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04-08-2015, 08:24 AM
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#1
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 6
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Motoraid water heater in all Winnebagos?
Looking to upgrade the water heater in my non-Winnebago C to one with MotorAid.
Do all Winnebagos have Motoraid (engine coolant heat) in the water heater system? I'll snag one if I can find one at salvage, otherwise they're about $600 new.
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04-08-2015, 09:30 AM
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#2
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
Posts: 71
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We have the Motoraid system. Works great. We just remember to turn on the electric heater when hooking up and the hot water costs us nothing in propane and hot showers are available immediately. It also increases cooling capacity for the engine. Not sure how that works. Would an after market install require replacing or adding onto the engine cooling system?
Sent from my iPad using iRV2 - RV Forum
__________________
Bev& Keith
Kyriana(14)Aidan(11), Emily and Olivia (2) Grandchildren
2014 Winnebago Adventurer 38Q
2013 Honda CRV, Roadmaster Falcon AT, Invisibrake
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04-08-2015, 09:40 AM
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#3
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 6
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I would likely tap or tee the coolant lines that come back to the heater core.
I have a friend who has motoraid hot water in his Revcon and he loves it.
It would definitely increase cooling capacity for the engine. Your biggest way to disperse engine heat is through the radiator. 2nd is the heater core (a small internal radiator). I would imagine the MotorAid could pull as much heat as the heater core, but not as much once the tank gets hot. Still, it would be a big heat sink that could help keep the temps from pegging.
I would probably add an under-bed rear auxiliary heater at the same time.
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04-08-2015, 09:40 AM
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#4
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Motor City, Mich
Posts: 1,000
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You could add the Motoraid "heater" for less than $50.
I've posted it before, but here's what it really is (I think I even posted it at Pirate when someone was looking for a heat exchanger to do the same thing):
A short piece of tubing and a trip to a welder would get you the same thing.
Winnebago also installs some rear heaters in the kickpanel area of the kitchen cabinets. Let me see if I can find a drawing.....
I haven't found a kickpanel type installation yet, but did find a basement one (in a Class C). It's on page six:
2010 31C heating
(In the mid 2000's and up Class A models, the heater is also in the basement, but integrated in the gas furnace ducting. Gas heater at the back, heat exchanger, with another fan, up front.)
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Tim.
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04-08-2015, 10:01 AM
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#5
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 6
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Seems like a lot of piping to get back to that WH without much surface area touching the tank.
My understanding was that the motor aid had a coil of pipe wrapped completely around the barrel of the WH tank, under the insulation??
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04-08-2015, 10:20 AM
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#6
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Motor City, Mich
Posts: 1,000
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That's a picture of my father-in-law's 2008 Navion. He doesn't have Motoraid, but the water heater is set up for it.
It's the same as my '04 Adventurer, I've looked at it (replacing check valve) just don't have a picture.
It works quite well. I was surprised when I learned how small of an area it heats up, but given that coolant is around 190°, any better setup and the water could get TOO hot?
__________________
Tim.
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04-08-2015, 10:34 AM
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#7
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Palisade CO
Posts: 895
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In the past Motoraid system was offered as an option - don't know about recent years. Many Winnebago's have it but not all.
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Clay WA5NMR - Ex Snowbird - 1 year, Ex Full timer for 11 years - 2004 Winnebago Sightseer 35N Workhorse chassis. Honda Accord toad.
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04-08-2015, 10:52 AM
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#8
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Motor City, Mich
Posts: 1,000
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I found one. Almost. Under a dinette seat (page 5):
2010 29B Heating
The toekick one I was thinking of is just like this one, just in the bottom of a kitchen cabinet instead of a dinette seat.
My point is, you wouldn't have to steal space under the bed, if you didn't want to. You could stick a heater core, a fan, and some ductwork about anywhere. Winnebago has used a few different places.
__________________
Tim.
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04-08-2015, 11:04 AM
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#9
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tderonne
That's a picture of my father-in-law's 2008 Navion. He doesn't have Motoraid, but the water heater is set up for it.
It's the same as my '04 Adventurer, I've looked at it (replacing check valve) just don't have a picture.
It works quite well. I was surprised when I learned how small of an area it heats up, but given that coolant is around 190°, any better setup and the water could get TOO hot?
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Awesome. VERY good to know. Thanks for the data point.
This will be a lot easier than I expected. As you said in your first post, I could simply add a thin strip to the existing tank. I have friends who can TIG it for me.
Thanks, too, for the cutaway view of that motoraid rear aux heater. I hadn't thought of mounting it in a dinette...which would be very easy.
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04-08-2015, 07:16 PM
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#10
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 2,039
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The Winnebago Motoraid water heater tank has piping welded to the back side of the tank that curves around somewhat like the refrigerator coolant piping looks like. Somewhere on irv2.com is a picture of such a tank with the insulation removed.
__________________
2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA 1SG, retired;PPA,Good Sam Life member,FMCA. "We the people are the rightful masters of both the Congress and the Courts - not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution." Abraham Lincoln
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