Review on Diamond Group HR6 Universal Hott Rod - 6 Gallon Tank Capacity by Chris Peck

My daughter and I installed this a few weeks ago. Installation was very easy and took less than 30 minutes. We used it on a hike for 5 days and it never ran out of hot water. My only regret is that I didn't buy it 3 years ago. It's so nice not to worry about running out of propane. Propane can get expensive, and most campgrounds have hook-ups, so you don't have to pay extra for hot water. We had trouble turning off the water heater when the water got too hot, the pilot light went out, it was difficult to start even with the electric starter, and we heard this big "boom" that could wake the dead every time, when it failed (I know we're not the only ones because I've heard other camping water heaters make the same noise). The instructions were very detailed and easy to understand. I used a socket wrench (1 1/16) to remove the anode rod, flush the tank and put in the heating element with the correct adapter. I then drilled a hole in the exact spot indicated in the instructions to pass the heating cable through, attached the thermostat from inside the RV to the tank, attached the power cord and heating cable as directed, and routed it under the cabinet to plug in. I didn't turn it on until I filled the tank with water and checked for leaks. To use this kit, water must be connected and flowing to your camper and the tank must be full. If you plug it in with no water in the tank, the heating element will burn out, void your warranty, and may cause a fire. Just make sure you're hooked up to water and electricity before plugging it in or flipping the switch if you have one installed. Like I said, it only took about 30 minutes, but half of that time was spent drilling the hole because I didn't have the right size drill bit. If you follow the instructions and the color-coded connectors, you should be hooking them up in no time. The company that makes them is very helpful if you have a question. I think I got her phone number from the website. I don't have an anode rod or drain plug so my question was if it's possible not to have an anode rod. The guy I spoke to mistook the anode rod for the heating element and told me I could connect them together instead of using an adapter. Needless to say, I ordered a new anode stick and waited another day for it to arrive, only to find that I suspected it was impossible to use both. I saw it in the questions, so I'll tell this story. Hope this helps someone. When I spoke to him a second time and finally got him to understand what I was talking about, we both felt stupid, he for depicting a heating element instead of an anode rod and I for guessing it myself the second time I did it noticed was not. Maybe. If you have both an anode rod and a drain plug, you can leave the anode rod and use where the drain plug is, otherwise it will replace your anode rod. My boyfriend and I laughed when we finally figured it all out and he was really cute. If you're tired of buying propane or don't have hot water, buy this. You will not be disappointed.