Not everyone has tens of thousands of dollars to spend on a camper or trailer, and the folks at Grand Design listened. That said, let’s take a “Factory First” look at the recently announced Transcend One range for model year 2025 and beyond.
Dear friends, the camper you see before you and in the video below is nothing but the latest addition to Grand Design’s freshest addition to their ever-growing family of campers and recreational vehicles. To sum it all up in one sentence, it is a family-ready single-axle machine, designed to accompany families even in the coldest months.
Best of all, I can say that it comes with an MSRP that will surely make Grand Design some money in the coming months. For starters, we’re looking at a price tag set at under $20,000 for the range, $19,845, to be precise, and once again, all of the features I mentioned above have been packed into its design.
Now, to start with the Transcend One, let me point out that there are currently two layouts available on the manufacturer’s website, and the least expensive one, the first one spotted in the video below, also has the most seating capacity. Special thanks to Matt’s RV Reviews for this unedited look inside these new machines.
Photo: Matt's RV Reviews | YouTube screenshot
Five people will have a place to rest their heads at night, made possible by a double bed forward, two berths aft, and a modular sofa. The second model we see is designed for just four guests and is a bit more expensive because of the way the interior works; a Murphy bed sits forward in this layout, and a modular dinette has replaced the berth.
Two other differences between the two floor plans include the bathroom and kitchen configurations. In the 151BH, the most affordable option, the bathroom does not have a sink with running water. As a result, there is plenty of room to move around and meditate. The 151RB, the second unit spotted in the video, does include a sink and faucet, mainly because this bathroom spans the entire width of the unit, which was made possible by eliminating the bunk beds.
As for kitchens, the 151RB is the unit I admired the most for its kitchen setup, but the one found in the 151BH will also work great for families on the go. Then there's something about a $4 trash can, but I guess you'll have to watch the video to see what I'm talking about.
For this single axle range, storage options are available both inside and outside the unit. Inside, we have all the cabinetry, bed compartments and under cabinet storage, but Grand Design has also added pass-through storage and other nooks and crannies outside too.
Photo: Grand Design RV
Last but not least, for under $20,000, the manufacturer of these campers gives us units that can handle travel even in the coldest months. In addition to an insulated and enclosed underbody, up to R-40 insulation in the walls and roof. The latter is double insulated and a 20,000 boiler is sure to keep things nice and toasty inside. All this and a Lippert chassis later, we are looking at a range of campers with a Gross weight of 4,420 pounds, so you won't need the largest vehicle out there to tow it.
But what about off-grid capabilities? Again, Grand Design has taken the time to give prospective and even current RV owners the ability to take these beauties off the grid. Up to 600 watts of solar panel power can be added as standard, and that power is managed by a 2,000 watt inverter and 30-amp controller, all of which are optional and not included in the $20,000 price tag. In total, 37 gallons of fresh water are available for both units.
What I found quite interesting in this whole presentation is that Matt Eppers from Grand Design said that they want you to leave a comment in the video section about your thoughts on these units. Why? Think of it as a perfect opportunity to do some market research, even going so far as to make significant changes to the units based on owner and prospective customer feedback.
Photo: Grand Design RV
The question now remains: is this the right unit for you and your family? Well, Grand Design seems to think so, even going so far as to call the Transcend One range a perfect addition to the lifestyle of the current RV owner or those looking to explore the RV game.
But for me, the best way to see if the Transcend Ones are right for you is to go to a local dealer and climb aboard. Feel the materials, lift the beds, let the kids test out the bunks, and when you’re done, sign the paperwork; apparently, there’s a new Grand Design warranty policy in place for this range.
Now before I go, I couldn’t help but hear the host of the channel, Matt, talking about how the prices you’re hearing are nothing more than an MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price). General RV, the team Matt works with, will be working to get prices below the MSRP for customers who come to General RV. The upcoming Hersey RV show is also an event where people like you and me can get their hands on an even better price on a new Transcend One.
What do you think of the new lineup? I invite you to leave a comment below.
