We have had our Grand Design Imagine 22RBE travel trailer for over a year and have had some great camping adventures. Now that we’ve had a chance to really test it out, we wanted to share our experience with the Imagine – what we love and what we would change.

We’ve spent almost 40 nights camping in the 22RBE, including two longer trips to the Finger Lakes in New York and New River Gorge, along with multiple Virginia state park camping trips. That gives us a pretty solid base of real camping experience for this review.

The question is, did we buy the right camper? After an extensive search, we had narrowed the list to three great options. Any of them would have been a good option for our camping needs. All came with some tradeoffs.

The short answer? Overall, we are very happy with this camper. We like its size, the layout, and how well it fits the way we camp.

In this Imagine 22RBE review, we share three things we like and three things we don’t like. Hopefully that helps you if you are making a similar choice of which camper to buy.

Why We Bought the Imagine 22RBE

Picking a camper is about more than finding a floor plan that looks good at an RV show. You need to think about where you will camp, how you will use the space, and which tradeoffs you can live with.

We shared our camper-shopping process in What Camper Should I Buy? For us, the appeal of the 22RBE was a manageable size without giving up the spaces we wanted: a bedroom up front, a kitchen and living area in the middle, and a large rear bathroom. We wanted a camper with the best combination of spaces to enjoy at the campsite while also making it easy to travel and set up camp.

Imagine 22RBE Specifications

While the 22RBE is a smaller camper, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is ultralight. It has a dry weight of about 5,400 pounds and when fully loaded could reach a total weight (GVWR) of almost 7,000 pounds. Hitch weight is listed as about 500 pounds – but of course you need to measure that weight when it is loaded for the way you travel. While it is a “22” for length, with the A-frame the total length is just under 26 feet.

This camper has 82 gallons of grey water capacity, divided into two 41-gallon grey tanks, one for the kitchen and one for the shower, a 37-gallon black tank, and 43 gallons of freshwater capacity.

The fridge is a spacious 10 cubic feet and runs on 12-volt power. There is a 180-watt solar panel. The kitchen has a 3-burner stove & oven along with a microwave. Heating is ducted from the sides and there is a heated & enclosed underbelly. The water heater is tankless.

The Imagine 22RBE has a full Queen-size bed. There is storage above and beside including two drawers for each side. There is a cubby to store glasses or a phone next to each side of the bed. As this camper comes with recliners rather than a couch or dinette, it can sleep only two people.

Three Things We Like About the Imagine 22RBE

1. A Size That Makes Camping Easier

Our first camper was a Jayco 26BH. It was a great starter floorplan. But, as our kids got bigger and we added a dog to the family, we thought we should get something larger. We opted to upsize to a Transcend 28MKS. It was a great camper, but too large. A bigger camper can look pretty tempting. More room, more seating, and more places to put things. And this was a fantastic floorplan with plenty of room for everyone.

However, all that extra space has to go down the road with you—and fit into a campsite when you get there. At a length of 34 feet, it made travel challenging. We were limited in campsite selection, backing into our driveway at home was difficult, and even stopping for fuel was tricky.

We knew we wanted to go small – no larger than our first Jayco. After a lot of RV shopping, we felt a bit like Goldilocks trying to find the one that was just right. At a total length of 26 feet, the 22RBE feels like a good size for us. We have found it easier to tow and easier to find campsites. Along with the smaller size comes other advantages. For example, we appreciate the 30-amp electrical setup. Compared with our previous 50-amp setup, the cord is lighter and easier to manage – way easier for the way we camp.

2. A Floor Plan We Enjoy Using

The layout is probably our favorite part of this camper. The 22RBE has a front bedroom with a walkaround Queen bed and a solid sliding door to separate it from the living space. Other campers in this size often have just a curtain but we really prefer having the door.

There is a decent kitchen & living space with a large countertop – something we appreciated from the 28MKS – and a large 12 volt fridge which makes keeping food cold on travel days easy. And we can easily access the fridge without having to put the slide out – much better than the 28MKS.

There is a small slide with two recliner chairs directly across from the TV – perfect for watching a show after a long day of hiking. While the slide isn’t really needed, it does open up the space to make it more livable when we are in camp.

At the rear of the camper is a large bathroom. The shower is spacious for a camper of this size and is much better than the corner units often found in a smaller camper.

Overall, the details and features of this floorplan work well. There are a few minor misses that we have been working to correct. For example, Grand Design is known for attention to detail like having a place to hang keys or hats. Unfortunately, this model didn’t come with any hooks. We plan to use command strip hooks to create a solution to that need.

3. The Camp-Side Slide Has a Setup Advantage

The camp-side slide has made backing into a campsite easier for us because there is no slide extending toward the utility hookups. At first, we thought the slide was on the wrong side: camper slides are usually on the side where the utilities are located. The camp-side placement comes with tradeoffs, but we found an advantage to this design. With our last camper, we had to position it so the slide could extend without hitting the water or electrical hookups. With the 22RBE, we know where the utility-side wall will be as soon as we back in—there is no slide on that side to account for.

Three Things We Don’t Like About the Imagine 22RBE

1. No Dinette

One of the tradeoffs we made in going with the 22RBE is that it doesn’t have a dinette. Part of our goal with a smaller camper is to spend more time outside. We enjoy spending time reading and relaxing near the camper. We figured that with no dinette, we could adapt to eating outside more frequently.

We knew that the slide would take up some of the outside living area. However, we didn’t anticipate that we couldn’t use the awning. Our usual approach is to put camp chairs under the awning to be able to enjoy more of the day while keeping protected from sun or rain. However, when the awning on this camper extends, it also drops and comes into contact with the slide – not great and it means we don’t really use the awning. It would be better if Grand Design opted to install a lateral box awning where the arms extend straight out rather than the typical RV awning with side pitch arms.

To give us some shelter outside, we got a canopy. We set it up over the picnic table, add a tablecloth, and then we can now eat or play a game outside.

For those days where it gets too cold or windy, we added some compact TV trays to make it a bit easier to eat in the camper. They fold down nicely and fit in the under-bed storage.

There were camper options that offered small dinettes. However, we opted to make the tradeoff to go dinette-free. With the workarounds, this compromise is working OK but we sometimes still miss having a dinette.

2. Sewer Hose Storage Could Be More Convenient

One thing we appreciate about the 22RBE is that it has two gray tanks just like the larger 28MKS did. That means we go longer without having to dump our tanks. And, it means being able to enjoy dinner on real plates rather than relying on paper plates for every meal.

However, to effectively set up camp in a full hookup campsite, it requires two sewer hoses. You can see more about that in our post on how to connect an RV with two gray tanks.

This camper doesn’t have a bumper where a hose can be stored. It came with only one tube installed for storing a sewer hose. Two hookup connections but room for only one hose. Not great. On the 28MKS, we added a second sewer hose storage tube. This is an easy solution if done right. So, we asked our dealer to install a second tube. However, they didn’t account for dropping the tube so that it can be opened. To use this tube, we have to access the tube from the camp side – not something we really want to do. It would be great if Grand Design understood the need for having a hose for each gray tank and provided an effective sewer hose storage solution.

3. Tankless Water Heater Isn’t Our Favorite

Many new RVs have tankless water heaters. While these do provide hot water, we preferred the traditional RV tank-style water heater in our prior two campers.

A tankless water heater has no tank. It heats up water when a faucet is opened and calling for hot water. However, there is a delay. That means, we end up running cold water until the hot water arrives. Cold water that fills up the gray tanks when we are trying to stretch out the time between having to dump the tanks.

We miss having the option to heat water with electricity. The traditional tank-style water heaters in our prior two campers could run on electricity or gas, while the tankless water heater in our 22RBE heats only with propane. That propane comes from the tanks on the front of the camper, which we have to refill when they’re empty. It’s the same supply we use to keep the camper warm in cold weather and cook a tasty meal in the oven. For the way we camp, having an electric water-heating option was useful and could save us money.

And finally, there isn’t an option to bypass water to the water heater and empty the tank for winterization. Instead, the tankless water heater requires antifreeze, the pink stuff, be run through it to keep it safe during cold winter months. Plan on purchasing extra antifreeze to ensure you have enough to fill the water heater in addition to the rest of your water lines.

For us, tankless has not automatically meant better. However, we have found one trick that helps make using a tankless water heater a little bit better. Set the temperature to the actual temperature you want the water and then open only the hot faucet. If you try to mix hot and cold water at the faucet like you would with a traditional heater, the experience can be challenging. Opening just the hot valve makes it just a little bit better.

Imagine 22RBE Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Access the Refrigerator With the Slide In?

Yes, we can access the refrigerator in our camper without extending the slide. That is a feature we appreciate when traveling. This makes loading the camper or getting lunch during a driving break much easier.

Does the Camp-Side Slide Get in the Way?

For us, it has both an advantage and a drawback. It makes positioning the camper around the hookups easier, but it also affects our awning setup. While there are tradeoffs to having the slide on the “wrong” side, overall it works fine.

Where Do You Eat Without a Dinette?

We try to eat more meals outside. We added a canopy to set up over the table giving us some shelter. We also use TV trays for those days when eating outside isn’t the best choice. For just a snack, we use the flat surface of the couches’ fold-down feature to rest a plate while using the drink holders for beverages.

Is the Imagine 22RBE Easy to Tow?

Our experience is that the Imagine 22RBE is easier to tow than our prior campers. While still large, it is small enough that we can stop at larger gas stations like Love’s or Pilot along the way. Backing it into a site is easier than the very long camper we used to have. Of course, we use sway control and work to stay well within the two limits & capabilities of our truck & camper setup.

Does Grand Design Provide Good Customer Support?

During our walkthrough and first shakedown camping trip, we found a few minor things that needed to be corrected. Grand Design and our dealer dealt with those issues promptly.

We were less happy with Grand Design’s customer support when we encountered a more serious issue on another camping trip early in our ownership of this camper. On that occasion, the support didn’t live up to our expectations. We’ll share the details of that experience in a future post; for now, this is our impression rather than a full account of what happened.

Are We Happy with Our Imagine 22RBE?

Yes. Overall, we are very happy with it after more than a year. The size and layout work well for our camping trips. The awning, dining arrangement, sewer hose storage, and water heater are the tradeoffs we would want another buyer to understand. This review is about those experiences, not a complete assessment of every Imagine camper’s reliability or warranty service.

Would We Recommend the Imagine 22RBE?

If you want a manageable travel trailer with a separate front bedroom, comfortable recliners, a useful kitchen countertop, and a large rear bathroom, the Imagine 22RBE is worth a look.

If you want a dedicated dinette or plan to spend most of your time sitting under the attached awning, pay particularly close attention during your walkthrough. Those are the areas where our setup has required the most compromise.

There isn’t one perfect camper for everyone. The best choice is the one that fits the way you actually camp—not just the one that looks best at an RV show. For us, the Imagine 22RBE has been a good fit, even with a few things we would change.

Imagine 22RBE YouTube Video

Want to see more? Check out our Grand Design Imagine 22RBE Review YouTube video.

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