66 Safari needs new water heater

[Lesliewhaley]

My local RV shop confirmed my water heater is dead, but to replace they would have to do some finagling and I'd have to have a plastic door to the cubby.
However, they don't really specialize in vintage or airstream.

What will fit? Should I go tankless?

Any thoughts or suggestions or good/bad experiences are appreciated.

[TG Twinkie]

Can you determine the brand of water heater? Can you post some pics?

[AldeanFan]

Vintage trailer supply sells a stainless steel door that will fit a new Atwood water-heater

[DFlores]

We painted the door that came with water heater, did have to buy a 24" square piece of allclad to make patch around larger existing opening


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David & Diane

[mimiandrews]

I installed a Precision Temp 500 with their brushed aluminum door, and I'm happy with the exterior appearance and very happy with the performance of the water heater. Pricey, it is.

I did have to use some 2024 alclad to reduce the size of the hole in the side of the trailer to fit the new water heater. The old Bowen needed a bigger opening.

[rmkrum]

Wife is pleased with PrecisionTemp

Priceless!


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[rdb504]

We recently installed a Girard tankless in our 73 Ambassador, the door is white and will be painted shortly, but it fit in the existing hole and the door covers everything even though we had to reduce the opening framing. The original was a10 gallon heater, but the new heater would fit in the space of a 6 gallon.

[StevieB]

We had our's replaced on our 1966 21T by Chuck Cayo last winter. New water heater with the vintage door and same look as before. You can not tell that it was replaced. Highly recommend Chuck Cayo of Watervliet, MI.

[Wolf Alaska]

The Surburban w/h on my Featherlite will no longer provide gas to the pilot light. Suspect defect in gas valve, a $124 part. (w/h is 10 years old) Last week, bought new identical w/h via Amazon @ $309. This includes new radiused internal fitting door & surround in white aluminium which matches the white aluminium of my trailer. I plan to install this weekend. S/B simple...only 2 water fittings + 1 gas line fitting. Access is easy in the bottom of the wardrobe.
Let's Roll !
Wolf

[64airstream]

We used a Suburban 6 gal in our 64 Safari and modified the original cover to have the openings align with the new heater's. It works fine and looks original from the exterior. We're working on our 68 Overlander and the water heater had been previously replaced. The existing replacement cover was aluminum and looked better than the white cover provided by Suburban, so, we again, cut new openings in the old cover and pop riveted the old cover on top of the new. Not great, but good enough.

Good luck,

Roy

[WildinMN]

We also have a '66 Safari - we did a Girard Tankless water heater in it. I like not having to plan ahead for using hot water. You do need to be aware of how it works and not mix hot and cold or you'll trip the hot water temp limit and need to reset the heater but other than getting used to it, works great!