Run Gas AND Electric?

We've been using both on occasion in every rv we've ever owned. If we have company with us it makes shower water temps recover that much quicker. The owner's manual in our previous Class A rv even recommended to do so during high use times.

When in a FHU campground we start with Electric and add gas if both of us are showering in short sequence. Combined with the Oxygenics shower head, I've yet to run out of hot water when showering second (and taking my time).

When dry camping the last two trips, I reversed the sequence. Gas to get the tank hot, then electric (via generator) is added as showers start. Really no problem here as we have a small gray tank and were doing Navy showers.

My last TT was a gas only model but my current unit has the option for both the service associate said it was ok to run both so we do and have not had any issues. I guess it is just a matter of preference.

I will use both during showers for a faster recovery but only when not using the AC.
I will blow the breaker if I run AC and the electric heater at the same time.
And being that we live in Texas that means the only time I do this is spring and fall.

When I plug in shore power, I turn on the electric. Before getting in the shower, I start the gas. With low flow heads, I can get ~15 minutes of warm water before it starts getting cold. The wife and DD kill it off in 7-8 minutes.

My electric is always on. I'll hit the gas when DW starts her shower. She's first. When she is out I'll turn off the electric so she can blow dry her hair while DS showers. By the time he's out she is finished blow drying. I'll turn the electric back on before I start mine. Guess who gets to take a cold shower :(

What a nice response to my very first question posted on this board. Thank you everyone, I plan on using both

Rustycamperpants wrote:
After several years of Pop up camping we have purchaced our first TT. I have been told and I have read in several places that it is Ok to run the water heater on both gas and electric at the same time for quicker recovery and longer showers.

I asked the service manager where we bought the camper and he says do not run both at the same time. Which is correct? What are the pros and cons?

Thanks

We generally leave it on electric overnight and during the day when at the CG and flip to GAS in the evening when the four of us all need a shower. The GAS is certainly a quicker recover time. Until you asked this question, I had assumed we should only run one or the other but I guess both could be run to shorten recovery even more.

Great question.

we turn both on when we get to a campground and need hot water right away, then turn the gas off and use just the electric to keep it hot.

Rustycamperpants wrote:
After several years of Pop up camping we have purchaced our first TT. I have been told and I have read in several places that it is Ok to run the water heater on both gas and electric at the same time for quicker recovery and longer showers.

I asked the service manager where we bought the camper and he says do not run both at the same time. Which is correct? What are the pros and cons?

Thanks

may depend on the water heater. Our suburban lists recovery rates for gas, electric and gas+electric. And no mention of not using both. Since they list recovery rate for gas+electric I'm assuming it is ok to run it that way. And that's what we do when hooked to shore power and turn on the heater in the morning. Then switch to electric.