Atwood Water Heater Aluminum Tube? 2016 Via 25T

[JTR]

My Atwood water heater has a "U" shaped aluminum tube attached to the back the is not connected to anything. What is it's purpose?
It is currently uninsulated and is serving as a radiator. I would like to insulate it to increase the water heater's efficiency and stop heating the bed above it.

2016 Via 25T

Thanks

[wahoonc]

It is for "motoraid". It is to heat the water while driving down the road. I have only seen it on the Class A motorhomes.

Aaron

[Morich]

We really liked it on one RV we had as it let us drive for the day, pull in and have hot water ready to use or for times when we want to pull over to eat and have hot water to swab a couple dishes.
They are pretty scarce now as almost out of stock.

What it involved was long radiator hoses from the engine to carry hot water to the connection you find and that passed the heat into the water inside the heater. It also added coolant /cooling for the engine cooling. But keeping the long hoses repaired can be an added expense.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by wahoonc

It is for "motoraid". It is to heat the water while driving down the road. I have only seen it on the Class A motorhomes.

Aaron

This model is no longer made or sold. Take care of it by finding the engine block outlet and inlet ports and running new heater hose to/from your heater.