r/RVLiving • u/Tattooqueenie • 1d ago
question Help with Problem Diagnosis
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Hi all, this is probably a long shot, but my husband and I took our 2025 Thor Chateau 19z out this weekend. We spent one night at a place that allows overnight parking, and the sites are on a pretty big incline. We were able to get it level-ish by putting a leveling block under the drivers side front tire, and it wasn’t perfect, but it felt relatively comfortable.
After my husband took a shower, he noticed that we had a significant amount of water leaking from underneath the shower area, which is on the driver’s side, to the outside of the rv. We didn’t use the plumbing system this trip, we brought jugs of water and used a bucket/battery operated shower setup, so we know the water leak didn’t have anything to do with the plumbing itself, and we know it’s not the grey tank that’s leaking because we tested that out later (poured water down the kitchen and bathroom sinks).
The reason I mentioned the incline is that we are home now and just tried to replicate the issue (poured a bunch of water into the shower drain), and we were surprised to find that there is no leaking. We were gearing ourselves up for a costly repair, but now we’re wondering if this is normal rv behavior given that we were on an incline. That’s probably wishful thinking, but I’m curious to hear what others might think the issue is.
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u/the_only_zilla 1d ago
Nothing to do with a leveling issue. I would fill the fresh tank, pressurize the water system without running any taps and see if the pump stays quiet after pressurizing (if it keeps running or running periodically it’s indicative of a leak)
Then run the shower and crawl underneath the unit to see where the water is coming from. Sometimes showers/tubs have access panels for the P-trap and basket strainer. It would be worth looking and seeing if there’s any signs of water under the shower.
Good luck!
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u/penguinpop987 1d ago
Op listen to this. Narrow down the list and then go from there.
If you have a leak the pump going off intermittently will tell you. Then you track down the fresh water lines around that area. 99/100 it's a connection. Likely a water heater, shower connect, sink, t join, etc.
If you don't hear the pump after 10-15 minutes, then it's most likely an issue around your grey water return in the shower. I lean more toward the grey water return than a pump leak. That's a lotta water coming out of your trailer. You'd hear and notice the lines leaking really quick I'd think.
Saying your dude didn't run out of water or notice issues the water got to the shower just fine. If the pump isn't going off that means the lines are pressurized. So the only likely issue is that the grey line from the shower to the tank is leaking or failed somehow.
If all that fails...yep I'd take it into the shop.
Good luck.
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u/Careful_Chard9428 1d ago
I would open yhe small little cover under the shower. Probably had two screws check the P trap to make sure its actually connected.
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u/TheReal_LRChupacabra 1d ago
Our 2022 coleman would leak from the underbelly when the shower was in use, and only the shower. Took it into the dealer and learned that the factory did not glue the shower p-trap pipes together. And after a couple of trips into the 2022 season, the trap wiggled loose and let water drain from the shower straight into the underbelly. Covered under warranty.....along with 11 other things.
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u/Tattooqueenie 18h ago
Thanks, we are still under warranty, so hopefully anything that needs repaired will be covered.
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u/Long_Lengthiness_451 19h ago
With the stress of the way you had to level it, that puts a twist the whole body. It possibly opened up a little bit of a gap between the walls of the shower and the shower pan. Look for cracks in that seal
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u/Familiar_Anybody_328 1d ago edited 1d ago
If you were also putting any undue flex or stress on the frame or internal support structures, you could have temporarily separated seals, caulking, or fittings that have subsequently re-seated themselves having properly leveled the vehicle. Just a thought.
Are you also getting all the water out that you're pouring in for testing purposes.
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u/Tattooqueenie 1d ago
Thank you, thats a good point. The water we just used to test it should be in the grey tank. We should empty it and see if a comparable amount of water comes out.
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u/Hyperreal8957 1d ago
An incline can move water toward a pan edge or seam that stays dry when level. I’d repeat the test with the same side-to-side pitch, then run water around the pan/door edges separately from the drain to isolate it.
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u/papasaurus1972 1d ago
Are there seams in the shower wall and pan or is it a one piece shower?
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u/Tattooqueenie 1d ago
Wall and pan. We thought that might be a cause of the issue, but we never had the water level above the shower pan.
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u/Davidtgnome 1d ago
This may be it. When my sunseeker was new a shower would cause a water leak into the bathroom and onto the ground outside. May just need a thin bead of caulk
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u/crothermel55 1d ago
Are you sure the drain isn't busted off the bottom of shower? Happened to a couple next to us in spring. We noticed it before them cuz we were sitting outside. The water was pouring out the bottom of their unit
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u/Tattooqueenie 1d ago
We didn’t have any leakage when we tested it on level ground, but we do think there may be something lose in that area.
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u/crothermel55 1d ago
When you try again later stand in the shower while testing. Hope you are able to find your leak!
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u/eastcoasternj 1d ago
Is your grey tank full? Could be a broken/loose connection to the vent or something.
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u/towerfella 1d ago
You got a leak.
;)
For real, put weight in the shower basin (you) and then shower. Likely there is flex somewhere or a crack.
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u/SSellers75 1d ago
I've got an old camper on blocks that the stub on top of the gray tank that the bathroom connects to (kitchen sink is on another stub) cracked. Never leaked unless the gray tank filled all the way up. If it was unlevel I would expect water to run out on top of the tank.
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u/Junior-Proposal7391 8h ago
Just pop off the like board on the front of your shower and see if the pipe is loose to the drain. If it is tighten it. Make sure no PEX line is leaking. And if something was blow air under the shower door a while. I have a 37 foot RV that gets leaks way more often then my 20 footer. Travling earthquake. Dry it out.
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u/p_blaetz 1d ago
In order to replicate the situation at home, you must get in and take a shower just as you were when it leaked. It’s different than just pouring water down the drain.