After 25 years the water heater - UPDATE page 5

Think the Atwood water heaters were all aluminum so no anode.
Maybe the older ones were steel.

Well at least you were not on a long trip and the thing let go...

You will like the auto ignite....

Jim

Good chance that rod was never replaced.

If you are going to the trouble of installing a new one and install an inside switch, you might as well get a propane and electric water heater so you can save on propane when you have electric hookups. Or use on both gas and electric at the same time when you need a faster recovery rate.

Must be Suburban heater with steel tank.
You should replace the anode like 5-10 years earlier, what would protect the tank from corrosion.
I have 20 years old Suburban heater who I converted to electric-only for my van conversion. I had to remove the rod for electric element and mine still had lot of material on it.
I guess your TC had much more use than average.

Label says Suburban.
Glass lined steel tank.
I would go with basic DSI Suburban replacement.

I think aluminium tanks on Atwood are superior, but for some Suburban might have nicer option of 1600W electric heating element.
Than with today's technology progress who knows what come on the market yesterday?
Are WI-FI operated W/H already on the market?

I agree about Atwoods being superior, but is it worth changing opening to fit one in?

Don't they fit the same opening?

BB_TX wrote:
Good chance that rod was never replaced.

If you are going to the trouble of installing a new one and install an inside switch, you might as well get a propane and electric water heater so you can save on propane when you have electric hookups. Or use on both gas and electric at the same time when you need a faster recovery rate.

Yep, get the 6 Gallon Surburban SW6DE (remote ignition) Propane or 110V operation. No brainer!

Opening and support framework would need to be modified.

Thanks for all the comments.

I lucked out and was only camping fr a few days. It only leaked when I had the pump on and I was able to keep a dry towel under it to keep the cabinet dry.

I will get one that I can control from inside.

I doubt the anode rode was ever replaced. That's how it was when I bought it.

Electric would just be an added expense and seldom ever used because I seldom stay in RV parks where i have access to power.

I thought bout taking the one out of my other camper but its 25 years old too so I doubt that it has much life left in it either.

I guess the search for a replacement begins.