TurnThePage
North ID
Senior Member
Joined: 10/08/2003
View Profile
 Offline
|
I've been couch surfing various new RVs. Grand Design has switched some units to tankless instant hot water heaters. It appears that they are required to be winterized and NOT used in sub 39F conditions. That's crazy!!
I would consider that a show stopper and would likely purchase a different brand. Is anybody familiar with this stuff? Can you retrofit a good old 6 gallon water heater in? Maybe switch to a different tankless brand?
I'm just trying to learn as I near that next big purchase.
2015 Ram 1500
2004 Pioneer 18T6
|
pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 12/18/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
That would be useless to me.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.
|
dedmiston
Coast to Coast
Moderator
Joined: 01/26/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Who knew that 39° is "too cold"?
I agree that swapping out a conventional tank heater with LP would be the way to go. Do the tankless ones have a vent panel to the outside that would fit a traditional heater?
You didn't say whether you wanted to use electric or LP for the tank heater. Ours has both, but the electric never gets as hot for us as the LP.
2014 RAM 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually long bed. AISIN trans & 4.10 rear. B&W RVK3600 hitch • 2015 Crossroads Elevation Homestead Toy Hauler ("The Taj Mahauler") • Hooligan #3
Toys:
- 18 Can Am Maverick x3
- 05 Yamaha WR450
- 07 Honda CRF250X
- 05 Honda CRF230
- 06 Honda CRF230
|
TurnThePage
North ID
Senior Member
Joined: 10/08/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
I'm pretty easy. LP or electric. I would prefer one that does both. Looking on line, I wasn't very sure of the panel size. I guess if there's room inside, it might be easy enough to enlarge it.
|
Lwiddis
Near Bishop, California
Senior Member
Joined: 08/12/2016
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Sub 39F? Wow, lots of camping in and around 39F.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AMP Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad
|
|
|
ScottG
Bothell Wa.
Senior Member
Joined: 02/25/2005
View Profile
|
My buddy bought a big GD trailer at the end of last season so hasn't been able to camp in it yet. It has the Furion tankless WH so next season will be interesting.
The trailer itself has less than stellar build quality and engineering. It has two leaks (so far), large holes in the bottom corners of the three slides (in or out) and common things missing like a porch light. Every time he shuts the door the whole side of the trailer jiggles and he's having a heck of a time getting GD to send him the missing bits and pieces he found during the PDI. Factory and dealer (Halterman RV) support is dismal. There are numerous shortcuts they took building this rig. - stuff you don't notice until you get it home.
This co. is not what it used to be and I would seriously reconsider before buying this brand.
|
wa8yxm
Davison Michigan (East of Flint)
Senior Member
Joined: 07/04/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
The problem that I see with the tankless is not 39 but 32 39 is a safety buffer.. They hold a small amount of water... and can be damaged if it freezes.
now an Atwood or Suburban tank type. if it's 10 below zero the burner keeps the water HOT, and liquid (so long as it is turned on) and contrary to the myth hot water does not freeze at all (it has to get cold first) (The myth is it freezes faster.. NO IT DOES NOT) so so long as the water heater is operating it can not freeze. but the Tankless.. Can so you need to keep them above freezing.
There are ways to do this .
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times
|
wanderingaimlessly
Buggs Island lake
Senior Member
Joined: 08/23/2017
View Profile
Offline
|
Tankless water heaters by design have a limited amount of time to warm water. the heating unit only hold a quart or so of water, so water passing through it is only in the heating coils for about 20 seconds for a faucet discharging less than a gallon a minute. Usually they warm the water about 50 degrees by design at their designed flow rate.
If the incoming water is 70 degrees, then it heats to 120 which is fine, but if the incoming water is 40, then the warmed water only has time to reach 90, which is lukewarm at best.
|
rhagfo
Portland, OR
Senior Member
Joined: 07/06/2012
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
wanderingaimlessly wrote:Tankless water heaters by design have a limited amount of time to warm water. the heating unit only hold a quart or so of water, so water passing through it is only in the heating coils for about 20 seconds for a faucet discharging less than a gallon a minute. Usually they warm the water about 50 degrees by design at their designed flow rate.
If the incoming water is 70 degrees, then it heats to 120 which is fine, but if the incoming water is 40, then the warmed water only has time to reach 90, which is lukewarm at best.
I agree that this is the limiting factor at 39 degrees. When we are in cold weather 40 degrees to high teens, even with heated water hose the cold water at the faucet is COLD!
We full time, we cook with gas, including using the oven, and broiler, and heat hot water with gas, we also have the electric element on, which helps maintain the water hot. We heat with electricity (RV Comfort Systems "Cheap Heat")and refer is using electricity. We use about one 30# tank of propane a month.
We have a 10 gallon, and we can take showers one after another and both normally have plenty of hot water.
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#
"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"
|
IB853347201
Eastern Ontario
Senior Member
Joined: 06/18/2018
View Profile
Offline
|
ScottG wrote:My buddy bought a big GD trailer at the end of last season so hasn't been able to camp in it yet. It has the Furion tankless WH so next season will be interesting.
The trailer itself has less than stellar build quality and engineering. It has two leaks (so far), large holes in the bottom corners of the three slides (in or out) and common things missing like a porch light. Every time he shuts the door the whole side of the trailer jiggles and he's having a heck of a time getting GD to send him the missing bits and pieces he found during the PDI. Factory and dealer (Halterman RV) support is dismal. There are numerous shortcuts they took building this rig. - stuff you don't notice until you get it home.
This co. is not what it used to be and I would seriously reconsider before buying this brand. Hmm, your Buddy's experience is perplexing and contrary to ours. We spent 4 months camping in a 2021 GD Imagine 30 and it was one of the best built TT's we have ever had. Odd....
2010 Suncruiser
|
|
|
