I searched the forums and really couldn't find anything to help with my questions (So much great stuff on here) We recently found ourselves living in our 5th Wheel for an extended amount of time. Home, construction, land, legal.....Anyway, I was wondering if some of you have ever added any type of additional HW storage? Seems like you cold place an insulated tank inline with the HW and increase capacity? With us and 2 kids, the 6-gallon tank does not last long. I don't really have the money or expertise to replace existing HW system with one of the new tankless system. Yes, we do turn it on and off and try to take quick showers and I bought the Oxygenics showerhead, which does help. Since we will be stationary for several months, I'm also not worried about the added weight. So, outside of tankless options, how have any of you increased your HW capacities? Thanks!

The easiest way to increase hot water on some rigs is to turn on both the LP and electric modes. Faster reheating makes it go further.

Maybe something like this: Expansion tank. Ideal would be a residential hot water heater but they are big, very heavy and expensive. I'm not sure that a well expansion tank would work since the diaphragm may not stand up to hot water. Have you thought where you will put this in your RV? Anything over ten gallons will be very heavy and you might have to reinforce the floor.

I agree with an above poster who said run both propane and electric. Very fast recovery time. It sounds like you are already taking navy type showers. You could possibly modify the plumbing to use a house type water heater leaving it outside the trailer.

The only way I see adding another tank inline is if that tank was another water heater or a solar water tank sitting in the direct sun plumbed into the cold water side of your current wh.

Even an insulated tank would cool down fairly quickly when water was not flowing. You would need to build some type recirculating system to keep the reserve tank hot.

Store Hot Water | Good Sam Community

jkwilson
Explorer II
Jan 09, 2019
The easiest way to increase hot water on some rigs is to turn on both the LP and electric modes. Faster reheating makes it go further.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Jan 09, 2019
Maybe something like this: Expansion tank. Ideal would be a residential hot water heater but they are big, very heavy and expensive. I'm not sure that a well expansion tank would work since the diaphragm may not stand up to hot water.

Have you thought where you will put this in your RV? Anything over ten gallons will be very heavy and you might have to reinforce the floor.
colliehauler
Explorer III
Jan 09, 2019
I agree with an above poster who said run both propane and electric. Very fast recovery time. It sounds like you are already taking navy type showers. You could possibly modify the plumbing to use a house type water heater leaving it outside the trailer.
wildtoad
Explorer II
Jan 09, 2019
The only way I see adding another tank inline is if that tank was another water heater or a solar water tank sitting in the direct sun plumbed into the cold water side of your current wh.
BB_TX
Nomad
Jan 09, 2019
Even an insulated tank would cool down fairly quickly when water was not flowing. You would need to build some type recirculating system to keep the reserve tank hot.
Super_Dave
Explorer
Jan 09, 2019
When I turn my water heater off, the water is still scalding hot hours later. A dual wall, insulated tank would get a family through dinner dishes and a few showers. OP, does you family practice military showers to conserve hot water?
midnightsadie
Explorer II
Jan 09, 2019
not real hard to sit a 40gal outside the unit and plum in. call a mobil tech and talk to them price should be affordable.
greende
Explorer II
Jan 09, 2019
Put in a point of use tank. They come in anything from 2 to 10 gallon and sold at HD & Lowes. Small enough to fit under a sink. Most can be used as a booster so can be plumbed into the hot water line out of the existing water heater. Don't know if you have a 50 amp 5er or not. If you do, it is easy to do. If only 30 amp service, you may want to run a separate 20 amp line to the pedestal.
tchil
Explorer
Jan 09, 2019
When we lived in our toyhauler in Colorado during the winter I discovered that the temperature of water coming into the water heater had a huge effect on how long the hot water would last for showers.
I installed an on demand propane water heater inline on the input side of the water heater. This used 2 D batteries for ignition and connected to a regular ground mounted bbq style propane tank. It would take our 40 degree water and raise the temp into the 70's. This allowed us to take pretty normal showers.
You could also look for a small electric unit like they use under the counter or cabinets in many commercial applications and put it in the basement or even under the trailer you would just have to figure out how to get electricity to it.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Jan 09, 2019
Not sure why you are turning it on and off, just leave it on. With both gas and electric turned on the only problem is family members not being conservative and not allowing a bit of time between showers.

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