I used to rush my campground showers. Six minutes, tops. I’d wash fast, keep one eye on the steam, and hope the hot water didn’t run out. You know what? I got tired of the stress. So I switched my camper from a 6-gallon tank to a tankless unit.
This is my take after a whole season on the road, from muddy lake days to a frosty week in the Rockies.
If you’d like a second opinion on how a tankless unit actually performs day-to-day, here’s a detailed, boots-on-the-ground review of real hot showers on the road: My RV Tankless Water Heater: Real Life, Real Hot Showers.
To compare my experience with other campers’ feedback, take a look at this comprehensive roundup of RV tankless water heater reviews over on RVing Beginner. It’s a solid resource if you’re still deciding which model to buy.
What I installed (and why)
I replaced my old Suburban tank with a Fogatti-style RV tankless water heater. Same door size, same spot. It runs on propane and needs 12V power from the house battery. I wanted longer showers and less waiting. Also, fewer “Mom, it’s cold!” screams.
Does it give endless hot water? Kinda. It can, but there are a few quirks.
Install day: messy but doable
I’m handy-ish. Not a pro tech. Here’s how it went:
- I shut off propane, water, and the battery.
- Slid the old tank out. It was heavy and a little gross.
- I sealed the opening with butyl tape and a bead of self-leveling sealant.
- Hooked up the propane line and 12V leads. Red to positive. Check twice.
- Used the trim ring to cover gaps. Foam shims helped with the fit.
It took an afternoon and two cups of coffee. I tested for leaks with soapy water. No bubbles. Good sign.
Wondering what really happens when you pull that bulky tank and drop in something new? Here’s a candid play-by-play of the entire swap: I Replaced My RV Water Tank—Here’s What Actually Happened.
First shower test: a win, with a twist
I took the first shower in our driveway. It was a little windy, about 60°F out. I set the heater to 115°F. Then I did something wrong: I mixed hot and cold at the shower handle. The flame shut off for a moment, then came back. That “cold sandwich” hit me right on the shoulders.
Lesson learned: with many RV tankless units, don’t mix at the handle. Set the heater to the temp you want (I like 110–115°F), and run only the hot side. Control flow at the head, not the temp at the handle. After that, it stayed steady.
Second shower? Perfect. Long, cozy, no rush. I even shaved without panic. Fancy.
Camp life tests: dishes, kids, mud, repeat
- After a sandy beach day, I lined up the kids. Back-to-back showers, no wait. No one yelled.
- Dishes after chili night were easy. The hot water didn’t fade. Grease broke down fast.
- I washed the dog outside with the spray port. He hated it. I loved it.
One of our favorite spots to put the endless-hot-water claim to the test was the riverside sites at Riverhouse Acres, where back-to-back showers after tubing all afternoon were bliss.
Keeping everyone clean, cozy, and not the least bit cranky on busy camp days can be a challenge—this firsthand hot-water-heater story breaks down how to make it happen: What Kept Us Clean, Cozy, and Not Cranky.
One hiccup: if I opened the faucet just a tiny bit, the heater didn’t kick on. It needs a minimum flow to fire. I kept the flow moderate and it worked fine.
Cold weather week: still warm, with prep
We camped near Estes Park in late October. Nights dropped below freezing. Our tankless unit still made hot water. But I did a few things:
- I kept the propane full.
- I ran the bathroom vent fan low, so steam didn’t condense everywhere.
- I insulated the water lines near the outer wall.
- I let the water run a few seconds first. It warmed fast, but not instant.
No freeze-ups. No split hoses. My fingers did get numb while hooking up, but that’s on me.
Power and propane: what it really used
The heater sips 12V power for the fan and controller. We boondocked for four days with 200W of solar and a pair of 100Ah batteries. No problem. Propane use felt about the same as running the furnace a bit more at night. Long showers do use propane. That’s normal.
Quick note: if your battery is low, the fan may not run right. Then the flame may cut out. I keep an eye on voltage.
Noise and neighbors
The unit makes a soft whoosh when it lights. My kids didn’t notice. My neighbor in a teardrop didn’t care. Inside the rig, it’s like a small bathroom fan. Not annoying. Just there.
Altitude and wind: the honest part
High alt camps can be tricky. At 8,000 feet, the heater needed a little more flow to stay stable. On one gusty day, the flame hiccuped when the wind hit the service door. I cracked the window on the other side of the RV to balance airflow, and it settled down. Not fancy, but it worked.
What I wish I knew up front
- Don’t mix hot and cold at the handle. Set the heater to your shower temp and leave the faucet on Hot.
- Use a showerhead with a pause switch that doesn’t drop flow too low. Those tiny trickle heads may cause the flame to stop.
- Expect a quick burst of cool when someone opens a tap in the kitchen. It returns in a few seconds.
- In winter, keep lines warm and use the unit’s freeze protection if your model has it. Mine has a small heater inside when plugged in.
- Carry spare fuses. Ask me how I know.
The good stuff
- Long showers. Like, actual long showers.
- No more tank wait times.
- Dishes go faster with steady hot water.
- Lighter weight than the old tank unit.
- Simple control panel. Set the temp. Done.
The trade-offs
- Needs a minimum water flow. A tiny trickle won’t fire it.
- A short “cold sandwich” can happen if you mix or someone opens another tap.
- Install takes sealing and patience.
- Uses propane while running, of course.
- At high altitude or heavy wind, it may need a little more care.
A quick real-world day
Morning in Moab. Red dust everywhere. I set the heater to 112°F. I took a 10-minute shower, then my partner took one right after. No pause. I washed the breakfast pan. Still hot. The dog drooled. That last part is unrelated, but true.
Later, we broke camp, and I remembered how fast the system clears. No big tank to drain. I liked that.
Who should get one
- Families who take turns and don’t want to schedule showers around a 6-gallon tank.
- Folks who cook a lot and wash a lot. Chili night crew, I see you.
- Boondockers who can manage battery and propane. It sips power but still needs juice.
While we’re on the topic of keeping everyone—especially the resident dish-scrubber—happy during life on the road, some traveling couples like to add a bit of adult-only social time once the rig is parked. If that sounds intriguing, check out this online hub for adventurous wives who are interested in meeting other like-minded locals near the campground; the site offers location-based forums and casual meetups that can spice up your itinerary almost as much as an endless hot shower.
Likewise, if your winter escape route has you cruising Florida’s Atlantic coastline, you’ll find that the surf town of Jupiter offers more than just sunrise beach walks; the USA Sex Guide Jupiter provides candid local intel on the best clubs, bars, and discreet spots so you can plan an adults-only evening with confidence and skip the guesswork.
If you camp in deep winter, consider a model with recirculation or a small mixing loop. It helps with that cold sandwich. Truma’s higher-end units handle mixing better, but they cost more. I stuck with my unit and learned a few tricks.
Final call
I’m keeping my RV tankless water heater. It gave me comfort and time back. It’s not magic, and it took a week to learn its quirks. But now it’s set-and-forget most days.
Would I swap back to a tank? No way. Not after I got used to actual hot showers that don’t clock out early.
If you want another camper’s perspective before pulling the trigger, don’t miss this detailed [best RV tank