bathroom floor by drain flexes?

Andrea54

Floor right by drain in t@b 320 cs-s feels 'soft' or like it flexes more there-is this normal?

donmontalvo

2024 320S Boondock Black Canyon.

This started a few days ago. Shower floor flexes a bit on the far right corner, or maybe I  just started to notice. No idea what's happening. Since the shower empties into the Grey Tank, hoping it is something that isn't broken, and can be adjusted.

Got the camper in October, never used the shower. The thought of moisture, mold, etc., going behind the walls, or under the floor, concerns me. I just use the outside shower hose. Looking for a mountable shower tent.

Here is a short clip, I'll include a link when I open a ticket with nuCamp.

https://vimeo.com/1084475006

Sharon_is_SAM

@donmontalvo - let us know what nuCamp decides. 

Anyone else out there with a 2024 model with a soft spot on the shower floor?

Gomers2

Definitely, same spot. We assumed it was normal. 

vhollow

My guess is that a soft spot is not a good thing. I have a 2018 400. The bathroom floor consists of a fiberglass layer on top, approximately 1/8”, over about a 1/2” layer of closed cell foam insulation, on top of a plywood layer. Below that is the drain pipe and, in my trailer, an Alde radiator. Over time, in my trailer, the foam layer compressed, making a void, which allowed the fiberglass to flex. The latter is meant to be rigid, so eventually it cracked, creating a water penetration issue. My repair is posted on the forum somewhere. Maybe NuCamp has improved their design since then, maybe not. A good way to avoid this issue is to install a teak lattice on the bathroom floor in order to spread the weight distribution of standing in there. There are posts of these on the forum. They look nice!

Andrea54

I have been looking at the teak mats as well. I don't think the 2022 T@B 320 CS-S has plywood in the flooring system??

Andrea54

donmontalvo Yeah, mine is in the same area-I didn't even notice it my daughter did and then I felt it. I am thinking it's just a space under there where the gray tank meets a hose connection or something. 

donmontalvo

Andrea54 said:

donmontalvo Yeah, mine is in the same area-I didn't even notice it my daughter did and then I felt it. I am thinking it's just a space under there where the gray tank meets a hose connection or something. 

It's on my list to get a response on what the flex means, what it may affect, how to deal with it, etc.

HappyWanderer

2024 320CS-S.  My shower floor flexes a little bit in the same area as donmontalvo, Gomers2 and Andrea54 - between the drain and the exterior wall forward of the drain towards toilet.

donmontalvo, any word back from NuCamp?

dlb

I would be interested in a solution to this issue as well.

donmontalvo

I set up an appointment at Blue Compass RV in Ogden, Utah. I asked some technical questions and was pleasantly surprised at how experienced and knowledgeable their service folks are.

I asked for an estimate on repair, the tech told me it is an easy repair, would take 24 hours. He set expectation, let’s see if a repair is needed.

I explained that I never use the shower. After one tech looked into it and said it’s most likely the plastic bending over time, not a leak. He asked another tech to come over, he agreed. Basically it happens in the same spot on the newer 320s but there haven’t been any reports of damage, just a little flex.

he gave me a work order explaining the above, this way if there are any issues after the warranty expires, I can show it was reported, inspected by two techs and the consensus is no damage, just some flex, so no repair needed.

i honestly only noticed when the trip popped out 1/8” from the wall. Otherwise I never would have cared. Relieved!

Andrea54

Good to hear! We are getting a teak floor mat to help stability. 

Basil48192

I have a 2021, 320S.  I haven't noticed any glaring issues, but I can understand how this might fatigue over time.
I have been considering a teak mat, but it seems to me that the bottom of the teak mat would have to be contoured to match the slope of the floor in order to properly distribute the weight.  
I'm guessing some type of grating system would distrubute the weight much better...though not nearly as attractive as the teak.  

AnOldUR

Basil48192 said:
I'm guessing some type of grating system would distribute the weight much better...though not nearly as attractive as the teak.  

I've been considering cutting one of these rubber mats to fit the shower floor. 

Basil48192

@AnOldUR
I just ordered the tiles above.  I'll let everyone know my thoughts when I get them.  My main focus was to distribute the weight more evenly, but not scratch the shower floor.  

AnOldUR

@Basil48192
My thinking may be flawed, but it's that distributing the weight would be difficult due to the slope in the floor for drainage. Anything stiff like wood would concentrate the load around the outer edge and could cause cracking. Something rubber, like you and I are proposing, would not do a lot to distribute the weight, but would keep it centered at a location that was intended to support it. 

rfuss928

I used one of these "loofa" type shower mats.  The 24x24 fit with no trimming.  About 1.5 inch folds up with the floor panel under the toilet and holds it in place nicely.   It provides some padding, is non-slip and excellent drainage with no noticeable loss of standing height.  I think it also provides some protection from possible damage caused by stones and gravel.

   

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09ZY5QJ1P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&th=1  

Basil48192

@AnOldUR.  I agree with your assessment.  That was why I didn't buy the teak floor mat.  Even the super expensive ones from the Teardrop Shop have small, rubber pads which, in my opinion, transmit substantial point loads to the floor.  I'm hoping the rubber is stiff enough to distribute the load...but you're right...it's hard to tell from the Amazon description.

Probably the best solution would be a 'home-made' teak floor mat.  It would be a lot of work, but you could contour the bottom ribs to match the slope of the floor.  

Marceline

I made an inexpensive teak floor by buying 1 sample teak flooring square + 1 package with 2 end pieces. 

The teak is attached to a plastic grid. I did end up putting an old sink mat underneath it to keep it from sliding around.

Basil48192

@Marceline.  That's a good find!  With the plastic spikes on the bottom, they should distribute the weight well.  I ended up with the rubber tiles shown below.  They were easy to install and they are hard rubber so they shouldn't scratch the floor and shouldn't slip...the rubber is pretty rigid, but I'm liking your approach better.  

donmontalvo

Basil48192 said:

@Marceline.  That's a good find!  With the plastic spikes on the bottom, they should distribute the weight well.  I ended up with the rubber tiles shown below.  They were easy to install and they are hard rubber so they shouldn't scratch the floor and shouldn't slip...the rubber is pretty rigid, but I'm liking your approach better.  

Sweet!!! Once I finish a couple to-dos, this will get done here.

Thanks!