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Old 05-07-2023, 03:44 PM   #1
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1995 25' Excella
Port Charlotte , Florida
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 9
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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Old 05-07-2023, 04:38 PM   #2
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2007 22' International CCD
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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.
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Old 05-07-2023, 06:40 PM   #3
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1981 25' Excella II
Palo Alto , California
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 86
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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Old 05-07-2023, 07:45 PM   #4
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2019 27' Tommy Bahama
London , Ontario
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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
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Old 05-08-2023, 09:02 AM   #5
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2022 27' Globetrotter
Bethlehem , Pennsylvania
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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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Old 05-08-2023, 10:17 AM   #6
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2023 27' International
Waynesville , Missouri
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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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Old 05-08-2023, 10:52 AM   #7
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2021 30' Flying Cloud
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Lady Lake , Florida
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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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Old 05-08-2023, 01:26 PM   #8
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2021 30' Flying Cloud
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Lady Lake , Florida
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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 View Post
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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Old 05-08-2023, 07:14 PM   #9
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1959 24' Tradewind
Twin Falls , Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2015
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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.
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Old 05-14-2023, 08:54 AM   #10
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2022 20' Basecamp
Phoenix , Arizona
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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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Old 05-14-2023, 11:43 AM   #11
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2014 27' FB International
Grants Pass , OR
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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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Old 05-14-2023, 02:31 PM   #12
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1966 24' Tradewind
Kansas City , Missouri
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DAVSCH View Post
Don’t make the switch!!! Treasure that tanked heater. I have found NOBODY who likes the tankless, on demand heater.

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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Old 05-14-2023, 04:49 PM   #13
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2020 25' International
Anchorage , Alaska
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DAVSCH View Post
Don’t make the switch!!! Treasure that tanked heater. I have found NOBODY who likes the tankless, on demand heater.
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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Old 05-14-2023, 07:26 PM   #14
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2018 27' International
San Antonio , Texas
Join Date: Nov 2022
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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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Old 05-14-2023, 11:43 PM   #15
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1981 25' Excella II
Palo Alto , California
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tominphx View Post
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.
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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Old 05-15-2023, 09:03 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JGF79 View Post
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.
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”
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Old 05-15-2023, 09:30 AM   #17
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1995 25' Excella
Woodbine , Georgia
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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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Old 05-15-2023, 09:47 AM   #18
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1969 18' Caravel
Greenville , whereEverIroam
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primer

See this post that summarizes the differences, pros and cons of tankless vs traditional RV water heaters.
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Old 05-16-2023, 08:52 AM   #19
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2018 27' International
San Antonio , Texas
Join Date: Nov 2022
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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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