WyoTraveler
Northwest, Wyoming
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Joined: 11/22/2011
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I think Jayco's quality has been slowly declining in recent years. Wire in the walls of my 2012 Jayco connecting furnace, A/C and thermostat were very poorly wired. Twisted wires with no wire nuts, bare wires with no insulation. If I up grade I am certainly going to check out other brands.
2013 Monaco Monarch motorhome
2012 Jeep Wrangler toad
AC6CV/7 ex-W8RUR since 1954
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JJBIRISH
Butler, PA, USA
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Joined: 10/06/2002
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How common is it for hot water heaters to catch on fire?
Not common but all appliances can catch fire…
Is it common to store the heaters only inches from where kids sleep?
Don’t know but with the confined space and floor plans people want it happens a lot… it is not good design but fitting everything into 27 foot with 2 sleeping areas means everyone is to close to these appliances…
I am rather pissed that the breaker took so long to trip.
In a thread not so long ago I voiced concern about the possibility of the RV industry using cheap Chinese made breaker not tripping correctly… many have posted being able to run their AC along with other appliances that total more than the 30 amp and don’t have problems with their breakers tripping… while that concerns me other were not interested in discussing it at all… I know to many are able to use to many appliances at the same time if their claims are correct…
Do you think Jayco owes me more than an apology for what I see as a crappy and seemingly dangersous design?
As mentioned earlier check to see if there were any recalls or recalls that were not preformed…
What they owe and what you get may never align, they may say poor maintenance on your part was the cause if there was a loose wire…
I only turn my water heater on 10 minuets before I need hot water and off when I am done using it… that way I am always there and awake when it on…
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet
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Tireman9
Akron, OH
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Joined: 08/16/2002
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deereone wrote:We had a Atwood gas/electric water heater in 2001 that caught fire on the back side. Our heater stopped working on electric, but didn't trip the breaker. I could smell a faint burnt smell. Removed the water heater and found on the back side there was a switch to turn the heat element on and off, there also was a switch inside to do the same. The switch on the back had melted and was charred. In my case there was nothing close to the switch to catch fire. But the switch was just a glob of melted plastic. My dealer that ordered a new switch said he didn't think the switch was rated to handle the amps the heater element drew. I have heard of a couple more that had the same problem.
Check the new switch your RV dealer got from the mfg. I believe it should have a Volt & Amp rating marked on it. That will answer the question of who is responsible for the part failure.
Here is an example of the "Quality" electrics I discovered in my Coachmen.
bare wire ends with no insulation. Also note the electric tape used to connect the water pump wiring.
You can learn more if you visit my tire blog RVTireSafety
In my opinion as a QS9000 and ISO/TS 16949 Quality auditor the word "Quality" does not appear to be in the RV industry dictionary.
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NJRVer
NJ
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Joined: 05/16/2011
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Makes you wonder. RV's are actually "living quarters" even if it's temporary most of the time.
They should have all their wiring done to meet the National Code and inspected just as a house or permanent mobile home is.
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JiminDenver
Denver, Co
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Joined: 09/09/2011
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There was a thread a while back discussing when people run their HWHs and the fact that they are under the bunks came up. One person posted that their kid was sweating bullets until they shut theirs off at night and I brought up the fact that there was only a piece of ply wood between the HWH and your kid if a fire did break out and no smoke alarm to warn you if it did. The response of course was that they don't catch on fire. 
I have since installed a smoke alarm in that compartment even though we don't use the bunk to sleep on.
2011 GulfStream Amerilite 25BH
2007/2003 Ford Expedition
Nights camped in 2011 21
Nights camped in 2012 16
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REWahoo
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 09/07/2007
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JJBIRISH wrote:
I only turn my water heater on 10 minuets before I need hot water and off when I am done using it… that way I am always there and awake when it on…
+1
No need to run it when it isn't needed and having it off further reduces the already very small chance of having a problem.
2011 Silverado 2500HD LTZ Duramax 4x4
2007 Jayco Eagle 291RLTS
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E&J push'n wind
San Diego CA, The best climate on earth!
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Joined: 12/21/2009
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Glad no one was injured, quick reaction on your part and you didn't pannic kept everything under control.
All due respect to your DW but I think she is reacting emotionally. I understand the proximity of the water heater to the kids and not wanting to put them in danger. Again, no one was hurt and now that you are aware of the problem you can do the same as JJ if you are concerned. Reality as has been stated, any appliance can catch on fire. Usually when these things start burning, if you don't catch it very early on as you did. All bets are off, they burn very fast.
I don't know if it is a design change or just the model perhaps but all appliances are away from berthing areas in my Jayco. Heater is under refer, WH is under a wardrobe closet and everything is in the proximity of the kitchen. Bunks in the back and "master bedroom" in the front.
Lastly, this is a good reminder to make sure your fire extinguisher/s are in working order.
Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know much, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
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Gdetrailer
PA
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Joined: 01/05/2007
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Read my comments in the other thread that the OP created called DOES THIS TT EXIST?
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eric james
Sioux Falls, SD
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Joined: 07/21/2004
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gschindel wrote:Thanks - we had been set up for almost a week so no air. It was the electrical connection at the back that started.
I know my wife will never sleep in or allow my kids to sleep in it again but I am curious about how a new hot water tank would be safer?
It would be the same water heater that you will get in a new trailer. Installed correctly is key. You could spend $500 for a new heater or $20,000 (new trailer included)
Both my bunkhouses had the water heater under the bunkbed. I always turn off the heater at night or away from the camper.
Only had a fire incident once with the 2002 trail cruiser. Gas flame up because of cob webs. Safety switch killed the gas.
I just use electric now days.
2009 Keystone Passport UL 290BH
2003 Ford Expedition EB 5.4L/3.73
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Ray55
Missouri
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Joined: 10/23/2011
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Glad no one was hurt. I carry two fire extinguishers in the trailer and one in the truck.
I have not had a fire on a TT but have had to uses them on 2x buses, 3 x trucks, 1x jeep, 1 x car, 1x cargo trailers,1 x van and a plane. Only one of these vehicles was mine the rest I was just in the area. If you have an extinguisher and can use it right away you can save the vehicle if not it is usally a total lose. I responded to at least 5 car fires as a volunteer firefighter and none were salvegable. A fire Extinguisher could have saved everyone of them.
If you do not have an extinguisher in every vehicle please get one!
US Army Retired X 2 (Both wife and I)
2012 North Trail TT 30QOK
2005 Dodge deisel 2500 HD, shortbed, 6 speed manual, Equalizer Hitch, Warn Winch, highlift jack, Honda Gen Set, Winona Canoe
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