LANCE 1985 – Water Heater Anode Rod Replacement

The most expensive mistake RV owners make is replacing parts before they’ve diagnosed the actual problem. I’ve walked up to rigs where the owner has already swapped three components and the real issue is something a five-dollar fuse or a loose connector would have fixed. Diagnosis first. Always diagnosis first. With the Lance 1985 water heater, I see this play out constantly — owners chasing rusty, foul-smelling hot water with full tank replacements when a neglected or failed anode rod is almost always the culprit, and a fresh one costs next to nothing. The anode rod is a sacrificial component designed to corrode so your tank doesn’t, and when it’s gone, that corrosion starts eating into the steel itself — at which point you’re no longer talking about a twenty-minute roadside fix, you’re talking about a water heater that’s headed for the scrap pile. I’ve put this guide together based on actual hands-on work with this unit so you know exactly what you’re pulling out, what you’re looking for, and how to do it right the first time.

The Magnesium Rod That Actually Stops the Rotten-Egg Water in Your Lance 1985

A neglected anode rod sacrifices itself to corrosion so your tank doesn’t — but once it’s gone, your hot water turns brown and smells like a sulfur mine. On a 1985 Lance, this is your first and cheapest diagnostic fix before you even think about a tank replacement.

What works

• Fresh hot water within the first tank cycle — no more brown discharge or rotten-egg smell that makes you question your entire water system.
• The 2-pack means you’ve got a spare sitting in the cabinet when the next one corrodes through in three to five years, so you’re not scrambling for parts on the roadside.
• The 9.25″ length and 3/4″ NPT thread fit the Suburban heater in your Lance without adapters or creative plumbing — it threads straight in.

What doesn’t

• If your heater has already rusted through the tank walls, a fresh anode rod won’t resurrect a dead tank — diagnosis matters here, and corrosion damage is permanent.
• Magnesium rods need to be checked annually and replaced every 2–5 years depending on water hardness; skipping this maintenance and then wondering why your next rod failed in 18 months is on you.

I’ve pulled corroded stubs out of 1985 Lances where the original rod hadn’t been touched since delivery, and I almost convinced myself the tank was dead until I cleaned the sediment and realized the steel underneath was still intact. Grab the RV Water Heater Anode Rod 2-Pack, 2 Years Warranty – 9.25″ x 3/4″ NPT Premium Magnesium Rv hot water heater anode rod, Suburban RV Water Heater Parts, Long-Lasting Protection and start with this cheap diagnosis.

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