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Old 03-27-2014, 04:14 PM   #7
JRTJH
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,836
The Springdale line is an entry level RV model and in past years had few of the "frills" of more expensive RV's. It is very likely that your RV only had a "pilot light water heater" as original equipment, or it is quite possible that the original water heater failed and the previous owner opted to install the least expensive water heater he could find, which would be one without DSI or electric heater options.

The current price difference is quite large. Manual water heater with a standing pilot light are about $250 and a DSI model with electric element is around $450.

If you look at the current Springdale offerings, the price is climbing higher every year. Although they are still built with wooden frames and aluminum siding, they now come with many of the offerings of more expensive models such as air conditioning, DSI/electric water heater, range hood with vent, LCD TV, stereo with multiple speakers, outside awning and radial tires. In earlier years these were left to the purchaser to provide after the sale.

The use of "no option options" or "mandatory option packages" creates a more standard RV assembly line environment and increases the profitability for the manufacturer, something that Keystone is very good at doing.
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