Why no hot water?

The electric water heater element should be under that big black cover with the 3 screws in it on the bottom left. Turn the electricity completely off, remove the black cover, remove the two wires, and test the element with an ohm meter. You can look up how to test an electric water heater element on the internet. To change it, with the electric still off, drain the water heater, get the proper size socket, unscrew the old one, screw in a new one, replace the wires and cover, and you’ll be good to go. There are videos for this online.

Do not ever turn on the electric heater element until that water heater tank is full of water. Check it to be sure. If you do turn it on when there is no water in the tank, you can go out and buy another new one and replace it again.

One more thing, the electric water heater element will only work when you are plugged in to 120v electric.

Does this image of my water control panel help?

I have it set for city water. It’s NOT on winterization, which I think would bypass the electric water heater.

 So I’m guessing my electric water heater is not bypassed.

Hi StirCrazy,

i have been coordinating with my dealership sales person, trouble shooting. I am in full hookups, have electricity, my lp tanks are full. 12 gallon water heater tank is full.

Lp water heating works fine.

Electric water heating: no heat, yet.

i need to check for bypass setting electric water heater.

 Thank you For that exterior cover pic.

i will try to locate interior access to elec water heater.  I tell you: I bought this 5th wheel new in a hot climate where it doesn’t get cold in winter. They never mentioned bypass when I bought it, and I can’t think why anyone would winterize it.  Yet, maybe it left the factory bypassed. Glitches happen. 

will check.

Isn't that almost exactly what I said?

Im a 2026 Forest River Flagstaff Classic, 5th wheel. I tow well, and I’m usually fine when camping with hookups, but there is never any hot water.

Youtube videos I find are general and don’t help. I don’t know where my hot water tank is, if I have one. I don’t know how to fill or bypass.

I don’t know if my inline water heater is on lp or electric. I see no switches to select. In my appliance panel box, I can touch for heated water, it turns blue, then red…but nothing happens. I turn it back off. 

i was told nothing about this when i bought. (I wasn’t even told how to close the front door. It wouldn’t close and lock from the inside. It was impinged by the exterior steps frame at the bottom of the door jam. Examining it, I found extenders on the end of the steps holding the steps too high, so the part at the bottom of door jam raised a bit. Then the bottom of the door banged on it.  I adjusted the step extenders and now the door closes easily, properly. 

things like that I never got at the dealership.

so, now I’m trying to figure out how to get hot water, just want it for the shower.

i get from too-general YouTube videos that there is an inline water heater and likely a hot water heater tank. I don’t know if this camper has ever been winterized. I think not, as I bought it in a hot climate, and they didn’t mention it. Of course they didn’t mention the system as a whole, either.

i don’t find a switch. I’ve scoured the bottom of the camper and I think I know what all the pull valves do. I have none left that could apply to a hot water tank.  So maybe the switches for the hot water tank are inside? I find switches or panels for breaker box, appliances, solar panel, thermostat. that’s all.

i’m just thoroughly flummoxed. I feel like Samantha Stevens without magic, or her lovable yet dippy aunt. I feel like super woman or super dog without a yellow sun…

I’ve texted my sales agent at the dealership, haven’t heard back yet. Will text again.

i called Camping World, but the first thing they asked was. Did you buy it here? I answered no, elsewhere. They said they have a 2-month waiting list, and they’d need me to bring the camper in. They refused to talk with me, if I come in to talk with some knowledgeable service guy, as all they service people are working. I think talk would inspire me.

For general inside heating, I can buy a little $20 electric heater. It’ll do fine. 

is just a warm shower that I need, especially as we approach winter.

I’m not actually stupid, though I may get an award for it here. I’ve accomplished a lot in life. But the water heater thing is confounding for me. Perhaps I need a dimensional shift, a genie, a sorcerer’s stone, or a simple brain transplant.

Hi all,

i am not familiar with winterizing or bypassing.  That is reasonable. Though i bought this thing new in a hot climate, I’ve learned they neglected to tell me a few things, and that could be one of them.

I’m a little fed up with trying to figure things out on my own. I think I’ll go to a camping RV store and ask them to show me some things.

 Everyone’s advice has been helpful.