Recreation by Design reviews

This is an amazing rig. We purchased this because of the mid-bunkroom. This rig has a TON of storage space, in the living area, in the kitchen area, in the bedroom, underneath. The convection microwave is a huge plus. We’ve used the oven, but we all know RV ovens aren’t the best. The convection microwave works great. I've made biscuits and cookies, etc.. in it multiple times. Refrigerator has a ton of space. We’ve gone on 30 day trips in this rig and had no issues with any of the appliances. We upgraded the batteries because we keep it in a storage facility when not being used. We upgraded to a trickle charger for those batteries for the same reason. Show less

We have lived full time in this model Grand Design for almost 6 years and have been extremely happy overall with its quality. There will always be minor problems with all RV's but we have never had any major issues. this floorpan has been great having that extra room! Plus the basement storage is really nice. Show less

We love this rv it pulls great and it’s just enough space for the 2 of us. It may be small but it has tons of storage and the space is layed out efficiently. We’ve spent a week in it and had no issues. The kitchen has plenty of storage for all the food and dishes you want. Plenty of clothing storage around the bed. The bed easily folds out into the Murphy bed, you could do it with one hand. The dinette also folds down into another bed for a couple extra people. The bathroom has tons of storage too. The outside griddle makes cooking even better when you’re in a campground. Show less

The floorplan is the best possible floorplan for the the way we travel. The desk space and the island kitchen have become essentials for us. If you want these amenities in a travel trailer, this is your unit. But it does have down sides. Foremost is the anemic cargo carrying capacity. Forget the factory weights, it will be heavier even dry. you are looking at a 1000# plus tongue weight. And once you add the basics like cables and hoses and a weekend's worth of clothing and food you will be at the weight limit. Distributing that weight is also a challenge as the unit is back end heavy. You will likely need to tow with the tongue slightly down to balance the load, which will increase the tongue weight even more. It is a drop frame to increase storage volume, so depending on your hitch you will be getting close to the ground. We use a P3 and get 4-5 inches of ground clearance. So with the gross weight, tongue weight, rear weight, and then add sail area, plan on a 3/4 ton TV. The math from GD might make you think 1/2 ton, and the fan boys will all say "Like it isn't even there" or "No problems". But you need a 3/4 ton for this trailer. The usual quality issues abound. Gaps in sealant, trim falling off, bubbles in the roof membrane, incorrect PEX fittings, sawdust everywhere. We have needed three repairs and I did all of them myself. The process of returning to the dealer 2 hours away, dropping off for warrantee claim, picking it up again, returning when the parts are in, and final pickup means 8 hours on the road for every issue. Give me a Mobile Tech or ship me the part! But in the end, worth it for the floorplan! Show less

We've had the RV for just over 4 years. Bought new. We do not travel with the unit. It is on a seasonal site. However I did move it 60 miles from the original seasonal location to another and it towed very well. The only real issue we've ever had was the Norcold 1210 model refrigerator. The original one was DOA upon us taking delivery. It was replaced quickly and that unit lasted about 2 years. GD was helpful in coordinating a replacement unit along with our dealer. That one failed as well. I replaced it with a residential refrigerator. I replaced the bathroom faucet as well. The original was simply too low to the sink bowl. A simple and easy process. Otherwise the floor plan, storage and overall functionality has been awesome for us. Show less

I used to own a trailer dealership and I have hauled every size trailer. This trailer hauls and travels great. It has been a great trailer. I had a bad fridge but it was replaced. The only disappointment is the rust on the powder coated Lippert frame. Show less

Rv was assembled in a hurry. Very poor and sloppy workmanship. End result is missing parts, things falling apart. Excess frame flex/failure. Wrong bolts, missing bolts, bad welds, suspension failure, bad frame design, things falling apart. Serious safety issues. To many corners were cut to make a profit and sacrifices safety. Show less

Floor plan is great for two. Murphy bed allows for comfortable sleeping with lots of space during the day. Full kitchen and bathroom make trailer feel like it’s much larger than it is. Full bathroom provides plenty of room. Tanks are good sized for smaller trailer. Show less

We purchased the GD in 2022 for long term travel. We have stayed in the 5th wheel for 4 months at a time and love the floor plan. It is perfect for a couple during extended camping. Grand Design was highly sought after before 2020 and was highly rated. During our first year of ownership we found trim falling off, entry door not lining up, water leakage around lights on ceiling and a piece of plastic lodged into the rear ac. Things you would not have found during a 6 hour walk through. Warranty has been less than stellar and support has been minimal from GD. We cringe every time we hear of recalls and are hoping we are not the 1% ending up with frame damage and being denied. At this point we love our fifth wheel but have no confidence in the GD models. Our previous RV was a Keystone Toy Hauler 2012 and was built much better than the GD. I will not own another GD model. Show less

The floor plan is similar to other rigs with the opposing slides. This maximizes the living area and kitchen. Design wise the kitchen slide is large and on a Shwintek system. We have had this replaced under warranty. Would like to have lights over the island, for some reason this unit does not have them. The rig tows very well, and storage is good. Show less