This is the most detailed review I’ve come across regarding the Grand Design. Your comment regarding “golden thread of consistency” is spot on. I believe Grand Design trailers deliver the best bang for the buck and deliver products that are second to none.
Great content and detailed walk through. Please be mindful when salespeople talk about “half ton towable”. They’re going to try to sell you on a higher end price point TT on its ability to be towed by a common lightweight truck. However, when you consider the GVWR and hitch weight of the TT and the amount of payload (passengers, luggage, tools, equipment, fuel cans, etc.) you’re carrying in your truck, you will likely be close or over a half ton truck payload capacity. For example, an 8,900 lb TT will likely have a 600-700 lb hitch weight that you add to the amount of weight in your truck. If your half town truck has a 1,500 lb payload capacity, you only have 800 lbs including passengers to go. Additionally, even if you’re not over your payload, a strong cross wind, and you could find yourself in a sketchy, white-knuckled towing situation where the TT is steering the truck because it is so light (tail wagging the dog). Upgrade to a 3/4 ton (gas or diesel) and you’ll have a much safer and more relaxed towing experience. Go to the “Big Truck Big RV” RUclips channel and he goes into great detail on this. Not saying you “can’t” tow with a half ton, but please be as safe as possible when choosing the proper size truck/trailer combination.
This is a fantastic detailed video. We just picked up our 2020 yesterday. In it for the first time and watching your video. Thank you very much Clayton!
Good salesman!! Talks about tow capacity. All Rams are different too. Check it out before buying. It's a safety issue if your trailer is too heavy for your truck. You don't want to flip your rig or end up under it when it pushes you down the road !
Forced heat from the furnace to warm tanks doesn't work once its below zero outside. Tanks and lines under the floor will freeze. Love the floor plan. But for me I'd need an arctic package. Tank heating pads and insulation all underneath
At the 21:55 mark in the video you talk about the reason why people decide which RV to buy is because of the weight of the RV versus the payload capacity of the vehicle you have to tow the RV. Another consideration is the class of driver’s licence you have. In Manitoba with the a standard class 5 licence the maximum GVW you are allowed to tow/pull (travel trailer or fifth wheel) is 10,000 lbs. The police and Highway Inspectors go by the GVW listed on the sticker of your RV. So if pulled over on the highway or a Provincial Highway Scales you could get a ticket and not be allowed to carry on if overweight. Even worse if you have an accident and you are towing an RV that has a GVW greater than your driver’s licence allows they can deny your insurance claim.
That's probably the nicest travel trailer layout I've seen. Wish it wasn't so dark. Also why can't they put those kinds of windows on the backs of their 5th wheels???
Make an emergency button that closes everything on the spot.if you see a tornado,that and anchors are important.Also make it easy to fix if you rip all the hoses,make break away parts.
I have seen through your videos that the Reflection uses plywood and the Imagine uses OSB. I imagine the Imagine uses OSB due to weight. Is the OSB marine grade where it is resistant to moisture? I am worried that OSB will deteriorate when moisture gets past the glue. Also can one order an 8 cu foot refrigerator, and have a glass shower door?
Bob Goodell, thank you for your comments and questions. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you as we wanted to get confirmation from GD on a couple things before we responded. GD uses only a high quality Marine grade OSB in some capacity or another in all the products they build. They use this product because of the many properties it possesses. GD feels its the best material available in the areas they use it to maximize the life of the RV. Screw retention, weight saving, installation flexibility, no floor seams, humidity and moisture protection are just a few. If you would like, we would be happy to elaborate if n these deeper over a phone call or if you are in the area we would invite you to stop by for a visit. To answer your other questions, GD only offers a 6 cubic ft fridge and Nautilus shower curtain in the Imagine line up. In order to get the 8 cube fridge and glass sliding shower door you would need to move up into a Reflection. We hope this give you a little more insight in to the product. As always, thanks again for your comments and questions. Take care and Happy Camping!!😀
Garry Kowalski, thanks for your question. You get more amp hours out of 6V batteries vs 2 12V batteries. Thicker plates in the 6 volts as well, so they tend to last longer when properly maintained. Hope this helps.
Clayton, does the 2970 RL come with a generator or is it an option? If it's an option are they expensive for a size that can run the A/C plus a few other things? I dont know what size would be needed.. thank you.
We bought a champion invertor generator for around $700 with coupon that we keep in the back of our truck and comes with a fob that will START and turn off wirelessly from inside our trailer. It runs our a/c but turn it off a/c if we run our microwave. There are dual fuel available too but we wanted to keep it simple. There are videos on it...
we just asked that question when looking at one today...the answer was no it can't be..but bathroom can be accessed with the slide out in. Hope this helps.
Woody Waddell, great question! Currently slide topper awnings are not an option being offered by GD. However, we have the ability to add them aftermarket in our service dept. Hopefully with this info it will now become a deal maker for you. Thanks for watching and take care!!😀
We have been full timing for twelve years with three slides and no toppers. Have never felt that we needed them and they would be very noisy if it is windy.
As long as people understand that this guy is a salesman and he’s not gonna tell you anything bad about this trailer . . For example the 4400 pound axles are nearly overloaded at dry weight and a step up to 5100 pound axles would only cost a few hundred more dollars. And the “R” numbers are silly....it’s 2inches of styrofoam in the walls and a little bat fiberg. In the roof....my house has a foot of blown in insulation and is perhaps a R 35.. .
The video is fine, I like the additional information. My question is why won’t Grand Design put a one piece molded shower in the these smaller units. They put the 2/3 piece garbage showers that don’t support us fat rvers. I love what grand design does except for that. I don’t want a 40 ft 5th wheel but I shouldn’t have to sacrifice quality to have an rv my wife and I can handle. Very disappointed.
Where do your cell phone, clock and glasses go at night when in bed. Why is there no shelf right beside bed without reaching forward and down? These manufactures that want you to sleep in a box where your head is. What is the point of surrounding your head in wood. Also no slide out toppers? Very poor design
joenissan, thanks for your comment. The material you are seeing in the video is a High quality Marine grade OSB. This material is used as the panel for the master bed platform, which is visible in the top of the pass through storage outside, and when you access the storage underneath the master bed inside. GD uses a laminated and insulated main floor in all their Imagine products. The decking used is a double stacked and laminated ply wood panel that is seam staggered. The laminated floor that GD uses in the Imagine is the most optimal because it offers superior strength, durability, and lighter weight saving properties. We hope this gives you some deeper insight into the GD Imagine and how it’s manufactured. Thanks for your comment and watching our video!!😀
Great and thorough review and trailer! I am looking for an RV to live in Full time and this could be the one. Well done!
This is the most detailed review I’ve come across regarding the Grand Design. Your comment regarding “golden thread of consistency” is spot on. I believe Grand Design trailers deliver the best bang for the buck and deliver products that are second to none.
What a complete and knowledgeable tour. Wow. Excellent job. 👏🌿👏
Thank you for the very kind comments Karina! Glad to hear you enjoyed the tour!😀
This was the best Rv review I have ever watched. Great job 👏👍
Great video....I appreciate the attention to detail. Good job Clayton. You make some of the most informative RV and TT videos on the web.
Perfect! Just need a washer dryer hookup and I'm in!
Fantastic walk through. My wife and I are accepting delivery of a 2020 Imagine 2970 RL.
Me too! We pick it up on April 3rd.
Thanks for being very knowledgeable and descriptive
Great content and detailed walk through. Please be mindful when salespeople talk about “half ton towable”. They’re going to try to sell you on a higher end price point TT on its ability to be towed by a common lightweight truck. However, when you consider the GVWR and hitch weight of the TT and the amount of payload (passengers, luggage, tools, equipment, fuel cans, etc.) you’re carrying in your truck, you will likely be close or over a half ton truck payload capacity. For example, an 8,900 lb TT will likely have a 600-700 lb hitch weight that you add to the amount of weight in your truck. If your half town truck has a 1,500 lb payload capacity, you only have 800 lbs including passengers to go. Additionally, even if you’re not over your payload, a strong cross wind, and you could find yourself in a sketchy, white-knuckled towing situation where the TT is steering the truck because it is so light (tail wagging the dog). Upgrade to a 3/4 ton (gas or diesel) and you’ll have a much safer and more relaxed towing experience. Go to the “Big Truck Big RV” RUclips channel and he goes into great detail on this. Not saying you “can’t” tow with a half ton, but please be as safe as possible when choosing the proper size truck/trailer combination.
Outstanding content. Best video walk through content on RUclips.
This is a fantastic detailed video. We just picked up our 2020 yesterday. In it for the first time and watching your video. Thank you very much Clayton!
Good salesman!! Talks about tow capacity. All Rams are different too. Check it out before buying. It's a safety issue if your trailer is too heavy for your truck. You don't want to flip your rig or end up under it when it pushes you down the road !
Forced heat from the furnace to warm tanks doesn't work once its below zero outside. Tanks and lines under the floor will freeze.
Love the floor plan. But for me I'd need an arctic package. Tank heating pads and insulation all underneath
Best product videos around
wow they have a 3 year warranty thats great 40,000 dollars and they will make sure your walls stay up wow
At the 21:55 mark in the video you talk about the reason why people decide which RV to buy is because of the weight of the RV versus the payload capacity of the vehicle you have to tow the RV. Another consideration is the class of driver’s licence you have. In Manitoba with the a standard class 5 licence the maximum GVW you are allowed to tow/pull (travel trailer or fifth wheel) is 10,000 lbs. The police and Highway Inspectors go by the GVW listed on the sticker of your RV. So if pulled over on the highway or a Provincial Highway Scales you could get a ticket and not be allowed to carry on if overweight. Even worse if you have an accident and you are towing an RV that has a GVW greater than your driver’s licence allows they can deny your insurance claim.
Garry Kowalski, thanks for commenting and sharing this info. 😀
That's probably the nicest travel trailer layout I've seen. Wish it wasn't so dark. Also why can't they put those kinds of windows on the backs of their 5th wheels???
Beautiful!!
Make an emergency button that closes everything on the spot.if you see a tornado,that and anchors are important.Also make it easy to fix if you rip all the hoses,make break away parts.
Good idea
I got to go in one today at an RV show in NC
What is the r value I the walls ,floor and roof and how cold can the trailer go to without anything freezing before adding more heating devices
looked at that same unit today.....pretty much sold!!
Inside tour starts at 20:07
I have seen through your videos that the Reflection uses plywood and the Imagine uses OSB. I imagine the Imagine uses OSB due to weight. Is the OSB marine grade where it is resistant to moisture? I am worried that OSB will deteriorate when moisture gets past the glue. Also can one order an 8 cu foot refrigerator, and have a glass shower door?
Bob Goodell, thank you for your comments and questions. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you as we wanted to get confirmation from GD on a couple things before we responded. GD uses only a high quality Marine grade OSB in some capacity or another in all the products they build. They use this product because of the many properties it possesses. GD feels its the best material available in the areas they use it to maximize the life of the RV. Screw retention, weight saving, installation flexibility, no floor seams, humidity and moisture protection are just a few. If you would like, we would be happy to elaborate if n these deeper over a phone call or if you are in the area we would invite you to stop by for a visit. To answer your other questions, GD only offers a 6 cubic ft fridge and Nautilus shower curtain in the Imagine line up. In order to get the 8 cube fridge and glass sliding shower door you would need to move up into a Reflection. We hope this give you a little more insight in to the product. As always, thanks again for your comments and questions. Take care and Happy Camping!!😀
Woody's RV World Leduc Thank you very much for going the extra mile for the information I was seeking it was very helpful
This trailer doesn't have a seat in the shower which I dearly need!!
Love these trailers ??
What kind of insulation is used on the walls
These cabinets are better then the 2020 ugly I want glass fronts on some of the cabinets especially the hutch
I love you channel:D
They make it beige to!
I seem to recall that in a he past you recommended twin 6Volt batteries rather than twin 12 Volt batteries. Why?
Garry Kowalski, thanks for your question. You get more amp hours out of 6V batteries vs 2 12V batteries. Thicker plates in the 6 volts as well, so they tend to last longer when properly maintained. Hope this helps.
Love the camper. But we should do a count on when he says real real good or really really great.
Simply Wow.
You said hot water heater....if it is hot water why do you need to heat it ???? Do you mean water heater ?
Is there a place to put a router and can you have WiFi set up in a rv
Clayton, does the 2970 RL come with a generator or is it an option? If it's an option are they expensive for a size that can run the A/C plus a few other things? I dont know what size would be needed.. thank you.
We bought a champion invertor generator for around $700 with coupon that we keep in the back of our truck and comes with a fob that will START and turn off wirelessly from inside our trailer. It runs our a/c but turn it off a/c if we run our microwave. There are dual fuel available too but we wanted to keep it simple. There are videos on it...
How much are those from the factory?I want that one.
Looks nice ,but I ordered a Bullet Premier
Can the refrigerator be accessed with the slide out in?
we just asked that question when looking at one today...the answer was no it can't be..but bathroom can be accessed with the slide out in. Hope this helps.
Nice video . What can you expect to pay for a unit like this. ?
Gary Feltus, thanks for the comment and question. In Canada, a 2021 2970RL will retail in the high 40’s. We hope this helps!!!
What does this cost
Nice but I wish they would not use OSB wood. Would rather have regular plywood.
No slide toppers??? A definite deal breaker for a senior citizen! Otherwise, very nice!
Woody Waddell, great question! Currently slide topper awnings are not an option being offered by GD. However, we have the ability to add them aftermarket in our service dept.
Hopefully with this info it will now become a deal maker for you. Thanks for watching and take care!!😀
We have been full timing for twelve years with three slides and no toppers. Have never felt that we needed them and they would be very noisy if it is windy.
Do you have thé new beige color ?
Angie Gallo, thanks for your question. We most definitely have landed the new interior in various floor plans.
David 📬✉️
As long as people understand that this guy is a salesman and he’s not gonna tell you anything bad about this trailer . . For example the 4400 pound axles are nearly overloaded at dry weight and a step up to 5100 pound axles would only cost a few hundred more dollars. And the “R” numbers are silly....it’s 2inches of styrofoam in the walls and a little bat fiberg. In the roof....my house has a foot of blown in insulation and is perhaps a R 35.. .
The video is fine, I like the additional information. My question is why won’t Grand Design put a one piece molded shower in the these smaller units. They put the 2/3 piece garbage showers that don’t support us fat rvers. I love what grand design does except for that. I don’t want a 40 ft 5th wheel but I shouldn’t have to sacrifice quality to have an rv my wife and I can handle. Very disappointed.
So lose weight maybe...?
Color scheme is terrible, hate the almost black cabinetry etc... should consider lighter colors!! Great video, great trailer. Thank you👍
Sony📃📬
Please
Where do your cell phone, clock and glasses go at night when in bed. Why is there no shelf right beside bed without reaching forward and down? These manufactures that want you to sleep in a box where your head is. What is the point of surrounding your head in wood. Also no slide out toppers? Very poor design
ihoetehe
Yet we can clearly see OSB flooring!
joenissan, thanks for your comment. The material you are seeing in the video is a High quality Marine grade OSB. This material is used as the panel for the master bed platform, which is visible in the top of the pass through storage outside, and when you access the storage underneath the master bed inside. GD uses a laminated and insulated main floor in all their Imagine products. The decking used is a double stacked and laminated ply wood panel that is seam staggered. The laminated floor that GD uses in the Imagine is the most optimal because it offers superior strength, durability, and lighter weight saving properties. We hope this gives you some deeper insight into the GD Imagine and how it’s manufactured. Thanks for your comment and watching our video!!😀
David 📫📩
Just get to the point.
your video is to long
Your videos are too long
Yeah that’s ugly lots of women will not want brown dark furniture. I hate it
Way to much talking
Lot of talking. 5 min in and all we've seen is the front cap. Move quicker please.
You have a fast forward button
@@racerchaser27 Assclown
Hahaha.....Big Baby
Some of us are interested in how they are built.
I've noticed this guy does a bit to talking on all the videos. Just get down to business!
To much talk don’t use a sales person for these videos
I hate that plasticky door to the shower. You would think for a high end Tt they would use a better shower door
David 📬✉️
David 📭✉️