How do I cut into my TT?

[MikeyXX]

I'm installing an outside shower. I have the "t"s and stuff required, but how do I cut into the trailer? I'm thinking of starting on the inside with a drill to mark the center. Then....


I was thinking of using a sawsall, but I don't want the reciprocating action de-laminating my trailer.

It was suggested that I use a rototool and get a longer bit to make it through the wall. However, these aren't overly steady and I'm afraid of a wavey line.

[MikeyXX]

I'm installing an outside shower. I have the "t"s and stuff required, but how do I cut into the trailer? I'm thinking of starting on the inside with a drill to mark the center. Then....


I was thinking of using a sawsall, but I don't want the reciprocating action de-laminating my trailer.

It was suggested that I use a rototool and get a longer bit to make it through the wall. However, these aren't overly steady and I'm afraid of a wavey line.

["007"]

If you use a fine tooth saw blade and high speed, should not pull siding off trailer and does sawsall have a stop plate at blade location to keep steady.

Welcome to irv2 by the way.

[Frankie]

I have installed a couple outside showers and 007 is right.Use a fine tooth sabre saw with a long blade.I put masking tape on the outside of the templet you draw on the side of the trailer.Use blue tape, it act as a line to cut by.Most importaint make sure you cut inbetween the studs.Also your right about a pilot hole.I used a small hole saw and carefully cut enough wall away with sabre saw and felt for studs as I went on one of the installs when I couldnt find it with a stud finder. Good Luck

[Ray,IN]

It may be prudent to rent one of those high-dollar stud-finders that detect electrical wires, metal, water pipes, etc behind the surface.

[UFO Pilot]

If you want a perfect hole I would buy a hole saw bit of the right diameter. They can be purchased up to 6 inches at least.

[John Hilley]

I assume you have to cut a rectangular hole to fit the shower assembly in. Use a hole saw of about 1" in each corner. Then with a straight edge, score the staight lines with a utility knife. Depending on the type and thickness of the fiberglass on the outside and paneling on the inside, you might be able to do all the cuts with the utility knife. Even if you need to use a sawzall or saber saw, scoring the line will give you a nice edge and an easy mark to follow.

[MikeyXX]

These are all great ideas.

John, Yes it's rectangular. I understand what you are saying up to the hole saw of 1" in each corner. Won't that cause a portion of the circle to be outside my rectangle? How do I center it properly so that the "circle" is within the corner and not outside of it?

[John Hilley]

If you draw the rectangle on the surface, you can usually eye ball it or you can draw in the diagonals then measure slightly more than the radius of the hole saw towards the center of the rectangle and make a mark for the pilot bit.

[MikeyXX]

Yes, that makes perfect sense. Good thanks!

[Clay L]

I used a stud finder with the capability of finding wood, metal, and electric wiring first to try to make sure I wasn't going to cut any thing important.
I then used a RotoZip tool with the bit extended just enough to cut the fiberglass and luan siding on my motor home. Then I used a utility knife to remove the foam. I used the RotoZip again to cut the interior luan.

Some of the above was probably overkill, but in any case I think the RotoZip tool was a good choice.

[NLOVNIT]

MikeyXX,

Send a private message (PM) to George Miklas about this topic. He installed an outside shower on his TT during a campout last year. He'll be able to walk you though the entire process.

L-

[Glen41]

You can get jigsaw blades that cut on the upstroke or on the downstroke. They are made for just this situation so you dont splinter the face you care about. They come pretty long too.

[NeilV]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by MikeyXX:
These are all great ideas.

John, Yes it's rectangular. I understand what you are saying up to the hole saw of 1" in each corner. Won't that cause a portion of the circle to be outside my rectangle? How do I center it properly so that the "circle" is within the corner and not outside of it? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Draw a 1/2 inch square box inside each corner and center the 1 inch holesaw bit on the inside corner of the 1/2 inch square. That way even if you wear glasses they won't throw you off and the edge of the 1 inch saw won't be outside the lines.