refrigerator problems

I have been testing my dometic (2018 Rpod 176) for a week now.  I'm trying to simulate traveling (towing) so I leave it outside in the 100 degree heat with no A/C running and have been testing the refer on all three circuits (120 v, 12 v and gas).  To my disbelief, gas is the worst.  Traditionally gas is the best, 120 volt 2nd, and 12 volt a weak 3rd.  We used to tell everyone that 12 volt was just a "maintainer" if your refer was already cold, but I just proved on mine that it actually cools the best, reaching 36 degrees at night (night outside temps in the 70s), 120volt got down to 38 degrees and gas about 43 degrees.  During the day, gas runs about 7 degrees higher than either of the others getting up to 57 degrees.  Tomorrow it goes in the shop to have a tech look at it and see if he can determine why the gas is not out-performing the electric heaters like these Dometics have traditionally done in the past.

Originally posted by jato Very interesting.  Our dometic is (2011 Rpod 177) is going on year 7 and performs very well.  Last year was the first time we ever had an issue, outside temp was over 100 and the refer was not very cold inside.  My brother came over and told me that the muffin fans should be running being this hot, my response was like a deer looking into headlights before impact.  We opened up both outside access panels, found both muffin fans and then relocated the thermal switch that activates the fans.  We moved the switch from near the middle to the top of the coils.  Fans immediately came on and  within about 4 hours the fridge was down to 37 degrees.

Well, to clarify, when the 4 hour time frame was up, it was nearly 9 pm, the outside temp at that time was probably in the upper 70's.  You are totally correct, it the middle of the day I would be fortunate to get it to 40 with the outside temp being that hot.  Beside, we don't have an A/C unit on our 177 and we were boondocking at the time.

Originally posted by osage has anyone ever washed the fins on the fridge. if so how did you do it?

On our recent trip, we experienced a range of temperatures. When we were headed North and the temperatures were in the 90's, then the refrigerator had a hard time of getting and staying cold. Temperatures would only get down to around 40 at night but climb into the 50's during the day. Once we got to New York and Vermont which had lower ambient temperatures, the refrigerator would consistently have temperatures which got down into the mid to lower 30's at night, but still climbed into the lower 40's during the day. On the return trip south into higher ambient temperatures, our refrigerator once again was having trouble getting down below 40.

My practice is to run on gas except when I have AC available. I have had prior experience with the TV not being able to both charge batteries and run the refrigerator. That is why I use propane. I have cleaned the burner and orifice, but it made no difference in the refrigerator's cooling ability. What I have not done is taken it to get a check of the propane pressure to the burner. I should do that soon. I just don't want to haul the R-Pod to our dealer since that is a 2 1/2 hour drive (110 miles) away from where we live.