Caravan Hot Water Systems - Suburban vs Truma

There are a wide range of hot water systems available to the RV industry, all with their own strengths.

All the Caravan Hot Water System we sell are watermark certified to meet requirements of the recent changes to the laws imposed on RV manufacturers / repairers in Victoria. We choose to sell only brands with a proven history and have a put together a detailed look at each unit with their individual strengths, and an easy to digest chart at the end of the article to compare key features of our range.

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Suburban Hot Water Heater

Suburban offer a complete range of hot water systems to cover almost any situation. From single source Gas or 240v to combined Gas/ Electric units, as well as tank sizes 15, 17 and 22 litres you will find there is something for everyone.

Considered a favourite in the Australian RV industry these robust units all contain a porcelain lined, high tensile steel tank. The tanks are pressure tested twice to ensure every unit lives up to the high standard their reputation has earned. The high density foam insulation around the tank not only provides a high recovery rate, but means you will use less fuel to maintain a maximum temperature.

Imported to Australia by "Coast to Coast RV" these units a covered by a nation wide network of service agents to assist with any rare warranty issues. On top of this a complete range of spare parts and service accessories is also available.

Suburban Key Safety Features

Every unit is equiped with a high temperature limit cut-off device, if the water temperature goes above 82 degrees the manual reset button will trip and shut down the main burner and/or electric element. You will not be able to reactivate the unit until temperature falls below 37.

All models have a pressure relief valve which is designed to open if the pressure reaches 850kPa. These units operate in a closed system, this means during the heating cycle the pressure will build up, once it reaches 850kPa the pressure relief value opens and water will drip from valve. This will continue until the pressure fall below 850kPa. This will happen during normal operating conditions, and it does not indicate a fault. The pressure relief valve should be operated regularly (at least every 6 month) to remove lime deposits and ensure it is not blocked.

For a full look at Suburban maintenance see our guide:

Suburban Water Heater Range

Suburban Nautilus Instant Hot Water System

Building on the success of their storage tank systems, Suburban have now released an On Demand system for instant, endless hot water.

The Nautilus features an exclusive 60,000 BTU 2 stage modulating combustion system which instantly adjusts the gas input for consistent water temperatures while ensuring maximum energy efficiency.

Output temperature is factory set at 50 degrees but can changed from 35 to 50 degrees celsius with the push of a button using the optional digital control centre. The Nautilus can provide a temperature rise of 38 degrees celsius at 5.7L/min flow rate. See the below chart for a handy guide on the output temps when using different flow rates / ambient water temperatures:

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Camec Instant Hot Water System

The Camec hot water system provides endless instant hot water. It has been developed as an affordable alternative to the expensive instant hot water heaters available to the RV Market. It has been designed with easy installation as a key point, these units will fit existing cutouts of most common heaters such as Suburban, Truma or Atwood.

Not only does the tankless system mean zero recovery time, but it has huge energy efficiency benefits due to only heating the water as required. The water temperature can be adjusted between 35 & 60 degree with the touch of a button on the digital control panel. This style water heater is designed to have the water set to your preferred temperature, meaning you no longer need to fiddle with the cold water tap or worry about small children scalding themselves.

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Truma Aqua Go

The Truma Aqua Go is a premium hot water heater, designed in Germany. This instant gas hot water system has been designed to allow easy installation by fitting the common cutout size of suburban water heaters.

Unlike conventional water storage heaters which are required to heat water over 60 then pass though a tempering valve to reduce to under 50 (for safety reasons), the Aqua Go will deliver continuous hot water of up to 49 degrees. You simply set your desired temperature using the electronic control panel. For example a shower is generally between 39-42 with 43 being a very steamy shower. This means once you have decided your ideal temperature you will never have to mess around with the cold water tap.

The added feature of the Aqua Go which separates it from other instant hot water system is Truma's 1.3l water stabiliser which eliminates temperature fluctuation. With the addition of this small holding chamber, the Aqua Go overcomes temperature spikes caused by burner cycling or changing water pressure.

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Truma Ultra Rapid

The Truma Ultra Rapid supersedes Truma's original B14 water heater, and is ideal for caravans with space restrictions . This unit has the same compact design as its predecessor with a stronger heating element for quicker recovery times. Designed for hassle free installation, it includes push-in John Guest fitting and standard 240v plug.

The core strengths of the Ultra Rapid are its size and minimal gas consumption. Even with its compact size this unit is able to provide hot water for multiple showers due to its instant ignition and continual reheating.

It is available in 2 models, Gas only or Gas/Electric, with the combined heating rate of 45 degree in approx 28min. While it does not have an anode to replace it will require descaling which is recommended twice a year depending on use.

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Caravan Hot Water System Comparison Chart

We have put together a simple chart to easily compare some of the key features across our range.

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Caravan Water Heater Spare Parts

We hold stock of a good range of spare parts for all the units we sell, and are able to special order any items which are imported to Australia.