Ugly Island Gimmick

[MLacombe]

Hello all,

I am "brand new" to the GD family and this forum. After extensive research, we have ordered a new 2021 Momentum 398M. The toy hauler has everything we need, and a few things we don't.

Top on the list is 2021's gimmicky black plastic pop-up electrical outlet in an otherwise beautiful & clean solid surface island top. Who's brilliant idea was this? This ugly drink-spiller and crumb-catcher is nothing but a troublesome eyesore. Previous years models had a fully adequate duplex outlet on the side wall of the island.

When I told GD and our Dealer that we absolutely did not want this gimmick, and to have their supplier not drill the hole for this in our unit, we were told that such a "massive" request was "just not possible, and by the way, welcome to the GD family....". I'm trying to find the supplier of these tops to appeal to them to not drill a hole for this otherwise beautiful island top. How can this be such a "big-ask"?

Not a great introduction,
Mike

[Jkwilson]

Allowing options drives up the cost of assembly. GD has followed this philosophy from the beginning.

If you are worrying about an issue like that, I’d question if owning an RV is going to be a good experience for you. All of the compromises required for weight and cost control create a lot of little aggravations owning an RV.

[MLacombe]

Thanks for responding J&K,

This is not our 1st new RV, it is our 3rd. We have been "happy campers" since the early 90's with a travel trailer, then 38' a toy hauler, now the massive 398M. I certainly understand GD's need to standardize, but this is simply asking them NOT to drill a hole in this part on this $100k unit (just like the last 3 year's models). I fully understand the manufacturing process, and how easily the assembly line can be "adjusted" for this.

We will likely have to tear the countertop out on "day-1" and replace it. I have a line on the supplier and will make an appeal with them (or order an additional top from them). It just seems an expensive waste that can be easily avoided. All because of someone's new "bright idea".

Mike

[Cate&Rob]

MLacombe

I can't speak for Grand Design, but they must believe that this pop-up electrical outlet is a product improvement . . . or they would not go to the cost and trouble of adding it. You obviously don't agree, but this is now apparently part of their standard build. To track a unique counter top through their material supply and production scheduling processes and get this coordinated with the build of your Momentum is not likely going to happen. If this outlet would cause you to remove and replace the countertop after you take delivery, that should be your plan.

I do know that all the RV manufacturers, including Grand Design, are having a tough time with COVID related shortages of many different components from their suppliers. You should probably be ready for your Momentum to quite possibly have different components than what you might be expecting based on brochures or dealer display models.

Rob

[MLacombe]

Thanks Rob,

We are aware of the supply chain issues and fully expect delays and substitutions. Looks like our unit will take over 4 months to produce (full body paint).

We are patient and have our existing care-worn toy hauler to fall back on, thus time for the attempt at this correction. I find it unlikely that the 2022 models will have this "improvement" in their islands.

Don't get me wrong, I still firmly believe that GD is "top of the heap" for these types of RV's.

Mike

[Jkwilson]

Thanks for responding J&K,

This is not our 1st new RV, it is our 3rd. We have been "happy campers" since the early 90's with a travel trailer, then 38' a toy hauler, now the massive 398M. I certainly understand GD's need to standardize, but this is simply asking them NOT to drill a hole in this part on this $100k unit (just like the last 3 year's models). I fully understand the manufacturing process, and how easily the assembly line can be "adjusted" for this.

We will likely have to tear the countertop out on "day-1" and replace it. I have a line on the supplier and will make an appeal with them (or order an additional top from them). It just seems an expensive waste that can be easily avoided. All because of someone's new "bright idea".

Mike

Just wanted to make sure your expectations were in the right place. I learned over my career as an engineer that the most important part of any project is understanding and managing the expectations of everyone involved.

[TucsonJim]

I hear ya loud and clear Mike. And welcome to the forum. When I purchased my travel trailer, I sure wish I could have customized a few things myself. Right after delivery, I replaced all the suspension components, the brakes and the tires. It was pricey, but met my "must haves". May of us on the forum are tinkerers and we make all kinds of mods to our rigs. Just get it as close to what you want, and then plan on spending a little more to make it yours.

One of the big issue that GDRV has with custom builds is switching delivery assignments. For example, they could have your unit 99% build and find a flaw. Normally, they just take that unit out of production for repairs, and reassign another one to you. If they had already installed a custom countertop, it would mean removing it along with any faucets and making sure it got moved to the new unit. They just aren't set up for that level of customization.

Four months on the build!!! Yikes. But with that full body paint, it will be a beauty.

Jim

P.S. If you haven't seen it, we created a welcome letter for new members to make your forum navigation a little easier.

https://gdrvowners.com/forum/main-fo...to-new-members

[howson]

MLacombe (Mike),
One "hidden" upgrade that's possible before delivery is getting a MORryde Independent Suspension and disk brakes. Not an inexpensive upgrade, but well worth it IMHO. (I had it installed on my 315RLTS after last year's rally.)

The YouTube couple known as Changing Lanes (Tara and Chad, who are GD Ambassadors) have a new video on the subject if you are interested. They have a Momentum.

Welcome to the forum!

Howard

https://changinglanesrv.com/morryde-...nsion-upgrade/

[ThePowells]

MLacombe Welcome to the forum!!

I kinda went thru this with our SOB Class C. I needed to mount Kelly's monitors to the dinette top so she could work as we travelled. I contacted their mothership and asked for a top that had been damaged or just didn't come out right so I could use it to drill holes. The couldn't find one, so they sent me one as a warranty replacement. They went waaay out of the norm to accommodate us.

[MLacombe]

Just wanted to make sure your expectations were in the right place. I learned over my career as an engineer that the most important part of any project is understanding and managing the expectations of everyone involved.

Thanks John,
(One fellow engineer to another) I still run my civil/structural consulting practice...with two of my three daughters still in college, I may never retire.. I do amateur sports car racing (thus the big garage in the 398M) and will be doing several mods anyway (better tie-downs & a golf cart (pit cart) lift in lieu of the front HappiJac).

Mike

[MLacombe]

MLacombe (Mike),
One "hidden" upgrade that's possible before delivery is getting a MORryde Independent Suspension and disk brakes. Not an inexpensive upgrade, but well worth it IMHO. (I had it installed on my 315RLTS after last year's rally.)

The YouTube couple known as Changing Lanes (Tara and Chad, who are GD Ambassadors) have a new video on the subject if you are interested. They have a Momentum.

Welcome to the forum!

Howard

https://changinglanesrv.com/morryde-...nsion-upgrade/

Thanks Howard, glad to be here!

I watch Tara & Chad all the time...they're great! Our unit will have the same paint as theirs as my '13 Sierra 3500 Denali dually is a perfect burgundy match.

Already spent the $ for the 8K axles & disk brakes with "H" tires upgrade (new this year). Independent suspension not available yet thru GD.

Mike

[MLacombe]

MLacombe (Mike),
One "hidden" upgrade that's possible before delivery is getting a MORryde Independent Suspension and disk brakes. Not an inexpensive upgrade, but well worth it IMHO. (I had it installed on my 315RLTS after last year's rally.)

The YouTube couple known as Changing Lanes (Tara and Chad, who are GD Ambassadors) have a new video on the subject if you are interested. They have a Momentum.

Welcome to the forum!

Howard

https://changinglanesrv.com/morryde-...nsion-upgrade/

Howard,

I just watched their youtube...gonna make a call first thing in the morning to ask about the Independent Suspension

Dealership told me the 8K & disk brake upgrade was available (I chose it for about $7.5k more) but they did not mention the IS. So glad I found out early in the build (less than a month).

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE HEADS-UP!

Mike

[SBARLAG]

4 months for the build sounds spot on. 12 weeks for the build and then 3-4 weeks for the paint. That's exactly what I'd tell my customers. Merry Christmas...

[MLacombe]

Howard,

I just watched their youtube...gonna make a call first thing in the morning to ask about the Independent Suspension

Dealership told me the 8K & disk brake upgrade was available (I chose it for about $7.5k more) but they did not mention the IS. So glad I found out early in the build (less than a month).

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE HEADS-UP!

Mike

Hey Howard,

Just talked to my salesman & GD. No independent suspension from GD (yet). I would have to trash my -ordered- 8k axles and disc brakes and hire MorRyde to replace all of it. Bummer

Thanks for the info nonetheless

Mike

[howson]

Hey Howard,

Just talked to my salesman & GD. No independent suspension from GD (yet). I would have to trash my -ordered- 8k axles and disc brakes and hire MorRyde to replace all of it. Bummer

Thanks for the info nonetheless

Mike

Amazing how there's so many "answers" to a relatively simple question.

MORryde will re-use the disc brakes on your GD installed setup. Yes, the existing axles on the trailer are "trashed".

I've heard in the past that the factory will tow a new trailer over to MORryde and get the IS install done. Second Chance -- weren't you one that had this coordinated?

BTW--you can confirm with MORryde what I wrote about the disc brakes and that they (routinely) modify trailers right off the assembly line by calling Brian Hosinski.at (574) 293-1581 ext. 1673 or emailing him at brian.hosinski@morryde.com