Camper hot water heater

Our camping season has officially begun! Or kinda.

I got to the campsite and we set up our camper. I got the water hooked up, and set it to flow into the hot water tank. That is when the river started.

I thought it was simply a joint, or connection.

It was worse. I will post some pics tomorrow when I can, as well as start documenting our summer trips, but just for right now, on the hot side input, the tank itself split from the welding across the edge of the tank and into the other thread.

This could not have been done by freezing, but needless to say, I have no hot water now in my camper.

I have bypassed the hot water tank, filled the freshwater tank, and am using the pump to supply the water as we need. But, before we begin the rest of our summer, I am needing to get this fixed.

I have priced some tonight and it is going to be around $600 for what I am needing. What I want to ask, and I know that pictures may be needed, but...

1. Where would you recommend getting this hot water tank and assembly (I need to get an electric and gas heater because I have both). I am looking to try and get a decent unit but I am trying to not spend an arm and a leg to do this.

2. Can this tank be welded? I have some friends that weld, and I can ask them, but if I can reweld this, that might help save a little money.

Thank you all for your help with these two things and I will get back on with some pics from the tank, but also some pics of the campsite and area.


Sneak preview, it is amazing here!

 

I've never heard of this happening before. Why do you not think freezing could have caused it? Have you considered a tankless?

 

Thanks, and neither have I. The reason I don't think freezing is because of:

1. I drained the tanks completely before we winterized, including the hot water heater.
2. The location of the split is not where the water line would have been, but it is at the midway mark between the in and outlets.
3. The tank is metal and if the tank split, why didn't the other water lines split?

I am trying to get a couple of pics loaded. Perhaps I am wrong, but this just is weird.

 

Did you just drain it? Or did you winterize it. Use the pink antifreeze to displace any remaining water? Use a blow out tool?

 

I used the Pink Antifreeze. This is our fourth winter with a camper, but the first time this has happened.

I had thought of a blowout, but found the antifreeze had done what I needed.

 

Finally got the pics uploaded.

 

That is a crazy place for it to split. Do you leave the anode rod / front plug out in the winter and bypass the water heater tank?

 

I don't have an anode installed as I have only used electric with this. But I do leave the front plug in after draining and bypassing. I do that to keep insects and moisture out.

ETA: Forgot to follow up, could I wield a plate or filler in this and fix it?

 

Perhaps you can source just the tank. This one says electric but has ports for the burner.

 

This sucks. Sorry OP. You can just find the current make/model and r&r yourself (choose the cheapest online vendor for purchase), use the dealership for repair, or try a mobile service provider (rvhelp.com is an Angies List for RVs).

Good luck!

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I don't wield, so I was not sure what to expect or do with this.

 

I was wondering about this, but I could not find just the tank. This is very helpful for sure. Thanks for sharing.

 

Thank you! Yes, but I am only about 1.5 hrs away from home and we are in our initial test run, so this trip did what we wanted, just not with the results wanted, LOL. We are not in our large trip yet so we have a few weeks to get this fixed.

I do appreciate the suggestion on where to go, and will look that up. Thanks.