Your RV Shower Door: The Basics + Options to Upgrade It

Being avid DIYers, we’ve been asked a time or two whether it’s possible to replace an RV shower door.

The answer is an absolute yes, and we thought it might be a good idea to cover this topic in a post for anyone who may have an RV shower door that has degraded in some way or who simply wants a new look or improved functionality.

So, let’s talk about the basics of an RV shower door and the options to upgrade it!

What Are RV Shower Doors Made Of?

RV shower doors are typically made of one of two materials…either plastic or glass.

Pleated/Folding Plastic

Many RV shower doors are made of a type of plastic that folds or is pleated (they may be made of vinyl which is most commonly PVC plastic). It’s a common choice, due to the lightweight nature of the material.

It’s possible for a plastic/vinyl shower door to swing open or closed on a hinge, but these are less frequently found in RVs due to the lack of space for it to swing into.

Glass

Sliding shower doors made of glass are typical in sticks-and-bricks houses, but they’re also commonly found in larger RVs (such as Class A motorhomes and 5th wheels). This is because glass RV shower doors require a fair amount of space and can be quite heavy (less of an issue in bigger RVs).

So, having a glass shower door in your RV may or may not be possible depending on the amount of space and weight you have to spare in your rig.

Glass shower doors may be clear, frosted, or tinted.

Glass doors do best with regular cleaning. This keeps them looking nice and prevents soap scum from clogging the sliding door track.

In our post on how to take an awesome RV shower, we discuss our ritual for keeping our shower stall clean. Some of those tips may apply to your RV shower door as well. And while we’re at it, here’s our video showing you how we get our RV’s shower ready to roll!

What Types of RV Shower Doors Are There?

RV shower doors operate differently depending on the style of door installed.

Retractable Doors

Plastic shower doors may be pleated to open and close, or they may be two panels that fold into each other.  These are called retractable or folding shower doors.

Both types use a track along which the door slides to open and close, but the pleated types (while lightweight and easy to install) can be annoying to operate. (See user reviews before buying.)

Retractable shower doors are common in RV bathrooms due to their lightweight nature and the space-saving aspect of a door that simply slides open and closed within a track.

Rolling Doors

Rolling shower doors (also referred to as bypass shower doors) are sliding doors similar to those you might find at the entrance to a patio.

Rolling shower doors most commonly consist of two glass or plastic panels that roll along a track that’s attached to the shower enclosure.

Shower Curtains

While a shower curtain may not technically be considered a door, many RVs do use shower curtains to enclose the shower.

A shower curtain is the most lightweight, inexpensive, and easily replaceable “RV shower door” option. Heck, you could have several and change them out to suit your mood! ????

Can You Add an RV Shower Door to an RV that Doesn’t Have One?

If your RV bathroom uses a curtain as its shower “door” and you’d like to upgrade it to a solid door, you should be able to do so depending on how your RV shower is constructed. A retractable RV shower door may be the best option here since it requires the least space and is typically quite lightweight.

An RV owner with minimal construction skills could add a shower door as a DIY project, or it could be professionally installed. The key to success is to be sure to measure very carefully. And then measure again. And then one more time… you know… for good measure.

You’ll also want to consider color so that it matches your rig’s shower stall. Most doors are available in either white or ivory, but you may find other options in your search.

There are many options for replacing or adding an RV shower door to your rig’s bathroom.

We’ll take a look at each type but first, a note: If you’re in the market for an RV shower door, be sure to measure precisely and take careful note of the measurements offered by the door manufacturer. We also suggest checking out user reviews… not only to get a sense of the quality of the door and the ease of its operation but also to make sure there are no complaints about size/measurement issues.

With that said, let’s look at a couple of options:

RecPro RV Pleated/Folding Shower Door

RecPro makes a variety of RV shower doors and may have an option for you regardless of the size and type of door you need.

This particular shower door is of the pleated variety and is made of vinyl and polyester. This door can be installed using basic hand tools, and it comes with everything you need to complete the installation (though you’ll need to buy sealant separately).

The dimensions of this door are 36″ wide x 2″ thick x 57″ tall.

Note that with a pleated vinyl shower door like this one, the width of the rails can often be cut to size. The pleated door will work just fine within the shorter/narrower rail, and the side rails don’t need to be cut at all… just the top and bottom rails.

Just be aware that it’s very important to buy a door of the proper height because the height can’t be trimmed.

Nautilus Retractable RD RV Shower Door by Stoett

This is a single-panel retractable shower door that measures 64″ tall x 36″ wide. Nautilus offers this door in heights of 66″, 68″, and 70″. The width is adjustable (smaller) by cutting the horizontal (top & bottom) rails.

This door weighs only 6 pounds, making it ideal for an RV application.

The frame is available in brushed nickel and white via Amazon and may also be available in a “bone” color directly through the company, Stoett Industries, Inc.

RecPro RV Retractable Rolling Shower Door

This rolling RV shower door is made of woven mesh and vinyl, keeping it lightweight and easy to move.

This door is available on Amazon in two sizes: 36″ W x 57″ H and 36″ W x 67″ H (it may be available in other heights on  RecPro’s website). They also have a variety of other RV shower doors from which to choose.

This particular door has a frame that’s mounted with double-sided tape (i.e. super-simple install) and can be mounted to open to the left or to the right, as desired.

Reviewers note that this RV shower door is easy to install and that the included installation tape adheres so well that you’ll need to be cautious about placing it in exactly the right place the first time because it’s difficult to remove, once installed.

Reviewers also note that this door, while light and basic, is a great replacement for (and a significant upgrade from) a simple shower curtain.

Farmhouse Heavy-Duty Fabric Shower Curtain

Finally, the traditional shower curtain. If you don’t have the space (or skills) to upgrade to one of the doors above, maybe just upgrading the curtain itself would help!

Here again, you’ll want to measure the area carefully to determine the appropriate length and width of the shower curtain you want.

There are unlimited sizes, colors, styles, and materials from which to choose, but a nice heavy-duty, water-repellent fabric curtain that can be tossed in the washing machine along with a curtain liner that can easily and inexpensively be replaced makes the best combination overall if they’ll fit your shower space.

While you’re at it, you may want to consider replacing the shower curtain rod in your RV’s shower with an extendable one, to provide more space (and help stop the curtain/liner from plastering itself to you while showering). Something like this should work:

You can see more about it here:

Have You Replaced or Added a New RV Shower Door?

As always, we’d love to hear about your experience! What product did you choose, and how was the installation process? Most importantly, how has the door functioned over time? Drop us a comment below!

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