ARTICLE: Water Heaters for Ford Transit Vans

Choosing a Water Heater for Your Ford Transit Build

Hot water changes how a Transit feels to live in: a real shower after a long trail day, dishes that actually get clean, a warm rinse on a cold morning. Deciding early where the heater goes and how you'll power it gives you more room to build around it, and makes everything after it come together more easily.

The Pundmann lineup

Pundmann heaters come in four configurations: 3L, 6L, 9L, and a 6L Tower. The Tower holds the same 6L in a vertical footprint. In a Transit, especially a 130" or 148" wheelbase where floor space disappears fast, the Tower often fits where a horizontal tank won't.

Every model runs on both AC and DC. The 12V element draws about 200W, and the AC element heats faster on shore power or an inverter(500W and 1000W). Plug in when you can, run off the battery when you can't.

Picking a size

• 3L: Dishes, hand washing, quick rinses. Good for weekend builds or a galley-only setup.

• 6L / 6L Tower: Fine for one person, or a couple showering every other day with a low-flow head.

• 9L: For daily showers, two people, or the galley and shower in use at the same time. Easiest to fit in a 148" EL.

Bigger tanks hold more hot water but take longer to recover after use.

What it costs your batteries

On a 12V lithium bank, a full 9L heat-up is around 33Ah. With a DC-DC charger off the Transit's alternator, most builders heat while driving and arrive with a full tank.

Where to mount it

Under the galley counter or in a low cabinet keeps the heater protected and close to the floor, where weight belongs. In a Transit, the space beside or behind a wheel well is often unused and works well for the Tower. Mount near the galley for short sink runs, near the shower for short shower runs, or between them in a split layout.

Plumbing it in

Run the heater outlet through a thermostatic mixing valve before it reaches any fixture. It blends hot and cold to a set temperature, so nobody gets scalded and your hot water lasts longer.

Cold weather

In a well-insulated Transit, a heater that was hot at bedtime still gives you warm water in the morning, and the element only has to top it up. Before winter storage or any stretch below freezing, drain the tank. Frozen water expands and will damage the tank or fittings. It takes about 30 minutes and is a lot cheaper than a new tank.