cabinet condensation

[mosquitodirk]

Any thoughts on reducing condensation in the storage compartments at the front and rear of the trailer, without the requirement for constant unpacking, more heaters, or restricting camping to the summer months?

I've spent most of the summer/fall in my trailer (home-away-from-home is now my constructed home). It has been very wet lately, and that has translated to lots of condensation.

I'm heading to the Queen Charolettes (hopefully) at the end of November, and suspect that condensation will be a serious problem over there.

Looking for suggestions.

Cheers,
Dirk

[Sandra L]

Have you tried any of those de-humidifying crystals? Have you asked Tammy? She is a wealth of information.
Peace and Sunshine
Sandra

[gbaglo]

I bought Dry-Z-Air (crystals) for Toad. Cost $15 and according to the instructions, you need one for every 10 square feet. I should probably get another for a 17. I've got all the cupboard doors open, except for under the seats. I think I'll open them up too. I picked up a slight amount of moisture in the tray after three days, but that may say more about the trailer than the product.

Got another one for the trunk of the company car. It's full of camera equipment and apparently leaks like a sieve. After one day, I had a couple or three table-spoons of water in the tray. It may take a while for it to suck the water from the wet carpet.

A buddy with a boat has used the product and prefers to use a fan. I saw a low powered heater / fan for RVs and boats, but it's $80, so I'm sticking with the crystals for now.

bags

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by mosquitodirk

Any thoughts on reducing condensation in the storage compartments at the front and rear of the trailer, without the requirement for constant unpacking, more heaters, or restricting camping to the summer months?

I've spent most of the summer/fall in my trailer (home-away-from-home is now my constructed home). It has been very wet lately, and that has translated to lots of condensation.

I'm heading to the Queen Charolettes (hopefully) at the end of November, and suspect that condensation will be a serious problem over there.

Looking for suggestions.

Cheers,
Dirk

Hi: Dirk... The closet in our 5.0 has a 3" vent in the wall facing the bed up front. It is a plastic grill that is readily avail.@ Home hardware Building Centers. They call it an "Eave Vent". They come in many sizes so you could get one to match a hole saw!!! Our Boler had 1" ones in the walls of the storage bins. Maybe if they were installed in your storage bins that might help to circulate/equalize the air.
Escape Artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[reace]

Hi Dirk

As mentioned above....installing vents in the benches will help the air circulate into these compartments.

Reace

[mosquitodirk]

Thanks for the feedback. I had thought of the vents and the crystals - what about insulation? Not so much for temperature in the trailer but for reduction of the condensation collection.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by mosquitodirk

Thanks for the feedback. I had thought of the vents and the crystals - what about insulation? Not so much for temperature in the trailer but for reduction of the condensation collection.

You might end up with soggy insulation!!! Air circulation is still most important tho'.
Escape Artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Sandra L]

Is the condensation you were experiencing only on the lower storage cabinets?
Peace and Sunshine

[mosquitodirk]

nope - pretty much each cabinet (it was very rainy for a few weeks there). It was worse in the bottom ones, I think due in fact to not opening them as much.

I'm currently trying to employ "systematic drying" - to see if that works before I make any alterations.

I did look into the drying crystals as well - although I'm going to see how this current experiment turns out first.

[Sandra L]

I have never tried one, but I wonder if a small dehumidifier would work.
Peace and Sunshine

[gbaglo]

Today I emptied a cup of water from the single Dry-Z-Air container I have in the Toad. It's been there two weeks. I also have a 600w oil filled heater turned way low and another device that I was given ( a de-humidifier of some kind ).
I was surprised the Dry-Z-Air had that much water in it, given the heaters. I've added another Dry-Z-Air and I'll report in a couple weeks.
I've left a roof vent open about an inch, as well.
Instructions call for one Dry-Z-Air for each 10 square feet.
It cost $14 here in Vancouver and I bought a jug of replacement crystals for another $14.

Given that I live in Vancouver, it could be that I should close the roof vent, what with all the rain.

All my drawers and cupboards are open, BTW.

baglo

[PGDriver]

I'll bet if you close the roof vent you will get the humidity down to 30% or lower with the heater.

[Sandra L]

Here's some ideas from fgrv: http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/in...howtopic=32212
Hope this too is helpful.
Peace and Sunshine

[gbaglo]

Bit of a cold snap here in Vancouver. Only 4 degrees C. today.
Since we have a very small house, and my parents will stay overnight Christmas day ( our bedroom ), I thought I should fire up the heater in Toad, since that's our room for the night and make sure it works.

I got new U.S. approved propane tanks from Escape and discovered that they are full, even though we didn't talk about that. Thanks Tammy, thanks Reace.

Anyway, I fired up the heater this afternoon and it's now toasty warm inside Toad. I checked the Dry-z-air pods and found a couple tablespoons of water in each, after closing the roof vent last week.

With the heater going, light condensation formed on the windows, so I've opened the roof vent a crack.

I'm going to shut everything down later this evening and close the vent.

I'm quite content, knowing that I'll be warm and comfortable Christmas night.

But, where the hell do I put the tree?

baglo

[escape artist]

Hi: Baglo...In the "Tree House"!!! Well you aks'd.
Escape Artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Bit of a cold snap here in Vancouver. Only 4 degrees C. today.

+4C is rather balmy compared our current -29C.

You don't need to worry about a tree, but do make sure your stocking is hung in the trailer on Christmas Eve.

[reace]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I got new U.S. approved propane tanks from Escape and discovered that they are full, even though we didn't talk about that. Thanks Tammy, thanks Reace.

WHAT!!! Must have a chat with the 'crew'. Lol....maybe they swapped propane for a case of all that beer that keeps your trailer loaded down.

Reace

[mosquitodirk]

propane tanks full of beer?? SWEET!!

[gbaglo]

We've had several weeks of rain and snow ( the snow was the unusual part ). Temps were below freezing most of the time. The Toad is in the driveway so I ran power to it ( disconnected the battery so I wouldn't fry it ) and kept a small 600W oil-filled radiator inside, set to medium. I also had two Dry-Z-Air pods, one in the front and one in the back.
Today, after about a month, I checked them and emptied at least a cup-and-a-half to two cups of water that had collected.
It's obvious that the pods are collecting water. What I don't know is if they are doing everything that needs doing. I've got all the cupboards open and everything appears dry.

I plan to spend some time in the trailer tomorrow. Run the furnace and contemplate my surroundings. Make of list of things I might do and places to go.

baglo

[Hokie Escape]

Question about batteries. I see the "disconnects" in RV books, but why do you need to disconnect the battery when hooked up at home? Seems the charging element of the electrical system should shut off when the battery is charged, and it wouldn't make any difference. Also, why do you get more capacity with 2 6V batteries rather than one 12V? They're smaller are they not? For some reason, I've got a 12V block in my understanding. I must have missed that lesson on 12V circuits in college Physics!!!!