How to find the right RV Showers & Bathtubs AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in RV Showers & Bathtubs
- Footprint and drain location
- Measure the pan or tub's outer length and width and the drain position (left, center or right). Buy an exact match. The drain hole in the floor is fixed, and a mismatched drain location means cutting the subfloor and replumbing.
- Drain fitting
- Confirm the drain size and whether the unit uses a standard tub drain or an RV-specific shower drain. The drain must mate with the existing P-trap under the floor, which is often hard to reach.
- Height clearance
- Check the pan or tub height, the step-over height and the ceiling height above it, especially in slide-outs and low-profile rigs. Taller pans reduce headroom, and some layouts have obstructions under the floor.
- Material and support
- Thermoformed ABS units must be fully supported underneath, typically on a bed of foam or a solid base. Unsupported ABS flexes and cracks around the drain, the most common RV tub failure.
- Shower valve and head compatibility
- For fixtures, match the valve's handle spacing to the wall holes, and choose a low-flow or pressure-boosting head built for RV pumps. RV water pumps and tanks reward low flow, and wall panels are hard to re-drill cleanly.
Brands that matter
- Better Bath: Leading maker of thermoformed ABS RV tubs, showers and pans.
- Lippert: OEM supplier whose bath line covers many factory RV tubs and surrounds.
- RecPro: Aftermarket RV shower pans, surrounds and fixtures.
- Oxygenics: Well-known RV low-flow shower head brand.
- Dura Faucet: RV tub and shower valves and diverters.
- Phoenix Faucets: OEM-style RV shower valves and hand-held shower sets.
What to avoid
- Ordering a pan by nominal size without checking which side the drain is on
- Installing an ABS pan or tub without full support underneath
- Residential high-flow shower heads that drain your fresh tank quickly
Questions
Can I fix a cracked RV tub instead of replacing it?
Small cracks in ABS can be repaired with ABS-specific repair kits if the floor underneath is reinforced first. Otherwise the crack returns because the flexing that caused it continues.