2016 Grand Design Solitude

The contact owns a 2016 Grand Design Recreational Solitude RV. The contact stated that while the RV was parked, the side skirts separated from the wall. The contact also stated that the wall separated from the camper and that the rear of the RV moved from side to side independently. No warning lights were illuminated. The RV was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with excessive frame flex, with the body moving approximately 3/8 inch from side to side. The contact was also informed that the RV frame was severely cracked and that the weld points were damaged. The contact was informed that the RV frame needed to be replaced and that reinforced welding was needed. The RV was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure via email and telephone.

The contact owns a 2016 Grand Design Solitude Camper. The contact stated while while the camper was traveling, the side door independently unlatched and opened. In addition the contact stated while the camper was parked , the contact noticed that the midddle slider was detached about 10 inches. The camper was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated in the past the camper was taken to the dealer, however the failure was not duplicated. The contact was informed that the slider needed to be reset. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.

ON 26 SEPTEMBER 2018, I ORDERED A SUSPENSION KIT FOR THIS TRAILER FROM WWW.ETRAILER.COM. ORDER# 106838902. THE KIT I ORDERED WAS A ROADMASTER SLIPPER SPRING KIT #RM-2570 WITH THE RM-2460 SHOCK ABSORBERS. THIS EQUIPMENT IS FOR AN AXLE THAT IS RATED AT 7,000 LB, WHICH IS WHAT THE AXLES ON MY TRAILER ARE RATED FOR. I INSTALLED THE KIT ON MY TRAILER. AFTER INSTALLING THE SPRINGS I NOTICED A TAG ON ONE OF THE SPRINGS. USING THE NUMBER FOUND ON THE TAG, E5226, I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SPRING IS RATED FOR 3,000 LBS WHICH IS SUITABLE FOR AN AXLE THAT IS RATED FOR 6,000 LBS. ROADMASTER IS THE MANUFACTURER OF THE SPRING KIT. ETRAILER IS THE RETAILER SELLING THE KIT. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE SPRINGS IN THE 7,000 LB KIT ARE ONLY SUITABLE FOR 6,000 LB AXLES. PERSONS USING THE RM-2570 KIT MAY BUY THE KIT AND INSTALL IT THINKING THE EQUIPMENT THEY INSTALLED WAS SAFE. BUT IN FACT, THE SPRINGS ARE UNDERRATED FOR THEIR INTENDED USE AND THIS COULD RESULT IN SPRING FAILURE AND AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE NOTIFIED BOTH ROADMASTER AND ETRAILER, BUT IT'S AFTER HOURS AND I DON'T EXPECT TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM UNTIL THEIR OFFICES OPEN TOMORROW.

I PURCHASED THIS 5TH WHEEL RV NEW IN APRIL OF 2016. I HAVE TOWED IT APPROXIMATELY 800 MILES. I FIGURE THAT BETWEEN DELIVERY FROM THE FACTORY TO THE DEALER IN RAYNHAM, MA AND MY PERSONAL USE THAT THERE IS ABOUT 1700 TOTAL MILES ON THIS RV. I HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE GRAND DESIGN OWNERS FORUM AND FREQUENTLY AN ISSUE WAS DISCUSSED ABOUT GREASE APPEARING ON THE BRAKE SHOES. BEING I OWN ONE, I DECIDED TO INSPECT THIS AREA TO SEE IF GREASE WAS GETTING ON MY BRAKES. I FOUND THAT THE GREASE FROM THE WHEEL BEARINGS WAS GETTING THROUGH THE REAR SEAL AND HAD STARTED SPREADING THROUGHOUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM. GREASE ON THE BRAKES OF A 15,000 LB TOWED VEHICLE WILL HINDER THE ABILITY STOPPING, PARTICULARLY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN OR EMERGENCY CONDITION. THE COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURES THE AXEL AND ASSEMBLES THE COMPONENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE GREASE AND BRAKES ARE LIPPERT. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE RV FROM THEY STATED THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THAT GRAND DESIGN, RV MANUFACTURER ALONG WITH LIPPERT WERE VERY WILLING TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THE REAL ISSUE I FEEL IS THAT IF THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM, AND THE COMPANY IS WILLING TO FIX IT, IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT OWNERS RV'S WITH THE LIPPERT AXEL SYSTEM MAY NOT KNOW THERE IS A PENDING PROBLEM IF THEY DON'T HAVE FORUM ACCESS OR HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED BY THE RV MANUFACTURER OF THIS PROBLEM. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO "ENCOURAGE" THE MANUFACTURER TO MAKE A SINCERE RECALL NOTIFICATION SO THERE DOES NOT HAVE TO HAVE A DEATH OR LAWSUIT INVOLVED. I WAS NOT OTHERWISE INJURED BY THIS CONDITION, JUST INCONVENIENCED.