Humidity when camped

[caheaton]

Curious about the consensus here. My wife and I are presently camped by Mobile Bay. Today and tomorrow calls for rain with humidity in the high 90's. Normally I keep the vent and a window cracked open, but that seems to make the dehumidifier moot. Better to vent and let rv equalize with outdoor humidity (which will hit 100% at night), or close up and try to let the tabletop dehumidifier and some dry rid do their thing?

 

[BravoDeltaRomeo]

Granted my RV is in storage beside my house right now, but humidity has been 80-100% the past week or so (winter).

I have it sealed up, small air circulator running and it's sits at 48-50% humidity. The moment I crack the door, the levels spike.

My vote, seal it up.

 

[C&G in FL]

Sealing up the trailer is really not an option when it is occupied. You can’t keep the door closed 100% of the time and you will add tremendous amounts of humidity simply by exhaling. Damp Rid may help in storage, but it is not really effective when the trailer is occupied. My suggestion is to crack the ceiling fan a bit and hope for the best. I personally carry a Peltier (non-compressor) dehumidifier (that can remove 15 pints of humidity in a 24 hour period) in my trailer, because I am very sensitive to humidity. When I am using the trailer, it keeps the relative humidity between 45% and 50% no matter how many times the door is open or how much breath moisture we exhale.

 

[Rockhead]

This is the dehumidifier we use summer n winter and haven’t had any humidity issues

 

[Perry Butler]

From Day 1 the MaxxFan in our 2018 5.0 was cracked open, running on low for our entire 4 years of ownership, well over 700 nights. We never had a moisture problem, including nights when we ran our catalytic heater. Except for when we had to replace the board, it was on every minute of camping and pulling down the road.

You don't need much ventilation, but you do need some.

Food for thought,

Perry

 

[Mike G]

Since you're out camping in that soup, I guess it's about your comfort level. If the outside humidity level will bother you, you may as well close it up and let the dehumidifier run. It might help, and shouldn't hurt. Occasional entries and exits along with normal leak points should keep the air quality okay, unless you are running your cooktop burners too much.

 

[Donna D.]

.....unless you are running your cooktop burners too much.

"too much is subjective." In an all molded towable, humidity is a fact and one of the biggest reasons a bed mattress (and perhaps seating cushions) should never be placed directly on plywood or carpet-covered plywood.

 

[BravoDeltaRomeo]

If you don't have one, get a small digital humidity sensor.

Test it sealed up. Test it vents open. Then you'll know what works best for you during use and storage etc.

 

[Perry Butler]

"too much is subjective." In an all molded towable, humidity is a fact and one of the biggest reasons a bed mattress (and perhaps seating cushions) should never be placed directly on plywood or carpet-covered plywood.

In our 17 campers, we've never had a humidity or wet under the bed issue that was a real issue, except when we've had a mattress up against an outside wall and even then it has not been a real issue, probably because we always have either two windows cracked, or a window and the vent cracked.

In our 5.0 we quickly learned that moisture condenses above our head and can run down the wall to the carpet when the temps were below freezing outside. We merely made sure the head of the mattress was always 4-6" from the front nose. It was not an issue though.

Since the sides of the mattress in a 5.0 are 13" from either outside wall we definitely didn't worry about condensation on the sides or the foot end. Again, we always have two window(s)/vent open.

Food for thought,

Perry

 

[penwia]

"too much is subjective." In an all molded towable, humidity is a fact and one of the biggest reasons a bed mattress (and perhaps seating cushions) should never be placed directly on plywood or carpet-covered plywood.

Hi Donna,

Can you explain what you mean about cushions not placed directly on the plywood? I just ordered a 17B and we have never camped in a trailer. I am coming From tent camping background. What do you suggest under the cushions? We did not get the fully wrapped cushions and from what I understand they do have a vinyl backing. Will that not be enough of a barrier? TIA.

 

[Mike G]

Hi Donna,

Can you explain what you mean about cushions not placed directly on the plywood? I just ordered a 17B and we have never camped in a trailer. I am coming From tent camping background. What do you suggest under the cushions? We did not get the fully wrapped cushions and from what I understand they do have a vinyl backing. Will that not be enough of a barrier? TIA.

Hypervent and similar materials can be used under mattresses and cushions to help prevent mold from growing. Another option under a mattress is the Froli sleep system (Froli makes spring-type pieces that connect together in any size or configuration). In the PNW or places where high humidity exists for extended periods, mold can grow. Especially when there is a large temperature differential, like between a heated trailer interior and the relatively unheated lower cabinets that the cushions sit on.

 

[dstreight]

Not in storage but during use: My 15A is terrible for keeping condensation inside. The 3-sides the mattress is up against the walls gets wet as does the plywood under the dinette cushions. It drips from the front window (non-dual pane), drips from the MaxxFan, etc. And this is with just ME sleeping in the trailer and in the high desert where its typically lower humidity!

Its only a factor when the outdoor temperature is typically below 40-45ºF.

The other option, might be to lose the down comforter and run the heater at a higher temp all night...not my preference though. Or quit camping when its "cold".

 

[penwia]

Hypervent and similar materials can be used under mattresses and cushions to help prevent mold from growing. Another option under a mattress is the Froli sleep system (Froli makes spring-type pieces that connect together in any size or configuration). In the PNW or places where high humidity exists for extended periods, mold can grow. Especially when there is a large temperature differential, like between a heated trailer interior and the relatively unheated lower cabinets that the cushions sit on.

Thanks I just looked it up. Looks like a great product. Will definitely be looking into that.

 

[C&G in FL]

My 5.0TA is a 2015 build, just slightly younger than Donna’s. I do not use hypervent, etc. In spite of the fact that I routinely do not camp in cold weather (let’s say below 45° F), I have on several occasions encountered lower temperatures than 45°, a few times just above or below freezing. I have absolutely no mold growing in my trailer on the mattress, the cushions, or the walls and I rarely crack open a vent. The dehumidifier I mentioned in a previous post tackles the humidity issue. While it takes up space in the bottom of my wardrobe closet, I would not go anywhere without it. When I am home and the trailer is stored in a 3-sided carport, I run a compressor dehumidifier set to 45% RH on the kitchen counter, using a drain hose to the kitchen sink and a hose connected to the cap on the cap of the tank drains with the gray water valve open. The hose is routed under the rear wall of the carport and whatever water is removed from the inside of the trailer waters a landscape plant behind the carport. Again, zero mold in the 9 years I have owned my Escape.

 

[Ron in BC]

It drips from the front window (non-dual pane),

There's a solution for that, an inside storm window.

I installed one and its' performance equals or betters the dual pane window beside the bed.

I used 1/8" lexan, because I had some, but 1/8", easy to cut, acrylic will do the same job.

I put a 3/4"x3/4" frame around the existing window frame. It is a snug fit on the frame. Enough snug that it keeps itself in place and doesn't require any attachments. You can see the silver screw heads around the perimeter holding the wood strips on.

Completely ended the dripping condensation in cold damp situations.

Ron

 

[caheaton]

Thanks everyone for the advice. The first night of soggy weather I did close it up. With two small peltier dehumidifiers running our indoor humidity stayed around 80%. The next night I let it vent and humidity was around 84%, so little difference. We stayed dry, no indoor condensation, not even around the bed. Of course, whenever we cook I open all vents with fans as well as vent at least two windows to avoid trapping moisture from coffee & cooking. Dryer weather forecast for rest of week .

 

[Red-ESC]

Curious about the consensus here. My wife and I are presently camped by Mobile Bay. Today and tomorrow calls for rain with humidity in the high 90's. Normally I keep the vent and a window cracked open, but that seems to make the dehumidifier moot. Better to vent and let rv equalize with outdoor humidity (which will hit 100% at night), or close up and try to let the tabletop dehumidifier and some dry rid do their thing?

Maxifan on low with a rear window cracked open 7x24. If it is cool outside we run the furnace or a small electric heater. The inside humidity is always lower than outside (I have a humidity gauge on my inside monitor). It will go up temporarily when the door is opened but quickly returns to normal. Never had a mold problem or excessive condensation.

Escapes are very tight and will build humidity quickly from breathing, water use and propane cooking stove, they need air changes. It seems counter intuitive to bring in very humid outside air to lower internal humidity but it does work. I have been in severe west coast rain with high humidity and were very comfortable inside.

 

[WanderBred]

It's not too bad down here in Yuma arizona. LOL

 

[quidoi]

From Day 1 the MaxxFan in our 2018 5.0 was cracked open, running on low for our entire 4 years of ownership, well over 700 nights. We never had a moisture problem, including nights when we ran our catalytic heater. Except for when we had to replace the board, it was on every minute of camping and pulling down the road.

You don't need much ventilation, but you do need some.

Food for thought,

Perry

hey perry -- was the fan set to blowing outward i assume or downward-- thanx

 

[Perry Butler]

hey perry -- was the fan set to blowing outward i assume or downward-- thanx

Blows from the inside to the outside.

The MaxxFan being an exhaust fan is why we felt we didn't need the stove hood, so it was removed, and we didn't miss that hood one bit. That hood is now in our Bigfoot with the SAM (?sp) fan/light.

Enjoy,

Perry