Our Camper,
Grand Design Imagine XLS 17MKE
Grand Design Imagine XLS 17MKE
Our 2022 Grand Design Imagine XLS 17MKE is a compact yet feature-rich travel trailer, ideal for couples. It is easily towed by our Ram 1500 Big Horn with a 5.7L V8 HEMI, tow package, 3.92 rear axle, and 33 gallon fuel tank.
2022 Grand Design Imagine XLS 17MKE Specs:
Hitch weight of 480 lbs
Empty 4,870 lbs + Cargo 1,525 lbs = Maximum Weight 6,395 lbs
Total length 21' 11"
Overall height 10' 10"
Fresh tank capacity is 43 Gal
Gray tank capacity is 45 Gal
Black tank capacity is 37 Gal
This is our first camper and we wanted it to be our only camper.
What we love: It was affordable for us. The construction was as good as we could find in our price range. We like Azdel outside walls and wanted a slide. It is the shortest trailer we could find with tandem axles, making it easier to tow with less tendency to sway. It has a dry bath and Hurley can stand up entirely in the shower. We have the optional dinette so we eat while talking facing each other, play games, and do computer work at the table. The Murphy bed ensures we make the bed every day and it stays clean and neat all the time since it is put away during the day. The rollover sofa is very easy to operate. The kitchen countertop is large enough for both of us to work on it simultaneously. The DC-only refrigerator is large. We use the propane quick connect for our Blackstone griddle every trip. Although uninterested in winter camping, we have been comfortable in the camper on cold spring and fall nights down to 30F.
What we hate: The battery shipped with the trailer was a complete waste. There is an awkward corner storage cabinet in the kitchen. Karen has trouble seeing items on all the top shelves. When we open the bed on a cold evening, the mattress sucks the heat out of our bodies for half the night as it warms up. After about 100 nights in the camper, the memory foam mattress is starting to get dementia and we may try a topper soon.
What worried us: It has a unique roll-up shower door with built-in squeegee. We have not had any issues with dirt or mold. We cannot open the Murphy bed with the slide closed. We definitely wanted full access to the entire kitchen, dinette and bathroom with the slide in. We use them all every drive day. But we have yet to camp anywhere we could not open the slide at night. There is a seam where the mattress folds, but we have no problem sleeping on it.