Is it possible to use the hot water heater while dry camping? Will it work off the battery? We own a 2002 17 ft RK Hi Lo. We are trying to learn as much as we can about dry camping. Thanks

If your hot water heater is the one that came with the camper when it was manufactured, it should run on propane. That will work very well while you are boondock camping. I think the electrical heat function is 120V AC only. If it DOES heat on 12V DC power, that would drain your battery quickly.

I NEVER use the electrical heat function in my hot water heater, even when camping where there's electrical hookups. I simply use the propane function.

- Jack

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Hi-Lo 1707T - Tire Minder TPMS on Tow Vehicle and Trailer, 300W Solar Battery Charger, Equal-i-zer WDH, Progressive Dynamics Converter, Fan-Tastic Fan, LiFePO4 battery 12V DC Electrical System, SoftStartRV mounted on A/C
2024 F150 Platinum FX4 3.5L PowerBoost SCrew

To have hot water while boon docking (no hook ups) you'll have to use propane to heat the water. Then your battery to run the pump to transfer the water through the pipes. When I boon docked for a week I'd normally run the battery down some. To boost it back up I'd hook the 7 pin plug in to my truck and run the truck for a while. Just a tip that worked for me.

As Jack said, your water is 120VAC. Therefore, it will work while dry camping if it is dual propane/AC.

If you can find your AC breakers, there is probably one marked "HTR" or similar.

Good luck!

Our water tank could be ran on gas or electric; you would use gas when dry camping.

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Elaine and Bill Stevenson
Former HiLo-Classic 310S
2011 Toyota Sequoia

Thanks. I was pretty sure the hot water heater would run off the gas, just wasnt sure.