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Best RV Water Heaters

Plumbing 4.4 avg · 6,800 reviews 8 products ranked Apr 20, 2026

RV water heaters provide hot water for showers, dishes, and cleaning while camping. Tank models (6 or 10 gallon) store hot water, while tankless models heat on demand. Most run on propane, electric, or both.

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The 8 Best RV Water Heaters

Best Overall 6-gal tank (gas+electric)

Suburban Advantage RV Tank Water Heater SW6DE - 6 gallon Porcelain Lined Steel Tank with Direct Spark Ignition (DSI) and Incoloy Electric Element (5239A)

Suburban Sw6De 6 Gallon Water Heater
4.4 (267 ratings)
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Suburban has been making RV water heaters longer than anyone. The SW6DE runs on both propane and 120V electric — use gas for fast recovery, electric when plugged in. Direct replacement for most standard RV water heaters.

Best for: Most RV owners needing a reliable replacement

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Best Tankless Tankless (gas)

Girard GSWH-2 tankless RV water heater

Girard Gswh 2 Tankless Water Heater
4.3 (198 ratings)
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Endless hot water — no waiting for a 6-gallon tank to recover. The Girard GSWH-2 is the most popular RV tankless heater. Saves weight and space compared to tank models. The tradeoff: higher upfront cost and propane-only operation.

Best for: Full-time RVers who use a lot of hot water

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Best Portable Tankless portable (gas)

Camplux 5L portable tankless water heater propane

Camplux 5L 132 Gpm Outdoor Tankless Water Heater
4.3 (5,692 ratings)
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A portable propane water heater you can use outside the RV — great for outdoor showers, dishwashing at the campsite, or as a backup. Connects to a standard propane tank and garden hose.

Best for: Outdoor showers and versatile hot water on the go

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#4 Best Gas Only 6-gal tank (gas)

Atwood G6A-8E 6 gallon RV water heater gas

Recpro Water Heater 6 Gallon Propane
4.3 (142 ratings)
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A simple, reliable propane-only water heater. Atwood (now owned by Dometic) water heaters use an aluminum tank that doesn't require an anode rod — less maintenance than Suburban's steel tanks.

Best for: RV owners who primarily use propane

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#5 Best Modern Tankless Tankless (gas+electric)

Furrion 2.4 GPM RV tankless water heater

4.2 (87 ratings)
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Furrion's tankless RV water heater with both propane and electric heating. The newer design offers better temperature control than first-gen RV tankless heaters. Wall-mounted control panel for easy temperature adjustment.

Best for: Newer RVs or full renovations

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#6 Best Budget Portable Tankless portable (gas)

Eccotemp L5 portable tankless water heater

Eccotemp L5 15 Gpm Outdoor Tankless Water Heater
4.0 (3,241 ratings)
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The cheapest portable tankless option. Uses a standard 20 lb propane tank. 1.5 GPM flow rate handles a basic shower. Popular with tent campers, van dwellers, and as an RV outdoor shower.

Best for: The cheapest way to get hot water outdoors

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#7 Best Premium Tankless Tankless (gas)

PrecisionTemp RV-550 NSP tankless water heater

Precisiontemp 550 Nsp Tankless Water Heater
4.5 (312 ratings)
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The highest-end RV tankless water heater. The RV-550 is designed specifically for RVs with a powered exhaust that works at any altitude. More expensive than Girard but considered more refined by owners who've used both.

Best for: No-compromise hot water performance

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#8 Essential Maintenance Anode rod (accessory)

Suburban 6 gallon RV water heater anode rod

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If you have a Suburban water heater with a steel tank, the anode rod is the most important maintenance item. It sacrifices itself to prevent tank corrosion. Replace it annually — $10 to protect a $500 heater.

Best for: All Suburban tank water heater owners

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