Any Grand Design owners?

[nighthawk87]

Originally Posted by windman

Finally pickup our 280BH 2 weeks ago. Did a 700 mile trip last weekend pulling with a Propride hitch. All went perfect exepte the non so level first campsite we had and the faulty electrical post found on our 2nd campground. My EMS detected a faulty neutral. I finally hook up to my neighbor post, 3rd camping was perfectly level and electricity and water A1.


Till now we love our 2800BH. Next WE is plan for Lake Placid

Wow that’s more trailer than I tow with my ram 2500 DIESEL. I had a 2.7 f150 and it towed ok but felt pretty squirrelly sometimes. How’s your tow? If you could swap to a 3/4T would you?

I’d love to go back to half ton ride unloaded, but towing with the 3/4 is sooo nice.

[windman]

Originally Posted by nighthawk87

Wow that’s more trailer than I tow with my ram 2500 DIESEL. I had a 2.7 f150 and it towed ok but felt pretty squirrelly sometimes. How’s your tow? If you could swap to a 3/4T would you?

I’d love to go back to half ton ride unloaded, but towing with the 3/4 is sooo nice.

Payload wise I have more than your 2500 diesel...I guess you have near 2000 lbs. I have 2473 lbs.
I have the 5.0 6sp 3.73. I tow at 55 mph, occasionally 60 mph. The 5.0 is doing fine. This engine like to rev, max tq hp is around 5000 rpm.

Going 7 % grade I set the cruise to 48-50, mostly in 3rd. I removed the 6th gear as I can manualy remove the gear I want. It would go on 6th mostly very flat or downhill, but I prefer not having it switch from 5th to 6th all the time. Occasionally if it is a low grade long downhill, I will re-engage the 6th gear.


Towing at 60 I get around 9.5 mpg, 55 will do 10.6 mpg.


Weight/length and with the propride it is very very comfortable, 2 finger to drive, one on the steering and the other one in my nose...


I'm getting a bit of porpoising on bumpy road, ordered Bilstein 4600 for the rear to see if it will make a difference.

[robthefive0]

Absolutely love our 2970rl. No issues so far. Very well built compared to our last Starcraft Autumn Ridge.

[windman]

Originally Posted by robthefive0

Absolutely love our 2970rl. No issues so far. Very well built compared to our last Starcraft Autumn Ridge.

Looking good, Nice machine colors.
Hope you have enough payload for the beast!!!

[nighthawk87]

Originally Posted by windman

Payload wise I have more than your 2500 diesel...I guess you have near 2000 lbs. I have 2473 lbs.
I have the 5.0 6sp 3.73. I tow at 55 mph, occasionally 60 mph. The 5.0 is doing fine. This engine like to rev, max tq hp is around 5000 rpm.

Going 7 % grade I set the cruise to 48-50, mostly in 3rd. I removed the 6th gear as I can manualy remove the gear I want. It would go on 6th mostly very flat or downhill, but I prefer not having it switch from 5th to 6th all the time. Occasionally if it is a low grade long downhill, I will re-engage the 6th gear.


Towing at 60 I get around 9.5 mpg, 55 will do 10.6 mpg.


Weight/length and with the propride it is very very comfortable, 2 finger to drive, one on the steering and the other one in my nose...


I'm getting a bit of porpoising on bumpy road, ordered Bilstein 4600 for the rear to see if it will make a difference.

That’s a really good payload number. Higher than my diesel. I’m still not convinced mines really functionally limited to 2270 though. I doubt all 3/4T are defined directly to 10k pounds. With that said at least I have a weight advantage over the Trailer.

I’d give anything to see how your f150 would tow my trailer compared to my old 2.7L. That one had 1718 payload.

I just have a hard time seeing how those two f150s could tow THAT much different.

[windman]

Originally Posted by nighthawk87

That’s a really good payload number. Higher than my diesel. I’m still not convinced mines really functionally limited to 2270 though. I doubt all 3/4T are defined directly to 10k pounds. With that said at least I have a weight advantage over the Trailer.

I’d give anything to see how your f150 would tow my trailer compared to my old 2.7L. That one had 1718 payload.

I just have a hard time seeing how those two f150s could tow THAT much different.

The 5.0 has 70 hp more same torque, but I have the 3.73 diff. What did you had on your 2.7?

[bigb56]

We are looking at the GD Imagine XLS 22RBE which shows an overall height of 10' 5". No where, on any web page or brochure is a rooftop AC unit mentioned, not even in the list of standard items and extra options. The photo shows a GD trailer with an AC. I even emailed the dealer who doesn't have an answer. So does anyone know if 1.The AC unit is standard and 2. Does the published height of 10' 5" include the AC unit?

[windman]

Originally Posted by bigb56

We are looking at the GD Imagine XLS 22RBE which shows an overall height of 10' 5". No where, on any web page or brochure is a rooftop AC unit mentioned, not even in the list of standard items and extra options. The photo shows a GD trailer with an AC. I even emailed the dealer who doesn't have an answer. So does anyone know if 1.The AC unit is standard and 2. Does the published height of 10' 5" include the AC unit?

My 2800BH with has an AC is publish at 11'1" and this is with the AC. Actually I did measure 11'0"..but loaded.


A good place to get an answer would be on the Gran Design Imagine Facebook page. Lots of info there.


You could contact Emily Stahley on this Facebook page or Messenger, she is a rep at GD

[nighthawk87]

Originally Posted by windman

The 5.0 has 70 hp more same torque, but I have the 3.73 diff. What did you had on your 2.7?

It has the payload package which came with 3.73 and the same frame as the 3.5L

[windman]

Originally Posted by nighthawk87

It has the payload package which came with 3.73 and the same frame as the 3.5L

The frame of all HDPP are beffier than the non HDPP. So you must have good payload?

[LetsGoEmily]

I know this is an old thread, but it came up when I searched for Imagine XLS. We will be buying one soon. They have the best floor plans for the small trailers, but what really sold us is the R40 roof insulation and R30 floor insulation as we will be full-time. So excited! Having remodeled my last trailer I have some idea what to look for, and the grand designs are amazingly built. Can't believe the bed and the dinette are framed out with aluminum and not 1x1 wood pieces! Of course that will make it harder for me if I ever want to remodel it LOL. I am looking at the 23 1/2 foot model with the rear u shaped dinette and no slides. Also, they have changed out the Lippert axles for Dexter systems.

Liz

[bigb56]

Originally Posted by Pup

I know this is an old thread, but it came up when I searched for Imagine XLS. We will be buying one soon. They have the best floor plans for the small trailers, but what really sold us is the R40 roof insulation and R30 floor insulation as we will be full-time. So excited! Having remodeled my last trailer I have some idea what to look for, and the grand designs are amazingly built. Can't believe the bed and the dinette are framed out with aluminum and not 1x1 wood pieces! Of course that will make it harder for me if I ever want to remodel it LOL. I am looking at the 23 1/2 foot model with the rear u shaped dinette and no slides. Also, they have changed out the Lippert axles for Dexter systems.

Liz

Hi Liz, I am patiently waiting for the all new xls 22RBE to start appearing on dealer's lots here in the West. If you are content with no slide you might want to take a look at a ORV 21RD, the build quality is superb and cost not bad. We are on the fence between a GD with slide or the ORV with no slide.

The insulation on the ORV is incredible and the AC was quiet. They also build their own heavy duty frames.

[SpiritDoc]

Originally Posted by windman

Payload wise I have more than your 2500 diesel...I guess you have near 2000 lbs. I have 2473 lbs.
I have the 5.0 6sp 3.73. I tow at 55 mph, occasionally 60 mph. The 5.0 is doing fine. This engine like to rev, max tq hp is around 5000 rpm.

Going 7 % grade I set the cruise to 48-50, mostly in 3rd. I removed the 6th gear as I can manualy remove the gear I want. It would go on 6th mostly very flat or downhill, but I prefer not having it switch from 5th to 6th all the time. Occasionally if it is a low grade long downhill, I will re-engage the 6th gear.


Towing at 60 I get around 9.5 mpg, 55 will do 10.6 mpg.


Weight/length and with the propride it is very very comfortable, 2 finger to drive, one on the steering and the other one in my nose...


I'm getting a bit of porpoising on bumpy road, ordered Bilstein 4600 for the rear to see if it will make a difference.

I tried to tow with a 150 similar size trailer. We upgraded tires to LT's put KYB shocks, still porpoised. Put airbags and improved some. Finally went to a 350 diesel and fifth wheel reflection. Tows like a dream with no effects from big rigs. I'll never go back to a tow trailer.

Sent from my QTAIR7 using iRV2 - RV Forum mobile app

[Namtlar]

We are headed out tomorrow to look at a couple 2017 GD 2150RB. We like the length, don’t want to haul anything bigger. Any suggestions on questions to ask? One is a private sale and one is with a dealer.