Community Forums

tlcsr66 · 02-09-2018, 08:56 AM

I have been searching the forum and the vast internet with no answer. I have an Atwood 6gal and want to find out if an Atwood 10gal will fit in the same space with out major modification.

Is a 10 gallon tank taller? Wider? Deeper? I want to avoid having to avoid having to open the hole in the side of my RV.

Thanks for any and all info.

jelag · 02-09-2018, 09:07 AM

I have a 12 gallon in my unit... I'd suggest you go to Atwood or other brands of water heats on one of the web sites... Amazon is a good place to start... you can find the dimensional information on your unit... find the information on a 10 or 12 gallon unit.. and than decide if you can install one of the larger units in your unit....

I can't imagine you don't have the room... I know that I have at least 5" in each dimension around my current water heater.... I can only assume that your unit builder used the 6 gal heater as one of the spots to cut costs...

One last thought... make sure your current heater isn't full of scale.. I've flushed some units that have 3/4 to 1 gal of scale sitting in the bottom of the tank... thus limiting the amount of hot water you can store...

dennis45 · 02-09-2018, 09:28 AM

I'm can't say for Atwood but I do know that all Suburban heaters have the same OD dimensions and just increase in depth from 6 gal to 12. I went from 10 to 12 gal. They were identical but he depth was 2" longer on the 12 gal.

Cumminsfan · 02-09-2018, 12:21 PM

Try this.
http://www.atwoodmobile.com/images/waterheater.pdf

tlcsr66 · 02-10-2018, 03:11 AM

Thanks Cumminsfan, and everybody else that answered my question.

It would seem if I go from 6 to 10 gallon I would need to cut the hole 3 inches larger. Luckily I don't need to replace the heater now but may in the future. So I have time to study on this some more.

jelag · 02-10-2018, 04:36 AM

I'm confused here.... my hot water heater bolts to the body of the unit with a bracket.. but the hot water heater was installed through one of basement doors and will not slide in/out of the hole where the unit will access the exterior.. Do some of the hot water heaters fix through the hole in the side of the unit?

MtCamper · 02-10-2018, 06:28 AM

A couple of questions here, and the answer is "it depends". Sorry about that. As a general rule, most water heaters and furnaces can be removed, replaced and serviced through their outside access panels. Often times you do have to remove a strap or bolt or two from the inside as well as furnace ducts but there should be access to do so. You would also have to disconnect gas and electric. It's a straight forward job, but you might want to consider using a RV tech. They have done it before and make it look easy. A far as fit, it should. If your camper came with a 10 gal option it's almost a for sure fit. Again if you have a service tech do the swap, you"ll get your 6 gal back if the 10 gal doesn't fit and you won't end up owning a used 10 gal water heater.

Bamaman · 02-10-2018, 06:48 PM

My Atwood 6 gal. heater recovers so fast that I have never run out of hot water. I am conservative taking showers the Navy way.

RangeMaggotBob · 02-10-2018, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamaman

My Atwood 6 gal. heater recovers so fast that I have never run out of hot water. I am conservative taking showers the Navy way.

Same here. Was one of the few things I was disappointed in- 6gal. heater. And I take a regular hot relaxing shower. So I guess we're good...

Cumminsfan · 02-11-2018, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamaman

My Atwood 6 gal. heater recovers so fast that I have never run out of hot water. I am conservative taking showers the Navy way.

Same here. Even if I cheat a little on the Navy part, by the time I get dried off and dressed my wife has plenty of hot water.
Now if my wife goes 1st I'll have more than plenty because she take way more time after the shower than I do.

Old-Biscuit · 02-11-2018, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlcsr66

Thanks Cumminsfan, and everybody else that answered my question.

It would seem if I go from 6 to 10 gallon I would need to cut the hole 3 inches larger. Luckily I don't need to replace the heater now but may in the future. So I have time to study on this some more.

Atwood 6 & 10 are same width
10 is 3" taller (19.5 vs 16.5)
10 also needs 2" more depth (20 vs 18)

If time comes to replace.....get a 6 gal COMBO electric/gas
Electric is roughly 6 gal/hr recovery (initial fill cold)
Propane is roughly 10 gal/hr recovery (initial fill cold)
Electric/Propane both is roughly 16 gal/hr (initial fill cold)

Old-Biscuit · 02-11-2018, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennis45

I'm can't say for Atwood but I do know that all Suburban heaters have the same OD dimensions and just increase in depth from 6 gal to 12. I went from 10 to 12 gal. They were identical but he depth was 2" longer on the 12 gal.

Suburban 4 gal & 6 gal use same size opening

10/12/16 gal are same but height/width are roughly 4" larger then 4/6 gal