Truck camper inside walls

[Jrs907]

anybody know if interior camper walls support the roof, or are load bearing?. My 92 hornet 8' TC has a bathroom which I plan on gutting. I am too tall to stand in front of the toilet and want a shower. I plan on removing the bathroom door and walls, putting a drain floor in, and hanging shower curtains. I simply didn't know if the bathroom wall between the dinette and bathroom was vital. Being 6' tall, 240# isn't a great fit for this bathroom. I boondock/dry camp 95% of the time here in AK and am making this camper more friendly for that purpose. I have a Plan for water, drainage, porta potty already.

[Jrs907]

Read my post.. It says " I want a shower"

[Reddog1]

Jrs907 wrote:
I don't think people understood why I was gutting the bathroom. I DON'T have a shower currently and want one. I'd rather use a moveable portapotty, curtain off the back end of the camper, and have a shower.

It does help when you provide all of information.

[Jrs907]

mkirsch wrote:
An ordinary utility sink makes a great drain floor.

When I re-did the bathroom in my Palomino, I shaved the legs off the sink and sat it right on the floor, with the drain protruding through to the outside. From there I connect the drain to a catch jug for my gray water.

I gained about 6" of headroom so I could stand upright and shower.

Yep the 22" x 25" utility tub/sink is my idea for a perfect shower basin. I found one for $49 at home depot. That and a shower rod (PVC or something nicer looking)will be perfect. I don't think people understood why I was gutting the bathroom. I DON'T have a shower currently and want one. I'd rather use a moveable portapotty, curtain off the back end of the camper, and have a shower.

[mkirsch]

An ordinary utility sink makes a great drain floor.

When I re-did the bathroom in my Palomino, I shaved the legs off the sink and sat it right on the floor, with the drain protruding through to the outside. From there I connect the drain to a catch jug for my gray water.

I gained about 6" of headroom so I could stand upright and shower.

[recycler]

i know on mine the inside walls were just attached to the paneling on the ceiling...your bathroom sounds even smaller than mine..i figured out to wash my hair in mine have to sit on the throne sideways cause sitting straight on it i have to slouch my shoulders cause at 6' 5" 275lbs i am wider than it is..

[DWeikert]

My Northstar also has the dome skylight in the bathroom like Wayne described. That gives me sufficient headroom (6'2" 240 lbs) to stand and shower. Although the shower is still a little cramped for me and I generally use the shower to wet myself down then step out into the camper for the space to soap up, then step back into the shower to rinse off. It helps that I camp solo but it's not like I could towel off and get dressed in there anyway...

[Reddog1]

Just for a thought, I sometimes leave the bathroom door open with the shower curtain closed. This does give me more room (elbow and butt wise) in the shower by having the flexible curtain.

Wayne

[Reddog1]

I am the same size as you are, but about 10 pounds heavier. I make do with my shower/toilet. My son has an older 5th wheels with a bubble skylight over the bathroom that gives about 10 to 12 inches of additional head room in the bathroom. It has a milky finish so people can't see in. It would be much easier to install that the bathroom mods you are presently considering. I think any of the box store skylights would work, pretty easy to caulk.

As for the inside walls of the TC being load bearing, I do not see them load bearing like in a stick house. They do offer roof support simply because they go from the floor to the roof, so by default the help support the roof. When I walk on my roof, I try to keep my weight over the walls and floor to ceiling cabinets. Definitely less movement there. I have seen older TCs roofs sag in the center span, but not where the inside walls are. It sure does not mean the roof will fall in by removing the bathroom wall, but the roof will not be as strong.

As I previously said, I would look carefully at the skylight. I think that would be a better choice. If you wanted to do so, you could use one skylight to do part of the bathroom and go over to another part of the TC. Many shapes of skylights are available.

Wayne

[jimh406]

My guess is no based on pictures I've seen of construction. Worst case is to put supports back in.