RV Repair: RV WATER HEATER LEAKAGE, electric water heater, pilot model

Question
THIS IS THE FIRST FULL YR. WE HAVE OWNED A CAMPER.
IT IS A (USED) 1999 PALOMINO 18FT.TRAILER COACH.
BEFORE WINTER...THE ONLY THING WE DID TO WINTERIZE WAS DRAIN THE WATER LINES.
WE ARE ABOUT TO LEAVE ON THE 14TH OF MAY & UPON DOING SOME FINAL CK.OVERS...WE FILLED THE WATER TANK & WHEN WE TURNED ON THE PUMP... ALOT OF WATER BEGAN TO SEEP OUT ON THE FLOOR! WHEN THE PUMP IS OFF NO LEAKAGE.  THE LEAK APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM UNDER THE WATER HEATER. IS IT COMMON FOR THE WATER HEATER TO BE DAMAGED DUE TO NOT USING THAT HORRIBLY STINKY WINTERIZING FLUID IN THE SYSTEM, EVEN IF IT IS DRAINED COMPLETELY?  WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF US BEING ABLE TO REPLACE IT OURSELVES?  IS IT NORMALLY A VERY COSTLY REPAIR? AS YOU CAN SEE IT IS JUST OVER A WK. UNTIL WE LEAVE & WE WILL BE TRAVELING ACROSS THE U.S. FOR ALMOST A MONTH.
WE ENJOYED A SIMILIAR TRIP LAST YR. FOR THE FIRST TIME W/THIS CAMPER & BASICALLY EVERYTHING WENT JUST FINE.  OF COURSE THERE WASN'T A MAJOR LEAK THEN!
PLEASE RESPOND A.S.A.P. (IF POSSIBLE?).....IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.  LOOKS LIKE A GREAT BIG OOOOOPS ON OUR PART!    HELP!!!
SINCERELY, GINA ELLINGER

Answer
Gina,
    You say all you did was drain the water lines.  If you didn't remove the drain plug from the water heater then it is more than likely split open. I don't know where you are or how cold it got.  Is this a gas only or gas electric water heater?  Is it a pilot model (light it outside) or a direct spark ignition (turn a switch on inside)?  Is it an Atwood or Suburban brand?  Is it 6 gallon or 10 gallon?  Make sure you take the model # and serial # of the water heater with you.  These are the questions they are going to ask when you go to buy a new water heater.  It is not terribly difficult to change it out.  Just remove the screws that are mounting it to the sidewall, remove the water lines and gas lines (make sure the gas is off!)  Remove any 120 volt or 12 volt wiring you may have and slide it out.  Be sure and get some putty tape to put around the flange on the new water heater and slide it into the hole and put everything back where it was.  When you are done be sure to take a soapy water solution (you must use a soap that has no ammonia in it or you could damage the fittings) and spray the gas lines where you removed and replaced them from the water heater and with the gas back on look for bubbles to see if it is leaking.  You will then need to pressurize the system with either the pump or a hose and check the rest of the system for leaks.  Also check all the p-traps under the sinks and tub, they could have frozen and split also.  Next year drain the water heater and the water lines, pour some RV antifreeze in the sinks and tub to get the water out of the p-traps, and if you don't want to put RV antifreeze in your water lines then I would recommend getting am air chuck adapter.  You screw it in where your hose goes and hook an air hose on it and blow the lines out.  I hope this helps, good luck with your repair and have a wonderful trip.

Darren