frame flex problems

**robmcqueen** · 01-24-2024, 03:40 PM

Is frame flex as big of problem as i have been hearing about lately. Here is a video of a couple that are having this problem and Grand Design is not helping them out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELZbueoH7_c

**Hoopy Frood** · 01-24-2024, 03:49 PM

Yeah, big pass after about 3 minutes on that video. Just wanted to offer them some cheese to go with that whine.

**ajg617** · 01-24-2024, 04:32 PM

Me too - pass when the t-shirt sale pitch starts. Oh, and frame flex is an issue with every manufacturer, but you only hear the YT complaints and how many are there? If you google RV frame flex, Montana, Keystone, DRV, Vanleigh et. al. will pop up. Out of how many thousands of RVs? As for our Grand Design, frame flex is a concern for us and Grand Design invited me to bring the RV out to their factory in April to assess along with the suspension issues I've had. They didn't have to offer that. Grand Design authorized the dealer to inspect and provide measurement to Lippert 4 months after we took delivery in 2022. Unfortunately, the dealer didn't do the work they said they did and the numbers they provided to Lippert were so incorrect, the flex would have to be measured in feet. To get the dealer authorized, it took one phone call to Grand Design customer service - that was it. When I called Lippert this year to ask for a copy of the dealer report, they told me that the dealer had not properly taken the measurements required. I emailed GD customer service and frame inspection was added to the work order for the factory to inspect in detail in April. All conversations have been polite, constructive, and really exceeded my expectations.

**robmcqueen** · 01-24-2024, 05:18 PM

This was the 1st time I ever watched one of there videos. I was just curious what people thought and I am not saying they are right or wrong. Just curious about the issue.

**ajg617** · 01-24-2024, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by robmcqueen

This was the 1st time I ever watched one of there videos. I was just curious what people thought and I am not saying they are right or wrong. Just curious about the issue.

It happens. There are a number of YT videos on frame flex, more GD than Vanleigh or DRV, but probably more GD on the road. Still, watch this video. The official word from GD was no flex, but look what they repaired. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctQ4K5ZoEik

**robmcqueen** · 01-24-2024, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by ajg617

It happens. There are a number of YT videos on frame flex, more GD than Vanleigh or DRV, but probably more GD on the road. Still, watch this video. The official word from GD was no flex, but look what they repaired. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctQ4K5ZoEik

I watched that one a couple months ago.

**robmcqueen** · 01-24-2024, 06:46 PM

Check out (My Bucket List Day) on YouTube he has a bunch of videos on the problems he has had with his unit.
https://www.youtube.com/@MyBucketListDay/videos

**robmcqueen** · 01-24-2024, 06:49 PM

Are these frame problems only happening on the bigger unit or are they happening on the smaller 5th wheels also ?

**robmcqueen** · 01-25-2024, 05:52 AM

Sometimes it seam there are people on here that take huge offense of anything negative said about Grand Design as if we were talking about their mother. LOL We all like Grand Design that is why we are here but let be honest they are not perfect. No manufacturer is.

moderator edit to remove post which was borderline rude and/or could be construed as an attack on a poster.....

**bjlakatos** · 01-25-2024, 07:46 AM

My SOB frame flex issues is what brought me to this GD forum. I wanted to see if GD had similar issues (because I really wanted a GD) and if so how their customer service dealt with the issues if they arose.

What I found was
-all mainstream 5ers use Lippert chassis…they all are subject to having the same problems
-the OEM chooses the chassis specs that meet their design/cost goals
-I suspect Lippert has more experienced frame folks than the majority of the OEMs and the OEMs probably lean on that expertise
-In many cases “perceived” frame flex issues are OEM build issues (this is why Lippert is so aggressive in documenting “upper deck flex measurements”) to quickly eliminate the frame as the root cause.
-Take your time with the service team. If you are a calm, cool customer you will get more help. Start verbally escalating and it’s game over. Nobody wants to deal with that. Easy to say, hard to do…. Don't ask how I know.

GD has proven themselves to be better than the mainstream in dealing with these issues (several cases noted above).

The thing that makes so frustrating is the lack of expertise across the dealer network to repair (ie, remove the front cap/sidewalls, welding) and the associated cost.

Thanks for sharing the links and viewpoints.