View Poll Results: Which brand of replacement hot water tank would you go with and why?
|
Atwood
|
|
3 |
15.79% |
Suburban
|
|
16 |
84.21% |
Other, specify in the thread, please.
|
|
0 |
0% |
|
05-10-2009, 10:08 PM
|
#1
|
CampeRooo
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 454
|
New hot water tank - Atwood or Suburban
Very soon, I will be making a decision for my replacement hot water tank for the Roo and I wanted to ask if there is one better then the other and why. I think that i'll stick with the 6 gallon tank, but I'm still deciding on the electric/LP combo or go with LP only for now and add on an electric aftermarket element later on (which can void a warranty).
I read that the Atwood tanks are made of aluminum clad which eliminates the need for an aluminum anode rod and I can pick one up in the range of $300-$600, depending on the heating option. XT model's are slightly higher. It runs at 8800 btu/hour and has a 11.6 gallon recovery rate, +6.2 if i add the electric along with the gas option. The entire unit comes with a 2 year warranty.
The Suburban has porcelain-lined steel tanks and foam insulation on the outside of the tank (i thought they both had insulation, but i'm not sure). It runs at 12000 btu/hour and has a 10.2 gallon recovery rate, +6 if i get the electric along with the gas option. The tank has a 3 year warranty and the other parts have a 2 year warranty.
So there's pro's and con's of either one and they both do the same job. Does it just come down to the amout of money a person would want to spend?
Thank you for your input
__________________
Where we've been:
2000 Rockwood Roo M-18 Hybrid
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Auto 5.9 Diesel
Gone but not forgotten -1986 Rockwood 1003 PUP
|
|
|
05-11-2009, 06:45 AM
|
#2
|
Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
|
I'd replace mine with a suburban because it's what I have and it works well for us. I really have no experience with the Atwood but would assume it would work equally as well. I'd definnitely go with the Gas/Electric/DSI unit.
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
|
|
|
05-11-2009, 07:31 AM
|
#3
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bama Rambler
I'd replace mine with a suburban because it's what I have and it works well for us. I really have no experience with the Atwood but would assume it would work equally as well. I'd definnitely go with the Gas/Electric/DSI unit.
|
Ditto.
__________________
Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
|
|
|
05-12-2009, 06:30 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Jacksonville Florida
Posts: 1,264
|
I like the Suburban because it keeps the water hot for a long time, and it has a large capacity that seems to recover very quick. Also easy to maintain. Randy
__________________
/SIGPIC]'08 V-lite Flagstaff 30WRLS
'06 Ram 1500 QC hemi Reese dual cam sway control,
K&N series 77 intake, Hellwig helper spgs. LT tires,
Flowmaster "true duals", 380 h.p., Bilstein shocks
|
|
|
05-12-2009, 06:36 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: homebase Quitman Texas at Lake Fork
Posts: 1,399
|
i have had both, and both worked quite well
the suburban comes with an easy to replace anode rod,
but the new atwoods make tons of hot water pretty quick
in the magic bus we have an atwood xt and it does recover pretty quick, but when running on LP its LOUD compared to the suburban.
__________________
Living in the Piney Woods of Texas.
|
|
|
05-12-2009, 09:13 PM
|
#6
|
CampeRooo
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 454
|
Excellent, just what I was looking for!
Thank you for all the input. Choices are good, but convincing evidence is better...
__________________
Where we've been:
2000 Rockwood Roo M-18 Hybrid
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Auto 5.9 Diesel
Gone but not forgotten -1986 Rockwood 1003 PUP
|
|
|
05-13-2009, 11:51 AM
|
#7
|
CLASS "A" Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Upperco, Maryland
Posts: 3,136
|
We've had both in 6 gallon and 10 gallon size tanks. Never had one problem with either. I'd stick with the Suburban since it would be a direct replacement and installation would be simple.
__________________
2007 Georgetown 370TS
aka - RAYNMKR
Driver: Charlie
Navigator: Sheri
|
|
|
05-15-2009, 03:42 PM
|
#8
|
Cyber Phrenologist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Southern Crescent
Posts: 1,806
|
The trailer came with a Suburban. Because I'm seeking the path of least resistance, I'll replace it with the same in hopes to not have to re-engineer the entire water works to get the thing installed!
__________________
KU4OJ
2008 (or is it 2009?) Rockwood 8280SS - 2022 F-250 7.3L
Lot's of mostly Kenwood radios
|
|
|
05-15-2009, 03:48 PM
|
#9
|
CampeRooo
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 454
|
OH....
Some very good points here...
I'm heading into the dealer this afternoon to pickup my spare tire cover and to talk about some options on the replacement water heater. We'll see what they come up with. I'm going to take the model number with me to see if they have the exact replacement, but an upgrade to electric or dual i hear is the way to go. It all comes down to price at this point.
Suburban it is.
Thank you all for the input and ideas to think about. I would rather not have to customize the cover on the outside when i know it fits perfectly as is. 13 more minutes til i can log off of work related stuff and get the wheels rollin.
__________________
Where we've been:
2000 Rockwood Roo M-18 Hybrid
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Auto 5.9 Diesel
Gone but not forgotten -1986 Rockwood 1003 PUP
|
|
|
05-31-2009, 12:22 PM
|
#10
|
CampeRooo
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 454
|
Just an update: I took the Roo in this weekend and had them check out the hot water heater to see why the pilot won't light. Come to find out, I have a bad valve and they also wanted to replace the pilot setup. A better option was to replace it and we discussed some options (upgrading would be roughly around the same price as fixing this one) and come to find out, the shop guy had one in storage that is 6 months old and a DSI model for the same price as a pilot lit one. So we talked about it and agreed upon a price and he'll back up the heater and the work if I chose to replace mine. Bottom line, I took the deal and should have a newer heater in the Roo by next week with a switch to turn it on and off...no more pilot lights. Wooohooo!
__________________
Where we've been:
2000 Rockwood Roo M-18 Hybrid
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Auto 5.9 Diesel
Gone but not forgotten -1986 Rockwood 1003 PUP
|
|
|
06-04-2009, 08:11 PM
|
#11
|
CampeRooo
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 454
|
Ok...i guess i wasn't listening when i talked to him the first time.
This one has both electric and gas heating options, 5 gallon, and has been completely installed now. I cant wait to give it a try! I'm glad i stopped in there when i did, i got exactly what i wanted, installed, for the price of a new pilot-type tank WOOOOHOOO!!!!
And now to get the walls in the shower put up....
The walls in there now are the same tape and texture that's in the hallway, so i bought some "rebath" material and will be installing my own bath walls this weekend.
Thanks everyone....it's all coming together great and I appreciate the inputs on the poll.
Joe
__________________
Where we've been:
2000 Rockwood Roo M-18 Hybrid
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Auto 5.9 Diesel
Gone but not forgotten -1986 Rockwood 1003 PUP
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|