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12-12-2014, 10:21 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Alcoa, Tennessee
Trailer: 2015 5.0 TA
Posts: 419
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Condensation
We are camped near Nashville tonight. The outside temperature is upper 30's, inside is 65. Joanne just discovered that the upper cabinets are dripping wet from condensation. I was tempted to blame it on the windows since we have the double insulation but the single pane slider windows up there. But then I found that the walls behind the dinette cushions are also quite wet. I have a dri-Eze container, but it isn't keeping up. Is there anything else I can do? Or is this a cold weather camping problem we just have to live with?
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2015 Escape 5 TA
2016 Ford F-150
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12-12-2014, 10:26 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
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Can we assume that you have cracked open the Maxx fan and a window or two? That helps.
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Cathy. Floating Cloud
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.... "
Emerson
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12-12-2014, 10:29 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SLO County, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21C 2019 Expedition
Posts: 5,213
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Open your Maxx Fan slightly to vent out the moisture you are creating. Know it sounds crazy as cold as it is, but you need a way to get rid of it.
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12-12-2014, 10:49 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,040
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Open the cupboard doors (aren't we glad they have "hold ups.") Equalize cupboard temps to main trailer temps. It may look weird, but you don't want to have difference in storage spaces with those kind of temperature swings.
Otherwise pay attention to others posts (and quit breathing and cooking inside).... just kidding!
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Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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12-12-2014, 10:53 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Port Angeles, Washington
Trailer: 2014 19'
Posts: 534
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We've noticed that too. Seems like the vinyl gets cold and when you add high humidity .... drips. The 'rat fur' in our Scamp was the butt of many jokes but seemed warmer and we never saw condensation on it (maybe impossible to see?). They installed 1 layer of reflectix behind it too.
I did some checking and the Reflectix 'added' as part of the extra installation package is rated as R-1. It looks to me like the foam on bonded to the vinyl adds a bit too. Maybe R-2.5 total?
Will be interesting to hear how other folks deal with it.
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12-12-2014, 11:08 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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As Donna said, ventilate by opening the Maxxfan and stop breathing until you no longer see any condensation.
Your body loses about a pint of water a day simply by breathing. That warm, moist air condenses on cool surfaces. If there are two of you, that's two pints.
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What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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12-12-2014, 11:30 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo
As Donna said, ventilate by opening the Maxxfan and stop breathing until you no longer see any condensation.
Your body loses about a pint of water a day simply by breathing. That warm, moist air condenses on cool surfaces. If there are two of you, that's two pints.
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And if you have kitchen opening window open a little and I guess besides Max fan any window opened just a little we found helps . Also opening cabinets is a good idea .
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12-13-2014, 05:46 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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With our old trailer we resorted to running the air conditioner, which removes the moisture but turns it stone cold. Someone suggested running the heat at the same time, sounded like a plan. Before we could try that out I bought one of these. A bit drastic, but If you have the room, and you have hookups, it works well. In the 5.0TA it fits nicely inside the step. I should add that it does heat up the trailer, which in summer can be an issue.
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Happy Motoring
Bob
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12-13-2014, 06:49 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Air movement is critical in the winter, vents in cabinets or opening them, air around the cushions, I'd reverse them in the winter and keep the vinyl away from the wall, that traps the air.
A couple of vents around the dinette to below will help to equalize the temperature via air movement. The MaxxFan is just as important in the winter as the summer.
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Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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12-13-2014, 08:23 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,038
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Quote:
Originally Posted by captmath
We are camped near Nashville tonight. The outside temperature is upper 30's, inside is 65. Joanne just discovered that the upper cabinets are dripping wet from condensation. I was tempted to blame it on the windows since we have the double insulation but the single pane slider windows up there. But then I found that the walls behind the dinette cushions are also quite wet. I have a dri-Eze container, but it isn't keeping up. Is there anything else I can do? Or is this a cold weather camping problem we just have to live with?
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Hi: captmath... We have double ins. pkg. with single pane windows too!!! The double pane windows in the bed loft wouldn't open otherwise. Ventilation is the key to condensation...so they say. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
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12-13-2014, 12:30 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 5.0
Posts: 181
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We added hydravent behind all our cushions, under the bed and in closets that store towels and clothes. When we wake up in the morning we can quickly wipe down what needs it, open all the cabinet doors and turn on the heating strip in the airconditioner, lovely dry heat blowing around the trailer drying everything out.
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12-14-2014, 02:52 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Trailer: 2015 17A - Ready for more Maiden Voyages ....
Posts: 881
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The next place to look for un-wanted condensation is your bed mattresses. I speak from year around living aboard various sailboats. The bottom side of my mattress foam would get quite wet from condensation caused from my body heat warming up the mattress foam which was placed against "cold" hull or bunk bottom structures. The best solution I found was to wrap the foam in plastic sheeting and stuff back into the upholstery covers. This worked great but I could never get used to the crunch and rattle of the plastic whenever I turned over at night. Then I tried those snap together tiles that form a grate. They worked pretty good but nothing worked quite as good as moving to a warm climate.
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12-14-2014, 09:12 PM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Is Juneau considered a "warm" climate? I guess it is when compared to Fairbanks, but when we say "warm" I think we're using the term a bit differently than Alaskans are.
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"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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12-15-2014, 07:40 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,543
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rbryan4
Is Juneau considered a "warm" climate? I guess it is when compared to Fairbanks, but when we say "warm" I think we're using the term a bit differently than Alaskans are.
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Hoping Juneau is reasonably warm when we head there in June. At least getting near 20°C (68°F) for a high, but will be happy with anything close to that. We are used to having to dress to suit the weather. Cooler for many of us northern folk beats the craps outta too hot, where fully undressed is still unbearable.
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2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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12-16-2014, 03:24 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: ,, Oklahoma
Trailer: 17
Posts: 840
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Klem
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I did some checking and the Reflectix 'added' as part of the extra installation package is rated as R-1. It looks to me like the foam on bonded to the vinyl adds a bit too. Maybe R-2.5 total?
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R5
Points to Ponder
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12-16-2014, 04:13 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Trailer: 2015 21ft Escape "Spirit of the Plains", 2014 GMC Sierra with max tow package
Posts: 1,100
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought it was cpaharley2008 that when ordering his trailer had the mattress cut down by several inches so it would not be against the outside wall of the trailer. I have been toying with the idea as anything to have less condensation would help. Loren
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12-16-2014, 04:24 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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No touching, more air, no condensation.
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Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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12-16-2014, 04:37 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Trailer: 2015 21ft Escape "Spirit of the Plains", 2014 GMC Sierra with max tow package
Posts: 1,100
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
No touching, more air, no condensation.
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So what you are saying is that this has worked out well for you and you would recommend it? Loren
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12-16-2014, 04:41 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Yes, but I also immediately installed the hyper mesh underneath the mattress and on the one side and front walls. No condensation, but not sure if it is because on one or both changes. You can try it without the mesh and report back.
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Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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