Lets see what you are towing.

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Steve Karolek

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NIce how do you like the Grand Design? I have heard mixed reviews about them. Mostly that Warranty claims are horrific with them. But they units are nice.

I've been researching trailers for almost two years, ordered my custom build Grand Design Momentum 397th yesterday. Most of the warranty horror stories I've heard are either:
- owner trying to get something repaired out of warranty, or,
- owner trying to get something repaired due to inappropriate use (e.g. sun shade damaged by storm when it should have been rolled up), or,
- owner not understanding that component manufacturers are responsible for component warranties, or,
- crappy dealer experience

On the flip side, I've seen hundreds, maybe thousands, of stories where Grand Design stepped up to help/fix issues between owners, dealers, component companies, etc.

The customer facing folks I've encountered from Grand Design have all been fantastic to talk to.

I guess my "real experience" will start in 8-10 weeks when I pick up my trailer.

Some examples of changes made to Grand Design build options over the past year+ due to customer and prospective customer feedback:

- many trailers now have the option to be built with a residential fridge instead of the Norcold RV fridge. On my build sheet yesterday, there was no price difference. (I prefer RV)
- MORryde disc brakes are now available on the big Momentum trailers and possibly some of the big Solitudes, as a factory installed option although it isn't on the web site or dealer build sheet yet (I ordered these, $4,200 for three axles)
- Grand Design is willing to schedule a stop at MORryde to install independent suspension before delivery of trailers to the dealer for customer acceptance, many people are working to make this a factory option in the future. Right now, apparently there isn't enough demand
 

RamClassic LI

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How does that tow? Feel ok? Stable?
It towed very well, I only have one experience towing the new trailer when I picked it up from the dealer in PA and back to Long Island. I have a prodigy brake controller and a Resse pro WDH with one sway bar. It pulled very well, no sway and got decent gas mileage being that it’s a V6. Anything above 10mpg for a gas motor is good in my book. Now for this upcoming camping season the Ram is gone and a Durango RT will be taking its place. Believe it or not very similar axle, tow and weight ratings. We will see how the unibody handles it!
 

Loudram

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Watch your wheel base with the Durango. At 25' you may be at your limit. To much longer and it'll be a case of the tail wagging the dog. That's why I traded in my Grand Cherokee for a Ram. The Durango and Cherokee both have a 119" wheel base where a quad cab Ram has a 140" wheel base. When we were looking at trailers last year we were looking at a 25' one and the salesman told me that I might want to reconsider towing that length with the Cherokee. I'm not saying that you can't do it but be very aware of sway. This topic gets discussed all the time on the RV board I belong to and those who have towed with a similar combination have said that it wasn't all that great.

Since your going to try it, I would recommend a top shelf weight distribution and anti sway hitch. I personally use an Equalizer hitch but the Reese Dual Cam is a good one to. One sway bar probably won't cut it.
 
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RamClassic LI

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Watch your wheel base with the Durango. At 25' you may be at your limit. To much longer and it'll be a case of the tail wagging the dog. That's why I traded in my Grand Cherokee for a Ram. The Durango and Cherokee both have a 119" wheel base where a quad cab Ram has a 140" wheel base. When we were looking at trailers last year we were looking at a 25' one and the salesman told me that I might want to reconsider towing that length with the Cherokee. I'm not saying that you can't do it but be very aware of sway. This topic gets discussed all the time on the RV board I belong to and those who have towed with a similar combination have said that it wasn't all that great.

Since your going to try it, I would recommend a top shelf weight distribution and anti sway hitch. I personally use an Equalizer hitch but the Reese Dual Cam is a good one to. One sway bar probably won't cut it.

yes I agree on the upgraded WDH, I was looking at the Equalizer or Blue Ox. The trailer is a hybrid with a wet weight of 5500lbs and it’s 24.5 feet from tongue to back bumper. The reason for the swap was because of our current family situation, two kids in car seats and a 65lb dog all in the back seat was not an ideal situation. Hopefully when they out grow their seats I can upgrade to a 2500 crew cab
 

Toddbigboytruck

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yes I agree on the upgraded WDH, I was looking at the Equalizer or Blue Ox. The trailer is a hybrid with a wet weight of 5500lbs and it’s 24.5 feet from tongue to back bumper. The reason for the swap was because of our current family situation, two kids in car seats and a 65lb dog all in the back seat was not an ideal situation. Hopefully when they out grow their seats I can upgrade to a 2500 crew cab
Sounds like we have similar hybrid. I have a 1500 with a 3.21. I need a replacement truck in a hurry. But now I wish I wish I would have gone 2500 or even 3500. Sure my 1500 can easily tow the trailer it is just close on capacity. With the family dogs

BF1EF734-2891-4817-9FEA-4E6E97179A1E.jpeg
 

tourrider

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I've been researching trailers for almost two years, ordered my custom build Grand Design Momentum 397th yesterday. Most of the warranty horror stories I've heard are either:
- owner trying to get something repaired out of warranty, or,
- owner trying to get something repaired due to inappropriate use (e.g. sun shade damaged by storm when it should have been rolled up), or,
- owner not understanding that component manufacturers are responsible for component warranties, or,
- crappy dealer experience

On the flip side, I've seen hundreds, maybe thousands, of stories where Grand Design stepped up to help/fix issues between owners, dealers, component companies, etc.

The customer facing folks I've encountered from Grand Design have all been fantastic to talk to.

I guess my "real experience" will start in 8-10 weeks when I pick up my trailer.

Some examples of changes made to Grand Design build options over the past year+ due to customer and prospective customer feedback:

- many trailers now have the option to be built with a residential fridge instead of the Norcold RV fridge. On my build sheet yesterday, there was no price difference. (I prefer RV)
- MORryde disc brakes are now available on the big Momentum trailers and possibly some of the big Solitudes, as a factory installed option although it isn't on the web site or dealer build sheet yet (I ordered these, $4,200 for three axles)
- Grand Design is willing to schedule a stop at MORryde to install independent suspension before delivery of trailers to the dealer for customer acceptance, many people are working to make this a factory option in the future. Right now, apparently there isn't enough demand
All RVs have issues. They're hand built, so....

I did a lot of research and picked Grand Design for the price point, and company reputation. I do like my350M.
84f80e0ef441d0059658e955dd98d15b.jpg

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 

Mountaineer83

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All RVs have issues. They're hand built, so....

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

I wish more people understood this! They aren't built with jigs/standardized parts like a vehicle. There built like a house that needs to be highly mobile. Many parts are fabricated in the shop to make them work.
 

kaHonu37

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2019 RAM 1500 Quad Cab 5.7 L HEMI, 3.21 Ratio. With A.R.E. V-series camper top, (for our two Golden Retrievers)

2018 Forrest River 179 RPOD GVWR 3972 Lbs

EQUAL-I-ZER. 600#/6000# Sway control Hitch, with extended shank (allows tailgate to drop while TT is attached)

Summer trip planned for Newfoundland.

399AB679-9CC8-40A1-A4FD-3CB42C8CFAB9.jpeg
 

sandawilliams

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All RVs have issues. They're hand built, so....

I did a lot of research and picked Grand Design for the price point, and company reputation. I do like my350M.
84f80e0ef441d0059658e955dd98d15b.jpg

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

I've been towing TT's since 1975. Have come to realize that you will be doing minor repairs from the day you purchase them new. Major issues are few that require the unit to be returned to the dealer for repair. Much of these repairs are due to lighter weight materials being used to keep the weight down. As previously mentioned you are pulling a house down the road so expect minor issues to happen.
 

Loudram

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I've been towing TT's since 1975. Have come to realize that you will be doing minor repairs from the day you purchase them new. Major issues are few that require the unit to be returned to the dealer for repair. Much of these repairs are due to lighter weight materials being used to keep the weight down. As previously mentioned you are pulling a house down the road so expect minor issues to happen.

To own a travel trailer you better be handy with tools or have money to get it fixed. Most people who have owned them for any length of time know that many of them are poorly built. Some more so than others but most have issues. The only exception may be Airstream but your going pay up big time to own one of those.
 

BruceMorgan

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New trailer as of last week, our second trailer after buying our first two seasons ago. I wish I’d listened to people who said “buy used for your first because it may be too small or otherwise not fit your needs”.

Well bingo, it was small and we wanted more room and an outdoor kitchen. This our Crossroads Sunset Trail 253RB. 7550 GVWR. 5656 UVW. Probably 6300 as I load it, but I haven’t hit a CAT scale yet.

I have a quad cab 5.7 with 3.92 factory tow package. I upgraded to BFG T/A K02 tires, added Timber Grove air assist, swapped in a Helwig rear sway bar. I tow with an Equalizer WDH. With all that the Ram tows this trailer like butter.

1316BDC2-7D2E-4170-8978-4D0B5EC64B4D.jpeg 6865D100-8E3F-40AE-9F21-6D0F3BF6456E.jpeg
 
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DILLIGAF

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101079129_10158601415078552_2540615520864960512_o.jpg
 

Michael

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Here's what I pull. A 2017 Jayco 29RKS that I picked up last summer. The previous owner only used it three times in the three years he owned it. He sold it to me for $14K less then what he paid for it new; he was just looking to get out from under the payment on a trailer he rarely used. His loss is my gain.
4PhyOiYUChWNVZ6ONY9kSu.jpg 5QPUrPkh4d6XKNx1nqLdHK.jpg
 

Michael

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To own a travel trailer you better be handy with tools or have money to get it fixed. Most people who have owned them for any length of time know that many of them are poorly built. Some more so than others but most have issues. The only exception may be Airstream but your going pay up big time to own one of those.
I've been towing TT's since 1975. Have come to realize that you will be doing minor repairs from the day you purchase them new. Major issues are few that require the unit to be returned to the dealer for repair. Much of these repairs are due to lighter weight materials being used to keep the weight down. As previously mentioned you are pulling a house down the road so expect minor issues to happen.

Whats fun when someone enters the trailer, but doesn't use the door; I had that happen on my last trailer.
1TI1LsM8rQNcegOnQEJcvq.jpg
A black bear wanted to check out the inside of my trailer while I was gone. A 1x1, some screws, 1/4" plywood had it looking decent again.
6KlYmx3V90bk1hLtCF0nE3.jpg
The 1/4" plywood naturally was for the inside of the wall.
 

Michael

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Nice job. It looks good.
Thanks. I didn't like that trailer; it had a poor layout. The only reason I owned it was the price was right. The previous owner left it parked on someone else's property. When his friend sold the property he couldn't tow it with his dakota. He gave it to me for free if I towed it off the property so he wouldn't have to pay someone to do it. He didn't want to buy a truck big enough to pull it.

My new trailer has the same floor plan as yours; its just with Jayco's design twist on it.
 
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