shower /tub surround

Also loose to allow condensation to wick away from between the wall and tub surround.

The surround material has a much greater rate of expansion and contraction that causes that, an you better off with it floating like it is than glued to the wall… perfectly normal…

The shower stalls, like most of what goes into the construction of an RV are "insert part A into part B" simplicity...designed to be installed quickly and by minimally trained people..as fast as possible. The shower stalls, and the PEZ fresh water piping systems and pre-made walls for example.

Most RV manufacturers have it down to a science. Many Factory built RV's are made by folks who don't get paid by the hour, but rather by their output. When they reach their daily goal of (for example) 8 RV's...they go home to work the farm while the sun is still up! If they reach their target goals for building their "quota" and with out failing quality control checks..they get their bonuses too.

loulou57 wrote:
We bought our TT new last year. We noticed that the tub/shower walls are not tight on the walls. You can push gently and they have give. After we noticed this we mentioned it to the dealer and he said it was normal.

We have been in many TT but every time forget to check this. Hubby has opened access under the tub and there are no water leaks. Hubby didn't expect any. I did my wifely duty and nagged him to look, LOL and being the dear he is of course he obliged.

Is this common or something we should worry about?

Thanks!

Entirely normal. In many towable RV's, it's just the ABS surround panel fastened in some manner (and sparsely at that) to whatever framing material is in the wall. In our Jayco WhiteHawk, the fasteners are not even screws, but some kind plastic gadget that expanded when inserted in the hole. And yes, you are right to be concerned about potential water intrusion through the panel seams and fasteners. Definitely a maintenance item that requires periodic attention.

Our surround flexed over time and separated from the sidewall allowing water under the tub. A n project for the winter.

A little "give" yes - on our Dutchmen the whole surround is loose....getting that fixed in October (when we are finished with our camping season).....also our tub tilts to the interior of the trailer allowing the water to drain onto the floor....which will also get fixed (hopefully)!

On our other trailer (Sunline) the surround was rigid and did not flex like the cheapo one in the Dutchmen!

The surround does have that wallboard (I think that is what it is called) behind it. When hubby checked for leaks he could see that.

I am glad to hear that all is normal, thanks for the replies. I can take that off my OCD worry list, LOL

It is normal.
Trailers are made as light as possible and therefor there is no backing behind the tub surround which would only add weight.
Also it is not needed
In your house there is probably none, but home surrounds are made of thick fiberglass and there is no give to it, so you don't notice.

Jack L

Our trailer is like that too.Think it is normal.They are screwed in on most.