Our Grand Design RV is Falling Apart - Big Updates

[@carlbeaver7112]

As a retired mechanic what I find interesting is taking a unit in for repair to the people that didn't do a very good job of building it in the first place. But maybe that's just me...

[@betterwithrum]

You talking about Ford ;)

[@randystracener8326]

I personally do not believe Grand Design is at fault. Their Solitude have many many thousands of miles on it. For the miles they put on it, I feel that's just average wear and tear. We have a2018 Reflection still in excellent shave. But, it hasn't seen the road miles their's has. If it had, it would probably be in about the same shape.

[@neysabrooks680]

Constant traveling is hard on RV. You can expect lots of wear and tear. So plan on things falling apart if your constant on the road.

[@gerryrozema8338]

Those folks have dragged that rig all over. I’m well familiar with the road they took up to Alaska. That laundry list of stuff appears minor to me considering how that rig has been abused on the road.

[@asana_awakening]

Lol this reminds me of the video I saw where all the Ford shop workers were asked what cars not to buy and a lot of them answered with certain Ford vehicles saying they are in there constantly for repairs 😂

[@thebluetarp]

Our 2014 24F keystone hideout has been a dream RV. 10 years and literally no issues.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

That's awesome to hear! It's great when an RV turns out to be a reliable during your journeys. Thanks for sharing, and thanks for watching! - Kyle and Renee

[@mikebrant192]

Woodworker here. Short term repair for exposed plywood. Use rattle-can spray shellac immediately, and ASAP follow up with rattle-can spray polyurethane spar varnish. Here's why: the shellac dries almost immediately and gives SOME protection which penetrates well. Think of it as a primer - it's super thin, so use several coats. The spar varnish can go right over the shellac - just wipe it down with alcohol first. The spar varnish is a marine-grade (as in sail supports - spars) polyurethane varnish. It's thick and viscous and stinks, but it's dense and thick and is a VERY good moisture barrier that interferes with nothing a tech might want to do later on. You put on a coat, let it sit and ruminate overnight, then spray on another layer until the can's pfft stops. RVs are not made to be used - they are made to be sold and to be fixed. We are relaxing after replacing the toilet floor flange today.

[@user-gn6uc5dn6u]

if you spent a bit more on an Airstream you wouldn't be fixing things much.

[@VOlDTALES]

@@user-gn6uc5dn6uFr like nobody cares about what issues old dude brought onto himself. I swear majority of Modern American society just doesn’t use their heads. Why might that be? Oh yeah the school don’t teach you to formulate your own thoughts.

[@3sons66]

ALL my friends that own 5th wheels have the same exact issues. Fenders missing from blowouts, tires randomly coming off at highway speeds, uneven tire wear (axles not aligned or welded wrong), broken springs, delamination of sidewalls and the list goes on. All $100K+ rigs too! My friends say that the key to owning one is keeping the mindset that it will always be in a constant state of repair. I wish you guys the best of luck with repairs at the manufacturer, I know from experience how LOOOONG it takes to have just ONE item fixed.

[@stevedenoyer5956]

It’s ok to share, people like me appreciate that. We won’t abuse our knowledge promise 😊

[@stevehart4311]

So, we have been part time RV people since 1991. We found that any part brand that starts with "L" will fail. Just junk in our experience. Taking an RV into a dealer or repair center, to us andyway, is like taking our cat to a slaughter house to make it well again. Two years or 6000 miles is the max we would ever run any RV tire. And still, blowouts are just a thing. Cabinet issues and slide out gouges in the floor? The whole RV is flexing too much. And any repair you do yourself will be better than any "professional" repair. Take heart in the fact that you don't have a motorhome, which would make everything even more expensive. And thank you, really for all your great videos. They bring back many memories of the good old days!

[@austech360]

Lippert

[@RVingwithBandit]

I never realized what a beating an RV takes until we got our first class A. You will drive slower when you are sitting inside your RV and can feel and hear the beating it is taking on certain roads.

[@NJ-Cathie]

But nothing they do is odd or unusual. The RV should be built to take a beating and keep on rolling.

[@friskydingo5370]

Yes I love my a class and could never downgrade to anything less it is a totaly diffrent experience

[@bethrichards2640]

Class A is an experience to drive, but so worth it.

[@krisg3984]

Tell me why they use Staples, cut wood trims are pieced together and then pop off just going down the road ! ? Indiana roads omg! They will chew your RV up !

[@rene-ro6oe]

If you guys had a chance for a redo, would you still buy this RV or which other choice would you make?

[@cw4072]

My takeaway after hearing about all the little issues is that he has a really solid rig. Upgrade the tires if you can and rotate/maintain them in the future. Spray some sealant and remove the tape you put in to cover for the damage of the blow out. Just swap out range/oven with a new one. Don't try to pay someone to repair it. Swap out the shower head and so on and you're good to go. Other than the road damage everthing I saw was just wear and tear. Stuff needs maintenance. Congratulations on buying such a solid rig.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

You are so right! Our fifth wheel has been through so much and we believe most other RV brands would have never held up this much. We talk to a lot of RVers on the road and we're so grateful to have a solid built fifth wheel.

[@Sledge143]

I think our shower head has dripped from day one of camping in the rv. We just lay it on the shower floor at night before bed and we’re not bothered by the constant dripping noise!😂

[@friskydingo5370]

Mine is from 1984 and everything works perfect im amazed every day that nothing had braked. Ive ben using it daily for almost 4 years. The inside is like new right out of the 80s. I bought it with 30k miles and it is one of my best investments 😊 fleetwood makes good rigs.

[@Lauren-vd4qe]

so nothing was broken. older ones made better.

[@chrischapman276]

Yes. Fleetwood WAS a very very quality brand of RVs.....

[@friskydingo5370]

@@Lauren-vd4qe the only thing I have replaced except for normal mantince that I do myself . Some batterys my watter pump and my external fuel pump both were super easy to do and verry inexpensive. I have the exact bounder from braking bad and let me tell you I have never seen or owned a vechel this old. I am so surprised it had no leeks everything and I mean everything works even has a bathtub gen fridge microwave 2 ac 100gall tanks I put solar on it so it is totaly off grid. The best part is everything is overbuilt and super simple to repair smog is bo prolbem insurance is affordable registration is affordable. I have a 3 bedroom home but spend most of my time in my motorhome. We recently had a slab leek and the repairs have ben ongoing for months we have Ben staying in the motorhome while things are repaired It's ben 2 months and instill have 50gal if water left I don't know what I would do with out it. I would have to stay in a hotell with my pets. This had ben so much better and of course all the fun trips memories and good times my rig has brought me. I wad thinking of buying a newer rig but decided that a new rig had pretty much everything I have so I saved the money and bought a killer solar system and a awesome entertainment center and still had cash leftover from my budget I would recommend to anyone to look into the history of the r.v. if its ben in for regular mantince and your judgment says this might be a good deal it probaly is. If you go to a dealer ship and they tell you they will take car of you because of a warrantee than I'd be secptical. In the end to each his owne 🙂

[@WinePunk]

Not anymore

[@alphpup3281]

2001 Lazy Daze. No structural issues with lots of use.

[@RoadsofFaith]

We live full time in a 26 ft, 2000 (yes, 24 years old!) Jayco Eagle 5th wheel. No slideouts. Just finishing our 7th year in August. We still have the original shower head because we tried one of those oxygenated water savers and used MORE water and ran out of hot water!! Took that back and put the old one back on. After our 1st year out, we discovered soft wood in the frame on the backside. The leak that caused the water damage prior to us purchasing it, had been repaired, but not the water damage itself. That was our first repair when she was 18 years old. Had to replace the fridge in 2019. Inverter was replaced in 2023. Other than that, we replaced all the lights with LED's, removed carpet and laid click n lock plank flooring. Took out the old fabric window valances and built wood ones. Mostly cosmetic stuff by choice. We clean the connections on the propane stove burners periodically. Tires get checked and replaced as needed. Some tire brands hold up better than others. Our girl is pretty basic...no digital anything, except the newish fridge. In short, we have no regrets buying a well-cared for, older rv. We have taken good care of her too. All the decals are gone and painted the door red and added blue shutters to the windows. She's been through a LOT, including hail and tornadoes, and below 0 temps with no power for 15 hours, except from hooking up the truck and letting it idle to keep batteries charged, so we had heat, could cook, and had water. Not looking forward to having to find another rv. "Faithful Faith" will be hard to replace! As for needing to do repairs and maintenance...stick and brick houses need that too, and usually costs more. We love full-time RVing! ❤

[@dennisbeek6958]

As you know, RV stands for Repairs Vary. You wanted to hear about my RV tire issues. I had china bombs on my original 2018 Heartland product and after 4 years I replaced them with Goodyear endurance STs. Then I started to have blowouts. I am close to 5200# on a single axle so I ran them at the recommended 80 psi. That's when things started happening. When the blowouts took out the fabric underlayment, I replaced it with aluminum flashing material. I also learned from Nascar how to laminate foam in between the flooring to make my own safety wall. I repaired the floor, doubled it, laminated high density foam that is protected by aluminum. Even though mine is a pre-COVID baby, it still is an Elkhart Indiana vinyl covered cardboard travel trailer. I enjoyed your video 😊

[@arriagada1957]

Liz Amazing is a consumer advocate helping people who have had problems with their new RVs.

[@inthedarkwoods2022]

She is influenced by sponsors and is scared to go after big corporations,.

[@justinsmith4839]

I agree! I watch her videos alot.

[@ottohesslein3230]

There are 2 types of campers, those that are falling apart, and those that are poorly made.

[@davidwelty9763]

@@inthedarkwoods2022she went after Grand design and Tiffin. Tiffin is owned by Thor which is a huge corporation and owns many brands. What are you talking about?

[@dashcamone7916]

@@inthedarkwoods2022 thats false

[@brunobarks6544]

Getting ready to retire, watching the RV industry very closely too see how they handle this mess from the last few years of unrest. I may not go ahead with my plans. I don't want to haul a box of troubles to try to tour our country. We've been waiting all our lives. I hope the industry can get it together. Sad state of affairs.

[@davesnothere3495]

ditto!!!!!

[@rickshultz7767]

Buy something built before COVID. Much better quality. We sold a2019 piece of junk in ‘22 & bought a 2015& have no issues

[@chrisandshy2022]

Find yourself a older one that has been taking care of. that what we did cause of how the new ones been.

[@Alleycatthegadite]

Anything older than 2019 should not give you trouble. The problems started with 2020 and newer.

[@robertnasser9937]

After my blowout of new China bombs, underneath, I custom cut some sheet metal and it will not get destroyed again

[@NJ-Cathie]

What a hidden treasure! Moundville is beautiful.

[@laj339]

Any trailer with dual axels will wear the rear tires out faster than the front. You are essentially dragging the rears every time you turn. The turning is only done by the fronts. I hope you guys are not having frame problems like lots of other GD owners. Good luck with your laundry list.

[@Tom-x3m9g]

Hearing a train is just like home! I always loved the sound of trains at night.

[@lyncarl3279]

We have a 38" 5th wheel Columbus by Forest River. We bought it brand new in February of 2023 (last years model built in 2022). Before the current trip we are on it only been used for six weeks. In those six weeks a brace on our big awning failed. Some of the interior trim is falling off. Our dresser drawers don't close properly. The dining table is tilting. I know there's more I just can't remember them. On this trip two skirting panels came loose damaging them. Had to find a body shop to fix them because every RV repair shop turned us down, Then the molding above those skirts came loose so I duck taped them on. Luckily it's Camo colored so you can barely see it on out white RV. The next day we had a magnet replaced on the drivers rear brakes. More interior trim is failing. We are just 5 weeks into a 9 week trip. So we know your pain. Thank you for the great video.

[@marymason9981]

😮😮😮😮😢

[@Watermusic0709]

I am 69 yrs old and retiring in 4 mos to haul my 5th wheel around the country! Thank you for helping me get the nerve to do this by myself. I ❤ you both! And kisses to Dexter!

[@jimbernard6112]

Rear axle and tires wear is due to being nose high. Overloads the axle which causes it to flex, increasing camber. When you get new tires, go up a load rating as the tires that come on most RV's are barely adequate to carry the listed GVWR. Most RV's are overloaded, so most tires are as well, particularly if the trailer is not towed level. Holes in the sidewall above the trim don't need to be simply re-caulked, they are a sign that the floor that they are screwed into is moving relative to the Filon sidewall. That, coupled with the gap opening up by your dresser in the front bedroom are both classic signs of the excess frame flex issue that many trailers, particularly 5th wheels are currently experiencing.

[@chuckchillson2877]

Definitely need to spread the weight over both trailer axles or the tire wear will continue to happen

[@arh1234]

This is incredibly useful and specific information. Thank you for sharing!

[@vettepiper6752]

ANY trailer wears the back axle tires because they have to scoot around corners - nature of the beast!

[@cassandralehman5274]

This was oddly reassuring. Sometimes it seems like influencers have a nice RV with none of the struggles that I am experiencing. Seeing those little things falling apart, help me realize it’s the same for everybody.

[@MsQ275]

Amen ❤

[@kaku808onmaui]

Ageeed

[@davepellegrino2033]

Yes, most 'influencers' won't talk about their struggles. Only sunshine and rainbows.

[@SEANMCAD]

yeah..I hear about a lot of problems with RVs that have a lot of elaborate features and specifically Grand Design. I agree with what he says that all RV manufactures are all basically the same, some different brands even likely come out of the same factory. However, I would not touch Grand Design personally.

[@WarER4X]

My wife and I recently stayed at an RV park near the Ohio river. It was a nice park if you don't mind transportation sounds. In the case of this park, it has ALL the transportation sounds. There was the obligatory nearby train tracks that were used at all hours, a municipal airport servicing private/bizjet traffic, and the frequent barges being muscled up the river by tug boats.

[@jenniferhissrich1841]

You must have been near Lunken Airport! Love the area!

[@optionstraderman]

Grand Design recently extended Warranty on the Frames for up to 5 years, so if you have frame flex or frame break, you may get free repairs or an RV Buyback from Grand Design. Be sure to check on that when you get back to indiana. It may be the source of all of your slide and wall issues.

[@evanlewis2064]

Only on RVs made after 2020 are covered by the new 5 year frame warranty.. This appears to be a 2019 model. Sorry, I just watched the KZbin video about the Warrantee from Grand Design. Thanks for the nice videos!

[@artsisland1683]

"Up To 5 Years . . . Well we only honor your rig for a day. This timeframe falls in the period of up to 5 years. Any time frame from 0.1 to 5 falls into UP TO. We "MAY" implies there is a choice of MAY OR . . . MAY NOT . . . You MAY live to 125 years of age, but good luck with that.

[@shizzynwa]

Not worth the paper it's written on

[@mydogsbutler]

That's a pretty solid warranty. Rare.

[@allaboutroofing2]

I have a 1988 Fleetwood wilderness that has been awesome. No repairs whatsoever ever. Original fridge, A/C, furnace, hot water heater and all plumbing. Frame isn't bent, it tows fine at 2800 lobs dry and is better than anything new IMO.

[@donhorner6019]

We decided quite awhile ago any RV built 2020 or newer are junk. My son has been doing RV transport for 3 years now,and we have had an rv of different types for 44 years. Our 2018 Rockwood is going strong.

[@CabinGirl57]

It’s a 1988 - built during a time things actually lasted!

[@Bantie1]

When confronted with having to crawl under the RV for electric hookups, just tie a ball of yarn to your electric cord, roll the ball under the RV to the other side, go around and pull the ball/yarn to you. No crawwling on the ground necessary!

[@kevinwdavies]

You also might consider getting a extendable pool rod with a hook to pass it under. They also make something similar for boats to hook onto a dock.

[@ladikmk]

@@kevinwdavies An old fishing rod would probably work as well.

[@randystracener8326]

Kyle and Renee. I feel your pain on your RV troubles. But, on a good note, some of the things you showed are a 15 minute or less fix. Yes it's fluctuating. But you RV does take a beating on some roads. But, even your slide rubbing the floor should be fixed with an adjustment to compensate wear over the yrs. Just think of how many times yall have slid it in and out!!! Take a breath, have a glass of wine, look on the bright side. Yall are living the life many will only dream about. Keep the videos coming friends. We are all pulling for The Hanks. God bless.

[@kristinaschmit8009]

We’ve been full-timing a year in a 2020 Tiffin Phaethon (Diesel Class A) 90% of our problems we’ve had have been user error. The Tiffin Factory in Red Bay AL was amazing for our minor fixes. ❤ Tiffin!

[@darrells1806]

I can second that. We traded our Grand Design Solitude in on a Tiffin class, A motorhome this past winter while in Florida. We love the coach. 2020 Breeze 33BR. Small enough package to access most every state and national park as well as more off the beaten path places.

[@FoxyJeff]

Tiffins are awesome! And they have an amazing service department in Red Bay, Alabama

[@RVwithTito]

Shower drip may not be random. Our 20 year old shower wand drips as expanding pressure builds up in the line when the water heater is almost done heating. That's how we know when it's warm enough for a shower 😅. BTW we only turn the water heater on once a day since we are never on hookups. Good luck with the repairs. I've got several too.

[@QueenChatty1]

Yup been there had that happen, scared the crap out of me to! Ripped the fender off and the panel was completely destroyed and in the shop for three weeks. Moral of the story even if you have no tread wear your tires can crack. We just replaced all of them and that was the case but it sure beats the cost of blow out damage. Our unit was only 5 years old when it happened. You are also 100 percent correct it doesnt matter the cost of the trailer or make. Ours was 60 grand Canadian on sale from 80 grand. The mark up is ridiculous, BTW most are using the same parts ie Lippert and such. Dont get me going about the fridge....I keep a mini fan inside now lol Won't ever stop us from camping tho! Love you guys and thanks for the entertaining and informative videos.❤

[@danclark9987]

We had a 2003 41ft diesel pusher with a Honda CRV dingy. Different from a fifth wheel, but at least as miserable. Premium coach with three slides, granite counter top, fire place (fake), 500hp engine, 1700 ft/lbs torque. Amazing looking. Piece of cr@p. CONSTANT MAINTENANCE! ALL SYSTEMS. Most miserable experience in my life. We had to keep it as at my daughter’s house, which was 30 miles away. And I had to drive there EVERY SINGLE weekend for a year to fix something. (Since I was working at least 50-60/hours a week, that was misery personified.) But then the real fun began. My daughter and husband loved RV’ing. So my wife’s goal was to go out during the summer with her daughter and her husband. Then he died suddenly. At that point, my wife and I decided to sell the RV and move on. And that’s where the real fun began. To sell it, we had to fix the issues. Misery. I found out the the front end had never been aligned - lots of toe-out. Which was why it was twitchy to drive. $1,500 for alignment and fluids, and it great to drive. On the way back the daughter’s house, I scraped a curb slightly. BLOWOUT! $800 for tire. (Bus tires) And then the final hit - it is easy to by an RV, but insanely difficult to sell them for a decent price. Net-net, we lost $55,000 on the sale. But at least we got out of it. Bottom line is that many people dream of retiring and seeing the United States. This shattered our dream. I was finally able to retire four years ago at 73 years old. And no traveling. We’re financially stable now, but an RV was the WORST mistake of our lives. Words to the wise: Rent first. Go small, not big. Talk to everybody you can. And RESEARCH THE HELL OUT OF RV’ING. Good luck!

[@LCLand]

Thank you for this. Important comment!

[@Sunny1414100]

Thank you. I appreciate your share and many others like you. Most definitely, I’ll rent. (No reason to purchase ever👍)

[@boneseyyl1060]

Go small, not big, is great advice. But I have to ask. If you are complaining about 1500 dollar alignments or 800 dollar tires, then what were you thinking buying a coach??!!

[@lindacurtis3513]

I bought a double wide mobile home in 2002,made in Northern Indiana...I'm a born and bred Hoosier, MH was set up on 1/ 2 acre lot YAY...Then reality ....Like your RV ,junk ....Hope they did right by you at Dealer .......

[@lunam7249]

better burnt than dead, you came out alright...you seen 2 states, you seen them all

[@Spiederia]

Thanks for the updates. Here is what we found is super important: buy from a trusted mom/ pop (private owned) rv store. We bought our 2024 3100rd from BogueRV, in Newport NC. They spent 4 days on our unit prior to picking it up. Their tech spent tons of time on it to make sure ours was perfect. 6 months later of full-time rv and not 1 issue. Everything works flawlessly. Their tech spent 2 hours with us on pickup day. Good luck.

[@kristicallnc]

Thanks....I live in NC going to look them up

[@jjones5424]

The train noise is just part of the real life .........don't worry about it bothering any of us. Thanks for the good tips.

[@rockkilgore8739]

I believe we all were put on this earth to give and to share to the best of our abilities.

[@carolthomas770]

For myself, I ❤ your honest and full disclosure. Whether it's gov, UFOs or RVs, bring it on, People. Cut out the secrecy stuff!! Dealer has told me multiple times they're not made for full time. I've been in 2022 5 th wheel for almost 2 yrs. Some bugs to work out, power outages, during esp Jan/Feb but I got through it. I have mobile tech guy who comes out at least once a yr.. Parked full time so I have the advantage of not all that vibration on the frame. I'm 69, retired, not rich, lady with a professional background. Crazy to do this but I'm grateful every day to live on my own land, own hookups, grow veggies, in freedom and peace. Got a cat too. 😂 Don't give up on your dreams, Hanks. ❤ Be wild and free. People are so afraid to step out of comfort zones these days.

[@FrostyBob99]

I'm considering buying a used trailer to move onto my property. My plan is to live in it while I build the septic system and bring in power. After that I'm buying a used manufactured home.

[@carolthomas770]

@@FrostyBob99 great idea! You're going to make it happen! 😄

[@FrostyBob99]

@carolthomas770 Absolutely!

[@deborahsimpson2732]

I watched a video of an RV technician who explained different parts of rvs that the owners should keep an eye on to stave off costly repairs. At the end of the video he said something profound because it is the truth. He said that rvs are not meant to be lived in, to replace your conventional home. They are exactly what they say they are, "recreational" not permanent. He said that dragging your house down the road at 60 mph, with all that jostling, will shake everything loose. It was a "duh" moment and I really appreciated his honesty. I'm not sharing this to discourage anyone (not that I think I could) or disrespect the adventure. I'm just sharing what a professional was brave enough to share.

[@yvonnelee5766]

I have heard the same. And I also heard if you live in your RV fulltime, every year of is equivalent to 7 years the wear; which makes sense to me.

[@chicagonorthcoast]

The sick thing is that RVs cost more per square foot than a house. MUCH more. Whether it's a rather low-quality 28' Class C Coachman (a horrible brand), or a sleek Newmar 40' Class A of high quality with all the comforts, you're paying a massive per-square-foot premium for a cramped lifestyle in a vehicle not made for full-time occupancy, to say nothing of the maintenance, repair, and fuel costs. Face it, these things are toys for people with plenty of money to burn.

[@SurelyYewJest]

Yeah that really is what's happening when towing it around across thousands of miles and living out of it for months. All the hot and cold cycles, all the lateral waving motions, the hard hits to the suspension from pot holes, the trailer axles and wheel hubs cambering out in tight turns and across ramps and inclines... THAT SAID... Most RVs really and truly are built like crap.

[@chicagonorthcoast]

@@SurelyYewJest , Everything built in Indiana is, for sure. The only ones I'd trust are the Prevost and Newmar Class A coaches, and even used, they cost more than a 2200 sq ft luxury condo on Lake Shore Drive.

[@SurelyYewJest]

@@chicagonorthcoast Ya, the Class As, Bs, and Cs/Super Cs have to be on-the-money build wise for when someone drives one off the lot. It's just frustrating that most if not all 5Ws/TTs up to about ~$100k are so loosely screwed/bolted/stapled together. It's less of an issue with workers doing a bad job than it is their employers skimping on materials, and pushing assembly workers to move faster and faster and build more and more.

[@soldonrvlife]

Full-timers here, in a GD Reflection. I dread when things start to wear out. I have a tear in the flooring from when a container of batteries fell out of a cupboard during a rough travel day. I missed one that went under the slide. We spend a lot of the year near the coastal bend of Texas and the salt air is doing a number on the trailer😢. I ll be watching to see how your repairs go! ❤LauraD

[@rogerbobrowski5741]

Look old guy here. If you are planing to put a lot of miles on your RV in my opinion the first thing people need to do to their RV is to upgrade the suspension. Spend the 10 grand on an upgraded suspension system . These RV’s take an awful pounding just on the interstate highways never mind gravel roads.Iinstalled an independent suspension system on my 5th wheel and it is money well spent. My wife and I have crossed the continent from west to east and from Alaska to the Baha in Mexico.. We live in northwestern Ontario and our children live in western Canada so we spend a lot of time on the road. We haven’t had anything major go wrong and I am constantly going around with a screwdriver tightening loose screws. If you are not mechanically inclined an RV might not be for you due to the constant repairs required. These rigs take a pounding due to the flexing and jarring that they receive on a daily basis. The suspension is pricey but worth the money in the long run. It can also be reinstalled on a new trailer if needed. If you plan on seeing the continent spend the money and upgrade the suspension. Money well spent.

[@DeekJohnson]

Yes, yes, yes, yes and YES...when you see the morryde 8k axles independent suspension system (looks like it came off a Sherman tank), and compare it to the cheap little springs they just pulled off laying on the floor...OMG. Search for the Changing Lanes video test drive with that upgrade. It will ride better then your truck. Not kidding. FYI .. the added weight of the new suspension system, is not factored into the original GVWR. So while the extra 500lbs is added to total trailer weight, it does not mean you have to load 500 LESS lbs of camping equipment, food...etc. So your trailer can now weigh 500lbs over GVWR (fully loaded trailer) but in actuality, you are loaded to the recommended capacity of your GVWR. Make sense?

[@cnobillbradley9673]

I concur!

[@lifequest7453]

That is a good idea, IF YOU HAVE A GOOD FRAME. That is the problem, you can't see the frame when you buy the coach. People are saying have the RV checked out before you buy but how do you look at the frame, esp 5th wheels w;here the frame is hid. Will the dealership let you tear apart a new 5th wheel to look at the frame, probably not. You are stuck, buying a very expensive RV vehicle, and frame wise, you are depending on the manufacturer to have built a strong and durable frame for a long life times use. What is happening is the metal frames are being made of thin metals, may even be the wrong grade metal and they are bending, which leads to cracks and broken framework. And YOU NEVER SEE IT COMING as you sign the contract for $100,000 or more and expecting to live in a wonderful RV. That fantasy crumbles a couple years down the road when the frame breaks and the RV begins to fall apart under your feet. One manufacturer is denying reinbursement of funds for repairs because the owner was out of country when it failed. They had it fixed locally but the manufacturer states it must be repaired in an approved warranty facility... they are out $60,000. - The manufacturer is cheaping out the frames and you don't know it until time does its damage and the frame fails. At first Grand Design were not exactly with open arms to repair the frames. they may be coming around, BUT if you bought a used GD coach and the frame fails, they won't help you since you are not the original owner. Since this is a problem created by the manufacturer, THEY SHOULD FIX IT NO CHARGE.. IT IS THEIR PROBLEM. The general recommendation out there is NOT TO BUY a new coach, to find a coach Pre Covid year since most of them were free of the frame problems. The new coaches are just built too cheaply with poor frames.

[@boneseyyl1060]

@@lifequest7453 Great points but in large RV's, bringing the frame up to snuff as far as strength and durability is also going to add a lot of weight plus extra expense. And that's the problem. To really build these things to take the punishment means making them smaller ( because you have to be able to tow them) and using quality components and constructions which jacks the price way up and makes them a difficult sell. Manufacturers don't care what happens after you buy these things, thats on you. They just want to entice you with how pretty and loaded up with frills it is, for the price. You get what you pay for. But at least his advice of uprgrading the suspension will help somewhat. Fact is it should be done at the factory, but again price point.

[@lifequest7453]

@@boneseyyl1060 -- I am aware of that, it has to be a delicate balance of what they can build vs what will hold up on the road. But we still have the facts that this problem had not occurred until after the covid year when money was tight, experienced help was minimal, etc, etc. This frame problem didn't happen until recently.

[@ethandavis8412]

Glad to see the reality side of RV life. Ive been in an RV for almost a year and sure dealt with plenty of issues without even traveling. Lots of time and effort but to me, its worth it

[@BillB-k2b]

Yup…if you aren’t handy and can’t fix things, don’t own an rv!

[@rbnye]

Carl nailed it. RV's take a tremendous amount of abuse just rolling down the road. Kim & I liken it to a 7.0 earthquake that lasts as long as the rig is moving. I've been amazed at what jiggers itself loose or out of alignment and I grew up next to the Fleetwood RV factories. Luckily I have lots of skills to keep our Rockwood 8325SS in good shape but it is a never ending list of things to do. If you're new to RV life, this is an important lesson: RV are built to break. If you engineer the thing to not break 1) It would required a 2 ton truck to tow it. 2) It would look like a military vehicle. 3) It would cost closer to a half million for a 26 ft trailer. Those are the trade offs that come with the life. We accepted that going in because the fun is worth the cost, so we do fun then repairs.

[@VOlDTALES]

Incorrect it is not worth the fun. Just drive your car and camp out.

[@johnpollard4158]

I stayed at that campground in 1975ish coming back from a middle school backpacking trip to the Smokies. Our buses got there at about 10pm. We had to set up our tents in the pouring rain. I slept on my backpack frame to stay out of the water. Every hour a train passed, blew the horn, and woke up a rooster that started crowing. It was miserable and still one of my best memories.

[@007nadineL]

😂😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤❤❤

[@JohnJones-k9d]

CHILD HOOD EXPERIENCE YOU WONT FORGET

[@janefromtennessee]

I couldn’t take listening to a train that close by

[@VOlDTALES]

It’s not 1975 anymore bro. Put the fries in the bag bro.

[@johnpollard4158]

@VOlDTALES thanks for taking the time to let us all know what a miserable person you are. 🤣

[@jkxtreme]

We lived on a 50 ft boat for a few years. If you think RV's have issues, try boating. There are so many systems on a boat... all of which need constant attention. While we lived on it, I performed either maintenance or repairs almost every day. 2 engines, generator, water maker, 12 batteries, 5 bilge pump systems, 3 macerator toilet pumps, A.C. cooling pump, anchor system, and on and on. And at 8 knots we burned 12 gallons of fuel per hour.

[@josepla9797]

You forgot icemaker, fridges and freezers..... all of which crap out constantly.

[@56robdog]

We are on our 5th unit over the past 35 years. Funny started small, our largest a Artic Fox with slides, awesome unit that said one heavy beast. Now just the two of us with a 50# dog. Down sized to a Nash 17k with onboard generator (propane). We mostly dry / disperse camp. Love love love our Nash 2022 17k. Perfect for the three of us. Spend as much time as possible outside. Nash and Artic Fox pulls like a dream, great quality.

[@michaelshepard9409]

We are just in a heartland, prowler,, full time…. It’s been a great rv.solid, little heavy, but just very strong.. I know it’s not a high end unit!!!but excellent coach to us… enjoy

[@AKMORRISON53]

I enjoy your videos - you guys are energetic and witty in your videos. You provide some great information in your content. I’m 71 and retired 3 years ago. My wife and I enjoy state parks and the new so called resort RV parks. I enjoy watching informative RV content.

[@lynnfiegl4953]

I hope you’re writing all this stuff down so you can remember it when you get to Indiana! When we bought our 2019 pull behind, we had a 2 page list of issues that needed to be addressed and this was when it was brand new!! 😮😮😮 Happy Camping and Safe Travels! ❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@bryanmcculloch9524]

Carl don't forget that the Sticks & Bricks have maintenance all the time also. Fixing things all the time is just a part of maintaining your home! Keeping a good roof over your head takes work.

[@kittywilhite9583]

Good point. So true!

[@chicagonorthcoast]

True, but the ration of cost of purchase and repairs to comfort, space, and durability is much more favorable in a stationary house or building than it is in an RV. No comparison. For $150,000 here in Chicago, I get a beautiful 1 Bed condo with 1,000 sq ft, that needs only occasional repairs and upgrades like a new kitchen faucet five years ago, a new thermostat for the AC last year, and a $6800 assessment for my share of a new heating system to replace one 100 years old this year. The RV I get for the same price will have 300 sq ft at the most, occasion thousands of $$ yearly in repairs, have fuel costs that exceed my utility and HOA costs, and not offer a fraction of the comfort, space, and security of my little home.

[@bumponlog]

Not like an rv. The vibration induced stress inherent with road travel coupled with lightweight/cheap materials results in RVs tearing themselves apart. It's extremely accelerated compared to a sticks and bricks home.

[@SEANMCAD]

exactly and its actually far more expensive. I have a family member who just spent 24k on siding for the house. plus, finding leaks and roof damage is WAY easier on a RV

[@SEANMCAD]

@@chicagonorthcoast I have a family member that spent more on siding for their house than I spent buying my trailer that I have lived in for 9 years now.

[@CFPVideoProductions]

The damage under your floor due to the blowout that you patched with tape I think if you stop at Lowes or Home Depot, you can find a sheet of aluminum to screw in place that would protect from water and road flung stones. Don & Honey

[@betterwithrum]

Amazon sells Kevlar fabric sheets

[@HappyQuailsLC]

​@@betterwithrumAre they woven and going to prevent impact damage to wooden subflooring in spite of its tear and puncture resistence?

[@betterwithrum]

@@HappyQuailsLC you need to apply epoxy or polyester ester and cure it. There are room temp curing agents but I have had better results with the heat treatment ones. To get the shape or mold for the wheel well, use styrofoam. It’s messy but cheap and forgiving. Once you have your mold, lay the fabric down, apply the epoxy and then let it cure based on the instructions. I’ve used screws to attach it to the RV and covered the screws with sealant

[@gitup73]

Bought a 2015 369rl. Awesome rig. No issues at all. Replaced OEM tires with Gladiators. Front Cap gel coat faded in the Arizona sun. Had a local guy come out and repair it. It's all clear coat now. Beautiful. Cost me 1800 bucks and I did not have to move it. That's it for my RV. Love it.

[@DougWandless]

I have had the same tires for 3 years now. They are holding up great.

[@doodlethebeagle2078]

Thanks for keeping it real, hope you get the best resolution & keep movin forward

[@Tilly-767]

Ya, I grew up in a small town and with the railroad tracks less than a block behind our house. For me it brings back childhood memories...I kind of love the train sounds. Lol!

[@Jeffbob442]

I know, I know,! I am doing a repair at a campground in Custer right now thanks to those cheesy little staples that you are dealing with too! Hear go's the screws in, that they should have used in the first place!! Glad to see it's not just me!

[@elainewhitmore3383]

I’m in a 2019 Surveyor by Forest River. Full RV since July 2020. So much to learn. I do enjoy getting to fix on my own. So rewarding ! I do reduce use on anything I can to keep it functioning properly 😂

[@eddiew3521]

Let’s hope that separation of [your side] bedroom cabinet from the wall isn’t early signs of the dreaded frame flex, aka, frame failure. 🤞

[@wendybenson5903]

my thoughts exactly when I saw that!

[@raymondherbst7126]

Frame Flex?? You mean Frame Fail!

[@austech360]

Lippert

[@jmatech]

First thing I thought of when I saw it. We have the same model rig but 2022. So far so good but I’m holding my breath

[@scotthansen1287]

It is.

[@StevenHellie]

I am a husband of a travel nurse, we started this life style 3 years ago and it can be stressful at times, but it can also be very rewarding also. I seen in your last video that you guys are wanting to get up to Maine, We have a house in Rockport Maine, which is a small vacation town. I like watching your video's because you guys do keep it real as far as what it is like doing the RV life and the good and bad that comes with it.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hey Steven, sorry for the late response on my part. It’s great to connect with another travel nurse family 😃 We really appreciate you watching our videos. Your support means more than you know

[@michaelconlin4870]

Noticed you were listening to Ryan Hall. Great weather forecasting. RV issues suck. We have had our Keystone Montana for 6 months. Been in for warranty repairs for over 2 months of that 6 months! 😞

[@kristenmccreary8692]

I've added that RV park in Alabama to my Bucket List for RV Parks once I get my RV! 🙂 It's beautiful! Full hookups and it's not gonna break the bank! woohoo! RV repairs though, ugh. So sorry you guys have to deal with all of that.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Hi Kristen! We are so sorry for the late reply on our end. We love hearing that you will be getting an RV yourself! And yeah, the repairs can be a headache, but it’s all part of the adventure. Thanks for watching and sharing your excitement! We couldn't do this without your support every week ❤️ - The Hanks Family

[@darrells1806]

I was wondering when that was going to happen with your Grand Design. A trip to Alaska would just accelerate tearing the RV up, as well as full timing on our rough roads in his country. If there is a bright side to the story, you’ve owned and traveled in it for quite a while. Many people are having their campers fall apart after a few months of ownership.

[@batshtcrazy5293]

Once again, this is a prime exapmle of why I bought a used 2016 Tiffin Allegro. Its reliable, built well for an rv, and runs like a champ. I really hope you guys find something better eventually, without too much trouble. And thanks a million for all the great vids and info!

[@bobmakow55]

That RV has been to heck and back, storms, flooding, Alaska roads. RV's were not built for that kind of use. The issue I have is you tube content providers seem to receive preferential treatment by corporate vs someone off the street. The usual response is that's a dealer issue. My feelings are that anyone who hauls their RV up and back through Alaska are on their own. Sorry Hanks love watching but that S-class has performed above and beyond.

[@tomserra3964]

Thanks for helping your fellow RVer's find amazing camping locations. I do tons of research when planning our trips and youtube reviews are part of that process. Other RVer's who think you shouldn't share are just selfish people all around. Don't let them deter you.

[@aaronchandler2380]

I cannot imagine camping in Alabama let alone towing a 3 bedroom ranch… with a Chevy. Seems like asking for nightmares to me. Good luck!

[@matt3606-o3l]

Sounds like you're just hating on Chevy for the sake of it. Kinda sad, really.

[@aaronchandler2380]

@@matt3606-o3l owned several chevys had 2 Chevy Lemons taken back through the lemon law. Silverado and a venture van, my dad retired from GM , I’m from Detroit. I’d walk before going anywhere near a GM dealer again. The Chevy Silverado is the most recalled vehicle in the world. Their worst than yugos. Are you in Alabama for the humidity festivities? Sounds like a blast, enjoy!

[@glowilk5377]

Humidity Festivals😂

[@ExitLight]

@@aaronchandler2380We stopped buying Chevy’s five years ago. They were constantly breaking down with major repair issues. Won’t do that again.

[@aaronchandler2380]

@@ExitLight it’s a sad but common story, my first car was a Chevy, I was a Chevy guy, Chevy screwed me cover hard. Been a Toyota guy ever since.

[@michaelboyles9329]

Yep we had to put a thin piece off wood to go under the fridge. It is a regular fridge which is really too heavy for the slide. It’s great when u buy but like you both, we learn the lesson the hard way. Yes all RV’s are made at the same 5? Factories. Luv the channel, keep camping!

[@Barbara-nc9iq]

I just started the video and as per protocol hit the thumbs up button. That being said not happy the RV is falling apart. But just being supportive.

[@lifequest7453]

They have a Grand Design, they had to know it was coming.

[@mikehamilton4826]

I just thumbs up every video to show myself what videos I’ve watched and which ones I’ve missed! Love ya guys and safe travels my friends!!🙏🏻

[@valeriecross9184]

Me too!

[@dbsmithy]

Our last place was Fisherman’s Memorial Park and Campground in Narragansett RI. No trains, but, the Block Island ferry horn was comforting.

[@MsQ275]

omg, it's my birthday... came home from a birthday dinner to big old leak in my trailer.... that I've already put $1500 into fixing. I'm feeling y'all ❤

[@therd6811]

About that slide wall. It’s much more than a sealant repair. The hole that you are looking at is where the trim piece was screwed to the wall. Now the screw is maybe 1/2” or more lower than it was. That is a result of the floor coming loose from the wall in the slide. Ask me how I know. A shop had to re-bolt the floor to the wall, from underneath. The repair tech said that they had either used too small of lag bolts or they had missed hitting anything of substance to hold the floor in place. A little sealant and a new screw ain’t gonna fix things here.

[@PeaceIntheValley]

yeah. something not right. That or the frame is breaking.

[@robertcrosser5946]

I've been full time 5 years I love your field expedient repairs glad to know I'm not alone

[@janekimmick4923]

Maintaining and reparing should be expected with an RV. Just like a sticks and bricks, normal wear and tear will happen. If people keep that in mind, they should be able to decide if full time is right for them. My husband just retired. I retired a year ago. We have had many conversations about going full time. I think we have decided to live on the road 7 or 8 months out of the year down south, away from the cold and snow and the other 4 or 5 months live in our house in Northern NY.

[@philipdiehl9849]

I too have been in camp grounds where trains are a factor. I personally love the sounds of trains. I'm seldom awaken by trains going by. Grandpa Jack

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thanks for sharing, Grandpa Jack! The sound of trains can definitely add a unique charm to camping. We're glad to hear you enjoy it. Thanks for watching and for all your continued support 😊

[@yardboy3955]

I did RV-ing for two years and sold my rig. I had enough of the whole experience. Glad I did it when I was young not after I retired.

[@wannabetrucker7475]

😂😂 I don't get dragging/driving an object like that all over hell's half acre..😂😂. To each his own. I don't know why all these channels got recommended to me, but some are pretty amusing.

[@thomburleson7661]

Agreed. I still don’t understand why people pay a small fortune to lead a vagabond life. I certainly love the North American scenery and have traveled extensively to see it in a more conventional way. Car and motels. In doing the math, it’s a WAY less expensive manner of enjoying our natural world w/o the headaches. But as you say, to each his own.

[@crashweekly7925]

I had a blow out on my way to Kentucky and it destroyed the metal skirting on the opposite door side, destroyed the tire in front of the blown one. $5,000 worth of damage later and new tires. I use royal purple wax on the front nose of my 5th wheel , helps with the bugs. My electric fire place cover used to fall off just like yours as well. I bullet proofed my 2016 keystone cougar , fixed about 2 dozen things on it and then traded it in and bought a 45' toy hauler.

We had a double blowout last year. One tire on each side, so I am very aware of the damage high PSI tires can do. We also have a Solitude and I was able to order and replace the parts myself. The biggest issue was that the J-skirt come in 15 foot sheets, and transporting it to our site took quite a bit of coordination. The second issue is that GD does not make the wheel trim in the same color any more so we had to buy spray paint that was a close as possible to the original. We cut the J-skirt to match the old one by aligning the old an new pieces and using a Dremel cutting bit. It took me less than 3 hours to complete the work, and I am not a professional.

[@AtomicDog-v2d]

I have a 1997 Jayco pop up. Done thousands of miles everything is still good with it. Bought it for $800.

[@CorPro]

I love trains. A train horn is like a lullaby for me. 😊

[@jponyboyace]

Lotta frame issues and do you have TPMS?

[@blessedtoquest]

Same! From WV here... always heard them at night while growing up

[@chicagonorthcoast]

Same here. I like planes, too, especially if I'm traveling 2000 miles or more.

[@JanetYoung-k5k]

I put it right up there with a freighter horn on the St. clair river in Port Huron, MI. But you combine a freighter horn and a train whistle all within a few minutes of one another and fall asleep to it there is nothing better and a summer night.

[@marybourgeois8056]

My mom grew up in the depression era and lived in a dirt floor shack next to train tracks. Everytime we hear a train she'd say THERE GOES THE OLD LONESOME TRAIN...... what an amazing mother she was!

[@Thetravelingmoes]

We love your videos. We usually watch o. TV, and if I really need to comment I'll come to the tube, but we love you all for everything you share. Rv life isn't easy, and so many only show the good stuff. Well, there's a lot that goes on, not just good. Your spot looks amazing, and thankful that you're getting all that addressed. We have a no bo 10.5, we could fit in your bedroom. 😂 but we enjoy it. Take care- Brenda and Kenny

[@deborahallen5249]

We purchased in 2005 a 34’ Class A Itasca Sunova RV that has 3 slide outs. Our floor plan is awesome. So, she’s 19 years old and doesn’t even have 30,000 miles on the engine. We used to live in California and used the rv all year long with no real issues. 9 years ago we left CA and moved to southwest MO. Since we moved here, we have over $30,000 in repairs. The weather here is terrible for RV’s. Our linoleum floor shrunk away from the walls, $4,000. It’s on its 3rd roof. The slide out on the dining room broke. Driving from CA to MO, we went through Az, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, And Tennessee. Texas had terrible roads. Our satellite system broke in Texas. Talk about potholes! My husband didn’t winterize it right, broken water pipes that flooded the rv and shorted out the electrical system. We were in OK. When that happened. $9,000 in repairs. I can go on and on. We filed an insurance claim on the roof. They put on a new roof. We took it in a few months later to have it winterized. They winterized it right before our big freeze in fall 2023. Went to pick it up and the whole front of the rv was drenched inside! The “new roof” caved in. They had to redesign and build a new roof. So far it’s held up! We are in our 70’s and can’t afford the upkeep if this keeps happening. The inside is still in excellent condition. Anything else goes wrong, we’re thinking of driving it over a cliff, lol! We only get to use it maybe 4 times a year right now. Soooo much upkeep! I love the part about tires! How scary! My husband doesn’t think tires need to be changed. We put new tires on 9 years ago. I hate to think of a blow out!

[@AircraftMechanic-AP]

9 year old tires are a disaster waiting to happen.

[@michellewinkler3985]

When we bought our new travel trailer last year (this is our 3rd one we've RV'd since 1996) I spent 9 hours and took off all the decals on the entire outside of the RV. Last RV our decals faded so bad I wasn't going to have this happen again. Too bad we can't order them with no decals! Anyway, glad you had a fun trip and hope you get all your repairs sorted out soon!

[@ourrvsunsets]

I fully believe that there is a federal law that states that any RV park built in the United States has to be built within 1/8 of a mile of a busy railroad line!!

[@PrincessJamiG]

😂😅

[@hhazelhoff1363]

Lmao

[@stevenbaker6670]

Or airport

[@hhazelhoff1363]

I think the interstate should be added to the law lol

[@OurRoamingFamily]

We did our first cross country and back and 100 ever where we stayed was with the about 1/8 mile from a railroad. Train horn and rail noise became a comfort sound hard to sleep without that background noise

[@airstreamer]

We are literally driving our homes down the road. Things are going to break, shift, and need repair. Clever thumb nail that says you are returning it.

[@nazoutdoors7771]

You have alot of signs of the infamous frame flex/damage!!!

[@kathykeene2092]

Those flex frame issues are mostly on the Momentums. I didn’t see any frame issues in this video.

[@RayLyle-kx2ks]

Kyle and Renee thank y’all for all the updates. I don’t have a Grand Design product but with the separation issue your having check for Frame Flex. Hope y’all have great time in the mountains this week and safe travel to y’all.

[@marcusaponte1287]

Reminds me of the scene where in “My Cousin Vinny” the train comes by and the front desk guy tells him it rarely comes by at that’s time. Then the next day it comes in a 0300 or something like that. lol

[@B25BOMERLOVER]

When we got our RV the first thing we got was a tire reminder. It monitors how hot the tires get in if it's losing pressure my wife can find a nail or a screwdriver and it let her know before it blew out.

[@p.robertbranconi4127]

As a Truck Driver with over 2 Million miles... I've experienced everything that can go wrong... Had a Super Single tire blow out and distroy the tire next it, On the side of the road for 17 hours... Fill at a T/S that had water with algee from a flood turning it into gel, in their tanks... Engines don't run well with that BS $12,000. I feel your pain. I know if I go RV full timing... Life will be roses... Eh?

[@stevehart4311]

With you there. We had a blow out on our motorhome on I-10 in Arizona at 100F. 11 hours later we were back on the road, but with a 14 year old tire the road service tire guy found out behind his shop. We held our breath all the way to the next town! Oh, and the body damage repair was nearly $14,000!

[@marymason9981]

😮😢

[@kenttalcott8428]

By definition "RVs" are not intended for full time habitation and driving the amount that full timers travel. Add to the mix a trip to Alaska (aka death for RV rigs) and you have a laundry list of repairs. In an effort for manufacturers to keep them light and affordable to the recreational user they must be woefully under engineered for full time use. It is the nature of the the beast. The best defense is to keep doing what you are currently doing and learn as much as you can about your rig and all of its major systems (plumbing, electric, suspension, etc, etc) and take the time to repair or even re-engineer as things come up. Thanks for sharing and good luck with your repairs.

[@5959Mikee]

Two happiest days of your life, the day you get your RV and the day you sell it.

[@rolphbluesky8537]

same as a boat

[@vanishingpoint5248]

Yup… even though it’s expensive better to rent one….

[@harleygrit5358]

Yeap! Just sold mine three weeks ago! Primarily because my RV Resort kept jacking up the annual lease! Almost a $1000 in two years!... Enjoyed it for three years... Couldn't justify the lease expense...

[@JohnBowl14690]

RV = Repair Voraciously

[@CanadianJonny]

I bought an early 2000's 30 foot camper off someone who completely restored it.. Been living in it for 4 years now through very rough and cold winters with no issues. Is this something that people should do if they want a good reliable camper or have I just gotten lucky?

[@rvfuntimes6144]

We bought a Vanleigh/Vilano 325 RL in 2016.. It has been a awesome RV and we have a Service Center and its near there thanks for the info to camp there. We come down from West Jefferson, NC in a few weeks so we are going to use it.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thanks for watching, and glad to hear your Vanleigh/Vilano 325 RL has been treating you well! We appreciate your support ❤️

[@lucyalderman422]

I’m in Canada and I get frustrated with US based you tube producers who oh this is a perfect because and fail to say what state they are in thank you for saying what state you are in

[@kimsalmon7593]

Husband, I have just purchased a new fifth wheel. Thank you for all your great advice.Waving hello from Ont Canada .

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Congratulations!! We are so happy to hear that you got a new fifth wheel and that we have helped you along the way! 😊 Thank you for all your support!

[@deeterr1227]

My husband and I have been all over the US with our RV, which we bought brand new. Even brand spankin' new, WE KNEW it was nothing more, nothing less than CARD BOARD BOX ON A STEEL AXEL. We've treated it as such. First thing when we got it home, hubby REWIRED, RE- PLUMBED AND REPLACED EVERY SCREW AND BOLT ON THE THING, RETRACKED & UPGRADED THE TRACK MECHANISM TO THE SLIDEOUT .etc (Took him 4½). I restyle and redecor every 3 years or so to keep her updated. My husbands remark after his list was completed: "Pity the fool who has to live and roll down the road in these things year around"..lol. The word "full-time" didn't exist yet lol. As KZbin "FULL TIME" RV'ers started uploading more videos ..me and my husband just shook our heads and smiled at each other. My Husband's wisdom: "Now there'll be thousands of 'repair'😅 and 'how to' videos, and folks telling what the "Best" products are for us, coming up shortly"..🤣 I hate when he's right. Ohhh P.S. We do live in Minnesota, we dont put wheels down in the winter, so that saves wear & tear. So, 18years later our travel trailer is still NEWER than us lol..constant upkeep, its the nature of the beast.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Wow, it sounds like you both have put in a ton of work to keep your RV in top shape! It’s impressive that after 18 years, your travel trailer is still running strong. It sounds like you both know your way around an RV! Thanks for sharing your story and for watching our videos-we really appreciate it! - Kyle and Renee

[@gudlukkay]

You hate when he's right???

[@deeterr1227]

@@gudlukkay lol no..lol joking.. He's a great guy. And funny.

[@dannyharrington5265]

I enjoy yall's content more than any other RV site. You guys always seem so real and hope to meet you 2 one day. We are just starting out on our full time adventure (just retired) and really like the fact that you share all the experiences, good and bad. Looking forward to more videos

[@sheepdog401]

This shows that if you own an RV be prepared to do ongoing maintenance and getting the knowledge to do the repairs. People have to realize that if you moved your house down the road every few days things would break and need repair so don't be surprised when you RV home needs repairs.

[@cmoshpit9171]

for your oven, you need a thermocouple. the pilot light's flame hits it. if its bad it will cut propane. its like 15 bucks. as for tire wear, good luck. i had a grand design reflection and it did the same thing. now I have a Keystone Avalanche and the tires never get hot and stick, or wear bad at all. i have 15k miles towing it and they look brand new, its crazy

[@user-mj6fe5jf9z]

Most of this seems like normal wear and tear form long term use and not to serious imo. Except for the tire issue. Your nose high and the rear axle may be flexing pushing the tires into a negative/positive camber as well as more pressure on the rear tires creating more heat. Taking the 4 inch lift off the truck. should level things out. A TPMS on the trailer might tell a story of the rear TT tires running at a higher heat because of the added pressure on them. Running level or no more than 1 inch rise fore to aft or visa versa ,not only tows better, it lets the tires sit with equal pressure. You can also rotate your trailer tires to mitigate wear. You may be overloaded as well. Maybe do a 4 corners weight on you rig.

[@RvingAmerica]

You were talking about the front landing gear. We bought our first ever RV a 2017 GD Reflection 367 BHS new in 2017. Had it 7 seasons and had to replace both front landing gears. I can speak personally it is a DIY job. It’s not bad at all. Just need big sturdy blocks and a jack to support the side you remove the landing gear from. Bought exact Lippert replacement online from Lippert directly.

[@ATLJonathanH]

After watching your channel for many years, we cannot recall a single travel nurse job, or even a reference to a travel nurse job, ever. When do you guys work?

[@terrypage8172]

I wonder when they work as well?

[@loriejohnson8706]

They don’t travel nurse anymore, it’s how they started and they keep their credentials current, but they make their living from social media.

[@chrischapman276]

Really think about it this way... She said it was "April" when she recorded this video. So that was 2 months ago. That's a looong time to edit and post up on here! I know I don't wait that long !!!lol So, I'd bet they've been working the past couple months alone!!!!

[@chrischapman276]

but I don't know honestly....

[@adriannurse1502]

God bless you guys 🙏 Do you think Grand Design will make it right or will you be paying for the repairs?

[@mrmurphy8609]

My wife and I had 9 great years traveling in our Itasca Sunstar it was a 38 foot class RV which we bought brand new. The first two years were working the bugs out and fixing the stuff that just fell apart\ often rebuilding or improving on what we were stuck with. We got the oil changed every 5 thousand miles, never drove it over 70mph and tried to be as gentle as I could with it. We drove coast to coast a few times. We worked in NY,CA,AR,NC,OH. These were great years I had planned on doing this since 1981,sitting in a gate shack as an Army MP and bought my first Rand McNally atlas and circling I wanted to see. My wife wanted to go back to ohio where her Mom is and wanted to spend time with her. So we left Ojai CA where we managed a decent size primitive campground with 65 ish sites. Right after we crossed the Rockies I started to hear a knock in the engine which got louder over the corse of 5 minutes after we had it towed to a shop and after a week of waiting for answers. We were told our Triton V10 engine crapped the bed.Cost to get us back on the road was between 25-35 thousand dollars. Well we didnt have that just laying around the RV so after paying about 104,000 for it a few years back and was given a whopping 15 thousand dollars selling it as junk. We transferred what was ours into a rental truck and came back to Ohio and are starting over everything we owned was bumper to bumper after selling everything else before we took off.😅 Let this be a lesson to all, you will be told prior to purchase that these are traveling homes that a lot of folks are living in them full time,after the purchase these weren’t meant to live in full time. I was told by a service rep while in Iowa that we bought an entry level Rv the real quality is in the ones that cost 250k or more. We paid 104 grand for the RV. Ours lasted a whopping 36,000 miles. So let the buyer beware these were made better about 25-30 years ago but not anymore. They are slapped together with staples,glue and cheap wood work

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Sorry for the late reply! It sounds like you and your wife had some incredible adventures in your Itasca Sunstar despite the challenges. It’s always tough to face those unexpected costs and issues, especially after so much time on the road. Thanks for sharing your experience-it's a reminder to all of us about the importance of understanding what we’re getting into with RVs. Thanks so much for watching, and we're glad you're part of our community! - Kyle and Renee

[@jayneubauer3401]

My wife and I have been full-time in our 2018 Grand Design Imagine 2670MK for 4 years now. We bought it new, about a week after it came out! It has had it's little issues, as all do. We had a blowout last year (admittedly, the tires were 6 years old, and ironically I was on my way to get them replaced). We were amazingly fortunate in that the only damage was to the tire itself! I see so many stories of fenders, body damage, flooring issues and wires being torn from blowouts!

[@carlsanders4680]

I hit the LIKE button before the video even starts. That is how long and how much I love you guys !!!!!!! Been watching for a long time. Not a cat person, have a golden retriever. But Dexter seems cool. Rock on, LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!!!!!!!

[@bjwieland-doucet5917]

Y'all, it's just like a house. Stuff has to be fixed & updated & kept up. Life 101 stuff ❤😂😮😊

[@737Parkie]

Properties appreciate. RVs depreciate.

[@bjwieland-doucet5917]

@@737Parkie They BOTH have to be maintained regardless.

[@737Parkie]

@@bjwieland-doucet5917 I don’t disagree. My AC compressor at my house went out today. Preachin to the choir. 😭

[@DH-qz4mx]

Sell a home after 15 years with repairs and still make a good profit. Buy a 100,000.00 RV and after 15 years sell it for junk. Stupid is Stupid does. JMHO

[@matthewm3912]

it IS NOT like a house you fool.

[@trishal2592]

Thanks for sharing! We love watching you all!❤❤❤