Combo Water Boiler/Furnace Heater Now Here in N. America

[shade]

About the only issues I know of, are XP campers and the previous gen Dualtops. Mostly with high altitude, and some leaks. The truma units I have heard nothing either way.

Considering how people whinge on about the size of cup holders, that's a good sign.

 

[86scotty]

You seem to have a strong hatred towards sprinters and Truma units without ever actually owning one.

These are just off the top of my head, please go to any RV show and you will find Truma Combi's everywhere now, and pretty much a permanent fixture in the European and Australian markets. To suggest they are problematic, is false.

I have no hatred towards either but they aren't for me. I merely have strong opinions. I have not owned a Truma unit or a Sprinter but have put hundreds of thousands of miles on company Sprinters and dealt with their problems as well as helping many others. The number of headlight bulbs and turbo boots I've fixed is disturbing. They are a great city/travel vehicle as are Transits and maybe even that Dodge thing, though I've sold the Transit to the left. I simply don't trust Sprinters or most new vehicles, especially diesels, for going off the beaten path. I think all of these #vanlifers with disposable income are finding that out the hard way. They are NOT a robust LC, Jeep or domestic van or truck. They are way too complicated. This same basic principle applies to the Truma unit in my mind. I don't have time to chase down where I've read of problems but I have and I think they are way too finicky for most.

An overlanding vehicle is worthless if you cannot repair it in the field, as are it's contents.
An overlander (person) is worthless if he/she cannot repair things in the field.

The only thing on your list that is remotely an off-roader or made for getting off the grid is the Sportsmobile. I've owned a few. Ever tried to repair a Starcool? It's another overly complicated, expensive and now defunct choice of theirs.

When a Sprinter diesel/Transit diesel/anything modern diesel throws a code and derates in Death Valley you've got serious problems, potentially life threatening.
When you spend thousands on a whiz-bang microwave/toaster/hot water heater/furnace made in Europe and you are camping with your wife in Alaska with your wife and you have no signal, no not water and no heat then you also have serious problems, potentially life threatening.

There is nothing remotely interesting for me at an RV show. I'll be in Death Valley or Alaska with trusty old propane or better yet, fire.

 

[cobratom]

They are way too complicated. This same basic principle applies to the Truma unit in my mind. I don't have time to chase down where I've read of problems but I have and I think they are way too finicky for most.

An overlanding vehicle is worthless if you cannot repair it in the field, as are it's contents.
An overlander (person) is worthless if he/she cannot repair things in the field.

The only thing on your list that is remotely an off-roader or made for getting off the grid is the Sportsmobile. I've owned a few. Ever tried to repair a Starcool? It's another overly complicated, expensive and now defunct choice of theirs.

When a Sprinter diesel/Transit diesel/anything modern diesel throws a code and derates in Death Valley you've got serious problems, potentially life threatening.
When you spend thousands on a whiz-bang microwave/toaster/hot water heater/furnace made in Europe and you are camping with your wife in Alaska with your wife and you have no signal, no not water and no heat then you also have serious problems, potentially life threatening.

There is nothing remotely interesting for me at an RV show. I'll be in Death Valley or Alaska with trusty old propane or better yet, fire.

This is exactly what I was expecting, no sources to quote, and a non future forward way of thinking. You can be placed in the same category of people that complained about the car because it was too complicated, and they would rather use their trusty horse and wagon.

This way of thinking is not the future, and there simply is no need to bad mouth and try to create a bad reputation for a product just because you don't agree with the technology or its principles. I like to be as transparent as possible with my customers and if someone asks me, can I trust this unit in the middle of Alaska, have you heard of anyone having problems? I would like to offer them the truth.

BTW, where do you think the most robust and hardcore over-landing and off-road vehicles come from? Germany. To compare a well engineered, robust product that has been on the market since 2007 with tens of thousands sold to a starcool that maybe had 20 sold is insane.

 

[86scotty]

You win CobraTom. Move on, I hope you feel better. I've read what I've read and I think what I think. Call me a luddite if you like. I've had many German cars and love them, 4 or 5 BMWs to be exact. Why do I choose not to own them anymore? I can't maintain them. I'm not paying $250 in diagnosis fees when I should just be able to plug in an OBDII. My lineage is German. My work truck is German. My Dad was a Benz guy.

And Starcool had a LOT more than 20 sold, but you don't sell Starcools now, do you? Had I noticed you were a vendor I wouldn't have responded to your first post. Of course you're going to defend what you sell.

Move on, sir.

 

[shade]

I blame @AbleGuy.

 

[cobratom]

You win CobraTom. Move on, I hope you feel better. I've read what I've read and I think what I think. Call me a luddite if you like. I've had many German cars and love them, 4 or 5 BMWs to be exact. Why do I choose not to own them anymore? I can't maintain them. I'm not paying $250 in diagnosis fees when I should just be able to plug in an OBDII. My lineage is German. My work truck is German. My Dad was a Benz guy.

And Starcool had a LOT more than 20 sold, but you don't sell Starcools now, do you? Had I noticed you were a vendor I wouldn't have responded to your first post. Of course you're going to defend what you sell.

Move on, sir.

I am really not looking to win, or feel better. I am simply concerned. If there are issues that someone is having and I am not aware of them, I would like to be. This way I can address them with Truma, to see if they have been resolved or if there is a simple solution.

I am not looking to sell anyone junk or give someone an unhappy experience with their heater. Yes, the units are expensive, but their costs are justifiable in 3 parts. 1. You are replacing a furnace and a water heater with one very easy to maintain unit. (No anodes, no maintenance to burners, etc). 2. You reclaim quite a bit of space as a result of combining the two functions, with a very efficient burning product. 3. You are purchasing a quality german built reliable product that has been in operation in thousands of RV's since 2007.

If one of those 3 are in question, the entire pricing structure and business is in question.
BTW, if a Truma has a error, like say you have run out of Propane, or the voltage is too low, or whatever, a simple error code will pop up on the display, no need to call a dealer for a diagnostic.

 

[AbleGuy]

Had I noticed you were a vendor I wouldn't have responded to your first post

As the OP, I’ll chime in here.

It was kinda hard to miss really, that cobratom was an interested party, a vender of this product.
So I can’t see anything apparently tricky is going on or that there is any hidden agendas here.

His posts clearly show:

“Your Truma Combi 4 Source in North America
TrumaHeaters.com
ProAIR 12V A/C Systems also available!”
And

“cobratom
Approved Vendor”

And,
his first post here clearly stated:

“Thank you for the shout out, we are actually a forum sponsor here and expeditonportal has its own discount code:
https://www.expeditionportal.com/fo...iler-and-furnace-heater-now-available.207542/“

Just saying....

 

[AbleGuy]

there simply is no need to bad mouth and try to create a bad reputation for a product just because you don't agree with the technology or its principles.

?? This is a pretty valid point, and is a really good general rule to follow to help foster and encourage civil, useful dialogue in forum discussions about gear and rigs, etc.

Unfortunately, I guess I’d have to admit that even I don’t always remember to be thoughtful enough or considerate enough with my posts, so thx for this helpful reminder cobratom.

 

[shade]

I don't know if it helps, but I prefer to think of him as Cobratron.

 

[86scotty]

I’ve never seen any of his posts before now, nor did I read the whole thread. It popped up on my feed, I gave my opinion, useful or not. I don’t think it lacked civility, but noted.

I’m done with this thread btw so further replies to me will be moot.

Have a nice weekend! May your coffee and your toes always be warm.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sg1]

I am not a seller only a retired guy spending a lot of time on the road in various parts of the developed or not so developed world. I have owned 4 RVs since 1998 with Truma Combis. The first one was actually already quite old when I bought it. It must have had a first generation Truma. None of my Trumas had any problems and they always worked reliably even at 15,000 ft. in the Andeas.
By the way I am no fan of Sprinters for a number of reasons but if you look for a simple vehicle without electronics you won't have any luck.

 

[Darwin]

I’ve never seen any of his posts before now, nor did I read the whole thread. It popped up on my feed, I gave my opinion, useful or not. I don’t think it lacked civility, but noted.

I’m done with this thread btw so further replies to me will be moot.

Have a nice weekend! May your coffee and your toes always be warm.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Your opinion was rather useless since it was only based on some things you read on the internet and not actual experience, and when asked to provide some examples you refused to do so.

 

[86scotty]

Your opinion was rather useless since it was only based on some things you read on the internet and not actual experience, and when asked to provide some examples you refused to do so.

I keep getting notifications so I'll respond. Useless? So, only POSITIVE opinions are useful? I thought Darwin was smarter. Plus, I didn't refuse anything. I said I don't really feel like tracking them down. I have a life other than arguing on the internet. If I happen upon them I will quote them but I don't have all day to look.

Plus, why are you even responding? I realize I did too but did you not see above that I wouldn't be back?

 

[86scotty]

I am not a seller only a retired guy spending a lot of time on the road in various parts of the developed or not so developed world. I have owned 4 RVs since 1998 with Truma Combis. The first one was actually already quite old when I bought it. It must have had a first generation Truma. None of my Trumas had any problems and they always worked reliably even at 15,000 ft. in the Andeas.
By the way I am no fan of Sprinters for a number of reasons but if you look for a simple vehicle without electronics you won't have any luck.

Not sure if you're talking to me specifically but I'm not a proponent of vehicles without electronics.....or technology, nor did I ever claim to be. My opinion is that I would never take a modern (MODERN) Sprinter off road very far, especially a diesel. I love T1N's but wouldn't take one of them very far anywhere either since it crumble in to a pile of rust at the first pothole. As for the combi, I'm glad to hear it. Personally I wouldn't spend that much cheddar on something I have heard bad reviews on at all. There are too many other good and more affordable options.

God bless, all of this chatter is likely to help Tom sell 10 Trumas so looks like a win all around.

 

[roving1]

That's why we get new diesel engines in light trucks every time EPA standards change: the engines are designed to those standards and it's cheaper to design a new engine each time than redesign an old one to new standards.

EPA standards drive emissions compliance, it doesnt drive the ridiculous HP and torque battles for the big three. Doesn't drive NVH ETC. Saying the engine redesigns are soley driven by EPA compliance is not accurate and leaving out a crapload of other things.