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FreshAir · 06-13-2007, 10:56 PM

My last thread,..."HELP, save our marriage,"...did not locate a water heater burner for my old 6 gallon Bowen WH. So I have decided on plan B....buy a new WH. I have decided upon an Atwood gas/electric pilot model. I have the space (barely) for a 10 gallon. The price difference to a 6 gal. water heater is equal to 15 gallons of California premium (designer) gasoline. So I ask you those in the know and have experienced both a 6 gal. hot shower and a 10 gal. hot shower. Is the 10 gallon wash worth a 1/2 tank of Ca. gasoline?

Oh, good thing I did not locate that burner, the h-water tank was leaking as I pulled it. I have a little floor rot to fix before my new tank is installed.

Thank you,

Neil....and Lynn

Foiled Again · 06-13-2007, 11:03 PM

A) Do you have other things that the $$$$ is urgently needed for?
B) You're going to live with the new water heater for 5 - 15 years. You could amortize the cost across that time.

A small water heater REHEATS faster, but a large one lasts longer. I like long hot showers, and I get a very decent one from six gallons. Ten minutes later the heater is ready to go again. With both of you would the bigger one serve better.

ASK your wife... it's the best way to never hear criticism of the decision.

Paula

uwe · 06-13-2007, 11:17 PM

I went for teh 10Gal for my 1963. It seems that it heats just about as fast as the 6gal in my 71 TradeWind, but we usually do not run out of hot water.

FreshAir · 06-14-2007, 12:56 PM

So far this looks like a toss-up.......

Neil.

Ganglin · 06-14-2007, 01:09 PM

Had this discussion at the house last night. Keep in mind she's spending my 'mad' money not ours. Gas or gas/electric - we decided on the later for the convenience. 6 or 10 gallon - we decided on the 6 to pay for the electric option - figured it would be rare we would go thru 6 gallons at once.

Silvertwinkie · 06-14-2007, 01:37 PM

If yer a shower a holic, then yea, the 10 gallon will make more sense. We both shower with the 6 gallon and use the water sparingly by turning off the water faucet, unlike what we do at home with Lake Michigan as our water tank.

overlander63 · 06-14-2007, 06:24 PM

I put an Atwood 6 gallon in our Overlander, and an Atwood 10 gallon in the Sovereign. I ran out of hot water once with the Overlander, and have only been out once in the Sovereign. I took a LONG shower in the Sovereign, and did not run out of water, in fact, I overflowed the gray tank and still had hot water left.

Silvertwinkie · 06-14-2007, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander63

I put an Atwood 6 gallon in our Overlander, and an Atwood 10 gallon in the Sovereign. I ran out of hot water once with the Overlander, and have only been out once in the Sovereign. I took a LONG shower in the Sovereign, and did not run out of water, in fact, I overflowed the gray tank and still had hot water left.

Next mod...a new grey tank--- or limiting your shower rations!

uwe · 06-14-2007, 08:19 PM

One thing that Iwould now gladly pay for is the electronic ignition. I can't tell you howmany times I have cursed myself for not getting that on the 10gal that I bought for the Overlander.
If it's windy outside, or cold, pushing the "red" button gets the water heater going.
Lighting a pilot in baja at gale force winds is not a joy, trust me.
As a matter of fact, I'd swap the 10gal down to a 6gal for the electronic ignition feature.

lewster · 06-14-2007, 08:23 PM

get an RV-500 TANKLESS water heater and take an all day shower if you like (city water required) and pay for it with all of that propane that you WON'T BE USING to keep a 6 or 10 gallon tank full of hot water.

thecatsandi · 06-14-2007, 09:12 PM

I vote tankless.

uwe · 06-14-2007, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecatsandi

I vote tankless.

For boondocking too?

thecatsandi · 06-14-2007, 09:23 PM

Why not?

uwe · 06-14-2007, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecatsandi

Why not?

Because they require more water to warm up, and as Lewster posted, "City Water required".

thecatsandi · 06-14-2007, 09:30 PM

very little if they are properly designed. Your propane savings will be great.
city water required for an endless shower.

lewster · 06-15-2007, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uwe

Because they require more water to warm up, and as Lewster posted, "City Water required".

Uwe,

The RV-500 heats the water by the time it exits the heat exchanger and enters the hot water supply tube fully heated....no lag time.

I was referring to taking the VERY LONG SHOWERS with the city water, but it functions perfectly while on the road or boondocking as well while not using ANY LP unless you are running hot water.

FreshAir · 06-15-2007, 04:57 PM

Based upon all of your comments and suggestions, Lynn and I decided on the 6 gallon model water heater. I got a very good price from Big Discount RV (thanks doorgunner) of $334 for an Atwood 6 gal, gas/electric pilot. I was also directed to a thread on 'Water Heater Reignitor' for a future garnishment. While the new Atwood is enroute I have to replace the small section of floor that the old WH was leaking onto. It is rotten to about 6" inside the WH openning on the street side rear. It probably would be great to redo the rear floor entirely but that will cut into camp time. We got camp reservations in less 3 weeks and more camping in August/Sept. not to mention the LSA Rally in October. We have our priorities! Thanks all for your imput. Thanks to the Forum for this great venue. With out it who would I ask all of these questions....the SOB people in the adjoining campsite?

Neil and Lynn