Thor Tuscany Motorhome's Aqua-hot,do you want that in an RV?

It also keeps the engine warm for good starts in cold weather.

We have a 2014 Tuscany with (presumably) the exact same system your Dad will be getting, and we love it. We're currently at the end of a weeklong trip in which we've used the AH to keep toasty at night, and for endless showers.

At campgrounds, we've just used the electric element at night, and it's been sufficient in relatively mild temperatures (50s at night). If it got a lot colder, we'd turn on the diesel burner. (Our AH only has one electric element, which is enough for light heating and basic hot water use, but not for showers or very cold nights.) We also have two heat pumps, which would also work for mild nights, but are much noisier.

For boondocking (or in our case, Wal-Mart stops between destinations) we run the diesel burner for heat. We seldom need to run the generator. Our house batteries and inverter are more than sufficient to handle our overnight needs, and recharge while driving. If our batteries are drawn down far enough, the AGS (automatic generator start) kicks in and takes care of the recharge. Note that this is in an all-electric coach, but as far as I can tell, the residential refrigerator is very efficient, so our overnight power needs are well-matched to our batteries and inverter. If we boondocked for multiple nights, I would run the generator long enough each day to recharge.

I can't say enough good things about Aqua-Hot, or hydronic heating systems in general. I do miss the Hurricane hydronic unit in my previous coach though, only because it had two electric heating elements and the "motor-aid"-type loop through the engine, which allowed us to heat the coach with waste heat from the engine while driving in the winter. Aqua-Hot has these features too, but not in the model I have now.

X2 on the Aqua-Hot. We have it in our 2008 Monaco Dynasty with the two element electric. It's amazing how hot the system will get just on electric.

We service ours two every two years. The last time it was serviced (last summer) was the best service we ever got on the unit. It runs SO clean that there is absolutely nothing coming out of the exhaust but hot air and a little smell. I realize now that the previous services, they didn't blow out the pipe enough. The 'recent' tech blew out the exhaust with his air compressor and a big cloud of brown dust came out....it's never been so clean.

Safe travels,
MM.

The aqua hot system is a great system provided you do the required maintenance and keep the air filter, fuel filter and nozzle clean. It is a job the owner can do, I have done my friends Monaco several times for him.

GREAT system and I'm glad my used MH came with it as 10 years ago not sure I would have paid the extra $$$ if buying a new coach. It also gets heat from the engine so enough hot water at the end of the day for free hot showers... OK paid for from diesel burned in the engine.
Proper winterizing is critical and CANNOT be done by just blowing the water lines out with air. After blowing the hot/cold lines out you have to pump RV antifreeze into the water system until you get it coming out of a hot water outlet. It would be cheaper to take it south for the winter than to pay to repair/replace the boiler if you freeze/burst the copper lines that surround the boiler. The portion of the system that heats the coach uses a special antifreezed solution so some have learned an expensive education that the domestic hot water section is not freeze protected.
Before I stored mine inside I would leave the heat on at 40 degrees on shore power with both the electric and diesel boiler turned on so I did not have to winterize any of the water systems. Rarely did it get cold enough in the GA mountains that the diesel boil had to come on to help the electric out. There is a heat section in the basement to keep the areas with water lines from freezing.
He needs to confirm if he has one or two electric elements in it. Probably has two which means on shore power the diesel boiler will rarely come on SO, a annual service/nozzle change would be absurd. Even with only one electric element I service mine about every five years which is about 100 hours for boiler use.

You are equating diesel operation with an engine. The Aqua-Hot is much much quieter. Some people think there is an objectionable odor when they run. If they are set right I don't think they have an objectionable odor. They really get a coach warm in the morning.

You typically use just AC for just hot water. The diesel is typically only needed when you need coach heat or you are dry camping and do not want to run the generator to heat the water.

Yes, he wants Aqua Hot.

think boiler

Thor gives you a great deal...Aqua hot is supposed to be great...although I don't have it my next coach will....just make sure he does a thorough PDI and goes thru all the systems...my friend leaves his on electric and only uses the diesel setting if it drops below 40 out or if more than two people are take showers one after another..He says it handles two just fine on electric...he has the 40 X which is the full wall right curb side slide...

Once he has it, he'll never buy another coach without it. Endless hot water. It will heat your coach also. Maintenance is recommended once a year. I do mine every other year. Maintenance consists of replacing the nozzle assembly, checking the fuel pressure and general clean up. The diesel burner can get dirty. Easiest way to check if it needs maintenance is by smell. If there's smoke or a strong diesel smell while it's running, it needs attention. Most units have an electric switch. While on electric, you won't get anywhere near the recovery time as you do with the diesel burner. I leave my electric on so I have hot water for dishes etc. We turn the diesel on when showering or doing the laundry.....Dennis