01 What makes it unique
The 27DBX is the top of the Xplor line and the family flagship: a front queen bedroom, rear double-over-double bunks, a U-shaped dinette and theater seating on a single slide, in about 31½ feet — the heaviest, longest Xplor. The double-over-double bunks give four dedicated bunk berths for a full family. It carries the standard Xplor build: residential-insulated R-9 walls on studs 16 inches on center, Titan Quad Seal sealing, an aluminum front cap and Strongwall aluminum sidewalls, a TPO roof and a heated, enclosed underbelly, with a 10-cubic-foot 12-volt refrigerator and 600-watt solar / 2,000-watt inverter prep.
Grand Design publishes a 9,724-pound GVWR against the 6,820-pound dry weight — a much higher GVWR than the rest of the line — leaving a 2,904-pound cargo capacity, by far the largest in the line, and a 714-pound dry tongue. RVUSA lists a sleep capacity of six. A 13,500-BTU air conditioner and 56/78/39-gallon fresh/grey/black tanks are standard. At a starting MSRP around $47,392, with street pricing below placard, the 27DBX is the Xplor for families who want double-over-double bunks and a big cargo margin — but its 9,724-pound GVWR wants an honestly rated half-ton or a small three-quarter-ton, so match the tow vehicle carefully.
02 Full specifications
Dimensions
- Exterior length
- 31' 9"
- Exterior height
- 11' 0"
- Exterior width
- 8' 0"
Weights
- Dry / unit base weight (UVW)
- 6,820 lbs
- GVWR (max loaded)
- 9,724 lbs
- Net cargo / payload (CCC)
- 2,904 lbs
- Dry tongue (hitch) weight
- 714 lbs
Capacities
- Fresh water
- 56 gal
- Grey water
- 78 gal
- Black water
- 39 gal
- Refrigerator
- 10 cu ft 12V
Construction
- Walls
- Residential-insulated R-9 · studs 16″ on center
- Sealing
- Titan Quad Seal weather sealing
- Exterior
- Aluminum front cap · Strongwall aluminum sidewalls
- Framing
- High-density wood-framed walls & sliderooms
- Roof
- TPO membrane over high-density roof insulation
- Underbelly
- Heated & enclosed
Running gear
- Axles
- 2 (tandem)
- Hitch
- Bumper Pull (weight-distribution recommended)
- Jack
- Power tongue jack
- Docking
- Universal docking station · all-in-one utility center
- Solar / electrical
- 600W solar prep · 30A controller prep · 2,000W inverter prep
Galley & systems
- Refrigerator
- 10 cu ft 12-volt
- A/C
- 1 unit · 13,500 BTU
- Bed
- True 60″×80″ residential queen
- Service
- 30-amp with detachable cord
Sleeping & layout
- Sleeps
- 6
- Slides
- 1
- Entries
- 2
- Awnings
- 1
Drawn to scale
Weight budget
Size, with end view
Holding tanks
Axles, wheels and nose shape are schematic; not a floorplan. Data: dataset.
Towing it
Loaded range: 10–15% of GVWR on the tongue, a rule of thumb, not a measurement of this unit. No truck ratings or hitch classes (why; NHTSA, DOT HS 809 433).
03 The Transcend Xplor floorplan family
Transcend Xplor is Grand Design's value / entry travel trailer — half-ton bumper-pull towables and a cross-shop against Jayco's Jay Flight SLX, Forest River's Salem / Wildwood and Aurora, Keystone's Passport and the Winnebago Micro Minnie. Six floorplans are profiled in full and linked below; the remaining plans are catalogued and shown muted. The 27DBX on this page is highlighted.
| Floorplan | Nominal | Sleeps | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20MKX | 24 ft | 4 | Murphy bed, mid kitchen — 17' power awning |
| 19BHX | 26 ft | 7 | Compact bunkhouse, dual entry — lightest, cheapest |
| 21RLX | 26 ft | 3 | Front queen, rear living with desk (new 2026) |
| 22RBX | 26 ft | 4 | Full rear bath, front bedroom — couples |
| 23BHX | 26 ft | 7 | Double bunks, dual entry — lightest bunkhouse |
| 25MLX | 29 ft | 6 | Front queen, rear living — couples / small family |
| 24BHX | 29 ft | 8 | Front bedroom, double bunks, rollover sofa — family |
| 26BHX | 30 ft | 8 | Front bedroom, double bunks — family bunkhouse |
| 26RBX | 31 ft | 6 | Full rear bath, theater seating — couples |
| 27DBX | 31 ft | 6 | Double-over-double bunks, U-dinette — flagship family |
Transcend Xplor is Grand Design's value / entry travel trailer — the volume half-ton bumper-pull line, a clear step up in finish and warranty from the price-leaders and a cross-shop against Jayco's Jay Flight SLX, Forest River's Salem / Wildwood and Aurora, Keystone's Passport and the Winnebago Micro Minnie. RVUSA files ten 2026 Xplor plans; six floorplans are profiled here in full and the remaining four are catalogued from published specifications below. Every Xplor rides a bumper-pull tandem-axle chassis with residential-insulated R-9 walls on studs 16 inches on center, Titan Quad Seal weather sealing, an aluminum front cap and Strongwall aluminum sidewalls, a TPO roof over high-density insulation, a heated and enclosed underbelly, a true 60-by-80 residential queen bed, a power tongue jack, a universal docking station, a 12-volt refrigerator and 600-watt solar / 2,000-watt inverter prep. Tongue weight, GVWR, dry weight and CCC are published per plan and each plan's dry weight plus CCC equals its GVWR exactly. Dry weight is a factory estimate; real loaded tongue weights run higher — always weigh the loaded trailer and confirm against your vehicle's tow rating and payload.
04 Notes on this floorplan
Double-over-double bunks
Four dedicated bunk berths at the rear, plus a front queen, a U-shaped dinette and theater seating — the most family-capable Xplor layout.
Biggest cargo in the line
A 2,904-pound cargo capacity is far and away the largest Xplor payload — genuine room for a full family’s gear, water and supplies.
Highest GVWR — match the tow vehicle
Its 9,724-pound GVWR is well above the rest of the line; a 714-pound base tongue runs higher loaded, so confirm an honestly rated half-ton or a small three-quarter-ton.
Weigh the loaded trailer
With the biggest chassis in the line, load it to a real scale weight and confirm against your vehicle’s tow rating, payload and a proper weight-distributing hitch.
05 How it compares
Forest River’s Aurora — a mainstream family travel trailer, a double-bunk cross-shop.
The 26BHX — a lighter family bunkhouse on a smaller chassis and lower GVWR.
Keystone’s Passport — a comparable family travel trailer.
06 Loading it for a trip
A full 56-gallon fresh tank is about 467 lb of water (water counts as cargo: 49 CFR 571.110 S9.3.2), 16% of the 27DBX’s 2,904 lb cargo capacity, leaving 2,437 lb (406 lb per rated berth). Across 6 Transcend Xplor floorplans the water share runs 16% to 40%, and this plan’s is the lowest. Nearest on that share: Transcend Xplor 26RBX at 30%. Your own unit’s figure is on the label inside its entry door (49 CFR 571.110 S9.3.3).
07 Where this floorplan sits
Closest sibling: the Transcend Xplor 26RBX, nearest on the published figures. It differs on 5 of the 9 fields both publish (this plan first): length 31 ft 9 in vs 31 ft 6 in; dry weight 6,820 lb vs 6,147 lb; GVWR 9,724 lb vs 7,695 lb; cargo capacity 2,904 lb vs 1,548 lb; dry hitch weight 714 lb vs 627 lb. They match on sleeps, fresh tank, grey tank and black tank.
| Transcend Xplor plans | This plan | Position, low to high | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| GVWR (lb) | 9,724 | 6 of 6 | 6,995–9,724 |
| Dry weight (lb) | 6,820 | 6 of 6 | 5,580–6,820 |
| Cargo capacity (lb) | 2,904 | 6 of 6 | 1,160–2,904 |
| Dry hitch weight (lb) | 714 | 6 of 6 | 550–714 |
| Length | 31 ft 9 in | 6 of 6 | 26 ft 10 in–31 ft 9 in |
| Grey tank (gal) | 78 | 3–6 of 6 | 57–78 |
| Black tank (gal) | 39 | 1–5 of 6 | 39–57 |
| Sleeps | 6 | 2–4 of 6 | 4–8 |
Either side of it by GVWR: Transcend Xplor 26RBX is 2,029 lb lighter (7,695 lb GVWR).
| Nearest Transcend Xplor siblings | Length | Sleeps | Dry (lb) | GVWR (lb) | CCC (lb) | Hitch (lb) | Fresh (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transcend Xplor 27DBX | 31 ft 9 in | 6 | 6,820 | 9,724 | 2,904 | 714 | 56 |
| Transcend Xplor 26RBX | 31 ft 6 in | 6 | 6,147 | 7,695 | 1,548 | 627 | 56 |
| Transcend Xplor 26BHX | 30 ft 11 in | 8 | 6,505 | 7,695 | 1,190 | 635 | 56 |
| Transcend Xplor 25MLX | 29 ft 9 in | 6 | 6,335 | 7,495 | 1,160 | 630 | 56 |
| Transcend Xplor 23BHX | 26 ft 11 in | 7 | 5,580 | 6,995 | 1,415 | 550 | 56 |
| Transcend Xplor 22RBX | 26 ft 10 in | 4 | 5,749 | 6,995 | 1,246 | 573 | 56 |
All 6 Transcend Xplor floorplans: Transcend Xplor line hub.
| Other lines, nearest by GVWR | GVWR (lb) | Dry (lb) | Sleeps | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27DBX | 9,724 | 6,820 | 6 | 31 ft 9 in |
| Viking 282DORM | 9,730 | 7,208 | — | 36 ft 11 in |
| Coachmen Catalina 303RKDS | 9,734 | 8,234 | 4 | 36 ft 5 in |
| Ozark 2500THK | 9,735 | 5,493 | — | 28 ft 11 in |
| Zinger 331BH | 9,735 | 8,195 | 12 | 37 ft 6 in |
| Puma Tracks 3060RKTS | 9,703 | 7,803 | — | 37 ft 0 in |
| Wildcat 281QBEDS | 9,701 | 6,651 | — | 35 ft 3 in |
Against the 27DBX: the Viking 282DORM is 6 lb heavier and 5 ft longer; the Coachmen Catalina 303RKDS is 10 lb heavier and 5 ft longer and sleeps 2 fewer; the Ozark 2500THK is 11 lb heavier and 3 ft shorter.
08 Common questions about the 27DBX
How much does the 27DBX weigh?
6,820 lb dry; 9,724 lb GVWR, the most it may weigh loaded.
How much can the 27DBX carry?
2,904 lb, 30% of its GVWR (median across 958 travel trailers here: 23%). A full fresh tank uses 467 lb of it.
What is the tongue weight of the 27DBX?
714 lb dry, 10% of the dry weight (median across 1,156 travel trailers here: 12%).
What size tow vehicle does the 27DBX need?
A tow rating of at least 9,724 lb, plus payload for the loaded tongue weight, passengers and cargo.
How many people does the 27DBX sleep?
It is rated to sleep 6. 2 of the 6 Transcend Xplor floorplans that publish a count sleep more.
What are the tank capacities on the 27DBX?
Fresh 56, grey 78, black 39 gallons. Off hookups, fresh water runs out first.
How long is the 27DBX?
31' 9" overall, tongue or pin box included.
From the figures above.
09 What this page publishes, and what it does not
16 of the 18 fields this catalogue tracks are published for the 27DBX. Not published: interior height, tire specification.
Sourcing rules: methodology.
10 Manuals & documents
Sources: granddesignrv.com (linked below); the full source note is at the foot of the page.
11 NHTSA safety record
NHTSA holds 8 recall campaigns and 10 owner complaints against the Transcend Xplor line. They are counted separately: a recall is a confirmed defect with a remedy, a complaint one owner’s unverified account.
What to look at on a used one. Across the 10 complaints filed on this line the most-reported components are structure (30%), unknown or other (20%) and electrical system (10%).
Recall coverage here is not complete, and complaints are owners’ unverified reports (how this record is built). Check a specific VIN at NHTSA before you buy. Full tables are on the Transcend Xplor line page.