Ok, let’s take a look at the best RV tankless water heaters.
Having a decent source of running hot water in your RV is a must have for most campers.
A tankless water heater is way more efficient, and will give you as much on demand hot water as you need.
Here’s my rundown of the best options available.
Quick Links
Best Portable
Top 4 RV Tankless Water Heaters
- Girard 2GWHAM Tankless Water Heater – Best Overall
- Fogatti RV Tankless Water Heater – #2 Choice
- Camplux Tankless Water Heater – Best Portable
- Gasland Outdoor Portable Tankless Water Heater – #2 Portable
I’ve used a couple of abbreviations for the capacity and output of the water heaters on this page.
Here’s a brief explanation for reference.
GPM – (Gallons Per Minute) Water flow rate produced by the water heater.
BTU – (British Thermal Units) Used to measure heating power and efficiency.
Girard 2GWHAM Tankless Water Heater
⭐️Best Overall
The Girard 2GWHAM is my number one choice as an RV tankless water heater.
It’s highly rated by many many RV owners, and is also a great choice for full timers.
With this water heater there is endless hot water, so no more timed showers to worry about – take as long as you like. (If you have the water)
The unit will fit any standard water heater opening, and measures 12.5” x 12.5”.
There’s no recovery time, so no waiting between showers or dishwashing.
The unit has adjustable temperature control, with the user being able to set the exact temperature. The unit has a 48,000 BTU rating.
There’s a bit of a learning curve with the temperature adjustment, outside temperatures can affect precise control of the water temperature.
There’s a digital panel for controlling everything, and you can see any error codes should something happen.
The Girard 2GWHAM is known for being efficient, and is very good on propane.
2 x 30lb propane tanks will last roughly 2-3 months, even with daily showers.
Pros
Efficient
Quiet
Adjustable Temp Control
Cons
Sensitive In Hot Weather
Overall Rating
Performance / Efficiency
Build Quality
Features / Functions
Reviews
Value For Money
Fogatti RV Tankless Water Heater
⭐️#2 Choice
The Fogatti RV tankless water heater is another great choice as a replacement for the traditional RV water heater.
Fogatti states that their unit is a compatible replacement with Furrion, Atwood, Suburban and Girard water heaters, I’ve been told by a few RVers that the Fogatti will fit a fair few others too. (Check your opening before purchase.)
The water heater is supplied with a standard 15” x 15” door, but if you have a larger tank capacity (10 – 12 gallon) you’ll need to buy an 18” x 18” door.
The unit has a 48,000 BTU rating and puts out around 2.5 GPM hot water flow.
A cool feature of the Fogatti water heater is the “high altitude mode”. Higher altitudes can affect burner combustion, so Fogatti have added this mode to aid in a stable burner flame. Safer and more efficient.
It has automatic gas shut off in case you have a flame failure, and anti freeze protection for use in cold weather.
Customer support is very good, with help available for installation and operation.
Pros
High Altitude Mode
Remote Controller
Auto Shut Off
Cons
Slight Delay In Hot Water
Overall Rating
Performance / Efficiency
Build Quality
Features / Functions
Reviews
Value For Money
How To Install A Tankless Water Heater In Your RV
Both the Girard and the Fogatti tankless RV water heater are very similar in design.
Swapping out your existing water heater is pretty much the same with either unit.
Here’s a great install video covering some lesser known points that will definitely help make your install go without a hitch.
Camplux Portable Tankless Water Heater
⭐️Best Portable
The Camplux AY132 is my top choice portable RV water heater.
It’s a compact unit measuring 14”H x 11”W x 4”D, and weighs approximately 10 pounds.
It has a handle on the top which doubles as a carry and hanging handle.
It’s super easy to set up, just connect the water hose to your nearest water outlet, then the propane hose to your bottle. Hit the electronic ignition button to ignite the burner and you’re good to go. Turn on the outlet water and then the unit’s shower hose, and you have hot water.
For the Camplux to perform at its best you will need a minimum water pressure of 3.0 PSI. This is pretty low, so even with the usual sub par pressure you often get at campgrounds you’ll still have a good source of hot water.
This water heater will put out 1.32 GPM, which is pretty good for a portable unit, and will heat the water up to around 140°F (60°C).
The unit is susceptible to very cold temperatures, so if you’re using it in a cold environment, or storing it away for a while, be sure to empty all the water out and store somewhere above freezing.
Overall, an excellent portable water heater for the average camping trip.
Pros
Highly Portable
Propane Efficient
Low Pressure Operation
Cons
Burner Wind Sensitivity
Overall Rating
Performance / Efficiency
Build Quality
Features / Functions
Reviews
Value For Money
Gasland Outdoor Portable Tankless Water Heater
⭐️#2 Portable
The Gasland BE158L is another good choice as a portable RV water heater.
It’s roughly the same size as the Camplux and weighs just a little over 15 lbs.
Like the Camplux, this unit will also operate on really low water pressure – about 3.6 PSI.
The Gasland will put out a water flow rate of about 1.6 GPM, and will heat the water to about 109 °F (43 °C).
It has electronic push button ignition (needs a couple of D cell batteries) and also has a nice bright LED display, giving you the current water temperature.
When storing the water heater (and especially in cold climates) always make sure to drain it properly in a warm and dry place. Prolonged exposure to cold temps and moisture will definitely affect the seals.
It’s a great choice as a portable water heater, and only comes second to the Camplux because the max water temp is lower.
Pros
Easy Setup
Instant Hot Water
Low Pressure Operation
Cons
Needs A Better Showerhead
Overall Rating
Performance / Efficiency
Build Quality
Features / Functions
Reviews
Value For Money
Tankless RV water heaters are a really good upgrade to the traditional RV water heater.
With access to a decent water outlet, you can have as much instant hot water as you like.
If you have a smaller RV, or just camping, a portable water heater is also a fantastic option for instant hot water.
Please check out my other equipment reviews.
See how I rate products in my reviews here.
