Gas hot water is the most common system in Australian caravans and the most practical for Big Lap travel. It works anywhere you have LPG, requires minimal electrical input (just a small current for the igniter), and heats water quickly. Whether you have a storage tank or an instantaneous unit, the operating principle is the same: LPG flame heats water directly.
How It Works
Storage gas hot water: A gas burner heats water inside an insulated tank (typically 10 to 20 litres). A thermostat controls the flame, cycling it on and off to maintain temperature. Once the tank is hot, it stays warm for several hours (depending on insulation quality and ambient temperature). Heating from cold takes 20 to 30 minutes for a 10-litre tank.
Instantaneous gas hot water: Gas ignites when you open a hot tap and heats water as it flows through a heat exchanger. No storage tank, no waiting. Flow rate is lower than a home system (typically 3 to 5 litres per minute), but you get continuous hot water until your gas runs out.
Common Systems & Upgrades
Suburban SW6DEA (Most Common Factory-Fit, $600 to $900): The workhorse of Australian caravan hot water. 20-litre storage tank with gas and electric (240V) dual fuel. Found in the majority of factory-built caravans. Reliable and well-supported for parts. Anode rods, thermostats, and igniters are readily available from caravan accessory stores.
Suburban SW4DEA (Compact Option, $500 to $700): The smaller 15-litre version of the SW6DEA. Common in smaller caravans and pop-tops where space and weight are tighter. Same dual-fuel capability.
Truma UltraRapid (Premium Upgrade, $800 to $1,200): 14-litre storage with gas and electric. Heats significantly faster than the Suburban — from cold to hot in about 15 minutes versus 25 to 30 for the Suburban. Lighter and more compact. A popular upgrade for travellers who want faster hot water recovery between showers.
Truma Combi D6 (Premium Combo, $3,000 to $4,000): An instantaneous system that provides both hot water and space heating from a single diesel-fuelled unit. The ultimate off-grid solution: no gas required for hot water, runs off the vehicle’s diesel tank, and heats the van simultaneously. Expensive to buy and install but eliminates gas dependency entirely. Popular in premium off-road caravans.
Joolca HOTTAP (Portable External, $350 to $500): A portable gas-powered instant hot water unit that connects to a standard gas bottle and provides hot water outside the van via a shower head or tap. Not a replacement for an internal system, but excellent for outdoor showers, rinsing off after the beach, or washing the dog. Popular as a secondary hot water source.
Operating Tips
Light it before you need it. Storage systems need 20 to 30 minutes to heat. Switch the hot water on when you arrive at camp, and it’ll be ready by the time you’ve set up.
Turn it off when not needed. Running the hot water system 24/7 uses gas unnecessarily. Switch it on before showers and washing up, then switch it off. A well-insulated tank holds heat for hours.
Check the anode rod. Storage gas hot water systems have a sacrificial anode rod that protects the tank from corrosion. Check and replace it annually (roughly $15 to $30 for the rod). If ignored, the tank itself corrodes and needs replacing ($400+).
Ensure proper ventilation. Gas hot water systems vent combustion gases externally through a flue. Never block the external vent. If the flame won’t stay lit or ignition is unreliable, the issue is usually a dirty burner, blocked flue, or low gas pressure.
- Gas hot water is the most versatile option for Big Lap travel. It works off-grid with minimal electrical draw.
- Storage systems need 20 to 30 minutes to heat from cold. Instantaneous systems provide hot water on demand.
- Check and replace the anode rod annually to prevent expensive tank corrosion.
- Turn the system off when not needed to conserve gas. A well-insulated tank holds heat for hours.
Comment (0)