The outside shower door hangs in front of the exhaust vent of the hot water heater. Who designed this?
ATF: Sundance - Sundance trailer - Heat Damage to Outside Shower Door
- Thread starter rvfool
- Start date
danemayer
Well-known member
Re: ATF: Sundance - Sundance trailer is a fire hazard
Hi RVFool,
Could you add a few details to fill in the blanks:
1. How long was the door hanging in front of the heater exhaust for it to get this way?
2. Looks like the plastic is partially melted, but the pictures don't seem to show burn marks. Did it catch fire?
3. Did the door fall open or was it left open? (Not trying to assign blame - just trying to get the complete picture).
4. Your profile shows a 2008 trailer and your join date is 2008. Is this something that happened for the first time after 4 or 5 years of use?
Hi RVFool,
Could you add a few details to fill in the blanks:
1. How long was the door hanging in front of the heater exhaust for it to get this way?
2. Looks like the plastic is partially melted, but the pictures don't seem to show burn marks. Did it catch fire?
3. Did the door fall open or was it left open? (Not trying to assign blame - just trying to get the complete picture).
4. Your profile shows a 2008 trailer and your join date is 2008. Is this something that happened for the first time after 4 or 5 years of use?
JohnDar
Prolifically Gabby Member
Re: ATF: Sundance - Sundance trailer is a fire hazard
You said this was a Sundance in your title, but your current rig is shown as a 2008 Heartland 3670 (which is a Bighorn). At any rate, it does appear that the cover was left open over the water heater exhaust while the propane was firing. With the lightweight plastic and the heat that does come out of there, it would not have taken long to cause the damage. I would agree, regardless of model or brand, that the placement of the shower over the water heater such that the thin plastic door could hang over the exhaust is not good engineering.
On our 2009 BH3670, the shower is inside the UDC and there is nothing over the water heater. Even the water heater "door" looks different. The door for the sewer hose compartment is, however, the same as your shower door. It even has winterizing instructions for the shower molded in it. But it does not have an indication of what type of plastic it is made from.
Hopefully, they've changed the mounting positions on newer models to forestall that from happening again. Unfortunately, that doesn't do you much good. Fortunately, nothing more serious than a melted door occurred. Perhaps the factory will weigh in on this, either publicly or privately to you, with some resolution.
You said this was a Sundance in your title, but your current rig is shown as a 2008 Heartland 3670 (which is a Bighorn). At any rate, it does appear that the cover was left open over the water heater exhaust while the propane was firing. With the lightweight plastic and the heat that does come out of there, it would not have taken long to cause the damage. I would agree, regardless of model or brand, that the placement of the shower over the water heater such that the thin plastic door could hang over the exhaust is not good engineering.
On our 2009 BH3670, the shower is inside the UDC and there is nothing over the water heater. Even the water heater "door" looks different. The door for the sewer hose compartment is, however, the same as your shower door. It even has winterizing instructions for the shower molded in it. But it does not have an indication of what type of plastic it is made from.
Hopefully, they've changed the mounting positions on newer models to forestall that from happening again. Unfortunately, that doesn't do you much good. Fortunately, nothing more serious than a melted door occurred. Perhaps the factory will weigh in on this, either publicly or privately to you, with some resolution.
RollingHome
Well-known member
Re: ATF: Sundance - Sundance trailer is a fire hazard
Does anyone else on the forum have a Sundance with the OS shower installed in this location ? I've been on web sites that have photos of Sundance RV's for sale and I have not found one. In fact, I don't see OS showers on these rigs. Could this have been a DIY install ? If anyone has a Sundance please post a picture of your water heater vent panel .
Does anyone else on the forum have a Sundance with the OS shower installed in this location ? I've been on web sites that have photos of Sundance RV's for sale and I have not found one. In fact, I don't see OS showers on these rigs. Could this have been a DIY install ? If anyone has a Sundance please post a picture of your water heater vent panel .
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jcarnevale
Well-known member
Re: ATF: Sundance - Sundance trailer is a fire hazard
This is what we have on our 2011 Sundance 3300RLB:
Can we get a little more info from the OP?
This is what we have on our 2011 Sundance 3300RLB:
Can we get a little more info from the OP?
JohnDar
Prolifically Gabby Member
Re: ATF: Sundance - Sundance trailer is a fire hazard
There do appear to be some inconsistencies in all of this. The layout of the area and the style of water heater cover are different. The OP says it's a Sundance but the "Current Rig" lists a 2008 Heartland 3670. Which rig is it? If it is actually a 3670, I don't think they radically redesigned the exteriors between 2008 and 2009. The photo is my 2009 right after we got it (the chipped water heater cover was replaced by my dealer).
View attachment 21037
There do appear to be some inconsistencies in all of this. The layout of the area and the style of water heater cover are different. The OP says it's a Sundance but the "Current Rig" lists a 2008 Heartland 3670. Which rig is it? If it is actually a 3670, I don't think they radically redesigned the exteriors between 2008 and 2009. The photo is my 2009 right after we got it (the chipped water heater cover was replaced by my dealer).
View attachment 21037
RollingHome
Well-known member
The OP has not responded to several valid questions. I have my doubts this was a factory install, more like a DIY adventure gone bad. I am not even sure it is a HL product, it could be SOB. If this is the case, why are these threads permitted to stay on this forum and bash HL products unjustifiably ? There seems to be a lot of HL bashing going on lately - why - right before the Hershey Show ? One of the biggest RV shows in the nation ! Last week it was an "ELECTROCUTION" WITH NO RESPONCES . I don't believe in coincidences (oops, there I go being paranoid again). If HL products are so bad, go buy SOB and get back to us after your warranty has run out. Let us know how that worked out for ya. Most of us been there done that and we ended up here.
Happy RVing !
P.S. Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me
Happy RVing !
P.S. Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me
danemayer
Well-known member
For those interested - here's a video of the outside of the 3000 MK showing the shower door over the water heater. I'd hazard a guess that if the door is left open against the exhaust vent for long enough, it could melt as pictured. No telling how long it would take.
rvfool, I'd suggest when you replace the door, you add a cord or small chain or something like that to limit how far the door opens. That way if it's left open, it won't be right against the hot air exhaust.
rvfool, I'd suggest when you replace the door, you add a cord or small chain or something like that to limit how far the door opens. That way if it's left open, it won't be right against the hot air exhaust.
guitarpicr
Active Member
Re: ATF: Sundance - Sundance trailer is a fire hazard
Looks like somebody did'nt have their thinking cap on . Definately a design flaw. With that plastic door down which is the way it is supposed to be when you are using it , & the w/h running in gas mode it probably melted that door within a few minutes .They could at least remanufacture the door out of metal, then that is going to get hot & burn someone. We use our electric mode for the w/h whenever possible. This would not happen in electric mode operation.
Looks like somebody did'nt have their thinking cap on . Definately a design flaw. With that plastic door down which is the way it is supposed to be when you are using it , & the w/h running in gas mode it probably melted that door within a few minutes .They could at least remanufacture the door out of metal, then that is going to get hot & burn someone. We use our electric mode for the w/h whenever possible. This would not happen in electric mode operation.
jcarnevale
Well-known member
porthole
Retired
Re: ATF: Sundance - Sundance trailer is a fire hazard
Stupid place for a door. And the person who designed it that way should be made to go outside, put there hand in the same place and fire up the heater. Then say it is a good idea.
Just seems bad for long time use. The heat that comes off the water heater in gas mode is enough you don't want to stand next to it.
And I would think, limiting the door travel will have minimal effect - heat rises.
Stupid place for a door. And the person who designed it that way should be made to go outside, put there hand in the same place and fire up the heater. Then say it is a good idea.
Just seems bad for long time use. The heat that comes off the water heater in gas mode is enough you don't want to stand next to it.
And I would think, limiting the door travel will have minimal effect - heat rises.
Ray LeTourneau
Senior Member - Past Moderator
Re: ATF: Sundance - Sundance trailer is a fire hazard
rvfool, thanks for coming back and clearing up any confusion over this door issue. If you haven't called Heartland yet, please do. Have your VIN handy. I'll bet they replace the door. If you're not hooked up to shore power and need the outside shower, you now know to use caution and possibly even turn of the water heater if on LP. For sure not a good design idea.
rvfool, thanks for coming back and clearing up any confusion over this door issue. If you haven't called Heartland yet, please do. Have your VIN handy. I'll bet they replace the door. If you're not hooked up to shore power and need the outside shower, you now know to use caution and possibly even turn of the water heater if on LP. For sure not a good design idea.
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