Water Heater Installation
The majority of manufactured homes have their water heater in a compartment that opens to the outside. The factory doors are not strong and are frequently ripped off by high winds. They tend to be replaced with sheets of plywood which are screwed into place. It makes it very hard to check on the condition of the water heater.
In addition, many mobile homes are set above ground so the bottom of the water heater may be several feet high. This makes getting the one out and the new one lifted into place a problem.
As I mentioned on the previous page, brute force is not my method of choice in these situations. I you have, or can borrow a truck, you can slide the water heater onto the truck bed and back the truck up to the home. That will give you three feet or more of elevation. If you have to, you can put some kind of platform onto the truck bed to raise the water heater even more.
With a mobile home the concern is going to be the condition of the floor under the old water heater. If it has gotten soaked and is coming apart, you will need to find some exterior grade plywood and make a new floor. Try to make sure the plywood is supported across at least two joists.
Finally, don't use the white PVC for any part of the hot water side of the system. It can't stand the heat. PEX is the best and what is already being used in most manufactured homes.