When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
It's taken a few years of patience and waiting for the right 5th wheel to come along, but I finally joined the club!
2021 Grand Design Reflection 28BH
Pulled it back from Iowa to Michigan about 600ish miles and it is amazing how much better of a towing experience it is pulling a 5th wheel verses a travel trailer. I will never go back to a TT. The 7.3L pulled it like a beast.
Great looking setup. We love that layout. Saw a 28BH up near Grand Rapids!
It's taken a few years of patience and waiting for the right 5th wheel to come along, but I finally joined the club!
2021 Grand Design Reflection 28BH
Pulled it back from Iowa to Michigan about 600ish miles and it is amazing how much better of a towing experience it is pulling a 5th wheel verses a travel trailer. I will never go back to a TT. The 7.3L pulled it like a beast.
Same trailer we have! Hopefully you don't end up with slide issues... I am taking mine in to get the Vroom slide mechanism upgrade in Sept for the big slide. Once that is done and all the other stuff I have done it should be near bulletproof!
Same trailer we have! Hopefully you don't end up with slide issues... I am taking mine in to get the Vroom slide mechanism upgrade in Sept for the big slide. Once that is done and all the other stuff I have done it should be near bulletproof!
our Shwintek slide nearly fell out of the opening while setting up on our west coast trip. Complete failure of the bearing blocks and gear racks.
got an estimate of 6k for the Vroom slide, just too rich for my blood, ended up me and the wife changed out the whole slide with the newer version, all parts compliments of grand design.
our Shwintek slide nearly fell out of the opening while setting up on our west coast trip. Complete failure of the bearing blocks and gear racks.
got an estimate of 6k for the Vroom slide, just too rich for my blood, ended up me and the wife changed out the whole slide with the newer version, all parts compliments of grand design.
I got pretty fast at swapping out the "Schwintek" (Lippert) slide motors. 5 minutes to get the old one out and new one in. It takes longer to reseal the bulb seal with weatherstripping adhesive and hold it until it grips and bonds than to swap the motors out. My 1st one pinched the wires until it caused a short and the 2nd one (Schwintek brand) died with no known cause. Tested on 12v and motor doesn't even make a noise. I started buying Chinese knock-offs because they last just as long as the more expensive Schwintek brand. My Solitude had 5 slides (3 Schwintek, 2 hydraulic) and I had to replace rivets on all 3 with longer stainless steel rivets in the jibs. When 1 of my jibs broke both aluminum rivets holding it up, my fiberglass cracked right at the corner of the slide. Grand Design quality
our Shwintek slide nearly fell out of the opening while setting up on our west coast trip. Complete failure of the bearing blocks and gear racks.
got an estimate of 6k for the Vroom slide, just too rich for my blood, ended up me and the wife changed out the whole slide with the newer version, all parts compliments of grand design.
$6k is definitely rich...Prices out west are much higher as my estimate is only $4500... def not cheap, but I have had enough of GD/Schwintek quality.
Same trailer we have! Hopefully you don't end up with slide issues... I am taking mine in to get the Vroom slide mechanism upgrade in Sept for the big slide. Once that is done and all the other stuff I have done it should be near bulletproof!
Yes of course we had slide issues (the main slide, not the bedroom slide) almost right away with it. It had no problem going all the way in but would only come out about a foot before going cockeyed and binding up. I would have to put it in override mode just to get it out. Tried doing the recommended re-calibration procedure multiple times and it never helped.
I have since come to the conclusion that ours was a lubrication issue with these Schwintek slide mechanisms. I got a can of CRC PTFE lubricant and sprayed down the underside of the tracks (the V groove on the bottom that the rests on the roller, not the serpentine-shaped track facing outward), sprayed down the rollers, and sprayed down a few other components in the wall. The first try after that it went out no problem and was MUCH quieter and smoother. I now lube it every other trip and have had zero issues since.
Also wanted to follow up to say that we are absolutely loving the 28BH layout. It's amazing how much better of an experience it is for a family of five compared to the travel trailer with the two bunks and smaller shower. I still can't get over how much more enjoyable the towing experience is, including hooking up and unhooking, auto-leveling etc., is as well.
The only upgrades I foresee are 1) adding a 2nd AC to the master bedroom (already confirmed that it is pre-wired, including the wire in the wall for the thermostat), 2) adding the rear camera, and 3) adding slide out awnings (I already have one I need to install, just need the bedroom one). I was thinking we might not like the steps since we had solid steps on the TT, but our steps have the extra outriggers or retractable feet under the bottom step that make them feel 90% as good as solid steps. Plus it eliminates the dirt coming into the camper from flipping the solid steps up and in.
Also wanted to follow up to say that we are absolutely loving the 28BH layout. It's amazing how much better of an experience it is for a family of five compared to the travel trailer with the two bunks and smaller shower. I still can't get over how much more enjoyable the towing experience is, including hooking up and unhooking, auto-leveling etc., is as well.
The only upgrades I foresee are 1) adding a 2nd AC to the master bedroom (already confirmed that it is pre-wired, including the wire in the wall for the thermostat), 2) adding the rear camera, and 3) adding slide out awnings (I already have one I need to install, just need the bedroom one). I was thinking we might not like the steps since we had solid steps on the TT, but our steps have the extra outriggers or retractable feet under the bottom step that make them feel 90% as good as solid steps. Plus it eliminates the dirt coming into the camper from flipping the solid steps up and in.
5th wheels are definitely much nicer to tow than bumper pulls. With respect to the stairs, even though the factory ones with outriggers are pretty good, we upgraded to the Torklift Smartstep which has been amazing as it adds one additional tread (we have the 4-step version) and is much more solid
I have that step as well. Have had it almost 2 years now with no issues. Very handy as you can park close to something and still get the step out. And you can make the step closer to the RV if you choose. I have the 5 step version that you can either use 4 steps or 5. Highly recommended. A must have for an upgrade.
Maybe the best park we've stayed at yet. Saw 700 year old Homolovi Indian ruins, a 50,000 year old crater, and had dinner near "The" corner in Winslow. Best part was the dark sky though, saw the Milky Way and more stars than I ever have, just amazing!
Picking up the rig from farm storage. Getting ready for only the second weekend trip of the year. Been busy with a home addition project and hay, haven’t had time for fun.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
