Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Hot water heater/dry camping

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Hot water heater/dry camping

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8527
Printed Date: 25 May 2025 at 3:58am
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Topic: Hot water heater/dry camping

Posted By: mountainman
Subject: Hot water heater/dry camping
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2016 at 11:46am

I'm doing my first dry camping outing in two weeks and not putting water in the fresh tank until I get to camp. I've never used the water pump except to make sure it works.
Will running the pump fill the tank? I dont want to fry the element like I've done once already.
Mountainman

Replies:

Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2016 at 12:39pm

You cannot "fry the element" without shore power. Dry camping means using the gas side of the WH. Have you used the WH before? If so, it should be full, unless you emptied it for some reason. If you have NOT ever used the WH, and you don't KNOW the position of the bypass valves, you need to check them and make sure they are in the summer or use position. Then it's simply a matter of filling the holding tank, turning on the pump, and opening the hot water tap at the sink or shower, and once all the bubbles and gurgles quit.. it's full.

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Posted By: mountainman
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2016 at 9:51pm

That's right, you need electricity to heat the element. Thanks for waking me up. Water heater works fine except for rocker switch on tank doesnt work. Still trying to decide if I want to try and replace it myself.

Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2016 at 10:29pm

Originally posted by mountainman

That's right, you need electricity to heat the element. Thanks for waking me up. Water heater works fine except for rocker switch on tank doesnt work. Still trying to decide if I want to try and replace it myself.

If it is broken, but ON, you may not need to replace it. Most Podders just turn it on and forget it. Use the circuit breaker inside as a switch if you want to turn it off. That works great IF you remember not to turn it on until the WH is full again after you drain it.

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Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2016 at 11:13pm

If the WH isn't full I would fill that before you leave so you aren't using your fresh water tank to fill it later in camp.

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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual