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Mobile Home Bathtubs Must Meet Special Needs
Mobile home bathtubs are quite different from the ones used in conventional construction. They are made of different materials and have different configurations and the installation and repair techniques are quite different as well. In a mobile home, weight considerations are more important and plumbing access will also dictate choices.
A regular tub may sit directly on the flooring and plumbing is commonly at one end, but in a mobile home, the plumbing may need to run parallel to the bottom of the tub and under it. These tubs may rest on a Styrofoam base or on plastic legs that pop into brackets on the underside of the tub. If the plumbing must go under the tub, the foam won't work.
Regular home bathtubs may be made of porcelain over metal, epoxy or plastic, but those for mobile home use are most commonly plastic because it is the lightest weight and more suitable for mobile home flooring. Also, mobile home bathtubs usually do not have an "overflow" feature like regular tubs do. The coves and other fixtures may be also be quite different.
Plastic tubs are not as easy to repair as conventional tubs, and may have to be replaced instead if they crack. Epoxy type repair kits may allow mending small cracks, but any "give" or movement may let the crack reappear. There are mending tapes, but many find the appearance unacceptable.
If the decision is made to replace the tub, it is likely not a good idea to do it yourself unless you are replacing exactly the same kind and size of tub and the same type of enclosure. If the plumbing allows it, you could change from legs to foam because it is more substantial and tubs on foam bases don't make as many creaking sounds. You may need to change most of the plumbing fittings as well to prevent leaks.
Fiberglass is also available in mobile home bathtubs. It weighs a little more and is usually more expensive, but it is also more durable. Most find the appearance of the fiberglass tubs more attractive, and it also is more crack resistant. Mobile home bathtubs come in only a few sizes compared to standard housing, and you are pretty much limited in replacing the same size as the one being replaced, so measure carefully. When shopping, you need to know size, and you should know whether the plumbing is right access, left access or center access as well.
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