Cargo Camper Shower Build

In this video I continue my plumbing work on my Cargo Trailer Camper Conversion by installing a shower and a water heater.
The shower walls are made from FRP board and I'm installing a Tankless Water Heater.
This video is part of my Cargo Trailer to Camper Conversion project. I'm no professional, so I'm sharing my progress and my lessons. Feel free to follow along!

[@markfive4035]

Back in the day when I did camperized vans, we used 3/4" plywood for all walls where no wiring or plumbing had to go. Not significantly heavier than studs, but saves roughly 6" of space on opposing walls. Use cabinet grade, or finished hardwood and stain and you're good to go.

[@racheec2398]

Good tip , Tnx!!

[@danny117hd]

I would buy a battery powered caulking gun. Mine sits for months but when it comes out it's a super time saver.

[@chrislogan7756]

I would highly recommend switching the wall outlet above the toilet to a GFCI, considering the proximity to wet space. Otherwise, great build and content so far!

[@befreebuilds]

Thanks! That's a good call!

[@TheAllang123]

Yes spotted that too. Or if it was downstream from a GFI it would be ok too.

[@imacrazyguy5831]

One big tip - every single outlet in a trailer should be GFCI. They only cost a few dollars more, but with how moisture can get behind them due to changes in weather and such with the metal exterior - its smart to have a bit of protection on all devices. =)

[@jaset3734]

Add an exterior cover also. All receptacles in my trailer have them to keep moisture out due to temp changes in a confined space

[@DesignBuildFixReview]

@@befreebuilds I think they make breakers with GFI so you could hit them all up at the same time with breakers. Not sure what someone meant by outlet covers, but a good thing to do is fill the inside of the outlets with spray foam and then use calking under outlet covers. This insures a tight seal. You could skip tge sprayfoam and just do the calking since this isnt a house.

[@rs1961]

I particularly enjoyed watching you work ... the narration was most excellent!

[@befreebuilds]

Awesome, thank you!

[@bfe671]

People who don’t install a shower in their cargo conversion are just plain lazy. You need a shower more than you realize when you travel. Good work on your setup!!

[@racheec2398]

- I'm looking into doing precisely that🚿 in my cargo!

[@whodatmichael6028]

@@racheec2398 yup a bathroom is a must.. my build is an 71/2 x 16 ...👉🙃🙂

[@krystledyer5827]

My friend even built a stall and just used one of those bag showers. He would water in his Coleman stove and then mix with cool water till a good temp. He did that for about a year and he added on as he made money. After a year he hooked up an actual shower head

[@boundariessetinstone5893]

I rather a shower then a kitchen food is easier to get then a shower and toilet.

[@174iceman]

gave thumbs up for venting water heater most seen on youtube just vents inside you might want to cover that vent when pulling down road could see it pushing rain in

[@jadefritz3035]

I think you shouldn't have put the vent for water heater on front wall of trailer. Driving in the rain will push water thru & down into your heater. Not good.

[@174iceman]

@@jadefritz3035 i have a cover for it when not used or in Transit on mine

[@marceloehme7541]

Very decent work! Congrats! :-)

[@traviscarter9182]

Is your HW heater a pressure on/off or is it on until turned off. We have one that is only on by pressure and not a fan due to low pump volume. How is it holding up and would you change anything. What modle do you use? Great vid and build Sir. Thank you for your time.

[@andresromer8715]

What tape did you use for the shower joints before the FRP.??

[@codyschwoch5451]

And for those that are going to do the same thing and waterproof their own customized shower, please steer as far away from using a whole thing of caulk on it before you use a roll-on latex shower paint that they use when they install showers I don’t remember exactly what it’s called but you can paint it on any surface and it will waterproof itand you just apply it generously in the corners and use multiple coats

[@SewingBoxDesigns]

Rust-Oleum has a boat/marine paint. I'm going to just paint layers until the paint can is empty. 😁

[@jjmellooldscool]

Great build first of all. But PLEASE I have to know the music/group? :)

[@houstonfirefox]

Great video! Seems like an exceptionally large shower in such a limited space. Would a 24x24 have worked as well? Keep up the good work!

[@jeremydavis9431]

I’m curious what type of tape you glued for sealing the seams. Please let me know.

[@ccgcon9574]

The tape is schluter kerdi band. It's not sticky it's just a waterproof membrane strip. Usually mortared on to the wall. he caulked it on

[@bonapartistico]

Has anyone else have any experience on using some kind of glue/silicon to bond the tape? How is it holding up?

[@garywells3874]

Why couldn't you use a good polyurethane adhesive to seal the panels to the shower pan? I was thinking the same thing. @@bonapartistico

[@AUTigerAlum83]

I'd like to see underneath. I figured you'd have to raise the shower pan a few inches to get the trap exit above the top of the gray water tank. Or is there one? Just a flexible hose away from the camper?

[@JNHEscapes]

The vent for the water heater should have been out the side not the front. The last thing I would want to do is force air down the vent pipe. Also, I would not have put an outlet in the bathroom, but if I did it would have been GFCI.

[@mln1669]

It's awesome 👌 how much did you spend on it?

[@mauriceb77]

I am building a shower trailer and still need to fully install the tankless water heater. Did you have any issues with carbon monoxide venting it out the wall in the way you did?

[@dfanman1]

What were the materials used for the shower studs?

[@HWALK]

What type of tape did you use for the corner sealing?

[@befreebuilds]

I used kerdi-band waterproofing strips

[@joeclark9042]

Hey buddy I know this is an old video but what size trailer is that I'm wanting to build me one so I'm trying to see what size it is cuz I like the pretty decent one I appreciate your time thank you sir

[@Muhekan]

Do you think there will be any issues with water entering the water heater vent during travel?

[@befreebuilds]

Yeah that's my one worry. If it comes up, I'll probably cover the vent during travel

[@dubv6902]

Awesome 👌

[@californiadreamlocks7441]

Hi there! Wondering about the shower pan, frp sheet and the tape, would like to know where you purchased them, thanks for the info 🙏

[@befreebuilds]

I got most of the material from Lowes/Home Depot. The pan I got from Amazon I believe

[@masterchef2408]

@@befreebuilds I didn’t catch what size it was?

[@taylorseigler]

@@masterchef2408 I think he says it's a 32"x32"

[@Nowindresistance]

@@befreebuildswhat kind of tape is that and what was the caulking you used behind it?

[@wadeintoit]

Hello, I am also curious about the seam tape you used in the shower. What is the name of that product?

[@RcMyPassion]

With the Heater installed inside with a vent does that Guarantee 100% no Carbon Monoxide inside the trailer & also is this an installation option recommended by the Mfr being it is Gas....Looking to install one in my 7x16....Thanks

[@racheec2398]

Ditto!! Looking 4 info :) Sold house, ForSale Ad up on 26ft parked seasonal trailer & researching conversion HowTo's - van or cargo. My 7×16 nose tip enclosed cargo was purchased partially wired.. Gdluck to all🙋🏼‍♀️

[@befreebuilds]

This seemed like the safest installation and was pretty inline with the mfg instructions. It's designed to be installed on a house or building and this installation is similar. They have RV specific ones which is probably the best, if it fits your build.

[@Sugarkryptonite]

@@befreebuilds Where did you get the flue exhaust pipe and wall thimble plate from? Or did it come with the heater you bought?

[@garywells3874]

Are you still there - where did you find a low profile drain for the shower pan? Thanks.

[@befreebuilds]

Wish I remembered. I got a lot on Amazon though

[@TadashiYasahiro]

Nice shower build, going forward May I suggest you put nail plates on the wall studs where the piping runs through it, I was watching your brother nail up the panel and hoping he didn’t puncture the plumbing pipes cause that would have killed me. Also if you can use a p-trap and run it the other way under the shower so that sewer gases or gases from the black water tank don’t back up into your trailer from the shower would help you a lot! Hate to hear you woke up to 💩 smells filling your trailer.

[@befreebuilds]

Yeah a punctured water line would have been awful haha. I did install a p trap between the shower and the tank

[@TadashiYasahiro]

@@befreebuilds okay cool, and what water heater did you go with... I may build mine next year and right now I may go with a 19gal just because I want to keep it 120V

[@befreebuilds]

@@TadashiYasahiro yeah an electric one might be a better choice than the propane one I went with

[@TadashiYasahiro]

@@befreebuilds what model is your propane one?

[@machella1233]

Hi Do you know where I can get a 40x60 sliding glass door enclosure

[@isaacdelgado38]

What kind of water heater is that? Where can I get one?

[@isaacdelgado38]

What side is that shower pan?

[@EarthCamper]

What is that material on bath wall

[@DanielSparlin]

Also, how has that material held up against time?

[@befreebuilds]

The shower walls are FRP panels. It's held up pretty well

[@djbigdavethefyrm]

I'm subscribed now as I want to do this as well. How big is your trailer?

[@befreebuilds]

I got a 7'x14' trailer. I feel like it's a great size, not too big to tow, but big enough for us to use comfortably.

[@diffusesden5455]

what are the dimensions of your trailer?

[@befreebuilds]

It's 7x14

[@johnathanmobley95]

My walls bubbled bad. How do I fix it 😭😭

[@bigsid1984]

What hot water heater you use?

[@boondock6055]

Great videos a little fast for me tho

[@irishdruid1]

What is your final weight and what vehicle are you using to tow this?

[@Pulsed101]

Anyone know what material was used for the shower walls?

[@garywells3874]

FRP from Home Depot or Lowe's

[@ekoms108]

Do you have a grey tank and does your shower have a p-trap?

[@befreebuilds]

Yeah I've got a grey and black tank. The shower has a p trap under the trailer

[@ekoms108]

@@befreebuilds oh cool. What type of the board did use for the walls? Looks good so far!

[@wallacehl]

Where did you get your panels? Thx

[@befreebuilds]

I got these from Lowes. I think they were around $20 a sheet.

[@wallacehl]

Thank you. I enjoy your videos.

[@redfoot69]

What size cargo trailer u have here

[@befreebuilds]

It's a 7x14 trailer

[@chrisholliday1330]

Omg.

[@samuelsmith5773]

Why do so many people shoot footage of their backs, butts, etc…..only to say “here I’m connecting the….”? Why not shoot when not blocking the camera?

[@DixieNormas]

Nothing like a good ol "how not to" video...

[@hunterXhunter-s8i]

Так а размеры какие? Ниочем

[@joemcdonough2765]

Why not make it out of cement blocks?

[@sraa1952]

Light switch on the outside of the shower .....not inside. 👍