showed them side by side, I didn't realize how much smaller. Ya'll go back to the other rig, you might have to do a little "traing" to get back used to the bigger rig. Yes, Tara, I think most of the things you mentioned are areas that i would chNge up as well. I do have to agree with JD on BTBRV channel, i wosh they had adjustable shelves in every cabinet. That would give much more customizable space for the user. It does seem like a nice rig though. And it seemed that it was Miss Daisy approved. Really like ya'lls channel. I thought ya'll did a good review of this rig. God bless ya'll and stay safe out there on your travels. Ya'll have a Happy Easter.
I have a bumper pull, GD Transcend 235BH, that we upgraded to from a smaller trailer. If I had a 3/4t or 1t truck I would be more comfortable towing in the mountains but I already had the 1/2t truck before we upgraded that has plenty of payload available. All in all it does great and handles well. Check out the Transcend models and see what you think. Take care and be safe ! 😎
Great review. As much as I'd love to "go big", those big rigs are not good for older campgrounds where we usually go to. I love my 27' 2006 Wildcat, but these newer 28' to 30' units have features and are everything and more. BTW "Go Navy". I hope to see you out there.. Retired Navy...10 years till full retirement. I can't wait.
For entry level fifth wheel. it actually has a lot of good features on it. I am surprised that a fit for you even have two ACs and a roof ladder. The bedroom is too small for me but the room has some nice space on it. Have safe travels. Have a happy Easter.
We have the 150 series 280RS; which we love (no longer in production; the 28RL is very similar but lacking an outdoor kitchen). We are weekenders and we also take her out on a 2 week trip each year and it's been perfect for the 2 of us. I had to chuckle seeing this one parked next to your 410TH; looks so little.
We have the 150 series 260rd that’s even smaller than this unit. They do a lot to maximize space - and I credit them for that, but as much as we are in ours we need to move to something bigger. I hope they listen to Tara about the flip up tables on the side of the sofas, that would be really handy.
This layout reminds me a lot of what you see in motorhomes. The only major difference between this and my 34 foot dolphin is the lack of an island in the kitchen and the cab being where the rear sofa is. If trucks weren't so expensive I would have a smaller 5th wheel like this, the living and cooking space is great especially given the size and weight. Something that really stood out to me is that the second ac in the bedroom is fully ducted that's something that often direct dump on smaller 5th wheels and makes the second ac far less useful. I'd like to see how you got on with something like the reflection 320mks mainly to judge the quality of the factory desk setup it has. One of their new influence line of 5th wheels would also be interesting, the 2903rl maybe with its somewhat unusual upper deck.
That's got to feel so strange, both on travel days and when just living in it. We're in a 45' fifth wheel (Riverstone 42FSKG), and I wonder what it would be like spending a few weeks with something smaller and cheaper from the Forest River line, like maybe a Rockwood, or Cedar Creek. Or go Grand Design for it, and try a Reflection. It's more comfortable to just watch you describe it, walk us through it. I still have my office space in a slide, with plenty of desk space (71"W x 28"D), so I can watch this video on one monitor while I have other things going on with another. But travel days...what would it be like to not have such a monster back there? That part, I think I could quickly get used to.
We enjoyed your preview. We have the 375 RES-R, 2021. We love it but I only have a couple complaints about ours. I do not like the 1/2 divider in the kitchen sink. I would prefer a full divider or one full sink. It makes it hard to do a sink full of dishes. Also, we love our bathroom but there is only one high (I’m 5’) cabinet that is very deep for linens, etc. other than that we love it
Please do a review on the 295rl. We’re downsizing from our class a towing an f150. Also I’d like to hear some examples of which trucks could tow the trailers on their upper limit.
Enjoy your reviews with great information not sales pitch and seeing the travel locations It would be great if you did more reviews on toy haulers in the mid range price and about 35 to acces state parks and other locations. Reviews on the garage for motorcycle or sxs...
not a chance this is 1/2T towable. There is a unicorn exception, with a high capacity F150, which adds about another 1k in payload making it close to 3/4T capability. 20% of GVWR puts the pin weight about at 2,200. Most 1/2T have a payload capacity between 1,500 - 1,800
I have a grand design Reflection series and my husband has a Ford F150 full cab pick up. We have pulled out fifth wheel and a small trailer (with a golf cart). The F150 had the towing package installed.
I’m a huge Dodge fan. But, I took this quote off of Google “The Ford F-150 is, without a doubt, the most capable half-ton truck in terms of payload. Ford claims that the payload capacity of a normal cab, extended bed, 2WD F-150 with a 5.0L V-8 engine is 3,325” with that said, I have a 2001 Dodge 2500 4x4 Cummins 6spd manual. In 2018 I bought an Outdoors RV travel trailer rated at 8k dry and 11,200 fully loaded. My first outing to our local mountains I had almost nothing in the trailer coming back down the steep and long grade. No water, sewage, grey water and little food and some clothes and fishing gear. So about 8,200lbs if not less. Coming down that grade, even with a manual diesel tranny, I sweated bullets. I had a Banks exhaust brake put in shortly after. I can’t imagine towing an identical weight trailer or 5th wheel with a gas 1/2 ton… I left the mountains of N. CA, fled Hellifornia to Montana and now live in the mountains. I can’t imagine not having a diesel exhaust brake towing any midsize trailer. If you’re staying off grades and going Hwy/frwy from rv park to rv park I guess it’d be okay.
I love your videos on all the tech stuff. Very well done and informative. When you give a review there should not be any comparing to what you have as mine is much bigger and mine has a bigger shower and mine mine mine . You need to give an informative review on what it is. When you are reviewing something people do not care about what you have. For a 31 footer it has a lot to offer and no 5th wheel under 35 feet is very luxurious, you cant squeeze everything into that space. 44 foot to 31 foot is a lot different. It almost sounds like you are bragging about your RV. Yours will not fit into most National parks. This 5th wheel is for camping not living in full time. Keep up the good work on all the tech stuff
Ordered my first Changing Lanes Hoodie and I can wait to represent you guys at campgrounds....(I also represent KYD, matts rvs, and big truck big rv) but I love you guys!!
I really appreciate you both and love your channel and content. If you have more opportunities to test and review other GD models, I’d love to see the Reflection 324MBS. Thank you Chad and Tara for all you do.
Absolutely false. We have had zero frame issues. While we have not had any frame issues, we have published a blog post summarizing what we've seen and read online as well as our own thoughts that will hopefully help you better understand this frame failure issue. Please see: changinglanesrv.com/rv-frame-flex-our-opinion/
I have seen a lot of the frame flex videos, and I read your blog post. I have seen most of big truck videos. It is very concerning to me that there is what seems like a large number of problems. Maybe not large on how many they have sold, but large enough to have generated all the attention. It is not one or two units. The statement from GD seems to pass the blame, obscure the issue, and side step responsibility. People have sold their homes and put all their money into these units. They have no place to go live for a couple of months while their home is in limbo. There is the mental suffering factor, too. They have been encouraged by all the youtube channels on this lifestyle and then to get kicked with something like this is horrible/criminal. What is it going to take to fix this and make it right? How many of these are out there? If I owned one of these, I would be afraid to drive it anywhere. Constantly checking. How much flex is acceptable? What about resale value? I would be more forgiving, but I have also seen the videos of the spring hangers that bend over or break. The factory has sent out mechanics to weld reinforcements into them. You don't have to be a structural engineer to see the original u shaped hangers would be weak. Anyone building one of these at home would make it stronger than that. All this is just my own opinion commenting on videos that I have seen. Maybe some people faked their videos. In 2019, my wife and I were motivated by watching you, Phil and Stacey and others to rv. Fortunately, we didn't sell our property. We bought a 99 country coach. I do all my own work and have extensively improved it. If you saw the quality of these units, it would impress you, and you would also realize that in today's world, they can't put that quality in and have a reasonable price that people could afford. We watched all your videos and found them interesting and entertaining.
Thanks for all that you do to share helpful information. What's an "entry level" RV? 😊 For those who keep a home and a garage and buy a 5W for holidays and occasional weekends, the GVWR and related numbers play a big role in having a comfortable place to live without having to buy an expensive, dedicated tow vehicle. The Gand Design specs for this model chose to not have slides forward of the axles, thereby cutting payload in half. The North-south bed is a plus for this reason rather than "entry level." Keep up the good work!
We can do whatever we want. we are not paid by and definitely not controlled by GDRV. While we have not had any frame issues, we have published a blog post summarizing what we've seen and read online as well as our own thoughts that will hopefully help you better understand this frame failure issue. Please see: changinglanesrv.com/rv-frame-flex-our-opinion/
Good tour, I would think that this unit would be good for maybe 2,3 weeks at a time like the one we have.. Plenty of room for not long term. I also agree with the misses arrangements of things. Over great for like I said, short joints. Hope your health is doing better. P
Last thing to show is travel mode. In particular, what’s accessible? Can I use the refrigerator? It’s the bathroom accessible when the slides are closed? Basically how much function is still available when the slides are closed?
We are NOT employed, nor are we paid by GDRV. Also, for the record, GDRV has zero control over what we say and publish. This is evidenced by the fact that we have 22 videos (and growing) that are nothing but RV problems in our Grand Design RVs (see changinglanesrv.com/ytpl-rv-problems). If we had a frame issue, we'd absolutely make a video about it. But we have not, and we only make videos about issues we can attest to firsthand. We won't risk our reputation by regurgitating one-sided stories and speculation. We have published a blog post summarizing what we've seen and read online, as well as our own opinion that will hopefully help you better understand this frame failure issue. Please see: changinglanesrv.com/rv-frame-flex-our-opinion/
I have no interest in a 5th wheel… staying with our 26’ TT. Been RVing since ‘92, Class C, 36’ TT, 26’ TT and latest 26’ TT. I believe hubby would shoot me if I even suggest a 5er.😂 Love your videos! GO NAVY!!
Me and my wife looked at this exact model at a dealer that has the word compass in it. Yall figure it out for yourself. Anyway they tried selling us this model with me telling them that my truck to pullit with is a 2013 Toyota Tundra Crewmax 5.7 liter engine. We would have gotten it if we listened to them but after doing some research this trailer is way to much for my truck.But we loved this floor plan and would have bought it if we had the proper truck to tow it.
I love my bathroom, plenty of room on the 337rls, just hate how they conitually use dometic will which make crap products. I bought my RV 2 years old and the big AC was changed under warranty and now its out again.
We bought a 28RL on 3/28/24. I guess anything can happen, but it is unfathomable to me that Grand Design, who is supposed to be the MackDaddy of RV's, would send a unit out the door that the refrigerator didn't work and the entry door had to be slammed off of the hinges to be closed. Very disappointed at this juncture.
I don't recommend a 1/2 ton truck if towing in mountainous regions. My F150 is rated at 11,000lbs and struggles with my 8000lb travel trailer in the mountains. We just purchased a F250 to be safe.
Wondering how much you two are compensated for your time and effort on promoting Grand Designs RVs…. Not one word about “Frame Flex or Frame Failure “ whatever you want to call it! Any of that issue here? Hope your RV is being fixed by GD…….
We are not paid by GDRV and we (like the vast majority of owners) have had no frame issues. While we have not had any frame issues, we have published a blog post summarizing what we've seen and read online as well as our own thoughts that will hopefully help you better understand this frame failure issue. Please see: changinglanesrv.com/rv-frame-flex-our-opinion/
Thank you for asking for our take on this issue. We're honored that you value our opinion on this topic enough to ask us. We also understand how scary it can be to read some of the hype online. While we have not had any frame issues, we have published a blog post summarizing what we've seen and read online as well as our own thoughts that will hopefully help you better understand this frame failure issue. Please see: changinglanesrv.com/rv-frame-flex-our-opinion/
Your reply was on point and understandable. I do take your first hand reviews seriously finding your videos candid with truth. I do feel empathy with owners who experienced their disappointments, had bad events with my 2008 TT Jayco I bought new, and my 2015 Flagstaff PUP and my take away is that failures of the industry are not brand specific. Another couple I follow are Airstream owners recently on their 2nd, and they had frame fractures. Thanks again for your in-depth reply. Much appreciated.
31' is not what I consider entry level. We currently have a 2017 31' Grand Design with 3 slides. (our last RV was a 22'. What I would call a mid level). Our first RV was 18', that is what I consider entry level).
I am not a fan of the term “entry level”. It carries with it thats it for economically challenged people. Or, start here, be dissatisfied, and go all the way up to something you can’t get up your driveway with (get it?). I and several people actually prefer smaller and d lighter. I will draw the line at going to a tent, but Im getting close. 35’ to 25’ to 8’. I think this unit is decent and appreciate your eval.
Thank you for asking for our take on this issue. We're honored that you value our opinion on this topic enough to ask us. We also understand how scary it can be to read some of the hype online. While we have not had any frame issues, we have published a blog post summarizing what we've seen and read online as well as our own thoughts that will hopefully help you better understand this frame failure issue. Please see: changinglanesrv.com/rv-frame-flex-our-opinion/
Primarily because they are not designed for the beating they'd take from an RV. But, Furion (Lippert) is working on a mini-split style system in a single rooftop unit.
No. We (like over 99% of other RV owners) have had no frame issues. We have published a blog post summarizing what we've seen and read online and our thoughts that will hopefully help you better understand this frame failure issue. Please see: changinglanesrv.com/rv-frame-flex-our-opinion/
We’ve actually mentioned in several previous videos why we were trying out this smaller RV. It has nothing to do with frame failure or any other issue with our Momentum. We have not had any problems with the frame of our 410. The issue was actually our own…we couldn’t get our rv back up our own road until we got it paved. So we borrowed a smaller one 😜 Plus it’s fun to try out different RVs!
I own a 2021 303 and we love it. I don’t believe the smaller lighter GD 5th wheels have frame issues. All manufacturers pushed the limit with toy haulers and it’s not working out
It's not just Toy Haulers, there are plenty of standard 5th wheels from Grand Design that are having major frame failures. It's all over RU-vid.@@johnrosenthal7270
@@johnrosenthal7270 There are plenty of Grand Design 5th Wheels with major frame failures, not just the toyhaulers. It's all over RU-vid. (Pls don't delete)
