I'm buying a pacific coachworks northland 24IKS that me and my wife will be living in, and I'm wondering if anyone can tell me if the hot water tank is difficult to access. Once we get it, I want to install one of those hybrid water heater kits, but in order to do so I will need to access the side of the tank in order to place the thermostat. I need to be able to cut a good rectangle out of the insulation to install it, does anyone know if that would be too difficult? Like if it's easier to remove some panels or to remove the water heater?

Are you buying NEW?If so......why not have WH swapped out to a combo gas/electric WH????IF new adding a aftermarket heat rod will VOID your 2 yr. WH warranty!Looks like Pacific Coachworks uses Suburban Brand WH. That means it needs an anode rod.Aftermarket heat rods can be purchased with an anode rod...except it is very small----only a few inches long VS OEM that is 9-9 1/2" long.And you will need to remove heat rod every time you want to drain/flush WH and inspect that little anode rod for replacement.AC Wiring for heat rod will need to come from inside thru WH Pan to outside compartment. Will need an AC outlet to plug into also.Plus the installation of t-stat for temp control.That requires a decent access to backside of WH from inside RV.That I do not know.Look at location of WH from outside....then check that area inside as to access

Never seen a water heater that might be hidden. Gas/electric water heaters always have an access door outside that you take off and see the gas valve, pressure relief valve and drain valve. What you need to find out is brand and model number.

Old-Biscuit wrote:Are you buying NEW?If so......why not have WH swapped out to a combo gas/electric WH????IF new adding a aftermarket heat rod will VOID your 2 yr. WH warranty!Looks like Pacific Coachworks uses Suburban Brand WH. That means it needs an anode rod.Aftermarket heat rods can be purchased with an anode rod...except it is very small----only a few inches long VS OEM that is 9-9 1/2" long.And you will need to remove heat rod every time you want to drain/flush WH and inspect that little anode rod for replacement.AC Wiring for heat rod will need to come from inside thru WH Pan to outside compartment. Will need an AC outlet to plug into also.Plus the installation of t-stat for temp control.That requires a decent access to backside of WH from inside RV.That I do not know.Look at location of WH from outside....then check that area inside as to accessThose water heater/electric combos are great, but I'm not interested in shelling out the hundreds of dollars for that. The heating rods have great reviews, and it does exactly what I'm looking for without a $350+ price tag plus either the $300 install cost or the loss of a warranty because I installed it myself anyway.

Yes it can be done, but I would up-grade to a gas/electric unit if buying new.

coolbreeze01 wrote:Yes it can be done, but I would up-grade to a gas/electric unit if buying new.So pacific coachworks tanks are typically accessible without removal?

Pacific Coachworks Water Heater | Good Sam Community

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Dec 29, 2015
donn0128 wrote:
Why do you need access To the back? Hot rod is installed in the drain hole.

So that OP can get to the tank wall and install the t-stat that comes with the Hott Rod Kit.......cut a section of styrofoam insulation away to expose tank. Can't do that from outside compartment.

Plus need to run AC wiring from outside to inside.

Access to backside of WH makes the install doable
donn0128
Explorer II
Dec 28, 2015
Why do you need access To the back? Hot rod is installed in the drain hole.
coolbreeze01
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
wiiman3893 wrote:
coolbreeze01 wrote:
Yes it can be done, but I would up-grade to a gas/electric unit if buying new.

So pacific coachworks tanks are typically accessible without removal?

If you mean the back side, mine isn't. I bought a Hott Rod for my tank, but haven't installed it. Does fine on propane, but I wish I had a gas/electric unit.

Checked PPL and today, Suburban 6 Gal RV water heaters are $324.89 for gas/electric vs $264.08 for gas only. Only $60.81 difference.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Dec 28, 2015
wiiman3893 wrote:
So here's the exact question I'm looking for an answer to, is the hot water tank difficult to access? I'm hoping someone who owns a pacific coachworks or has worked on them can answer. I need to get to the tank directly, just for the thermostat.

Like I posted earlier........

Find outside location then look inside directly opposite and see about access to backside of WH.

Obviously if you are going to purchase this RV then you have access to it and can LOOK for yourself.
wiiman3893
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
So here's the exact question I'm looking for an answer to, is the hot water tank difficult to access? I'm hoping someone who owns a pacific coachworks or has worked on them can answer. I need to get to the tank directly, just for the thermostat.
wiiman3893
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
beemerphile1 wrote:

Are you aware that installing a "hybrid water heater kit" will probably void your warranty?

In answer to your question, the WH will be very easy to access on the outside under the WH cover. Inside might not be easy but shouldn't matter with what you want to install.

Look for a cover something like this;

Yes, I am aware. I have broken it up like this.

The kit costs around $80.

To have a gas/electric installed costs around $600 at least.

If I void the warranty on a water heater and I need to replace it within 2 years, I'd go with a gas/electric, so how about I try the $80 one first?

I also find that no one has seemed to had a problem after installing. I can't find bad reviews, if everyone was saying "install it, and your heater dies" then it'd be a different story but I can't find that. Why spend $600 when I can spend $80?
beemerphile1
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
wiiman3893 wrote:

Those water heater/electric combos are great, but I'm not interested in shelling out the hundreds of dollars for that. The heating rods have great reviews, and it does exactly what I'm looking for without a $350+ price tag plus either the $300 install cost or the loss of a warranty because I installed it myself anyway.

Are you aware that installing a "hybrid water heater kit" will probably void your warranty?

In answer to your question, the WH will be very easy to access on the outside under the WH cover. Inside might not be easy but shouldn't matter with what you want to install.

Look for a cover something like this;
wiiman3893
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
coolbreeze01 wrote:
Yes it can be done, but I would up-grade to a gas/electric unit if buying new.

So pacific coachworks tanks are typically accessible without removal?
coolbreeze01
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
Yes it can be done, but I would up-grade to a gas/electric unit if buying new.
wiiman3893
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
Old-Biscuit wrote:
Are you buying NEW?

If so......why not have WH swapped out to a combo gas/electric WH????

IF new adding a aftermarket heat rod will VOID your 2 yr. WH warranty!

Looks like Pacific Coachworks uses Suburban Brand WH. That means it needs an anode rod.
Aftermarket heat rods can be purchased with an anode rod...except it is very small----only a few inches long VS OEM that is 9-9 1/2" long.

And you will need to remove heat rod every time you want to drain/flush WH and inspect that little anode rod for replacement.

AC Wiring for heat rod will need to come from inside thru WH Pan to outside compartment. Will need an AC outlet to plug into also.
Plus the installation of t-stat for temp control.
That requires a decent access to backside of WH from inside RV.

That I do not know.

Look at location of WH from outside....then check that area inside as to access

Those water heater/electric combos are great, but I'm not interested in shelling out the hundreds of dollars for that. The heating rods have great reviews, and it does exactly what I'm looking for without a $350+ price tag plus either the $300 install cost or the loss of a warranty because I installed it myself anyway.

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