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05-07-2023, 03:44 PM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member 
1995 25' Excella
Port Charlotte
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 9
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Water Heater - 6 Gallon Gas to Tankless
We have a 1995 25foot Excella and currently have a 6gallon gas water heater. We would like to upgrade to a tankless but our opening is roughly 18x14 and the new tankless that I find (Pricision) are Dimensions: 13.5″ wide x 13.5″ deep x 14.25″ high. Any tankless recommendations that would fit our current opening? THANKS
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05-07-2023, 04:38 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master 
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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Check the PrecisionTemp install drawing. Mine had wide flanges on the sides to cover the full 6 gallon width. I did have to shave off 1/4 inch on the top to get it in.
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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05-07-2023, 06:40 PM
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#3
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2 Rivet Member 
1981 25' Excella II
Palo Alto
, California
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 86
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We have a 25' Excella too. Albeit ours is '81.
We went with a Truma Combi Eco , which combines hot water and furnace and thus freed up space in our AS.
It's wonderful, seems economical and lots of hot water, and keeps the trailer and snug inside too. (caveat lowest temperature we've been is in the 30s overnight so far)
Biggest challenge is trying to get hold of one as Truma NA only like to sell to OEMs.
That said, knowing Airstream install them in basecamps, could you just order it via AS? Part numbers on Page I-1 on https://www.airstream.com/wp-content...Parts-Book.pdf
Noting too We ended up patching where the old furnace and water heaters were, and then new hole for the Truma.
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05-07-2023, 07:45 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master 
Commercial Member

2019 27' Tommy Bahama
London
, Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,352
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We are regularly replacing tankless heaters with the Suburban replica of the old Atwood heater for a few reasons.
For dry camping the tank style heater uses less water.
It is not going to freeze up and split when in use in below freezing temperatures.
If your LP regulator ices up in cold weather you will have hot water to pour over it to get it going again.
It is simple there is very little to go wrong with it.
Just something to consider.
Andy
__________________
Andrew Thomson London, Ontario
"One test is worth a thousand expert opinions." Tex Johnston, Boeing 707 test pilot
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05-08-2023, 09:02 AM
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#5
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4 Rivet Member 
2022 27' Globetrotter
Bethlehem
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 412
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Do not buy a Girard. Lots of threads on this topic. Truma is the best unit I’ve seen. It has a very small (1 liter) in parallel to the on-demand. Works great.
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05-08-2023, 10:17 AM
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#6
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3 Rivet Member 
2023 27' International
Waynesville
, Missouri
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 176
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Don’t Do It
Don’t make the switch!!! Treasure that tanked heater. I have found NOBODY who likes the tankless, on demand heater. Even those people who had to trick their tankless with do-dads to make it work better are telling you something…..the tankless heaters are not good. Humongous water wasters!!!! I will admit, with the heater right below, the bathroom sink, I do get rapid hot water there, but the shower and kitchen sink, you’ll be filling up your grey tank rapidly waiting for something warm to come out. My wife wanted hot water to wash the dishes after dinner. It was our first night out…..she filled the grey tank to 48 percent just doing the dinner dishes for the two of us. Fix and repair!!! Don’t replace!!!! You’ll thank me later.
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05-08-2023, 10:52 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master 

2021 30' Flying Cloud
Airstream - Other
Airstream - Other
Lady Lake
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,336
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Replace with same
Stay with tried and true 6 gallon water heater. Read
( A Honestly Cold Reality Check ) on the forums
Good luck with your decision.
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05-08-2023, 01:26 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master 

2021 30' Flying Cloud
Airstream - Other
Airstream - Other
Lady Lake
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,336
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Exactly
Do not even look at a Girard, Well if you want cold showers find a Truma Factory Installer and at their warehouse you can buy pallets of Girard tankless units brand new removed from all brands of trailers. If your going tankless have Truma install a unit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Merlintiaga
Do not buy a Girard. Lots of threads on this topic. Truma is the best unit I’ve seen. It has a very small (1 liter) in parallel to the on-demand. Works great.
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05-08-2023, 07:14 PM
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#9
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4 Rivet Member 
1959 24' Tradewind
Twin Falls
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 254
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Truma works just fine
My trailer didn't have a water heater when we rebuilt it. In 2020 I had our closest airstream dealer put it in as it is/was required. Truma AquaGo Comfort is the model.
I have nothing but good to say about it. It has a selector panel that you can set to Eco, it will heat the water only when being used and takes a bit longer (5-8 seconds) to get warm depending on the water temp coming in. This saves water and propane.
But, there is also a setting on the panel called Comfort where it will heat the little onboard tank to get the water hot prior to use. Once you turn the faucet on, it pushes out the cold water in the lines (10sec in our case) to our bathroom, you have plenty of hot water.
Our trailer is 24ft in length, so the distance for the water to travel is maybe 10-12ft, so that probably helps. Here are a couple pics of ours.
__________________
Regards,
Tony
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05-14-2023, 08:54 AM
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#10
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2 Rivet Member 
2022 20' Basecamp
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 26
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Mullers, could you please give me an idea where you sourced your Truma Combi?
I would really like to dump the on demand water heater and furnace in my 2022
Basecamp 20X.
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05-14-2023, 11:43 AM
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#11
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1 Rivet Member 
2014 27' FB International
Grants Pass
, OR
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 11
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Truma works well
Have a Truma tankless heater in our 2014 international Stetling. It works great, steady supply of hot water. Not sure which model it is. Makes a great dog wash station for our traveling companions : - ))
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05-14-2023, 02:31 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master 
1966 24' Tradewind
Kansas City
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 670
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DAVSCH
Don’t make the switch!!! Treasure that tanked heater. I have found NOBODY who likes the tankless, on demand heater.
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Noting that you and I are both live in Missouri, the Show Me state, we share a certain skepticism of newfangled stuff (don't get me started on smart phones). But, when it comes to Truma's tankless water heaters, specifically the Truma Aquago Comfort Plus, I have seen the light, brother. While it is a long story how I got them to sell me one for my '66 Tradewind rebuild ( https://www.airforums.com/forums/f11...nd-135579.html), I can testify that it is all it is said to be and more. Just check out my latest post about it one the above site.
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05-14-2023, 04:49 PM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member 
2020 25' International
Anchorage
, Alaska
Join Date: Mar 2023
Posts: 31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DAVSCH
Don’t make the switch!!! Treasure that tanked heater. I have found NOBODY who likes the tankless, on demand heater.
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More and more, I'm glad that I have a 2020 Airstream. I would never want to give up the tanked water heater or the refrigerator that runs off of LP.
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05-14-2023, 07:26 PM
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#14
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2 Rivet Member 
2018 27' International
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 21
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Lots of opinions
Bought a 2018 International Signature 27FB in Dec -- first thing I did when I got it home is pull the Dometic LP/Elec refrigerator out and replace it with a DC only model and the second thing I did was pull the 6 gal Atwood water heater out and replace it with a tankless model.
Both have delivered flawlessly thus far through several nights camping. I do not regret my changes in the slightest. The DC refrigerator will maintain even under battery power (batteries being replenished only by solar).
I won't throw the rock at people with dissenting opinions though as we all use our trailers with different routines. ....But this works for us.
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05-14-2023, 11:43 PM
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#15
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2 Rivet Member 
1981 25' Excella II
Palo Alto
, California
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 86
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tominphx
Mullers, could you please give me an idea where you sourced your Truma Combi?
I would really like to dump the on demand water heater and furnace in my 2022
Basecamp 20X.
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In 2019/2020 some big rv shop went bust and some folk bought their stock and sold them online. I got mine from there. They sold out tho so doesn’t exist any more.
That said seeing as airstream sell them for some basecamp models, can’t you just ask an airstream dealer to order them? - I linked the parts numbers earlier in this thread.
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05-15-2023, 09:03 AM
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#16
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"Cloudsplitter"

2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,127
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JGF79
Bought a 2018 International Signature 27FB in Dec -- first thing I did when I got it home is pull the Dometic LP/Elec refrigerator out and replace it with a DC only model and the second thing I did was pull the 6 gal Atwood water heater out and replace it with a tankless model.
Both have delivered flawlessly thus far through several nights camping. I do not regret my changes in the slightest. The DC refrigerator will maintain even under battery power (batteries being replenished only by solar).
I won't throw the rock at people with dissenting opinions though as we all use our trailers with different routines. ....But this works for us.
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So happy your happy...
We be happy too...with OEM accoutrements. Cold reefer, hot water, AC & furnace. SFSG
“If you’re happy with what you’re doing…all is good.
If other people are unhappy….it’s not” 
RLC
Bob
🇺🇸
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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05-15-2023, 09:30 AM
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#17
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3 Rivet Member 
2000 25' Safari
2007 27' Safari FB SE
1995 25' Excella
Woodbine
, Georgia
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 205
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I must be missing something. Other than longer showers-what are the benefits of a tankless water heater over the old 6 gal. heater?
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05-15-2023, 09:47 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master 
1969 18' Caravel
Greenville
, whereEverIroam
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,414
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primer
See t his post that summarizes the differences, pros and cons of tankless vs traditional RV water heaters.
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05-16-2023, 08:52 AM
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#19
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2 Rivet Member 
2018 27' International
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 21
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I have had tankless water heaters in my residence for 13 years and flush them yearly to prevent scaling - will do the same on the RV. They have functioned flawlessly and my LP gas bills very low.
As far as why I moved this direction (as you noted, Airstream has moved this way also) my rationale follow that pro/con post: simplicity, only operates when hot water is called for, otherwise no flame and no propane use. Brand certainly seems important....Truma, Girard (now the OEM), Furrion, Fogati. I chose the Furrion and so far it's working fine.
The 6 gal Atwood I removed was only 5 years old and was functioning poorly and leaking so it was an easy decision and the Furrion only cost $750 and I was able to install myself.
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