$700 Later, Leaky Shower Drain Fixed

We had a similar occurrence during our first camping trip of the season back in April. Saw drops of water coming out from the underbelly where a pipe passed through membrane. I then notice the underbelly membrane was slightly bulged. Punched a small hole in the membrane and small stream of water began to pour out and continued for hours slowing to a drip.

When I got home I cut through the membrane and the insulation was saturated with water. When I began removing the wet insulation I found the shower trap had cracked at the fitting so the water from the shower was dumping into and be trapped in the insulation.

The trailer was still under warranty and the manufacturer replaced the fitting and insulation. We've camped the rest of the season and so far no repeat of the issue.

Just make sure that if you do add support under these tubs that you don't upset the draining ability to completely drain your tub.

We just completed our second tub replacement a few days ago. The original and the replacement. Both cracked in the exact same spot. With help from the members here, we determined that the tubs were flexing under our portly bodies.

Why flexing? The rear supports towards the outside of the camper, in the corners of the tub, were 3/4" longer then the ones in the front. This allowed the tub to be lifted off the platform and not supported in that area. Every time we used it, the tub flexed and eventually cracked. (Twice).

We just finished replacing the last tub a few days ago with a shower pan and the proper length supports in the corners. We also have a brand new heavy duty
platform. (3/4 inch marine plywood and 2"X6" legs) The shower pan now sits flat on the platform and is no longer flexing.

So watch those little support legs in each corner and make sure they are the exact same length. Also, make sure that the tub sits flat upon the platform.

Thia is a another example of the poor quality control in the RV industry. If the supports had been cut the proper length, this would not have happened. Twice!

path1 wrote:
I've thought about putting something in mine that would dissipate my weight but can't think of anything that would work. After reading what you went thru do you think that would of made a difference?

It's hard to tell without seeing what the underside of your tub looks like. My guess is that it's pretty tight in there. If you can run some 2x4's crossways underneath, that should help. You might be able to insert some vertical blocks to help prop up certain sections. It really depends on what you've got going on underneath there.

My guys tore everything out and then completely braced the tub from below with wood blocks and plywood. They then redid the drain pipe so it was out of the way. You could have a dance party in there and that tub isn't going to budge.

I've thought about putting something in mine that would dissipate my weight but can't think of anything that would work. After reading what you went thru do you think that would of made a difference?

back in my early RV days, my first TT, my shower stall developed a crack in the floor. seems the 2 x 6's under the shower floor were not tall enough and the weight cracked the floor. I had to shim up the blocks to support the shower and patch the floor. traded it in shortly after that and I tore into my shower to make sure this was not going to happen again. I found the floor not supported at all so did a mod myself and after all these years ,no problems with the shower. Makes me really wonder what the heck these designers and engineers are thinking of when they build these TT's.

You know, I noticed the floor in my shower was flimsy from the start so I installed some bracing to keep it from flexing.
I think I dodged a bullet! :)