Thor 2023 KW29 shower upgrade

[Ohiosnowbird]

Our Thor 2023 KW29 has been nothing but a nightmare, but we’re coming through to the other side and have made a better camper than what we bought.

The shower was actually a cruel installation by Thor and we’re improving it. Any normal size person would have trouble, any senior citizen, god-help. Skinny millennials, maybe, cats definitely but they don’t like water.

Starting this thread so we can document how we upgraded a pretty silly shower. Here’s the critter being evicted:
We’ve had a custom shower base and walls made. That crate is sitting in the front yard. I told him he couldn’t rip anything out until the new one was here which it is now. Stay posted - if you’re interested! Starting this in the next few days….

 

[Onyrlef]

I think the base (pan) for the shower enclosures are unnecessarily high off the floor. Stepping out through a narrow door can be a challenge. The necessary fall required to the gray tank begins at the floor and the trap can be anywhere in the line.

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

I think the base (pan) for the shower enclosures are unnecessarily high off the floor. Stepping out through a narrow door can be a challenge. The necessary fall required to the gray tank begins at the floor and the trap can be anywhere in the line.

Yes. Yes. Yes. I am sure we’re going to find some shake your head stuff. Remember we also had the black water tank fall off so we’re hoping to improve bracing for that as well.

 

[Laura & Charles]

I think the base (pan) for the shower enclosures are unnecessarily high off the floor. Stepping out through a narrow door can be a challenge. The necessary fall required to the gray tank begins at the floor and the trap can be anywhere in the line.

The picture is the old (current) shower…we have no idea yet what the pan for the planned new one is to be.
We pretty much don’t like our current shower either… Will be following this closely… thanks @Ohiosnowbird for documenting this project.

 

[Onyrlef]

The picture is the old (current) shower…we have no idea yet what the pan for the planned new one is to be.
We pretty much don’t like our current shower either… Will be following this closely… thanks @Ohiosnowbird for documenting this project.

I realize that, I just notice the pan in their existing shower is quite high off the floor like ours.

 

[Laura & Charles]

I realize that, I just notice the pan in their existing shower is quite high off the floor like ours.

Sorry… I misread your post as a comment on the project.
Quite right.. not sure I’ve ever seen one so high. Most RVs don’t have the headroom for that high of a pan. Of course, the skylight helps. The headroom over our shower is even more limited as the floor is raised about 8” over the engine compartment.

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

I realize that, I just notice the pan in their existing shower is quite high off the floor like ours.

Hubby thinks the reason for the height in the existing shower (what’s pictured above - evil thing) is the p-trap (he’s not here right now or I’d ask) you know the s shaped drain pipe that keeps the smell out is above the floor. He says there’s a hole in the floor to accommodate it as well. Without tearing it out he isn’t sure, but says he’s prepared for that. He/we used to renovate old houses and you never know what you’re going to find with plumbing.

Will be following this closely… thanks @Ohiosnowbird for documenting this project.

Here are some clips from emails to the custom shower base maker.

I don't have any changes that need to be made to my order and would like to expedite my order. I do have a question, can you make Diamond Core wall panels? This shower base is going in my class c rv. My finished shower is 32 X 38 3/4 X 72 . If not for weight I would do the hole thing in Corian.

Yes, we do make wall panels. For the Diamond Core, the sheets are 1/4” think and we apply the same Polyurea that we apply to the base but unlike the base, which is textured for slip resistance, the wall panels are a smooth finish and are one piece per wall. We supply the panels oversized and they can be scored (from the back side, color side facing down) and simply snaped off to size to scribe to walls and ceilings. The adhesive to secure them to the backerboard is also include. The sheets weigh .88 pounds per square foot.

We’re waiting to start because there’s a new table saw that will score and cut the panels professionally - there’s always a new tool for the shop - arriving tomorrow.

Custom Shower Bases – Custom built to your Specifications

customshowerbases.com

From the invoice: Base Shape: UNIQUE


I’m not 100% sure this is the shape - he’s not here right now and it’s still crated in the front yard. I thought it was going to be square or rectangular, but this is his baby! He hated the current one so it’s all his to change. His work is always beautiful.

This wasn’t cheap. $2116.00. We’re going to put a retractable door, again weird size so custom and additional $ - I think somewhere $300-$400. He doesn’t want to order yet until he can get an exact measurement.

Nautilus Shower Door - Stoett Shop

The Nautilus retractable shower door is ideal for RVs, but perfect for tiny bathrooms anywhere.

shop.stoett.com

We’re also changing the faucet, keeping the continuous hot water system now that we’ve upgraded it to something that makes sense.

Faucet:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098NGP43C?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

cats definitely but they don’t like water.

That's what the appliance in front of the shower is for. Use the lid so they stay in there until sufficiently washed.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

That's what the appliance in front of the shower is for. Use the lid so they stay in there until sufficiently washed.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

There are days…

The plastic potty doesn’t hold enough water.

 

[Ray-IN]

The height of the pan allows room to install a "P" trap. That height can be reduced by using a Hepvo valve.

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

The height of the pan allows room to install a "P" trap. That height can be reduced by using a Hepvo valve.

Thanks! Hubby wants to know if you have one of those? What is the thing made of? He’s been in construction forever and has never heard of this. He’s interested and doing research but if you have experience with one I’m sure he’ll have questions for you.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Per the google:



Contrasted by the "waterless" P-trap found in RV's:



Also known as a duckbill valve. Advantage being it requires less vertical space, disadvantage is the duckbill can accumulate hair and soap goo, requiring attention from time to time.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[Onyrlef]

The Hepvo looks handy for a confined space under a vanity or so, but I'd hesitate to install a device requiring routine maintenance ( cleaning out) or even non routine maintenance in an inaccessible location.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

I have to wonder the logic of how some RV showers are designed. Mine is a kind I've seen regularly, a step up into the shower pan and a bumped out overhead skylight, without which I'd be hitting my head on the ceiling. I have an access panel in front of the shower pan that I can get at the drain and trap which is thoughtful, but I think if I had a choice between a P trap and a duckbill trap I'd take the duckbill and gain some headroom. Then an extension to the thought, why need any elevation at all - the trap and drain could be underneath the floor and water entering the gray tank from the side just as effectively as the top. I've never built an RV so I could be missing something obvious but I'm thinking with a bit of thought and clever design the shower could be focal point and not an afterthought. In my travels remodeling my homes most of what is typical isn't because it's best, but quick and cheap. The bathrooms I've built are all out of the same stuff tract homes have but more logical, and serviceable. I'm sure some of the higher end coaches have more refined systems and you'd think some of that innovation would trickle down into mass produced stuff, but I guess that's too much thought.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[Sunnyfalls]

The Hepvo looks handy for a confined space under a vanity or so, but I'd hesitate to install a device requiring routine maintenance ( cleaning out) or even non routine maintenance in an inaccessible location.

We haven't found Hepvo valves to require any more maintenance than P-traps. In fact, likely much less maintenance and easier to accomplish too. You definitely do NOT want install EITHER Hepvo valves or P-traps in an inaccessible location!

Besides requiring far less space, Hepvo valves also don't hold water like a P-trap which poses a freezing risk requiring winterizing maintenance. And Hepvo valves can also be installed both horizontally or vertically too.

Casita trailer uses Hepvo valves for their shower drains, but not for their bathroom or kitchen sink drains. However, we subsequently replaced all our sink P-traps with Hepvo valves too and we have not had to do any maintenance or had any issues whatsoever. Casita trailer people, who tend to be very creative, competent, innovative and thoughtful people, have been using Hepvo valves forever.

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

Per the google:

View attachment 174756

Contrasted by the "waterless" P-trap found in RV's:

View attachment 174758

Also known as a duckbill valve. Advantage being it requires less vertical space, disadvantage is the duckbill can accumulate hair and soap goo, requiring attention from time to time.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

Thanks! He was afraid of requiring attention from time to time. He thinks he’s going to go with the devil he knows, but once he gets it torn open he’ll decide.

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

Deconstruction of the shower.












The third photo revealed a false wall that could be removed giving us 3 more inches. There’s also excessive wiring that needs to be shortened. This was revealed when the wall was removed. Next step is to build the platform the custom base will sit on. He’s still unsure what he’s going to do about the p-trap. Furniture grade 3/4 inch oak as the top of the platform (so the base will be level) and the platform will be supported by 2x4s. And install 1/4 inch plywood on the walls so there’s a solid surface for the shower enclosure panels. There’s a heating duct that needs to be moved and the towel bar needs to be shortened. That’s it for now!

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

Updates.

From the invoice: Base Shape: UNIQUE

The shape is rectangular, not this shape.

Stopped in our tracks by some silly wiring problems that have been solved. Some plumbing needed to be rearranged as well. With understanding what the plumbing spaghetti was we found an interesting critter in the wall that needed to be addressed. Saves us a headache in the future:



Our “no fuss flush” system that’s supposed to assist in cleaning the black tank has never worked. It was missing the 20” flex line. We finally sent our list of “issues” to the president of Thor (that story for another day) and they sent us the missing 20“ flex line. One of the items in the plumbing that had to be rearranged was the “no fuss flush check valve” system. Wondering why the check valve looked so cheap, hubby decided to do some research and found on many forums recommendations to switch the cheap one out for a watts brass 288A check valve. They say the cheap one notoriously leaks. Since we’re going to be closing this area up with a new wall, it seemed prudent. We’re waiting for that to arrive. An access panel in the closet is also being added in case any of it ever needs to be serviced.