It is a 2020 and still under the extended warranty IIRC. There is another thread on this.

Bob

 

Too lazy to search and this is going off the rails, but a 2020 certainly seems like it would be out of warranty. Usually those extended warranties are for stuff that really never fails. More of a sales pitch vs a bumper to bumper coverage. The fine print should shed some light on their reasoning for saying no.

The way I see it is when I buy something, I will fix everything myself. If there is a huge part expense, then I might start thinking about having someone else work on it. The horror stories about having their trailer in the shop for months [months that you can't use it] only to get it back with more problems would not make me a happy camper. I certainly would rather fix it myself in a few hours knowing it's right.

 

Only halfway related, but I had no end of problems with my GD imagine. Not sure if the frame flexed, but the axles bent, and the slide never worked right, and the cabinets flexed so much the fasteners popped off. You expect a little flex in a "lightweight" trailer like that I guess, but it seemed worse than anything I'd seen before. Was happy to get that thing sold.

The guy at the trailer shop who did the re-alignment told me they had seen some GD trailers with axles that were incorrectly specced from factory and got replaced under warranty. I never got anything under warranty.

 

Sadly, RV warranties are virtually worthless.

 

Yep that's my opinion as well. combined with the high depreciation, makes buying new kind of unappealing.

 

A couple years back there was an issue with a line of GD bumper pull trailers where the rear leaf spring hangers were failing. I found that because a hanger broke on my (non-Lippert) trailer. Lippert doesn't seem to have quality in mind when creating trailer frames. Maybe they're owned by Boeing?

While I setup my trailer to run as level as possible, the issue did reinforce (to me) the need to level it out.

 

LCI is the low cost bidder in the world of trailer frames and suspensions. That being said, LCI is just resonding to demand from THIER customer, trailer manufacturers are obsessive about saving weight, because then they can advertise a lower weight, and that is really compelling to buyers who own an SUV or half ton truck. There are companies who put heavy duty frames on the trailer (ODRV is one), but the cost and weight is significant.

ODRV trailers are MUCH heavier than similar sized trailers from other manufacturers, which usually puts them out of the "half-ton" class. There are others, I am just using OD RV as an example.
They sell a 26 foot trailer that is 7100lbs dry, and GVRW 9995 lbs. Same size from others is more like 6000 lbs dry, GVWR 7500. It's not all frame and suspension weight obviously.

 

ODRV and Northwoods Mfg are "sister" companies.

 

Messages on the Grand Design forums show Don Clark offering 5 year frame warranty now. 2021 and up. Just an fyi

Jim

 

You mean this one? They will still deny you for ANY reason. I bet oversized tires from factory on your truck would be enough for them to deny. I turned mine in to insurance for road damage. It was already deemed unrepairable. Now I'm just waiting on the adjuster to send the report.

 

Absolutely insane!

What is a company to do? Is there anyone here that can cast the first stone?

I admire that they are stepping up with an extended warranty on their frames. If what the CEO is saying is true, then I admire that too. Looking to find out what went wrong, finding different was to make a better product, hiring a third party to see if you really know what you are doing. Heck, better than Boeing.

If I was the CEO, one thing I would not do is to say I will fix every instance that is out there. I've driven cross country and there are plenty of major freeways with the worst road, worst than some 3rd world countries. There are plenty of people that fill every storage compartment and are driving over loaded. I do not know, but I bet most have no idea how overloaded they are. I know I don't. I bet there has been an instance or two that is not GD fault.

It seems to me that most RV owners know that the warranties are pretty much useless. The weird thing is, we all still buy them. WTF? Why would you spend your hard earned money on something that is a POS? That is your fault, not the RV dealer, sales department, manufacturer, or anyone else. Look in the mirror, you can't control your desire to just say no.

I accept that when I purchase one of these, that I will be the warranty company, the mechanic, and the parts supplier. I also understand that I will spend weeks to fix all the stuff behind the trim where things are just thrown around. I accept this and do not blame anyone but myself. I will accept that there will be a few curse words and lots of beer to calm me done. I know there will be thoughts of me wondering why I was so stupid to waste that much money for something that breaks all the time.

I wish Americans started blaming themselves for their problems instead of blaming everyone else for their poor decisions. 95% of my life was caused by my decisions.

Rant done. Sipping coffee now.

 

You are so wrong about 95% of your rant. It is everyone else's fault for Grand Design and Lippert cutting corners? Someone has pulled the wool over your eyes if you see the statement from Grand Desigm as a step up. It is political theater to save face. They will still deny just as many warranty claims and blame the consumer when Lippert owns every component that goes into building these RVs from the axles to the appliances.

When my claim is settled I'm not buying another RV. At least not one built after the mergers all started.

 

The dealer sent the warranty claim in to FR even though past warranty because THEY want to know what the hell is wrong, but FR doesn't care, not interested, etc.. The extended warranty wont cover them opening the wall to find out what is causing the damage either because if it turns out to be water damage, then they wont cover it. Neither the service guys nor I think it is water damage, no evidence of it. However when I got it home I noticed that the lower strip that covers the sidewall and panel under the frame at the pin has moved 1/8" down. You can see where the caulk is and was.

 

Working in the automotive service department for well over 30+ years, the wording is usually that they are not going to pay for any labor, only to find out there is water damage that they do not cover. It's your trailer so you must authorize the opening and if there is no water damage, the warranty company will pay for everything [minus deductible]. If there is water damage, the claim is denied and you, the owner of the trailer, are on the hook.

Do you trust the service department that much where you will authorize them to open up the side? If not, you should find someone that you do trust.

What the extended warranty company is doing is what most all companies would do. They have not denied anything, you have not authorized them to bill you if they find nothing wrong. That sounds like where you are at.

 

Wouldn't be the first time I'm wrong but with all the years of making decisions, I'm doing well, actually, very well.