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I don't know if this will be of interest or use to anyone, but I thought I'd write up our experience earlier this week with a washer/dryer installation in our new 2020 Solitude 310GK-R. Among the several reasons we settled on the 310GK floor plan (moving from our Reflection 337) was the fact that it has a separate closet for the washer and dryer. We hadn't planned on installing the W/D so soon, but the pandemic and resulting reluctance to frequent the public laundromat down the road prompted us to act as quickly as possible.
If we had to get stuck someplace long-term during the pandemic, we couldn't be in a better situation. Augusta, GA, is where our health care providers are (we launched from the CSRA when we went full-time). There are at least two good tertiary-level hospitals here. This is where CSRA Camperland is located - our Grand Design dealer who we trust and who treats us well. Finally, we're "stuck" in our new Solitude with all the new features we wanted.
So, for the W/D installation...
We packed up early and were at the back gate to the dealership a little before 0800 (parts and service have been deemed essential in Georgia). We expected to spend the morning there hanging out in our Zero Gravity chairs reading our Kindles, etc. The items on the to-do list were the W/D installation, replace the propane regulator (switching mechanism and/or indicator not working), and replace the broken sewer line cap. Half a day, right? We finally pulled out around 4:30 to head for the CAT scales and the park. Here's why:
Both the bedroom and W/D doors and door frames had to be removed to get the machines into the bedroom and in the W/D closet. Both door frames are about 1/2 inch too narrow for the Splendide separates and 1/4 inch too narrow for the Whirlpool models we selected. The closet is also not quite deep enough at what would be the right rear of the machines. As a result, the front wall in the closet had to be removed and modified. In addition, it is impossible to use the location where Grand Design has placed the sticker for the dryer vent and the vent has to be rerouted behind the front wall with several adapters. This is because the position of the sticker for the vent is covered by the side of the washer when in place - no room for a vent hose or fittings. In the end, it took about 6-1/2 hours (two certified techs with 70 years combined experience) to complete the installation.
A friend on the forum suggested that I email Jerry McCarthy and describe the installation process and issues, which I did after business hours yesterday evening. This morning when I opened my email, there was Jerry's response! It turns out that they had heard of these difficulties from several other 310 owners and their Solitude engineer was working on the necessary redesign of the doors, the W/D closet, and the dryer vent routing. Jerry copied someone on the Solitude team who followed up with confirmation that the changes had been incorporated but he didn't have an exact start date yet.
I draw two conclusions from our experience with this: 1) If you are a weekend warrior and don't plan to install a washer and dryer, I would still recommend a pre-redesign 310. If you want to install a W/D in a pre-redesign unit, just know what is involved; and 2) to me, this is yet another example of how Grand Design interacts with their customers - responsive, straightforward, and cordial.
Prior to the pandemic, we had been perfectly happy (for over 4-1/2 years) using a laundromat or the campground/park laundry to get everything done in less than two hours every week to 10 days. That said, we are already enjoying not having to leave the rig to do laundry and feel much safer under the circumstances.
Rob
If we had to get stuck someplace long-term during the pandemic, we couldn't be in a better situation. Augusta, GA, is where our health care providers are (we launched from the CSRA when we went full-time). There are at least two good tertiary-level hospitals here. This is where CSRA Camperland is located - our Grand Design dealer who we trust and who treats us well. Finally, we're "stuck" in our new Solitude with all the new features we wanted.
So, for the W/D installation...
We packed up early and were at the back gate to the dealership a little before 0800 (parts and service have been deemed essential in Georgia). We expected to spend the morning there hanging out in our Zero Gravity chairs reading our Kindles, etc. The items on the to-do list were the W/D installation, replace the propane regulator (switching mechanism and/or indicator not working), and replace the broken sewer line cap. Half a day, right? We finally pulled out around 4:30 to head for the CAT scales and the park. Here's why:
Both the bedroom and W/D doors and door frames had to be removed to get the machines into the bedroom and in the W/D closet. Both door frames are about 1/2 inch too narrow for the Splendide separates and 1/4 inch too narrow for the Whirlpool models we selected. The closet is also not quite deep enough at what would be the right rear of the machines. As a result, the front wall in the closet had to be removed and modified. In addition, it is impossible to use the location where Grand Design has placed the sticker for the dryer vent and the vent has to be rerouted behind the front wall with several adapters. This is because the position of the sticker for the vent is covered by the side of the washer when in place - no room for a vent hose or fittings. In the end, it took about 6-1/2 hours (two certified techs with 70 years combined experience) to complete the installation.
A friend on the forum suggested that I email Jerry McCarthy and describe the installation process and issues, which I did after business hours yesterday evening. This morning when I opened my email, there was Jerry's response! It turns out that they had heard of these difficulties from several other 310 owners and their Solitude engineer was working on the necessary redesign of the doors, the W/D closet, and the dryer vent routing. Jerry copied someone on the Solitude team who followed up with confirmation that the changes had been incorporated but he didn't have an exact start date yet.
I draw two conclusions from our experience with this: 1) If you are a weekend warrior and don't plan to install a washer and dryer, I would still recommend a pre-redesign 310. If you want to install a W/D in a pre-redesign unit, just know what is involved; and 2) to me, this is yet another example of how Grand Design interacts with their customers - responsive, straightforward, and cordial.
Prior to the pandemic, we had been perfectly happy (for over 4-1/2 years) using a laundromat or the campground/park laundry to get everything done in less than two hours every week to 10 days. That said, we are already enjoying not having to leave the rig to do laundry and feel much safer under the circumstances.
Rob
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