bathroom floor by drain flexes?

Andrea54
Andrea54 Member Posts: 18
in Heating/Plumbing & Winterizing
Floor right by drain in t@b 320 cs-s feels 'soft' or like it flexes more there-is this normal?
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  • donmontalvo
    donmontalvo Member Posts: 187
    edited May 2025
    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.

    Don Montalvo | Retired Veteran | Full time boondocker
    Camper: nuCamp T@B 320S BBC | 12V 2x100Ah LiFePO4 | 600W Solar
    Tow Vehicle: Jeep JLU Rubicon | 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 | 200W Solar
    https://revkit.com/donmontalvo/ | https://donmontalvo.com
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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    @donmontalvo - let us know what nuCamp decides. 

    Anyone else out there with a 2024 model with a soft spot on the shower floor?
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • Gomers2
    Gomers2 Member Posts: 123
    edited May 2025
    Definitely, same spot. We assumed it was normal. 
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  • vhollow
    vhollow Member Posts: 96
    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!
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  • Andrea54
    Andrea54 Member Posts: 18
    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??

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  • Andrea54
    Andrea54 Member Posts: 18
    edited May 2025
    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. 
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  • donmontalvo
    donmontalvo Member Posts: 187
    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.
    Don Montalvo | Retired Veteran | Full time boondocker
    Camper: nuCamp T@B 320S BBC | 12V 2x100Ah LiFePO4 | 600W Solar
    Tow Vehicle: Jeep JLU Rubicon | 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 | 200W Solar
    https://revkit.com/donmontalvo/ | https://donmontalvo.com
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  • HappyWanderer
    HappyWanderer Member Posts: 28
    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?
    2024 320 CS-S | Ontario, Canada
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  • dlb
    dlb Member Posts: 171
    I would be interested in a solution to this issue as well.
    2021 Tab 400 Boondock
    2020 Audi SQ5
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  • donmontalvo
    donmontalvo Member Posts: 187
    edited May 2025
    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!
    Don Montalvo | Retired Veteran | Full time boondocker
    Camper: nuCamp T@B 320S BBC | 12V 2x100Ah LiFePO4 | 600W Solar
    Tow Vehicle: Jeep JLU Rubicon | 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 | 200W Solar
    https://revkit.com/donmontalvo/ | https://donmontalvo.com
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  • Andrea54
    Andrea54 Member Posts: 18
    Good to hear! We are getting a teak floor mat to help stability. 
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  • Basil48192
    Basil48192 Member Posts: 437
    edited May 2025



    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.  

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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,728
    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. 


    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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  • Basil48192
    Basil48192 Member Posts: 437
    @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.  
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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,728
    edited May 2025
    @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. 
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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  • rfuss928
    rfuss928 Member Posts: 1,181
    edited May 2025
    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.
       

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  • Basil48192
    Basil48192 Member Posts: 437
    @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.  
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  • Marceline
    Marceline Member Posts: 1,748
    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.

    San Francisco Bay Area
    2013 CS-S us@gi
    2015 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner Double Cab
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  • Basil48192
    Basil48192 Member Posts: 437
    @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.  


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  • donmontalvo
    donmontalvo Member Posts: 187
    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!
    Don Montalvo | Retired Veteran | Full time boondocker
    Camper: nuCamp T@B 320S BBC | 12V 2x100Ah LiFePO4 | 600W Solar
    Tow Vehicle: Jeep JLU Rubicon | 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 | 200W Solar
    https://revkit.com/donmontalvo/ | https://donmontalvo.com
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  • Yoshi_TAB
    Yoshi_TAB Member Posts: 568
    Marceline said:
    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.

    Hi,  @Marceline

    Are the supports only around the perimeter, or also on the interior portion of the square.

    You only bought a 12 x 12 sample for the entire bathroom floor or am I confused  :o

    TY
    2025 360 CS 
    2021 TAB 320 BD (w/new owner having fun)
    2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
    Southern Maryland
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  • Marceline
    Marceline Member Posts: 1,748
    Yoshi_TAB said:
    Marceline said:
    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.

    Hi,  @Marceline

    Are the supports only around the perimeter, or also on the interior portion of the square.

    You only bought a 12 x 12 sample for the entire bathroom floor or am I confused  :o

    TY
    The teak is on top of a plastic grid, and the plastic pegs are underneath the entire square.
    I bought one tile plus a package with 2 end pieces. It doesn't quite fill the floor but it's enough to stand on, and it's cheaper than other teak mats. Assembled, it's probably about 12" x 14" 
    San Francisco Bay Area
    2013 CS-S us@gi
    2015 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner Double Cab
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