Atwood G6A-8E 6-Gallon RV Water Heater (Gas + Electric)

The Atwood G6A-8E is one of the dominant RV water heaters in the US market, manufactured by Atwood (now part of Dometic Group). The "G6A" base designation identifies it as a 6-gallon gas-fired unit; the "8E" adds the 1500W 120V electric heating element, making it the dual-energy version that runs on either propane or shore power. This is the unit that ships installed in most US travel trailers and motorhomes manufactured 2005 through approximately 2018.

Specs: 6 gallons stored, 8800 BTU propane burner, 1500W AC electric element, recovery rate roughly 11 gallons per hour on gas or 6 gph on electric (both modes can run simultaneously for fastest recovery), 12V DC ignition control. Common in 22"-tall RV water heater cutouts. Aluminum tank with magnesium anode rod (Atwood's distinguishing engineering choice — Suburban units use porcelain-lined steel tanks).

The aluminum-vs-steel tank question matters for service life. Aluminum tanks do not require anode-rod sacrifice, so the magnesium rod can be removed entirely in soft-water regions without accelerating tank corrosion. In hard-water regions, leaving the anode rod installed protects the aluminum from electrochemical corrosion at the dissimilar-metal joints. Atwood's specific anode-rod recommendation depends on water hardness; check the manual for your install region.

Replacement: a failing G6A-8E drops into the same cutout as either a newer Dometic-branded equivalent (Dometic acquired Atwood in 2014; current production units are Dometic-badged with the same dimensions) or a Suburban SW6DE of comparable capacity. The Atwood-to-Suburban swap requires minor trim adjustments due to slightly different mounting flange dimensions; the Atwood-to-Dometic swap is direct.

Service: Camping World and RV-specific suppliers stock the common service parts (heating element, thermostat, ECO switch, gas valve). About $400 for a complete replacement unit; common repair-part replacements run $30–$120 plus 30–60 minutes of labor.