Hi,The only thing limiting a touring RV lifestyle, sop the Mrs says, is that halfway through a shower, the water runs cold. We have a 30ft Forest City, Salem Classic and currently looking for a Travel Trailer to tour next year as we are retiring. Is the hot to cold shower a normal issue with RV's? I can understand as the water heaters are small but are there any tech opportunities to immprove upon the heat versus time factor? Many Thanks

cinker wrote:Hi,The only thing limiting a touring RV lifestyle, sop the Mrs says, is that halfway through a shower, the water runs cold. We have a 30ft Forest City, Salem Classic and currently looking for a Travel Trailer to tour next year as we are retiring. Is the hot to cold shower a normal issue with RV's? I can understand as the water heaters are small but are there any tech opportunities to immprove upon the heat versus time factor? Many Thanksyou may have a 6-gal hot water tank. on your next TT be sure there is a 10-gal option. we have a 10-gal tank and are able to take long-ish showers allowing for a 15-min recovery time between showers. we can shorten that recovery time buy running the electric and LP water heaters simultaneously.

No, that's not normal. How long of a shower does she want?My HW gets much hotter on gas than electric. That's the only 'fix' I'm aware of.

Typical shower run time is about 5 minutes. I am in and out in 2 minutes, 3 minutes max.

and replace the shower head with an Oxygenics which uses less water but still adequate. Does the term `Navy showers' stick a familiar chord?For more info search this forum for `oxygenics'.

The wife will have to learn to take "NAVY SHOWERS"!!A 10gal water heater will help as already posted and using the electric and gas at the same time will help also. One trick would be to turn the gas on a few min. before showering.

Hot Shower | Good Sam Community

burningman
Explorer II
Oct 23, 2016
I think I its silly to buy the "10 gallon water heater in a 6 gallon hat".
You can already do what it does... just turn up the temp on your water heater and mix less hot water with the cold.
I do that in my camper and at home!

How hot is your water heater set? Crank it up a bit!
ewarnerusa
Nomad
Oct 17, 2016
OP
Does the trailer have an outside shower with hot and cold taps? If so, check to make sure they are both in the off position. If left on, they provide a route for hot and cold water to mix and you won't get full hot water at any other tap in the trailer. Also check to make sure an water tank bypass valves are in the correct positions.
Gonzo42
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016
Really, IMHO, learning to take a Navy shower is not popular, but it is essential. Do the following: Run enough water to get wet, then shut it off. Soap down all over, then turn on the water to rinse. There it is.

I know that a long shower is certainly a luxury and many can't or won't do without. But as was mentioned, hot water capacity is limited. Learn to do without. Once you get to an RV park, you can take a longer shower.
azrving
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016
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Rustycamperpant
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016
There is more satisfaction to be had when your DW gets her long hot shower, much more than feeling good about saving some water. Ill take a happy DW anyday. :-)
noplace2
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016
Old-Biscuit wrote:

Another option.......learn to conserve RV water usage.

Ya think? Bravo!
Rustycamperpant
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016
I did this hope the link works. http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28468663.cfm It works well as my DW loves her long showers also. You can get an on demand heater installed in your TT, but be prepared to spend nearly $1,000 including labor. Good luck with whatever you choose.
Boon_Docker
Explorer III
Oct 16, 2016
Dave H M wrote:

BTW, it sure beats the heck out of the cold water in the old steel pot. :B

Or a cold mountain stream as I used to do when tenting.
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Oct 16, 2016
I am with rjxj, we are not in the NAVY and shower as we please. never had a problem even with the 6 gal heater.

BTW, it sure beats the heck out of the cold water in the old steel pot. :B
tenbear
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016
It is possible that your heater is not heating the water hot enough. When I take a shower, the hot and cold are on with the cold only slightly less than the hot.

I also have the Oxygenics shower head and a 6 gallon heater.

We don't take long showers, but navy showers. DW and I can both have showers with the heater off, if she doesn't wash her hair.