Grand Design RVs are manufactured by Grand Design RV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Winnebago Industries headquartered in Middlebury, Indiana. The company specializes in towable RVs including fifth wheels, travel trailers, and toy haulers, and is consistently rated among the highest-quality manufacturers in its segment.
Grand Design RV is owned by Winnebago Industries (NYSE: WGO) and manufactures all of its RVs in Middlebury, Indiana. The company was founded in 2012 by Don Clark, Ron Fenech, and Bill Fenech, and was acquired by Winnebago in 2016. Don Clark remains President and CEO. Grand Design produced its 250,000th RV in 2023 and won three RV of the Year awards in 2025, including for the Lineage van and the Foundation 42GD fifth wheel.
Grand Design RV was one of the fastest-growing RV companies in history after its 2012 founding, reaching $428 million in annual revenue with over 80% compound annual growth by the time Winnebago acquired it in 2016. Winnebago Industries CEO Michael Happe has credited Grand Design as a cornerstone of the company’s diversified portfolio strategy.
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Who Makes Grand Design RVs and Where Are They Built?
Grand Design RV manufactures all of its RVs at its own facilities in Middlebury, Indiana. The company operates independently from Winnebago’s other brands, maintaining its own management team, engineering staff, and production lines.
Middlebury, Indiana is in the heart of the Elkhart County RV manufacturing corridor, which produces roughly 85% of all RVs made in the United States. Grand Design’s location gives it access to a deep pool of experienced RV workers and a robust local supply chain for components.
Grand Design uses aluminum-framed wall construction and laminated fiberglass exteriors across its lineup, which deliver better thermal performance and structural rigidity compared to stick-and-tin construction used by lower-cost competitors. The company puts units through a multi-point factory inspection process before they leave the plant, a practice that has contributed to its reputation for fewer out-of-the-box defects.
Who Owns Grand Design RV?
Grand Design RV is a wholly owned subsidiary of Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WGO), headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Winnebago acquired Grand Design in October 2016 for approximately $520 million, which at the time was one of the largest acquisitions in RV industry history.
Under Winnebago’s ownership, Grand Design has continued to operate with significant autonomy. Don Clark, co-founder of Grand Design, remains as President and CEO of the Grand Design subsidiary. This continuity of founding leadership has been cited as a key reason the brand’s culture and quality standards have remained consistent since acquisition.
Winnebago Industries also owns Newmar (luxury motorhomes), Chris-Craft (boats), Barletta (pontoons), and the Winnebago-branded motorhome lines. Michael Happe has led Winnebago Industries as President and CEO since 2016 and has transformed the company from a single-brand motorhome manufacturer into a diversified outdoor recreation business.
What Grand Design RV Models Are Available?
Grand Design’s fifth wheel lineup includes the Reflection (mid-range luxury), Solitude (extended-stay and full-time living), and Momentum (luxury toy hauler). The Reflection is the company’s best-selling product and has been a consistent benchmark for quality in the mid-range fifth wheel category.
Travel trailer offerings include the Imagine (lightweight, entry to mid-range), Transcend (four-season capable), and the XLS variants for buyers needing lighter tow weights. The company also expanded into Class B van campers with the Lineage series, which won RV of the Year from RV News magazine in November 2025.
Grand Design notably does not produce motorhomes, keeping its focus entirely on towable products and van campers where it has built its quality reputation and production expertise.
Grand Design vs Rockwood vs Jayco vs Keystone: How Do They Compare?
Grand Design consistently sits near the top of owner satisfaction surveys in the towable RV segment, typically alongside brands like Lance and Oliver, and ahead of higher-volume manufacturers.
Rockwood by Forest River competes directly with Grand Design’s Imagine and Reflection lines at a slightly lower price point. Rockwood’s Signature series features Amish handcrafted construction, which is a genuine quality differentiator, but Grand Design’s overall build consistency and customer service reputation tend to edge it out in owner satisfaction surveys.
Jayco, owned by Thor Industries, has a broader product range including motorhomes and a lower entry price point. Grand Design’s premium positioning means it typically costs more than comparable Jayco models but delivers stronger quality scores. For buyers who prioritize build quality over price, Grand Design is routinely the recommendation.
Is Grand Design a Good RV Brand?
Grand Design is widely regarded as one of the best towable RV brands available in the mid-to-upper mass-production segment. Its consistent quality scores, strong customer service reputation, active owner community, and award-winning product development record across 13 years make it a safe choice for buyers willing to pay a modest premium over entry-level brands.
The main trade-off compared to lower-priced competitors is price. Grand Design fifth wheels and travel trailers typically cost 10 to 20% more than comparable floor plans from Forest River or Keystone. For buyers who intend to use their RV frequently and want to minimize warranty headaches, most experienced buyers consider that premium well justified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grand Design owned by Winnebago?
Yes. Grand Design RV is a wholly owned subsidiary of Winnebago Industries (NYSE: WGO). Winnebago acquired Grand Design in October 2016. Despite the acquisition, Grand Design operates with significant autonomy, maintains its own management team under co-founder Don Clark, and manufactures all of its RVs at its own facilities in Middlebury, Indiana.
Where are Grand Design RVs made?
All Grand Design RVs are manufactured in Middlebury, Indiana, in the heart of the Elkhart County RV manufacturing corridor. Grand Design operates its own dedicated facilities there and does not share production lines with other Winnebago Industries brands.
Who founded Grand Design RV?
Grand Design RV was founded in 2012 by Don Clark, Ron Fenech, and Bill Fenech, a management team with over 80 years of combined RV industry leadership experience. Don Clark remains President and CEO of Grand Design as of 2026 following Winnebago’s 2016 acquisition.
Does Grand Design make motorhomes?
No. Grand Design focuses exclusively on towable RVs including fifth wheels, travel trailers, toy haulers, and van campers. It does not manufacture Class A, B, or C motorhomes. Motorhome production within the Winnebago Industries family is handled by the Winnebago and Newmar brands separately.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.