Water heater install

[groovzilla]

one of the previous owners did a hack job where the old water heater was located and just covered the hole. i had to custom fit and flash the atwood electric/lp gas 6 gallon water heater today.

didn't turn out too bad

[SeeMore]

So which is the before and after?

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by SeeMore

So which is the before and after?

Harsh!

I'm guessing the "before" is the one with duct tape and a wavy piece of sheet metal, and the "after" is the one with the standard Atwood door and no duct tape.

[SeeMore]

Oooh, my bad. I couldn't see much difference, if any, other than the appearance of a grill on my smartphone; magnified on a pad my response looks cruel.

[groovzilla]

i thought it was damn funny

the before photo has no large curved window and a larger than a walmart shopper hole in it's side covered with flashing and duct tape.

the after has a new curved glass window installed and a water heater/flashing filling the hole

i need to get a section of skin for the lower flashing and also a piece of original blue trim to fill the gap.

[Bwilson11]

I'm installing an Atwood as well. What is the best sealant to use for this?

[Bill M.]

I used the Parabond number that replaces Vulcum and it worked fine. Messy though,

[groovzilla]

its always been suggested to use aluminum color sikaflex for sealing roof vents and anything else needing sealing.

[NJ Amanda]

Looks good. I have to replace the HWH on mine too. I'll probably be getting the same kind as you, although maybe the 10 gallon. Ours still has the original door that is vented and is flush with the rest of the trailer, so hopefully we won't need to make any door modifications.

[Bwilson11]

Thanks for the replies! Picket up some puttytape and some vulkem (equivelant) on vintage trailers.com

[groovzilla]

they sell grey sikaflex at home depot for $7 a tube

[ole81]

It looks like the Atwood on our '81 is leaking. I have contemplated installing a new one myself, but I am stopped dead in my tracks when I see the grey and black flex tubing that is connected with clamps.
Would really appreciate some input as to how you reconnect the lines once the new unit is installed.
Also....do all Atwood units have the input/output connections in the same location, or do you have to do a lot of fabricating?

Thanks for looking...

[groovzilla]

i haven't hooked up my electric/propane atwood h20 heater yet so this info will come in handy

good luck on your install and hopefully someone knowledgable chimes in

[ole81]

Just ordered the Atwood GC6AA-10E and should get it next week.
When we get return home on Saturday, will pull the old one out.
...still waiting to hear what is the best way to sever the old lines without making the job harder than necessary.

[robwok]

On my 64, I saved all the original trim pieces, and then trimmed them down to get the new smaller WH in there (though technically I went to a 10 gallon from a 6 gallon, the outside hole was smaller.) Just a thought. Don't know what the 80's models look like.

Rob