How to fix crack in shower tub

[Buster52]

I am restoring a 1989 Southwind. I am getting close to being finished, but how I find a small crack in the showers tub where the wall and bottom meet. Good chance that the plastic is getting brittle. I know I will not be able to replace it. Has anyone have done this and can give me some ideas what can be done?

[robatthelake]

Not easy to replace ,I suggest repairing and living with it!

We had a crack in Our Old Rig right where the moulded Soap Dish was located. I found some plastic Bowl or Wash Tub in a similar Color at a Thrift Store that I carved up to make a patch. Used Epoxy for Plastic to fuse the Part over the Crack then filled the edges with a mixture of epoxy and plastic filings! Yep drill holes at the ends of the crack!

It just takes a bit of ingenuity to make these sort of repairs, and not being so hard on oneself if the end result isn't incredibly amazing!

[Buster52]

Has anyone removed a tub? If so what should I look out for? I may be able to gain access to the bathroom side with no problem, but the other sides one is the bench for the table the third side is the walkway and the forth side would have the piping in it and it looks to be about 3 inches thick. I just may replace the whole tub and walls and it done right. I believe the tub is plastic not fiberglass. I see no glass fiber in the brake. The real problem I see is the walls is also the ceiling too, and in it has a skylight.

Thanks

Buster

[Gjac]

noleakman wrote:
I drilled holes at the ends of the crack and found at WalMart the things you put on the bottom of tub so you wont slip! Mine looked like a fish about 6 inches long I cleaned the area and put it on and no more leaks sealed like glue!

For a 30 year old MH I would not mess with a FG repair but do as noleakman suggested. I addition I would make headers from wood to support the bottom of the pan. It is difficult to match the contours exactly by cutting with a saw so I would get as close as I could and use some resin like Bondo and FG to match the exact contour between the top of header and bottom of the pan. Is the pan FG or some kind of thermoplastic?

[Valkyriebush]

JB water weld putty, worked great on mine. I had a small crack from a shower stool about 2 inches. Mashed it together, spread it out over the crack, once dried smoothed it out and voilà. Color a little off, but so what. No leaks. lol

[Buster52]

I believe the plastic is old and brittle and cracks easily. I am probably going to have to reinforce the entire tub. I cannot see how to get around the tub to fix it. Can you remove the tub with out removing the shower walls? Also the tub inside measures 23x35. Is that what they are calling 24x36?

Thanks

Buster

[mtofell1]

You first need to know what material you're dealing with. You say "plastic" but I'm going to guess fiberglass? If so, as someone else mentioned, be sure the base is supported properly. It's very common in residential construction for fiberglass showers to have a lack of support which leads to cracking. I'm sure an RV is no different.

If you step on the floor of the shower and it moves/flexes you'll need to do something to support it. I've tackled this several times and have used spray foam up under the pan and it works great. Just don't put too much or the super-expanding type or it will break through the pan (this takes a lot so don't worry too much).

Once it's supported to fix the fiberglass correctly is not easy. Fiberglass repair is something I'd leave to a pro. You can put sealers and what not on it but they will not last long. Coincidentally, I just had the fiberglass tub/shower in one of my house's bathrooms redone for $750. They repaired a couple holes/cracks and refinished so it's bright and new looking.

After all this rambling I hope you're actually dealing with fiberglass 🙂 Otherwise, I've just wasted both of our time 🙂 🙂

[Buster52]

joloooote said

jolooote wrote:
aaahhh ... Lose some weight? Sorry, just couldn't not say it. lol

It may be funny to you, but I just bought the RV and I have never used the tub. So my weight has noting to do with it.

[noleakman]

I drilled holes at the ends of the crack and found at WalMart the things you put on the bottom of tub so you wont slip! Mine looked like a fish about 6 inches long I cleaned the area and put it on and no more leaks sealed like glue!

[darsben]

Before any repair can be made you will have to get under the tub and make sure it is well supported. In my experience cracks etc are caused by the lack of proper support under the tub.
I would use http://www.westmarine.com/--g-flex-650-epoxy--P09681511 with a fiberglass mesh for strengthening. You can buy colorants at http://www.systemthree.com/store/pc/Epoxy-Paste-Pigments-c46.htm
But remember SUPPORT is critical

[jolooote]

aaahhh ... Lose some weight? Sorry, just couldn't not say it. lol

[donn0128]

Duplicate posts?