I have a question about replacing a cracked fiberglass tub in my MH.
It is in the second smaller bathroom and does not have a shower surround.
My question is about the drain connection.It is a right hand side drain and the faucet inlets are accesable through an adjacent closet. Is there a threaded type connection or does it merely slide into the drain in the floor?
Do they make better quality fiberglass tub ?
I am very mechanical and have dome numerous home repairs before but I have never tackled replacing a tub in a MH.Should this be left to a professional?
replacing a tub
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Robert Costner
Re: replacing a tub
Hello Nick,
I just finished replacing the tub in our double wide. The drain in ours had a threaded connection (from looking at the mobile home plumbing kits at our local supply house, I get the feeling this is a pretty standard configuration.)
The drain on ours, was also part of the vent stack, and was set up such that the drain from the tub goes down probably 4 inches, then makes a u-turn, coming back up an inch or so before it makes a 90 degree toward the vent up/drain down stack, then after 5 or 6 inches, makes a down turned Y down into the vent up/ drain down pipe.
There is a threaded connection where the drain pipe begins to make the 90 degree turn (after the u turn at the bottom).
Disconnect the pipe at the beginning of the 90, leaving the 90 degree and it's 5 or 6 inch run to the Y attached to the Y into the vent/drain stack.
Now remove any connectors (nails, screws, clips, molding) etc that may be 'holding' the tub in place, and you should be able to remove the tub.
You can disconnect the metal "drain" fromt the tub, and the piece of u shaped drain pipe, once the tub has been removed, from the bath room. The piece of U shaped pipe, screws over the bottom of the metal "drain" and sandwiches the tub between them. (use a pipe wrench on the U and a set of pliers with a screw dirver thru them to make a T handle to grip while you stick the plier handles down in the metal drain - turn the pipe wrench and hold the T handle until the metal drain begins to unscrew from the U. )
Keep the U shaped piece of drain pipe for use when replacing the new tub. If the metal drain is in good shape, it can be reused also - but a new metal drain has a nice shine, and should cost less than 10 dollars.
I found from measuring, that mobile home standard tubs are smaller than standard residential tubs. The new one I bought ( around $160) was a nice white fiberglass, who's bottom actually set lower to the ground than the previous unit (that made it so I had to lower the placement of the Y going into the vent/drain stack by about 3 inches, and cut a hole in the floor to allow the U to fit down in it.)
This was my first time as well, and am glad I did it. I learned a lot, saved a lot of money, and would recommend anyone doing there own. (I removed the tub surround,wallboard, and the plumbing wall, removed commode, and vanity, then put in new 3/4 inch plywood flooring in whole bathroom, put down new vinyl floor covering (even under new tub area), put up 'green board' water resistant sheetrock above new tub area, installed the tub,did it's plumbing, then put up one of those multi-piece tub surrounds, and caulked it in. I'm proud of myself, and you will be too.)
Good luck,
Robert
I just finished replacing the tub in our double wide. The drain in ours had a threaded connection (from looking at the mobile home plumbing kits at our local supply house, I get the feeling this is a pretty standard configuration.)
The drain on ours, was also part of the vent stack, and was set up such that the drain from the tub goes down probably 4 inches, then makes a u-turn, coming back up an inch or so before it makes a 90 degree toward the vent up/drain down stack, then after 5 or 6 inches, makes a down turned Y down into the vent up/ drain down pipe.
There is a threaded connection where the drain pipe begins to make the 90 degree turn (after the u turn at the bottom).
Disconnect the pipe at the beginning of the 90, leaving the 90 degree and it's 5 or 6 inch run to the Y attached to the Y into the vent/drain stack.
Now remove any connectors (nails, screws, clips, molding) etc that may be 'holding' the tub in place, and you should be able to remove the tub.
You can disconnect the metal "drain" fromt the tub, and the piece of u shaped drain pipe, once the tub has been removed, from the bath room. The piece of U shaped pipe, screws over the bottom of the metal "drain" and sandwiches the tub between them. (use a pipe wrench on the U and a set of pliers with a screw dirver thru them to make a T handle to grip while you stick the plier handles down in the metal drain - turn the pipe wrench and hold the T handle until the metal drain begins to unscrew from the U. )
Keep the U shaped piece of drain pipe for use when replacing the new tub. If the metal drain is in good shape, it can be reused also - but a new metal drain has a nice shine, and should cost less than 10 dollars.
I found from measuring, that mobile home standard tubs are smaller than standard residential tubs. The new one I bought ( around $160) was a nice white fiberglass, who's bottom actually set lower to the ground than the previous unit (that made it so I had to lower the placement of the Y going into the vent/drain stack by about 3 inches, and cut a hole in the floor to allow the U to fit down in it.)
This was my first time as well, and am glad I did it. I learned a lot, saved a lot of money, and would recommend anyone doing there own. (I removed the tub surround,wallboard, and the plumbing wall, removed commode, and vanity, then put in new 3/4 inch plywood flooring in whole bathroom, put down new vinyl floor covering (even under new tub area), put up 'green board' water resistant sheetrock above new tub area, installed the tub,did it's plumbing, then put up one of those multi-piece tub surrounds, and caulked it in. I'm proud of myself, and you will be too.)
Good luck,
Robert
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Nick Vorras
Re: replacing a tub
Robert,
Thanks for the information on the tub replacement!
I am going to give it a try this weekend maybe. Appreciate the feedback!
Nick
Thanks for the information on the tub replacement!
I am going to give it a try this weekend maybe. Appreciate the feedback!
Nick
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Nick Vorras
Re: replacing a tub
Robert,
Thanks for the information on the tub replacement!
I am going to give it a try this weekend maybe. Appreciate the feedback!
Nick
Thanks for the information on the tub replacement!
I am going to give it a try this weekend maybe. Appreciate the feedback!
Nick
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Allison
Re: replacing a tub
I need to replace my fiberglass tub in the master bathroom. I was wondering where I can find a tub to fit a Fleetwood home. It measures 4 foot 6 inches and standard tubs at Lowes etc are 5 foot. Anyone know where I could find or order a tub? Thanks, Allison
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Allison
Re: replacing a tub
Most stores like Lowes dont normally stock manufactured home style tubs/showers.
There is a link at the top of the page called "Parts Store". Give that a try and see if it helps.
-Tracy
There is a link at the top of the page called "Parts Store". Give that a try and see if it helps.
-Tracy
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