Today’s RV review is of the 2022 East To West Della Terra 230RB. I’m finding more and more of you who have written to me in various ways and expressed sharing my sentiments about no slide, no windshield travel trailers. However, in many ways what that means is the cheapest models designed more for price than anything.
Today’s review is of an affordable model that I also wouldn’t really describe as being stripped of usable features. True, this is a stick-and-tin or wood-framed trailer with aluminum skin, a very traditional and more affordable way to build trailers. But, with proper maintenance of the seals, they also can last a very long time.
Witness my own 1970 Aristocrat Land Liner that is still going strong.
But there are also a lot of little details in this build that are a bit more upscale.
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Nice features in the Della Terra 230RB
First and foremost, for all you readers who are taller this could be worth a look. The ceiling height on this is taller 6’ 9”—more than is typical. Further, you can get this with a 72” X 80” king-sized bed.
Another nice thing is that, although this is a corner shower, it’s larger than some that I’ve seen. Plus, there’s a step in here so those of you who shave your legs or just like to look at your toes, here ya’ go!
The bathroom in this spans the full width of the rear of the trailer and has a lot of space. In fact, there’s enough in there that you legitimately could change your clothes in the bathroom. If you’re cramped by many of the toilets in many RVs, this will also be a nice change. You could sit on the toilet and do yoga and not touch a wall.
That’s a good thing because there is also a decently large window over the dinette so having clothes on while wandering around the camper would be a plus. Well, that depends on who you are, I guess.
More bedroom stuff
I had mentioned the king-sized bed, but the bedroom in this is a separate room. There’s a surprising amount of space around the bed, including at the foot of the bed. That’s not something you often find in a travel trailer with a king, quite frankly.
Further, I like the way the wardrobes on this were built where there’s a hanging closet above and a drawer below. Also, each side of the bed has both USB and 120vac outlets. Finally, there’s even a decent-sized cubby behind the drawer. Very, very nicely done!
More good news about the Della Terra 230RB
There are a few other areas where it’s clear that East to West went a bit above. Those include the fact that there’s a water docking station in this held inside the front storage compartment. This keeps those connectors a bit cleaner.
I also like that East to West is employing Goodyear Endurance trailer tires rather than the Maypop brands that some companies use.
In fact, the pricing I saw on this, which is included in the chart, shows another reason I think slides and windshields in travel trailers aren’t the best thing in all cases. This is a really affordable unit, yet has a bedroom with a door, a couch and a dinette along with a decent-sized kitchen.
Some observations
I recently got to meet with RV Travel reader Gary, who showed me a bunch of great mods on his travel trailer. One of those was removing the 16” oven altogether and replacing it with just a three-burner stovetop. Then he added cabinet space where the oven used to be.
We spoke of RV ovens and how the little ones aren’t worth a tinker’s darn. I wish the RV companies would just offer the option of no oven or a larger unit, instead of the choice of take it or leave it with regard to the lousy 16” oven. It seems I’m not alone in this.
In summary
Since there is no slide in this unit, it certainly is perfectly accessible at all times. But I also have seen this floor plan in other units as well as in vintage trailers. It’s just a good floor plan.
The way East to West has implemented this floor plan and some of the attention to detail aspects of the unit really do make it a good unit, overall. I think for the price and features, this is a unit that is absolutely worth looking at for those of you who aren’t interested in slide rooms and windshields.
Maybe it’s just my constantly ranting about it but, based on the sheer number of you who have messaged me in some form or another, I think there are a lot more of you who share my taste in this department.
More from Tony
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Tony comes to RVtravel.com having worked at an RV dealership and been a lifelong RV enthusiast. He also has written the syndicated Curbside column about cars. He also works closely with a number of RV manufacturers to get an inside look at how things are done and is a brand ambassador for Rockwood Mini Lite with his wife, Peggy.
You can also check out his RV podcast with his wife, Peggy.
These RV reviews are written based on information provided by the manufacturers along with our writer’s own research. They are based on information from a single unit and may not reflect your actual experience. Shop your RV and dealership carefully before making a buying decision. We receive no money or other financial benefits from these reviews. They are intended only as a brief overview of the vehicle, not a comprehensive critique, which would require a thorough inspection and/or test drive.
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Tony, Not sure a docking station located within the confines of a stick and tin trailer is a plus. Where will the water go when one fails to tighten the incoming city water connection properly?
I need the slide to open the living space. Otherwise everything feels constricted. I hate fixed dinettes and prefer either free standing tables or a sofa with an optional table. I love windows over the bed. More windows, more light. While this trailer has some nice features, no slide is a no go.
As Tony says, this no-slide TT has some great features for an “entry-level” camper. Most notable is the REAL king bed that is not a Murphy bed, has no windshield above it, and has a real door when you need privacy or a quiet place to nap! The big picture window is on the correct (“camp”) side, which is relatively rare in entry-level units. And, having no outdoor kitchen, but water and propane hookups on the camp side, is a great substitute. Finally, if you must have a gray interior decor (which seems to the current fad for all RV companies, but which I hate!), this one is at least lighter and brighter than many.
But you also get what you pay for. So, it has a tiny gas oven, a useless vent fan, a 19th-century leaf spring suspension, and those stupid solid steps, which can’t be deployed during a grocery stop in a crowded Walmart parking lot, a narrow Flying J RV overnight parking space, or many tight RV storage facilities (certainly not in 2 of our 3 former storage lots).
Della Terra seems to make nice RV’s and this one seems to be a decent price. Another good thing about no slides. I notice camping the week at Lampre campground this week. From two Airstreamer on their way to Maine for the Airstream rally. They backed their Airstream travel trailers in. One guy used a radius plastic lever to level one side. Than put the tong jack down to level front to rear slightly. Hooked up power. All of which seemed to take less than ten minutes. Next day did something in reverse and was on their way to Maine. Tony’s right about the junky Dometic thermostat. Camping at Lake Erie in the high 80’s and humid. Mine seems to be shutting down in auto mode. Have to put it in single speed for a while to keep things cool. This becomes an issue in Auto mode should you leave your pets inside while you leave for errands or something else in the blazing heat and it shuts down. Be cautious. Will be replacing with a reliable thermostat.