Quick Answer: The best Camplux tankless water heater depends on how permanent the install is. For general outdoor and off-grid use — cabins, barns, outdoor showers — the 2.64 GPM (BW264-N) (68,000 BTU, D-cell battery ignition, no electricity needed, roughly $240–$300) is the pick. For a permanent RV cutout replacement, the RE264 (Plus-10) (65,000 BTU, 2.64 GPM standard / 3.9 GPM max, factory door and remote control, roughly $550–$600) is built for that job specifically. For the lightest possible setup — van life, camp showers, washing a dog — the 5L (AY132G) (1.32 GPM, 34,000 BTU, 10 lbs, 2 D-cell batteries, roughly $130–$160) beats both on portability. Camplux doesn’t make whole-home or electric units; its entire lineup is propane-only, portable-to-RV scale.
Camplux is one of the most recognizable names in portable propane tankless water heaters — the brand shows up constantly in searches for off-grid showers, RV upgrades, and camping hot water, alongside Eccotemp as the two dominant budget-portable brands. Unlike Rinnai, Rheem, or Navien, Camplux doesn’t sell a single whole-home unit; its entire current catalog is propane-fired and sized for portable, outdoor, or RV use. This guide ranks the three model families that come up most often so you can match the right Camplux to your setup instead of guessing between similar-looking SKUs — a real problem with this brand, since Camplux sells several models with nearly identical specs under different model numbers depending on the retailer.
Our top picks at a glance
| Model | Best for | Fuel | Flow / BTU | Power needed | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camplux 2.64 GPM (BW264-N) | Outdoor / off-grid general use | Propane (LP) | 2.64 GPM / 68,000 BTU | 2 D-cell batteries | ~$240–$300 |
| Camplux RE264 (Plus-10) | Permanent RV install | Propane (LP) | 2.64 GPM std / 3.9 GPM max / 65,000 BTU | 12V RV battery | ~$550–$600 |
| Camplux 5L (AY132G) | Ultra-portable / camp / van life | Propane (LP) | 1.32 GPM / 34,000 BTU | 2 D-cell batteries | ~$130–$160 |
BW264-N and RE264 (Plus-10) prices per our best propane tankless water heater and best RV tankless water heater guides, re-verified against Camplux, Home Depot, and Lowe's listings; 5L AY132G price per Camplux's own store. Amazon pricing fluctuates and can run above or below these figures. Last verified 2026-08-27: Camplux's own store lists the BW264-N at $269.99 sale / $299.99 regular and the RE264 (Plus-10) at $549.99 sale / $599.99 regular, both up from this guide's original figures — ranges above updated to match.
By the numbers
- 68,000 BTU max output on the 2.64 GPM portable line (BW264-N), per Camplux’s published spec sheet — enough for one shower head or outdoor sink at a warm inlet, not two fixtures at once.
- 3–110 psi minimum-to-maximum water pressure range the BW264-N will fire at, per Camplux’s spec sheet — unusually low for the low end, which is why it’s a go-to for gravity-fed off-grid water sources that a whole-home unit can’t handle.
- 24–34% more energy efficient than a standard storage tank for a home using up to ~41 gallons of hot water a day, per the U.S. Department of Energy — the baseline case for tankless heating generally, though Camplux’s own units are sized for far smaller portable loads than this DOE comparison assumes.
- 10 lbs total weight on the 5L AY132G, per Camplux’s spec sheet — under a third the weight of the RE264, the tradeoff being roughly half the BTU output and GPM of the BW264-N.
1. Camplux 2.64 GPM (BW264-N) — Best Outdoor / Off-Grid General Use
Camplux 2.64 GPM Portable Propane Tankless Water Heater (BW264-N)
- Camplux's most-searched portable model — CSA safety certification with a flame-failure device, and overheat protection that shuts the unit off above roughly 176°F.
- Fires on 2 D-cell batteries with no wiring or outlet needed, so it works at a cabin, barn, campsite, or job site with only a propane tank and a hose bib.
- Outdoor use only; like every portable propane heater in this class, it has no freeze protection and needs to be drained and stored once temperatures drop near freezing.
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The BW264-N is the model most people mean when they search “Camplux tankless water heater” — a 10-liter, 2.64 GPM unit built for a single outdoor fixture at a time: a shower, a hose, or a utility sink. At 68,000 BTU it heats faster than the smaller 5L AY132G but stops short of the RE264’s RV-rated peak output, which makes it the middle-ground pick for anyone who wants more than a bare-minimum camp shower but doesn’t need a permanent RV install. Camplux sells this same 2.64 GPM spec class under several near-identical model numbers depending on retailer (BW264-N, BD264, and similar suffixes are common) — confirm the exact SKU on the listing before you buy if the model number printed doesn’t match exactly, since minor hardware revisions (display type, rain cap) vary between them even when GPM and BTU match.
2. Camplux RE264 (Plus-10) — Best Permanent RV Install
Camplux RE264 (Plus-10) RV Propane Tankless Water Heater
- Built specifically for a permanent RV cutout install — ships with a matching door panel and electronic controls with 12V DC ignition, since an RV install runs off the rig's plumbing and battery rather than a garden hose and D-cells.
- The biggest burner in Camplux's current RV-drop-in lineup, which is why it undercuts on price relative to Furrion and Girard while still delivering more BTU than either.
- Camplux backs this model with a 2-year warranty, sold through Home Depot, Lowe's, Tractor Supply, and Amazon.
The RE264 is a different category from the BW264-N and 5L: it’s meant to replace an RV’s existing tank water heater in the same cutout, not sit outside on a hose. The included door and remote control are the giveaway — this is a heater you install once and forget, not one you pack away after a camping trip. At up to 3.9 GPM peak and 65,000 BTU it’s Camplux’s highest-output current RV model; see our full best RV tankless water heater guide for how it stacks up against the Fogatti InstaShower, Furrion FWH09A, and Girard 2GWHAM in the same drop-in category.
3. Camplux 5L (AY132G) — Best Ultra-Portable / Van Life
Camplux 5L (AY132G) Portable Propane Water Heater
- Camplux's lightest and cheapest current model — 10 lbs total, with a carry handle, built for van life, camp showers, or washing a dog on the driveway.
- 15-minute installation per Camplux's own instructions: connect the included regulator and hose adapter, drop in 2 D-cell batteries, and it's ready.
- 1.32 GPM and 34,000 BTU is roughly half the output of the BW264-N — enough for a quick rinse-off, not a leisurely shower or back-to-back fixture use. Camplux also sells a slightly larger 6L portable (1.58 GPM / 41,000 BTU, ~$160) if the 5L feels too small — see our [best RV tankless water heater](/best/best-rv-tankless-water-heater/) guide for that model.
The 5L is the Camplux to buy when weight and price matter more than flow — it’s under a third the weight of the RE264 for a fraction of the price. That tradeoff makes sense for a car camper or van-lifer who needs occasional hot water and wants the smallest possible box to store, but it’s the wrong pick for anyone showering daily or running the heater for more than a few minutes at a stretch, where the BW264-N’s higher BTU output pays for itself. For an even broader comparison against other outdoor-focused brands, see our best outdoor tankless water heater guide.
How to choose a Camplux tankless water heater
- General outdoor or off-grid use — cabin, barn, outdoor shower: the 2.64 GPM (BW264-N) — the best balance of output, price, and portability.
- Permanent RV cutout replacement: the RE264 (Plus-10) — the only Camplux model here with a matching door, remote control, and RV-rated ignition for a code-compliant tie-in.
- Lightest possible setup — van life, camp showers, occasional use: the 5L (AY132G) — under a third the weight of the RE264 for a fraction of the price.
- Need a whole-home or electric unit: skip Camplux entirely — its whole lineup is portable-scale propane. See our best gas tankless water heater or best electric tankless water heater guides instead.
- Comparing against Eccotemp: the two brands overlap heavily in the portable-propane category; our best Eccotemp tankless water heater guide covers the L10, the closest direct competitor to the BW264-N.
The bottom line
Camplux’s whole lineup lives in the portable-to-RV propane niche, and each of the three models here earns its spot for a different use case: the 2.64 GPM (BW264-N) for general outdoor and off-grid hot water, the RE264 (Plus-10) for a permanent RV install with a real door and remote, and the 5L (AY132G) for the lightest, cheapest option when you only need an occasional rinse. None of them compete with a whole-home Rinnai or Rheem, and none run on electricity — know that going in. If you need whole-home coverage instead, start with our best tankless water heater roundup or best propane tankless water heater guide.