Any 230RL Owners Have the 12 Cubic Ft. Refer Option Upgrade?

[shutterbug]

We've had our 230RL for 2 seasons now and absolutely love it! It does have the 8 cubic foot fridge. We wanted 28ft or less, and the amount of livable space you get in the 230RL at that size is incredible. The shorter length coupled with the turning point pinbox allows me to turn on a dime, I've taken this into spots and through gas stations that my friends with 30 foot+ units fear to tread

[my12by60]

We studied the 230 at a local dealership and thought it was a great unit. We need to see a 260 in person to decide if the few extra features are worth adding 18 inches to total length. Sounds like you are using the swivel feature of the Turning Point. What hitch do you have in the bed of your truck? Is it fairly easy to hook up with the wedge in place? Any chucking when going down the road?

[shutterbug]

Yes we're using the swivel feature with a short bed truck. It is more challenging to hookup with the wedge in place, you have to hit it straight on - but I painted a white line on my hitch that allows me to hit it dead on with relative ease.
I have a reese 20k, nothing fancy. On certain pavement types I notice some chucking, but no more so than I've noticed towing other trailers.

[jfraizz]

If the 12 cu ft fridge is the RM 1350, stay very far away from it. It’s got a very poor reputation, already on my second one and it failed within 6 months....

[shutterbug]

Oh, and we've had zero issues with the installed 8cf fridge, it's worked really well for us in all weather.

[jfraizz]

Wanna trade???😀

[Jimposey]

Sorry for late response, I have a 2015 Ford 250 Platinum turbo diesel and have not pulled the trigger on the 260 yet.will probably wait until Tampa show 14 Jan 2020. My truck has a whooping 12,000 miles on it.

[fez111]

Hi. We have the 4-door NorCold. Check the middle flap EVERY time the door is opened. Also, use your fingers to ensure the release latches snap shut. It is not difficult, but it is necessary most of the time after the newness wears off.

Also, As Wicked Ace said, there are ways to increase efficiency of the cooling system with more fans. I noticed that the condenser fans ran very seldom, regardless of the outside temperature. Having done some refrigeration work in the past I learned that cooling the condenser is the best way to increase efficiency. We installed a bypass switch to parallel the thermal switch at the top of the condenser. When the outside temp climbs above 70 or so, we flip the switch and the condenser fans run all the time when the fridge is calling for cool. We are able to drop the fridge by at least one number. Remember to turn this switch off if shore power is lost. Batteries don't last forever...

[my12by60]

As I said in the original post, we had a residential Amana in our Cedar Creek and we loved it. So I am leery of the absorption style refers since I have read of fires, lackluster cooling, and long wait times to get to initial cool down after getting the fifth wheel from storage. Scanning the forums, it looks like for not too large an investment, the absorption fridge can be made safer and more efficient. The safer comes from installing the ARP Fridge Defend unit and the more efficient comes from installing interior circulation fans and exterior cooling fans. Sad that we have to spend hundreds of dollars for mods to make a $3,000 brand new refer safe and effective.

[Lance Glogowsky]

I have a 2018 303 RS fifth wheel trailer with the 12 ft.³ double door refrigerator from Dometic. The refrigerator has been a nightmare. it has been back-and-forth eight times since last October to my General RV dealership. It has been there now for the last two weeks. They have failed to get it working properly since then. Without exaggerating I have been able to camp only twice this summer. My wife is so discouraged she wants to trade in our Grand Design trailer. It is a fact Dometic is having a lot of problems. I know Norco has had some. In my opinion whatever you do stay away from Dometic.