Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-27-2013, 02:51 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 207
No Propane Water Heater in RB?

Yeah. We're still going back and forth about the length of van we build. One thing that caught my eye when looking over the SMB options sheet: the 6 gallon propane water heater isn't available on an RB? Doesn't this mount under the sofa/bed in a -50 floor plan?

I recall reading some older posts about a member that was denied a hot water heater in their build when combined with a grey water tank. As our van will just have grey water generated by the sink for hand washing/dishes, etc., I'm not too worried about a grey water tank. Hot water is a must though.

Yeah, yeah...if we just build an EB we can have our cake AND eat it too, but we're still undecided. I'm not totally adverse to the longer van, but I'm still leaning toward an RB if possible. As others have mentioned, it's a bit easier to maneuver, park and is just a bit less expensive.

Thanks all!

- Da Shark

__________________
Build in planning stages - SMB-West or UJOR 4x4, V-10, Pueblo Gold, lots of other stuff...
lndshark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2013, 03:26 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Ford_6L_E350's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
Re: No Propane Water Heater in RB?

Have you talked to SMB about this? Seriously, they were willing to work with me when I was designing my van. You may have to compromise something else to make it happen and only they can tell you exactly what they can and will not do.

Doesn't really matter what the forum thinks, they only do what they do.

Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
Ford_6L_E350 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2013, 03:31 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 207
Re: No Propane Water Heater in RB?

Hey Mike,

Thought I'd ask here first. I've bugged Jonathan with about 1,378 emails already and didn't want to push my luck. I figured with the experience and wisdom present here, somebody may have been down this road before.
__________________
Build in planning stages - SMB-West or UJOR 4x4, V-10, Pueblo Gold, lots of other stuff...
lndshark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2013, 04:22 PM   #4
Site Team
 
rionapo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Posts: 1,202
Garage
Re: No Propane Water Heater in RB?

We have propane H2O in an RB but it's a walk through, not a RB50. Getting ready to take it out, though. Don't use it (can heat dish water on the stove, bath water in the sun) and need the storage space.

Don
__________________
-Don-

Life and baseball both sometimes are not fair, but it is how you play the hops that counts.
—Scott Miller, NYT Sports
rionapo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2013, 05:59 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
oldbonesclimber's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Los Osos, CA
Posts: 303
Re: No Propane Water Heater in RB?

We have the propane Suburban 6 gal water heater in the RB50. It fits with a slight extention on the Drivers side at the rear. The Furnace is on the Passenger side. Works Great. We had the Shower mounted on the Rear Cabinet behind the Furnace so we can shower out back.



Paul
__________________
2007 RB50 6.0 PSD Walker Evans Streetlocks, 305X70X17 Terra Grapplers Custom Aluminess Roof Rack, ETC ETC
oldbonesclimber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2013, 11:02 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Viejo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Arcata, CA
Posts: 622
Re: No Propane Water Heater in RB?

Ditto on what rionapo said. We have propane hot water in an EB50 and I'd give it up, but it would be a hassle to pull out and we're not hurting too bad for storage room. What little hot water we need is easy to heat on the stove.
__________________
2002 E350 7.3 PSD
Quigley 4x4, EB50 floorplan
Viejo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2013, 04:39 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 207
Re: No Propane Water Heater in RB?

Quote:
Originally Posted by oldbonesclimber
We have the propane Suburban 6 gal water heater in the RB50. It fits with a slight extention on the Drivers side at the rear. The Furnace is on the Passenger side. Works Great. We had the Shower mounted on the Rear Cabinet behind the Furnace so we can shower out back.



Paul
Hi Paul,

Nice van! Glad to see that someone else knows who Walker Evans is

Do you seem to want the space in the van that the furnace and water heater take up? If we go the RB route, I see us just adapting and adding a Thule storage box on the roof for things like the BBQ, camping chairs, etc.
__________________
Build in planning stages - SMB-West or UJOR 4x4, V-10, Pueblo Gold, lots of other stuff...
lndshark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2013, 04:44 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 207
Re: No Propane Water Heater in RB?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Viejo
Ditto on what rionapo said. We have propane hot water in an EB50 and I'd give it up, but it would be a hassle to pull out and we're not hurting too bad for storage room. What little hot water we need is easy to heat on the stove.
I can see where you and Don are coming from. In my past camping days, this is exactly what we'd do. But with the very good possibility that we'd be camping en route to Saskatchewan, via BC, Alberta, etc., and in the winter, having hot water (for a shower, let's say) with one less step just seems more RV-like to us. I just think that the move up to a SMB would add that level of convenience I suppose. Just my $0.02.

Overall, we're just trying to avoid going to a Class-C sized rig and the Sportsmobile really ticks off all of the boxes: 4WD, garageable, somewhat easier to drive. I'm willing to give up some amenities but not at the expense of some comfort.

May be a non-issue if we go with an EB but I'm still leaning toward the shorter van...
__________________
Build in planning stages - SMB-West or UJOR 4x4, V-10, Pueblo Gold, lots of other stuff...
lndshark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2013, 06:18 AM   #9
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 51
Re: No Propane Water Heater in RB?

Obviously there is the Espar option if you have diesel, which we really like. Short of that you could install just a flat plate heat exchanger and small coolant pump into the coolant loop, and have hot water anytime the engine is warm. Just make sure the flow is routed through the engine block, not just through the heater core.
__________________
2006 EB 6.0 Diesel, custom gaucho,
Espar hydronic and heat, 2 Solara panels,
Trojan F&R, ARB lockers, Warn winch.
BACKRDS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2013, 07:49 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Tapatio's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: California
Posts: 1,012
Garage
Re: No Propane Water Heater in RB?

Love my Espar/flat plate. Espar also makes a gasoline variant.

http://www.espar.com/products/fuel-o...ydronic-5.html
__________________
2006 E350 6.0PSD 5R110, SMB 4X4, RB-50, ARB lockers front/rear, Aluminess galore, AMP steps.
Callsign KK6GIY
Tapatio is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Sportsmobile Registry

Dodge

lugee

Big Backpack

RMAC
Add your Sportsmobile
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:15 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.