hot water heaters in TC's

Artum Snowbird wrote:
Shower and hot water tank are on the essential list.

Ditto.

I guess it kind of depends on the size of the camper you have in mind too. Some campers may not have the space to accomodate one.

I would make a horrible full timer in a truck camper, because I'd run out of water all the time. I like hot showers.

As far as how I use the water heater, I don't just turn it on and leave it run full time. I only turn it on when I need it for a shower or doing dishes. Doing dishes has been a rarity for the last few years though because all my trips have been short ones, with microwave meals and plastic forks.

I had a pop-up for 20 years with no hot water heater. I remember coming back from a six week trip to Alaska and back with the camper. Got home in the early evening and filled a pot with water and put it on the stove to make some hot water. It was the most natural thing in the world to me. Took me a moment to remember I could just turn the tap :B

I think it depends on what you are used to. If you have never had it you will probably do fine. Now, having a TC with a hot water heater, I doubt we could go back to not having one.

Wouldn't have a TC without a HW heater, inside shower and toilet.

We try to use state and national parks- many have no bathroom facilities at all.

If we are at a campground, we never use their shower facilities.

It depends on what you do while using your TC. I fish, Kayak, Mt Bike and Hike. I get fairly filthy every day. I am rarely in a campground that has anything more than a vault toilet. Hot shower navy style is a must. Wet up, shut off handle, soap up, turn water back on to rinse off. Maybe two gallons gets used. We have 30 gallons on board and a 6 gallon water heater.

Humm... depends on the kind of camper YOU are.

Does your current rig have a fresh water tank? Do you use it? What do you use it for? (some folks won't drink the water out of their water tank)

Do you use paper plates+plastic ware for eating? Eat out of sealed containers?

Do you use pots+pans for cooking? How do you clean your pots, pans, dishes and flatware?

We use our on board water supply for three main things: cleaning, toilet and drinking (we use a filtered water pitcher in the fridge, which we'll refill from the sink). Many modern TC's carry +25 gallons of water (or much more) I suppose its intended to be used for SOMETHING?

While we've sometimes not used the hot water heater and just heated water in a tea kettle on the stove, nothing beats a good pressurized hot water spray from your kitchen faucet to help wash and rinse up after a meal!

We rarely camp long enough to "get ripe" and when we'll use the campgrounds facilities before using the built in shower in the TC. On those even rarer times where we no other choice - we'll use the shower in the TC.

While I think it ranks as the #2 propane use out of the other TC appliances, we like to have hot water on tap.

- Mark0.

Shower and hot water tank are on the essential list.

don't have a TC but I grew up with one. For me, I've always liked having hot water to wash my hands. It was easy to heat a pot of water in the morning to use for washing face, brushing teeth, etc., but when you want to wash your hands, it's usually an immediate "yuck" moment and waiting for water to heat is awkward. It feels great when you have that 3 a.m. call of nature and it's cold as heck.