2017 GRAND DESIGN REFLECTION Service Brakes Problems

INTERMITTENT BRAKES (LOST BRAKES) ON FIFTH WHEEL DUE TO THE USE OF UNDERSIZE WIRE AND OVERUSE OF SCOTCHLOK GUILLOTINE CONNECTORS. EACH BRAKE HAS A MAXIMUM CURRENT DRAW OF 4AMPS. 4X4 = 16 AMP POSSIBLE DRAW ON 14 AWG WIRE AT APPROXIMATELY 60+ FOOT LOOP ROUND TRIP FROM PIN BOX TO BRAKES BACK TO PIN BOX. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE BRAKE WIRING IS SUBSTANDARD IN EVERY CONCEIVABLE WAY. SHOULD BE AT LEAST CONNECTED 10AWG USING CRIMPED BUTT SPLICES AND CIRCLE CONNECTORS. IT WOULD ALSO HELP TO HAVE A GROUND BOND AT THE AXLE TO REDUCE THE LOOP BY 50%. SOMEDAY SOMEONE WILL DIE (PROBABLY HAVE ALREADY) BECAUSE OF CHEAP UNDERSIZED WIRE WITH CHEAP GUILLOTINE CONNECTORS EVERYWHERE. FOR LIGHTS OK FOR BRAKES? NEVER!*DT*JB

Mileage: 25,000

TWO SEPARATE ISSUES: 1. LIPPERT WHEEL BEARINGS LEAKED GREASE ALL OVER THE DRUM BRAKES WITH LESS THAN 4000 MILES. LIPPERT REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN ONE YEAR. 2. WITH BRAND NEW BRAKES PROPERLY ADJUSTED, BRAKES ARE STILL VERY WEAK. APPLYING 12 VOLTS FROM BRAKE CONTROLLER RESULTS IN MINIMAL BRAKING. SUSPECT UNDERSIZED FINAL WIRING TO BRAKES (20 GAUGE). BRAKES HAVE BEEN UNDERPERFORMING SINCE DAY 1. *DT*JB*DT*JB

Mileage: 4,000

DURING MOSTLY HIGHWAY TRAVEL WITH OUR CAMPER THE AXLE GREASE SEALS FAILED WHICH ALLOWED GREASE TO CONTAMINATE THE BRAKE SHOES AND BRAKE DRUMS AFFECTING BRAKING PERFORMANCE. REVIEWING OTHER POSTS ON-LINE A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS OF THESE CAMPERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE.

THE BRAKES, SEALS AND BEARINGS ON MY 5TH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME DUE TO THE SEALS LEAKING GREASE ONTO THE BRAKES. ALL FOUR BACKING PLATES, THE FRONT TWO HUBS AND ALL FOUR GREASE SEALS AND BEARINGS WERE REPLACED ON OUR FIRST TRIP AFTER TAKING POSSESSION OF THE FIFTH WHEEL IN MAY 2017. THIS WAS DONE AT A CAMPING WORLD DEALERSHIP IN NORTH CAROLINA AND RESULTED IN BEING WITHOUT THE USE OF OUR TRAILER FROM MAY 18 ' 23. ON OUR SECOND TRIP, STARTING ON JULY 9, 2017, THE BRAKES AGAIN BEGAN PERFORMING POORLY. RAY DUFFY, OF GRAND DESIGN, ARRANGED TO HAVE THEM INSPECTED IN WEST YELLOWSTONE, MONTANA ON JULY 14, 2017 AT JAKE'S AUTOMOTIVE. HE PRE-SHIPPED REPLACEMENT PARTS IN ANTICIPATION OF BAD SEALS. THE TECHNICIAN AT JAKE'S AUTOMOTIVE FOUND GREASE CONTAMINATION ON THE RIGHT FRONT, RIGHT REAR AND LEFT REAR BRAKES. HE ALSO FOUND THAT THOSE SEALS AND BEARINGS HAD SEPARATED FROM THE HUBS AND REMAINED ON THE SPINDLE WHEN THE HUBS WERE REMOVED. THE RECEIPT STATES, 'HAD TO REPLACE 3 OF FOUR BACKING PLATES AND HARDWARE DUE TO WHEEL SEALS BLOWING OUT.' THE FOURTH WHEEL, THE LEFT FRONT, WAS NOT REMOVED OR INSPECTED BY THE REPAIR FACILITY SINCE THEY DID NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE AND THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT REMOVAL OF THE WHEEL COULD DAMAGE THE GREASE SEAL. I REMOVED ALL FOUR HUBS TODAY. THE INTERIORS OF THE TWO LEFT HUBS WERE COMPLETELY COATED WITH GREASE. THE LEFT FRONT WAS WORSE THAN THE LEFT REAR. THE TWO RIGHT HUBS DID NOT HAVE AS MUCH GREASE ON THEM AND WERE EVIDENTLY DOING THE MAJORITY OF THE BRAKING. THE INSIDE OF BOTH HUBS WERE PRETTY SEVERELY SCORED BY THE MAGNETS AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALL FOUR GREASE SEALS AND THE INNER BEARINGS STAYED ON THE SPINDLES WHEN THE HUBS WERE REMOVED. SINCE THE SEALS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PRESSED IN, I FOUND THEIR REMAINING ON THE SPINDLES PROBLEMATIC.

Mileage: 1,000

BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING VERY WELL, WITH THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER GAIN IN MY TRUCK SET AT 10.0 (FULL ON). PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY LEAKING AXLE SEALS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN THE BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS BEING COATED WITH AXLE GREASE. ALL FOUR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES AND AXLE SEALS WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY.

Mileage: 1,500

3 OF 4 WHEELS HAD GREASE LEAKING FROM THE INNER HUB SEAL ONTO THE BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS, WITH LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. ALL BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED.

Mileage: 1,700

THE AXLES/BRAKE ASSEMBLIES HAD DEFECTIVE INTERIOR SEALS. THE SEALS FAILED AND CONTAMINATED THREE OUT OF FOUR BRAKES WITH GREASE. THIS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT DUE TO UNABLE TO STOP THE TRAILER TO AVOID VEHICLE THAT PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO RUN OFF ROAD TO AVOID ACCIDENT. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH LIPPERT COMPONENTS THAT THEY CONTINUE TO TRY TO DENY. I ATTACHED TWO PHOTOS OF WHAT I FOUND IN THREE OUT OF FOUR BRAKE HUBS UPON INSPECTION.

Mileage: 3,000

WHEEL BEARING GREASE TOO THIN AND LEAKS PAST SEALS CONTAMINATING BRAKE MAGNETS AND BRAKES. MANY CUSTOMERS IMPACTED BASED ON FACEBOOK GROUP POSTS.

Mileage: 1,000

AXLE SEAL LEAKED CAUSING GREASE TO LEAK ONTO BRAKE FRICTION SURFACE, GREATLY REDUCING BRAKING ABILITY. PROBLEM WAS FOUND DURING OWNERS SELF INSPECTION. THIS PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION FROM THE GRAND DESIGN OWNERS FORUM. "HTTP://WWW.GRANDDESIGNOWNERS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/8531-POLL-HOW-MANY-OF-YOU-HAVE-HAD-YOUR-GREASE-SEALS-FAIL "

Mileage: 1,700

WITH LESS THAN 3000 MILES, THE WHEEL GREASE SEALS HAVE LEAKED CONTAMINATING THE TRAILER BRAKES. RESULTED IN REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY. POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM REDUCING TRAILER BRAKES EFFECTIVE STOPPING POWER.

Mileage: 3,000

WE WERE ON A TRIP FROM CALIFORNIA TO TEXAS AND THE GREASE SEALS ON ALL 4 WHEELS FAILED AND CONTAMINATED THE BRAKES. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 1 MONTH AND IT HAD LESS THAN 1,200 MILES ON IT.

Mileage: 1,200

WHEEL GREASE SEALS ARE LEAKING ON THE NEW TRAILER (2 OF 4 SEALS). THIS IS A NEW TRAILER AND I HAVE ONLY PUT ON ABOUT 50 MILES. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE WITH GRAND DESIGN TRAILERS.

Mileage: 50

LEAKING GREASE SEALS ON BOTH PASSENGER SIDE AXLES CONTAMINATING BRAKE SHOES. I HAD DEALER PULL THE BRAKE DRUMS PRIOR TO DELIVERY OF OUR NEW TRAILER AND WE FOUND GREASE CONTAMINATION. THE TRAILER ONLY HAD BEEN TRANSPORTED FROM INDIANA TO FLORIDA DEALER.

Mileage: 1,200

THIS NEW VEHICLE, A 9000 LB UVW, WAS DELIVERED WITH BRAKES CONTAMINATED WITH GREASE RENDERING THEM INEFFECTIVE AND CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. NO ACCIDENT OCCURED. THE BRAKES ARE GOING TO BE REPLACED. WHEEL BEARING GREASE BREACHED THE HUB SEALS, CONTAMINATING THE BRAKE DRUMS AND BRAKE SHOES.

Mileage: 100

JUST PURCHASED AN NEW TRAVEL TRAILER. MANY, MANY REPORTS OF LCI AXLE SEALS LEAKING AND DISPERSING GREASE ON BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. SURE ENOUGH, DEALER HAD TO REPLACE TWO OF FOUR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES, AS WELL AS ALL FOUR SEALS AS THEY ALL HAD LEAKED (TRAILER WAS NEW, JUST DROVE TO DEALER FROM FACTORY). THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT.

Mileage: 2,500

A JUST PURCHASED NEW REFLECTION 337RLS THAT HAS A 11/30/16 DATE IN THE VEHICLE INFORMATION SHEET AND 11/24/16 DATE ON THE SERIAL NUMBER DATA SHEET. THE ONLY MILES ON THE UNIT WERE THE DELIVERY MILES FROM THE PLANT TO THE DEALER IN COLORADO AND THE ~400 MILES ADDED TO THOSE. ON THE TRIP HOME (THE 400 MILES), THE ELECTRIC BREAKS BECAME SIGNIFICANTLY LESS EFFECTIVE TO THE POINT WHERE THE BRAKE CONTROLLER GAIN HAD TO BE SET TO ITS MAXIMUM LEVEL RESULTING IN LIMITED 5TH BREAKING. THE DISCOVERY WAS SIGNIFICANTLY NERVE-RACKING AS DISCOVERY HAPPENED WHEN EXITING THE INTERSTATE AT 65MPH AND A DOWN HILL RAMP! AT THAT TIME, THE GAIN ON THE BRAKE CONTROLLER WAS SET TO THE PREVIOUS SUFFICIENTLY WORKING LEVEL OF 5 (50% OF MAX). AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE GREASE SEALS WHERE DISCOVERED TO BE BAD ON BOTH AXELS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AS DISCOVERY OF A LACK OF BRAKES ON THE TOWED VEHICLE CAN OCCUR AT ANYTIME WITHOUT WARNING.

Mileage: 1,800

AT 1,850 MILES, THE BRAKES ON THIS UNIT WERE COMPLETELY SATURATED IN WHEEL BEARING GREASE CAUSING THEM TO BECOME INEFFECTIVE AT EVEN THE HIGHEST BRAKE CONTROLLER SETTING. ALL FOUR BRAKES WERE AFFECTED. A TRAILER OF THIS SIZE IS REQUIRED TO HAVE FUNCTIONING BRAKES. THE BRAKES ARE DESIGNED THAT THEY WILL STOP THE VEHICLE IF THE TRAILER BREAKS AWAY FROM THE TOW VEHICLE BY ACTIVATING A BATTERY CONTROLLED BREAK AWAY SWITCH. HOWEVER, SINCE THE BRAKES ARE CONTAMINATED WITH GREASE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP IN A SAFE DISTANCE. THIS IS MY SECOND GRAND DESIGN VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH LIPPERT MANUFACTURED BRAKES THAT ARE CONTAMINATED WITH GREASE.

Mileage: 1,850

GREASE LEAKING FROM AXLE SEALS WITH EXTENSIVE CONTAMINATION OF BRAKES ON 2 OUT OF 4 WHEELS. A 3RD WHEEL IS JUST STARTING TO SHOW SIGNS OF GREASE LEAKING PAST SEAL WITH ONLY THE START OF CONTAMINATION OF BRAKE PAD. LIPPERT AXLE AND BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. APPROXIMATELY 3,420 MILES SINCE MANUFACTURE OF TRAILER IN JUNE 2016. SAFETY CONCERN IS LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY ON A TRAILER WITH A GVWR OF 11,995 LBS. CONTAMINATION NOTED ON OCTOBER 30, 2016 WHEN OWNER PERFORMED INSPECTION OF AXLE AND BRAKE ASSEMBLIES AFTER LEARNING OF NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES ON THE ONLINE GRAND DESIGN OWNERS FORUM.

Mileage: 3,420