Thinking of getting a Truma Gas/Electric Hot Water Heater

Lloyd,
I have had two Truma hot water systems. They are good, but cannot handle the mineralised water of western Australia. The stainless steel tanks rusted out on both occasions I went to WA.

Admittedly they were both replaced by Truma.
I have since installed a Suburban system with anode. This is very important, instead of the tank being effected the anode is eaten away by the mineralisation. This will save you heaps of money.

Rheo

IMHO nothing withstands the water in the Kimberley .
When we stayed at Coldstream the on demand hws at the kitchen was cactus, and we met a bloke from Karratha who had a 1 year old genuine Toyota radiator in his 80 series and it had sprung a leak in the tubes.
The tech who fixed the hws said it was completely choked with lime, and that is from the water supply to Karratha.
Regards Philip A

My last van had a Truma Gas Electric. It had a couple of problems, the electric element developed a fault after less than 2 years, replaced it twice in 6 years. The water tank cracked near the outlet pipe and I got it welded. A new tank would have cost $1100 or thereabouts.

I've had suburban in my first and latest van and find it excellent. As said above they do have an anode and need regular inspection/replacement. I find mine seem to go for about 18 months when travelling.

Was at a van repair place in Geraldton a few years ago who had enough stuffed Trumas to fill a 6 x 4 trailer Must say something about them.

Buy a Suburban

2nd the Suburban. I did hear someone refer to Truma Traumas.

The Truma gas/electric hot water tanks seem to frequently fail. In less than four years we were up to tank number four! For the latest replacement (replaced under warranty despite Dometic's initial resistance) we took advice and disconnected the electric element. Now it runs only on gas and, so far, is working perfectly. According to our Dometic agent, he has never had trouble with gas only but for electric you should have an anode like Suburban use. Since we took off electricity it has worked like a charm so he may have been right! Gas only causes us no significant inconvenience and the water is hot when we need it. Lynne

Truma hot water systems do not like wind blowing on the vent, it blows the flame out.

We had no end of trouble on a trip around Australia last winter. No wind, no problem

I fitted a Truma gas HWS to the OKA when I built it 10 years ago.
5 years of that time we were on the road for about 8 months every year.
It has spent more time in WA than in any other State and more time in the Kimberley than anywhere else in WA.
I never drain it and I have never connected it to mains water.

It has been absolutely faultless for all that time.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome.

I have had a gas Truma 14l for the past 3 years. I have done plenty of outback travel and so far so good.