Date:         Mon, 21 Feb 2011 12:11:27 -0800
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Atwood Hydroflame Furnace Install
In-Reply-To:  <936548.33862.qm@web32404.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

  I am not being a smarty here...No personal attack intended.

  Some installations require more accuracy than others.  That doesn't mean
it is harder, it just means you must measure and cut with less room for
error and that you will probably have less "trim" to cover up a sloppy
job.   By 'sloppy' I again don't mean that personally...

  Those Atwood furnaces come in many many RVs from the factory.  The
factories probably have jigs and fixtures to allow the install to be done by
semi-skilled assemblers. A user/self-installer has to do it without the jigs
or templates that the manufacturers doubtlessly use...  I would guess the
Propex is more intended to be installed Aftermarket...and so it is probably
made with bigger trim rings to allow for more leeway in the install.

   I've use the Atwoods in many campers, including a couple of rather large
canvas pop tops...they run all night without draining the battery and keep
you warm in a ski area parking lot overnight.  For appx. half the cost of a
Propex....I guess I could take a few seconds more to measure and cut to a
closer tolerance.  I have one right now in my SO's horse trailer hauler
camper....it is working flawlessly after almost 20yrs of hard service...
  Another consideration is finding repair parts for each.  Most RV supply
places stock parts for the Attwood style heaters...inexpensive parts.
  Don Hanson

On Sun, Feb 20, 2011 at 4:57 PM, David Vickery <david_vickery@yahoo.com>wrote:

> --- On Sun, 2/20/11, Troy <colorworks@GCI.NET> wrote:
>
> > David: Having installed one of these myself, I can say it's a
> > challenging job that requires exact measurements.
>
> Exact,  No one ever told me it had to be exact. :>)  It was hard because
> you either measure on the outside of the van or you try to mark it from
> inside with the heater in place and it is hard to reach & see.  I thought I
> marked it correctly but I was off 1/4".  The magic marker must have been out
> of adjustment.
>
> > If you trim the back of the Atwood at the bottom, you can get
> > within a half-inch of the cabinet face.
>
> I could not figure out how people get them that close, although I have seen
> the pics.  I did cut the lower corner of the sheet metal on the furnace but
> I was still out about 1 1/8".  That was close enough for me and I trimmed it
> with 1 1/4" door molding.  I see from other pictures, a lot of people let it
> stick out a bit more too.
>