What did you do to your camper today?

[wicked1]

Originally Posted by desiphil

Made some real progress today. I believe I'm nearing the half way point in the remodel.

Is that your Cardinal you did that too? Looks nice but what did it look like before? I have been thinking of getting a new 2017 F450 and trading in my 2016 F350 SRW only for towing stability but thought of the cost and all that $ I put down on my 2016 F350 just kills me to lose that [emoji848]

[TimVWulp]

Originally Posted by RandK-M

I put mine back in just hand tight to keep any bugs or whatever out. I just do hand tight because in the spring I take it back out and use a water heater flush wand on a hose to rinse it out in preparation for the season.

Ray

I put my plug in hand tight on my old TT and ran into a problem that the pipe thread of the water heater rusted. I could not turn the plug all the way into it as far as I could when it was new. I still could turn it in far enough with a lot of Teflon tape to make it not leak. After this happened I always teflon taped it and tighten it up all the way.

Hope This Helps Tim

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Feldhege

So quick question, after removing it to drain the tank, should I leave it out or put it back in.

Back in. The anode will protect the threads and exposed iron at the outlets from rusting.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by ornelas6pack

So I just changed mine after owning mine for only a year since I removed it to flush the tank. Now I'm getting a leak inside after it is turned on and relief valve also leaks. Any ideas?

Open and close the valve several times (and twist it) till it clears the crud that is keeping the pressure valve from sealing.

Is the leak "inside" from coming from the anode? (if it leaks there, a bad water tank to wall seal (silicoln sealant) can allow the drain water to enter the camper.

[desiphil]

Originally Posted by wicked1

Is that your Cardinal you did that too? Looks nice but what did it look like before? I have been thinking of getting a new 2017 F450 and trading in my 2016 F350 SRW only for towing stability but thought of the cost and all that $ I put down on my 2016 F350 just kills me to lose that [emoji848]

Yeah, that's the Cardinal. One of the original pics below.



I would have preferred the 450 for the front axle and the 19.5s but as my daily driver, I figured the 3.55 gearing on the 350 would be more cost effective over time. Plus, there were only 2 450's in the Houston area at the time and both were loaded out with MSRPs in the >$80k area.

[desiphil]

Got the fridge installed.

[Feldhege]

Wow that is really looking like one nice rig. Good job on the changes!

[Iwannacamp]

Originally Posted by desiphil

Made some real progress today. I believe I'm nearing the half way point in the remodel.

Excellent job Sir. Good color choices. I wished for lighter interior color, but that isn't a normally available choice when selecting and RV for some reason.

[wicked1]

Originally Posted by desiphil

Yeah, that's the Cardinal. One of the original pics below.







I would have preferred the 450 for the front axle and the 19.5s but as my daily driver, I figured the 3.55 gearing on the 350 would be more cost effective over time. Plus, there were only 2 450's in the Houston area at the time and both were loaded out with MSRPs in the >$80k area.

Wow painting the cabinets makes it look so much brighter and new, I don’t know what the RV MFG’s think when they select these new interior decors, personally they are all ugly but you have only to choose very dark or very light, frustrating. Nice work changing it up inside, looks so new [emoji847]

[pbandrb]

Originally Posted by Feldhege

So quick question, after removing it to drain the tank, should I leave it out or put it back in.

I am in SW NC and I leave mine out, not sure why but I do. I guess we all have a routine.

[RobertDS]

Originally Posted by pbandrb

Thanks for helping a newbie out

X2

[babock]

Originally Posted by Feldhege

So quick question, after removing it to drain the tank, should I leave it out or put it back in.

Always put it back in..there is no benefit at all to leaving it out.

[A32Deuce]

Put it back in, then you don't have to remember if you did/didn't and helps to prevent more rusting of the threads in the heater itself. One less water mess,if you forgot to put back in.

[itat]

Originally Posted by babock

Always put it back in..there is no benefit at all to leaving it out.

I always put it back in and tighten it, ready for use. However, there could be a benefit in that the tank doesn't completely drain and leaving the anode out may allow for evaporation of the remaining water in the tank but you'd have to have a way of preventing bugs from getting into the tank. Putting the rod back in guarantees that bugs won't be able to get in.

[Maman325]

Originally Posted by MagnoliaTom

Looks great!!

Ditto that!

[babock]

Originally Posted by itat

However, there could be a benefit in that the tank doesn't completely drain and leaving the anode out may allow for evaporation of the remaining water in the tank

Not sure why every drop of water needs to be out of the tank.

Having the risk of something crawl into the tank seems to be the clincher for putting it back in.

[RandK-M]

Originally Posted by babock

Not sure why every drop of water needs to be out of the tank.

Having the risk of something crawl into the tank seems to be the clincher for putting it back in.

Exactly! The danger of water freezing is only because it expands when it does and can burst whatever container it is in like a pipe, tank, etc. A little left in the bottom of a water heater won't hurt a thing since there's plenty of room for it to expand.

Ray

[MilCop4523]

I ensure that the antifreeze is pumped a bit into the Hot water tank and out the drain before replacing the rod inside fully.
an ounce of prevention...

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by MilCop4523

I ensure that the antifreeze is pumped a bit into the Hot water tank and out the drain before replacing the rod inside fully.
an ounce of prevention...

Then you have to do a lot of flushing to get it all out in the spring.


Hot antifreeze.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by babock

Always put it back in..there is no benefit at all to leaving it out.

X whatever... the cons of leaving it out (bugs, rusting threads, possibly forgetting come spring, etc, etc.) far outweigh the few seconds it takes to reinstall while you have all the necessary tools right there from removing it.