2019 Grand Design Reflection

The contact owns a 2019 Grand Design Reflection RV. The contact stated that while pulling the RV, the contact noticed abnormal sounds coming from the hitch location, and the RV displayed excessive up and down movements. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that both the driver's side and passenger's side frames had sustained 3 cracks on each side. The vehicle was serviced at the local RV dealer for the cracks. Additionally, the contact later noticed that the RV outriggers had bent due to a lack of structural strength, the floor of the RV had become warped, and the walls had delaminated due to excessive movement, shuddering, and vibrations inside the RV walls. The contact was concerned that the pin box might fracture while pulling the RV, causing the RV to detach from the vehicle. The cause of the failures was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 6,000.

Excessive movement of 5th wheel pin box as a result of cracked frame supporting it. This is the only point of attachment between the tow vehicle and the trailer. Complete failure could lead to uncontrolled detachment of trailer resulting in serious damage, injury or death. Grand Design inspected range of motion of the rear of the pin box on Feb 9, 2025 and deemed it not an issue. However, the front attachment point has a complete crack through the supporting beam which they will not address.

The contact owns a 2019 Grand Design Reflection RV. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the RV drove over a slight ditch in the road and a loud clunking noise was heard. After stopping to inspect the RV, the contact discovered that the front frame of the RV had failed and was bent due to metal fatigue. The RV was taken to the local welder who re-welded the front frame, and the RV was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 30,000.

OUR 2019 GRAND DESIGN REFLECTION 290BH HAS A TURNING POINT HITCH. THE TURNING POINT HITCH IS DESIGNED SO THAT YOU CAN TOW THE 5TH WHEEL BEHIND A SHORT BED TRUCK WITHOUT A SLIDER HITCH. WHILE TOWING OUR TRAILER AT ABOUT 50 MPH AND APPROACHING A CURVE THE UNIVERSAL WEDGE CAME LOOSE IN OUR HITCH WHICH MADE THE HITCH TURN AT BOTH POINTS. THIS CAUSED OUR TRAILER TO HIT OUR HIT OUR TRUCK. LUCKILY WE TOW THIS 1/2 TON RATED TRAILER WITH A 1 TON TRUCK AND WE WERE ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE HIT. WE WERE NOT THROWN OFF THE ROAD AND WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF SAFELY. AFTER DOING OUR RESEARCH THE DEALER HAD INSTALLED OUR HITCH CORRECTLY ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL RELEASED 05/18/2017 WHICH WAS INCLUDED WITH OUR TRAILER. THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS. LIPPERT HAS UPDATED THE MANUAL AS OF 8/16/19 AND IT NOW LISTS SPECIFIC WEDGES FOR SPECIFIC HITCHES. WHEN THE DEALER CONTACTED LIPPERT THEY DENIED EVER REVISING THEIR MANUAL. BOTH LIPPERT AND GRAND DESIGN ARE DENYING ANY RESPONSIBILITY.*DT *JB