Leaky hot water heater 2011 Vista 36D

[Dallasrules]

I am getting ready to take my 2011 Vista 36D for our 2nd trip. On the first trip, I noticed that the hot water heater was leaking. It seems to be leaking from the bottom of the tank. None of the lines or connections are leaking, but water just shows up underneath.

It is a slow leak. Maybe a tablespoon/hour. Is this a common issue? I can't understand it except if the tank just rusted through.

Do I need to replace it with the same manufacturer? Probably Atwood or suburban. I need to check. Or does it matter. Is the replacement fairly straight forward, or are there any tips or advise?

I was going to wait until next spring if the leak doesn't get worse. Maybe one or two one week trips this fall.

[Morich]

Looking at the interactive parts catalog here:
https://catalog3d.winnebagoind.com/menu/Parts.htm

This can give us a way to look behind things without taking them out! One of the things I wanted to look over is the idea of seeing behind the heater to check the fittings there as they are far more trouble than the tank leaking.
Have you looked there and assured there are no leaks? A very slow leak like you report might be easy to miss if on the backside of something and running down to come out at a different point?
Rosie eyed thought is you might be able to get a good vies through some access they left for the bypass valve for winter?
I like to use tissue paper to wipe around the fittings as it changes appearance if it gets even a dropof water on it.
It also shows an option 53D that may/ may not be there on your RV?

New toys always come with new questions, so thought to mention this idea as much better than a full blown heater change!
My thoughts on the tank failure is that they last a long time but when they rust enough for a pin hole, it doesn't seem to take long before it is a full stream.

But you may know for sure as you can see things much better than from here!!
Best of luck and hope it fits to just tighten something!

[Dallasrules]

I did take the access panel off from inside the rv. All of the fittings there are bone dry. The water appears from under the tank about midway between front and back.

I will try the tissue paper just to make sure. Its a good idea. You can't tell anything about the tank itself with all the Styrofoam without taking it out.

I am hoping to find a reasonable price used one.

[Ray,IN]

First ID the make and model heater. The Atwood and Dometic heaters are different sizes. The larger one makes an adapter kit to install the other brand, I forget which is which.
I really doubt yours is rusted through, as Dometic heaters have a glass-lined steel tank and Atwood has anodized aluminum tanks.
The give-away is the drain opening, is it alunimum or steel? Dometic requires using an anode rod on the drain plug, Atwood uses a nylon drain plug; if you can't find the nameplate.