Water heater upgrade

[Martin60]

Can I upgrade my 6 gal. Water heater in my 29RKS to a 10gal. Or larger. Thank you Martin

[sourdough]

Without looking at the trailer and method of installation of the OE tank I would just say no off the top of my head. I've never been in one or owned one where the hwh compartment didn't look like it was shrink fit around the water heater. Why do you want a larger water heater?

[Roscommon48]

get to a camping store and strore measuring. i suspect the answer is no.


the best way i found to have plenty of hot water is 1. turn both ele. and gas one. 2. teach people the 'navy way' of showering.

[JRTJH]

A 10 gallon water heater will not fit in the space built for a 6 gallon water heater. There is a significant difference in framing/opening size. If your trailer is aluminum framed, that makes it even more difficult to modify the opening space. I'd say no, don't even try. That said, use the electric AND gas heating options and you can get enough hot water for a decent shower if you turn the water off while soaping rather than let it run.

[Martin60]

I didn't know you could use both ele. And gas at the same time.

[sourdough]

Absolutely use them both. You did not state the year of the trailer but nearly all newer ones have that option and it makes a big difference.

[ROBNPEN]

I replaced my 6-gallon water heater with a Girard 2GWHAM tankless water heater; easy install, almost an exact fit. I have used it with both city water and with the water pump and have had no issues maintaining temperature. This is my second season with it.

[LHaven]

Originally Posted by Martin60

I didn't know you could use both ele. And gas at the same time.

I leave the electric on all the time for kitchen and hands (we always camp with shore power); then, as I'm going into the shower, I'll turn the gas on, then off when I'm done. Haven't run out, ever.

[JRTJH]

Hot water in any RV is a compromise. First, if boondocking, you have a limited amount of water and, you also have a limited amount of "tank space" to store the gray water from the shower, sinks and possibly outdoor kitchen.

So, RV's are designed to use the minimum amount of water (hot or cold) both from the fresh water tank and what goes into the gray tanks. So, limited water, limited hot water, limited storage space for "used water"... It all "adds up" to not needing a "huge water heater" to heat a limited amount of water.

Between storage capacity for clean and dirty water, weight of each, amount of propane required to heat a 12 gallon tank to 130F vs the amount of propane needed to heat a 6 gallon tank to 130F. So, not only do you have to carry the water, the larger storage for waste water, the larger water heater but you also have to carry enough propane to heat the volume in the tank. It's cheaper and uses less propane to heat 6 gallons than to heat 12 gallons...

When you consider the purpose of an RV and the way they are intended to be used, "unlimited hot water" is not a priority that would warrant eliminating some other "compromise".... It's sort of intended to be "a little bit of everything" kind of experience.

[sourdough]

^^^^^An excellent, detailed response to hot water heaters, water capacity and how you use it. In an RV you ain't in a house and not a thing will change that using a 6 gal. hwh…...but it can work just fine when you learn to "fine tune it".