When we brought home our 2025 Grand Design Reflection 295RL, I fully intended to sit down after our first camping trip and write a first-impressions review. That was the plan. Then, like most plans involving camping, work, home projects, Odie Dog, and life in general, it got pushed down the list. Probably somewhere below “organize the basement” and slightly above “read every instruction manual that came with the camper.” So now, instead of giving you a first-impressions review after one trip, we have something better. We have now taken the 295RL on three trips and spent 12 nights in it. That gives us enough time to move beyond the honeymoon stage and start figuring out what we really like, what we wish Grand Design had done differently, and what design decision may eventually result in me being found crawling around underneath a slide with a sewer hose. So here it is. Our Grand Design Reflection 295RL review after three trips and 12 nights. And because every good review needs categories, we are going with:

The Good.

The Bad.

And the Ugly.

For reference, we traded in our 2022 Grand Design 226RK, so that is naturally the camper we compare the 295RL to the most. We liked the 226RK and had a lot of good trips in it, but the 295RL is definitely a different kind of camper. Our first trip in the 295RL was to Shawnee Forest Campground in Vienna, Illinois. We stayed five days and four nights, arriving just in time for a Southern Illinois heat wave to help celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Temperatures were around 98 degrees, with heat indexes somewhere between “this is uncomfortable” and “we may have accidentally parked on the surface of the sun.” As it turns out, that first trip was a pretty good test. Because all three of our trips so far have included temperatures over 100 degrees. Apparently we bought a new camper and immediately began conducting extreme-weather testing for Grand Design.

First Impressions: What We Thought After Trip One

After that first trip, we were impressed. The setup was familiar, the extra room from the two slides was immediately noticeable, and the layout worked better for us than the 226RK in several important ways. I still absolutely love auto-level. Whoever invented auto-level deserves a place on the Mount Rushmore of Camping. Anyone who has spent years driving up onto blocks, checking bubble levels, backing up three inches, pulling forward six inches, and then having a discussion with their spouse about whether the camper is actually level understands exactly what I mean. Push a button. Let the camper think about it. Done. That is progress. Another immediate improvement was the sewer hookup. The 295RL has one black-tank sewer connection. Our 226RK had two. That meant dragging out a Y fitting, extra hose, and enough plumbing equipment to make it look like I was opening a temporary branch office of the Vienna Sewer Department. One connection is much easier. Although, as we will discuss later, Grand Design did manage to make storing the sewer hose interesting. More on that under “The Ugly.”

The Air Conditioning Deserves Its Own Medal

One of the biggest questions we had about the 295RL was how well the air conditioning would handle Southern Illinois summer weather. We now have our answer. The AC units work like champs. All three of our trips have involved temperatures well over 100 degrees, and the two air conditioners have handled it without any real problem. That is impressive. We also really like the “Dry” setting, which helps remove humidity from inside the camper. In Southern Illinois, humidity is not just part of the weather. It is practically a resident. The Dry setting makes a noticeable difference, especially at night. So I may have to make room on the Camping Mount Rushmore for whoever invented camper air conditioning. Auto-level can move over.

Two Slides Still Make a Huge Difference

Three trips later, the double-slide floorplan remains one of the biggest things we love about the 295RL. Compared with our 226RK, the difference in living space is huge. The camper just feels more open. There is room for both of us to move around without constantly performing that little RV dance where one person has to step sideways so the other person can get past. And now we have Odie Dog to consider. Odie has officially claimed the area underneath the table as his personal camping headquarters. Apparently that is his office. When the camper is set up, he settles underneath the table and supervises everything from there. I am not sure what his official title is, but considering how much actual work he does, I am guessing Senior Management.

Dawn Finally Has Her Table

One feature Dawn was especially excited about when we were looking at the 295RL was the table and chairs. She was never a big fan of the booth dinette in the 226RK. The 295RL has chairs on both sides of the table, and after three trips, she still loves it. That was definitely the right choice for us. We also use the ottoman with the couch rather than as extra table seating. It works great as a footrest and makes the rear living area even more comfortable. Of course, I should probably point out that this means Dawn was right about wanting the table and chairs. I am putting that in writing. Please do not make a big deal out of it.

Roadside Stops Are Much Better

This is one of those features you might overlook when walking through a camper at a dealership. Then you actually travel with it and realize how useful it is. We had to make a quick stop during our trip to Mississippi. With the slides in, we could walk into the 295RL and immediately access the bathroom, bedroom, and refrigerator. That is a big deal. We could get to the refrigerator in the 226RK with the slide in, but not the bathroom or bedroom. In the 295RL, you walk through the door, turn right, and everything you need is right there. No extending slides. No squeezing through tiny openings. No trying to decide just how badly you really need to use the bathroom. It sounds like a small thing until you are standing in a rest area parking lot. Then it becomes a very important feature.

Dawn and the Pantry

Dawn still loves the pantry. There is a lot of storage space, and it is one of those features that looked good when we bought the camper and has proven useful in actual camping. She would still like to have a few pull-out drawers inside it to make reaching things in the back easier. That project remains on the winter honey-do list. The winter honey-do department currently consists of me and Odie. Odie supervises I apparently provide all skilled labor. The pantry door is glass, which means you can see everything inside. For most people, that probably does not matter. Dawn has just enough Monk in her that it means the pantry needs to remain organized enough to pass inspection at all times. Apparently our crackers now have standards.

The Coffee Bar Is Still a Winner

The coffee bar has also turned out to be a really useful feature. It provides extra counter space and additional drawers, which every camper eventually needs because RV ownership is largely the process of buying storage space and then filling it with stuff.The upper cabinets are a little high for Dawn. She cannot reach them easily. She says she is perfectly fine with that. I am also perfectly fine with that because those cabinets have become an excellent location for hiding candy. This arrangement seems to work well for everyone. Especially me.

The Island

The kitchen island remains one of our favorite features. Maybe not as impressive as The Island in Pigeon Forge. Definitely not as interesting as Fantasy Island. But as far as camper islands go, it is pretty nice. Dawn still loves the pull-out trash can. Of all the fancy features in a modern fifth wheel, the trash can drawer may be the one that impresses her the most. That is married life. At one point you get excited about vacations and concerts. Eventually you find happiness in a well-designed garbage container. One odd thing remains: the cabinet doors are soft-close, but the drawers are not. Why? No idea. Grand Design apparently got halfway through that idea and decided that was enough luxury for one camper.

The Rear Couch

The couch across the back is comfortable for sitting. Sleeping is another story. I tried sleeping on it during our first trip. That experiment lasted until about 0200. At that point, my 66-year-old former-Marine body declared the mission a failure and ordered an immediate tactical withdrawal. Three trips later, I am pleased to report that I have conducted no additional testing. One scientific experiment was enough. For kids or grandkids, I think it would probably work fine. For me? No. There are small end tables on each side of the couch, which provide some storage. Personally, I would give up those end tables in a heartbeat for a couch that was long enough for me to stretch out. Apparently full leg extension is considered an optional luxury.

The Bathroom

Overall, we like the bathroom layout. One thing I actually prefer over the 226RK is the area above the shower. Instead of a skylight, the 295RL has the raised area with a light. That gives us the headroom without having another piece of plastic on the roof letting heat into the camper. After camping repeatedly in 100-degree weather, I am perfectly fine with fewer things trying to help the sun heat the inside of our RV. There is one thing I would change. I wish the shower had a seat. That would make the shower much more useful, and it seems like something that could have been incorporated into the design without taking up too much space. Not a major problem. Just something I think would make a good bathroom even better.

The Bedroom

The bedroom remains the one place where I think our old 226RK actually had an advantage. The 226RK had four drawers under the hanging-storage area. The 295RL only has two drawers, plus an open space for shoes. Personally, I would rather have the drawers. Dawn agrees. She also wants drawers added underneath the bed. You may have noticed a pattern developing here. Apparently every time Dawn notices unused space in the camper, I receive another winter project. Odie, meanwhile, continues to supervise. I need his union.

So After Three Trips, Here Is the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Now that we have had three trips and 12 nights in the 295RL, some things have become pretty clear.

The Good

The air conditioning is probably at the top of the list.

Three trips.

Temperatures over 100 degrees.

No complaints.

That alone matters a lot to us.

The two slides are still one of the biggest upgrades compared with the 226RK. The extra room changes the whole feel of the camper and makes it much more comfortable for longer trips.

The table and chairs have also been a home run for Dawn.

She did not want another booth dinette, and after actually living with this setup, she is even happier with the decision.

The ottoman works perfectly with the couch, while Odie has taken permanent possession of the area under the table.

The access with the slides closed is another huge plus.

Being able to get to the refrigerator, bathroom, and bedroom during a travel stop is one of those things we appreciate more every time we use it.

The Bad

Hands down, the number-one bad feature remains that blasted toe-kick on the non-camp-side slide.

I have already written about my ongoing relationship with it.

My opinion has not improved.

The toe-kick remains undefeated.

My toes remain angry.

I am beginning to think the thing was designed by somebody with a personal grudge against campers wearing sandals.

The lighting over the island could also be better.

Instead of turning on nearly every ceiling light in the camper just to see what we are doing around the island, a couple of pendant lights would have made a big difference.

The bedroom could use the four drawers we had in the 226RK.

And I still think the shower would benefit from having a seat.

But honestly, after three trips, that is about all we can put in the “Bad” category.

Nothing on that list would stop us from buying the camper again.

The Ugly

There is really only one thing that qualifies. The sewer hose storage. The storage tube is located underneath the camp-side slide. If you remember to remove the sewer hose before extending the slide, there is no problem. If you forget? You are crawling around underneath the slide on your hands and knees trying to retrieve it. At 66 years old, I can assure you this is not a feature I appreciate. It is especially entertaining when the campground gravel becomes involved. Nothing says relaxing vacation like crawling around underneath your brand-new fifth wheel while attempting to reach a sewer hose. I am sure the neighbors enjoy the show. I know Dawn probably does. Hopefully, one of these days, I will remember to pull the hose out before extending the slide. I would not recommend placing any money on that happening consistently.

So, Was Moving From the 226RK to the 295RL Worth It?

Absolutely.

After our first trip, I would have rated the Grand Design Reflection 295RL about a 9.5 out of 10 as a couples camper.

After three trips and 12 nights?

I would still give it a 9.5.

That may actually be the biggest compliment I can give it.

We are no longer judging it based on walking through it at the dealership or spending one weekend inside.

We have used it.

We have traveled with it.

We have camped in brutal heat.

We have made roadside stops.

We have started figuring out where everything belongs.

Odie has claimed his territory.

Dawn has identified multiple future storage improvements for me to build.

And I have already lost several battles with the toe-kick.

In other words, it is starting to feel like ours.

The 295RL is not perfect.

No camper is.

But the things we do not like are relatively minor, while the things we wanted most—the additional room, better travel access, table and chairs, larger living area, and a floorplan designed well for a couple—have turned out to be exactly what we hoped they would be.

Would we make the trade again?

Yes.

Without hesitation.

Now ask me again after a full camping season and several thousand miles.

By then I should know whether that toe-kick and I can peacefully coexist.

At the moment, I would not count on it.

Hope to see everyone at a campground soon!

—Mark, Dawn & Odie Dog