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Old 04-19-2014, 10:40 AM   #1
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Want more hot water.

I have a wonderful wife who enjoys our Rockwood UL except for the 6 gallon water heater. She is a girly girl when it comes to her showers and try as she has, usually runs out of hot water just before she is done.

With this in mind and knowing she is using the proper way to take a shower in an RV, but has a lot of hair to shampoo, condition, and rinse. I have come to the conclusion that replacing the 6 gallon water heater (Suburban?) with a 10 or 12 gallon would do the trick.

Has anyone ever replaced their water heater with a same model, just larger, and was this a good solution?

My plan is to go to the dealer and have them replace the 6 gallon with a 10 gallon on my TT hoping this will be an easy modification.

Thanks for any input.
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Old 04-19-2014, 10:43 AM   #2
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Might consider changing the thermostats (110v & propane) with 140 D ones which will require less hot water.
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Old 04-19-2014, 10:45 AM   #3
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Do you use the gas and electric heating at the same time to recover faster ?


she must still take a serious shower ?

When we had a 6 gallon wh 5 of us took showers within an hour and didn't run out of hot water.
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Old 04-19-2014, 10:48 AM   #4
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It's worth asking, my 6gal and the 12gal (I think it's 12, might be 10) is the same size outside, it looks like it's longer is all.

Also, check the temperature cut off. If you have range to turn it up some that would mean less hot water for a given temperature. I've got two long haired women that camp with me and that's what I did on my old TT. Not the best idea with little kids around though.
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Old 04-19-2014, 10:49 AM   #5
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f1100turbo, Yes, did it that way for 5 days straight and she still "just ran out". I suspect that the 4 extra gallons would do the trick.
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Old 04-19-2014, 10:52 AM   #6
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It's worth asking, my 6gal and the 12gal (I think it's 12, might be 10) is the same size outside, it looks like it's longer is all.

Also, check the temperature cut off. If you have range to turn it up some that would mean less hot water for a given temperature. I've got two long haired women that camp with me and that's what I did on my old TT. Not the best idea with little kids around though.
I don't think the thermostats are adjustable.
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Old 04-19-2014, 10:52 AM   #7
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Quote:
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It's worth asking, my 6gal and the 12gal (I think it's 12, might be 10) is the same size outside, it looks like it's longer is all.

Also, check the temperature cut off. If you have range to turn it up some that would mean less hot water for a given temperature. I've got two long haired women that camp with me and that's what I did on my old TT. Not the best idea with little kids around though.
The water seems very hot to me and her but do not know about the temperature cut-off, where is it?
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Old 04-19-2014, 10:58 AM   #8
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Do you use the gas and electric heating at the same time to recover faster ?


she must still take a serious shower ?

When we had a 6 gallon wh 5 of us took showers within an hour and didn't run out of hot water.
She probably does take a longer shower than most but she does the wet down, turn off, soap up, shampoo, rinse, turn off, condition hair, rinse. I have also updated the shower head to one of those oxy type jobs.
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Old 04-19-2014, 11:02 AM   #9
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I don't think the thermostats are adjustable.
I thought they were? Hmm, I had the dealer "adjust" mine but that was 12 years ago, now I wonder what they did.
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Old 04-19-2014, 11:08 AM   #10
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Just replaced both of mine.
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Old 04-19-2014, 11:09 AM   #11
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I thought they were? Hmm, I had the dealer "adjust" mine but that was 12 years ago, now I wonder what they did.
Probably used psychological warfare on you, say you did it and they will believe and feel the difference, especially if you charge money for the "adjustment".
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Old 04-19-2014, 11:13 AM   #12
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Since it sounds like you always have full hookups you might investigate the newest generation of the Girard Tankless water heater. Some folks hate them and some folks love them. They are designed to provide endless hot water.
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Old 04-19-2014, 11:16 AM   #13
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Want more hot water.

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I thought they were? Hmm, I had the dealer "adjust" mine but that was 12 years ago, now I wonder what they did.

Me thinks they adjusted your wallet to reduce weight
Perhaps they replaced the thermostat on your unit.

What about installing a tankless water heaters, would that help?
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Old 04-19-2014, 11:26 AM   #14
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Replacing the water heater is expensive regardless. I would go with the thermostats first. Get them on the internet for about $20 ea.
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Old 04-19-2014, 12:00 PM   #15
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Quote:
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Me thinks they adjusted your wallet to reduce weight
Perhaps they replaced the thermostat on your unit.

What about installing a tankless water heaters, would that help?
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Replacing the water heater is expensive regardless. I would go with the thermostats first. Get them on the internet for about $20 ea.
Odds are that's what they did. I took it back for some warranty work and asked if there was anything to improve the water heater situation, they said yes and "Adjusted" it under goodwill. Honestly I haven't thought about how they did it, but this was after I embarrassed them over a slide adjustment issue, they likely just wanted me to go away.

They didn't charge me and next trip out, oh yeah it was hotter. Instead of heating water for drinks in the microwave we just used hot water from the tap, it was plenty.
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Old 04-19-2014, 12:23 PM   #16
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Have you replaced the shower head? The OEM ones use lots of water & a very poor spray.
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Old 04-19-2014, 12:34 PM   #17
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I have a 10 gallon water heater and a long luxurious mane. I don't turn off the water between steps and don't run out. The only time I "navy" shower is if we're getting showers in quick succession.
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Old 04-19-2014, 12:36 PM   #18
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Have you replaced the shower head? The OEM ones use lots of water & a very poor spray.
See post #8, yes he changed it.
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Old 04-19-2014, 07:47 PM   #19
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Since it sounds like you always have full hookups you might investigate the newest generation of the Girard Tankless water heater. Some folks hate them and some folks love them. They are designed to provide endless hot water.
Not good for us, we mainly camp at fishing holes with no hook-ups most of the time.
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Old 04-19-2014, 07:50 PM   #20
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No hookups and your wife uses up all the hot water in one shower? You must fill your gray water tank mighty fast. Long hot showers and no hookups don't exactly go hand in hand.
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