Moisture inside my Trailer

[GaryKrahmer]

This may sound like a silly question but being new to the RV world I thought I might ask you guys.



I have a 27' Komfort 5'er that we park at our duck club for 3 months a year and stay in it while we are hunting during the weekends.



I noticed that during the season we got a ton of moisture that built up inside the trailer. The windows were constantly wet and you could feel the moisture.



Question... what is the best way to "soak up" this moisture or otherwise get rid of it? I'm sure all this wetness can't be good for the interior... Any help would be appreciated!!



Thanks

Gary

 

[WMeyers]

Gary,



I'm not sure if you're having the moisture problem on the weekends while you're in the trailer or if it's while it's empty so I'll address what I do in both cases (we get plenty of moisture up here in Oregon).



What works for me while we're using our small 5th wheel is to leave a vent or window cracked (plus use the exhaust fans when showering or cooking); this allows moisture that you're adding to escape.



When the unit is in storage, I use 2 "Dri-Z-Air" units (calcium chloride) - they are available from Camping World for about $8 and the refills are about $2. I also have a round fanless heat unit from Camping World that is about 100 watts that is designed to drive out moisture and I leave that on when the unit is stored.



Works for us and hope it helps you.

 

[rchall]

IS YOU CAMPER HAVE WOOD STUDS

DEAR Raatler



We had the same trouble with our Dutchman Camper. Dutchman said it was because we had order our camper with Alum studs in the wall. That they are not able to insulation the wall well and the insulation does not go all the way up to the top of the wall, this cause cool air to condensate when you turn on the heat. They even came out and put a bigger heating system in the camper hoping that would stop the moisture. . We trade it for a camper that had a winter package on it and wooden studs in the walls



I hope this helps

 

[AKDrifter]

moisture fixes

The dri-z-air do work well. A heat lamp also works well. In my boat I use a hotplate made for boats thet circulate air very slowly along with "burning up the moisture content"



I don't know what year your trailer is, but I installed a wood stove in my camper, the one out of Northern Tool. It costs $34 and is very small, about 2 shoe boxes worth. This stove removes ALL the moisture, I run it monthly in the summer, and weekly in the winter because we go on frequent winter camping trips. Yes I know it sounds dirty and old school, but it will protect your investment and is damm comfy in the cold. I'll post a pic of the stove on request.



Anything is better than the dreaded mold! Paul

 

[GaryKrahmer]

Thanks guys



The problem seems to be when it's sitting o unoccupied, on Friday night you'd walk in and it justs seems real "wet". Condensation on the windows, dampness on upholstery, stuff like that and it never seemed to dry out by Sundays departure.



WMeyers... . I'll try those Dri-Z-Airs...

How long do the refills last and should I use more than one canister?



Thanks for the replies!!

 

[Bob Wagner]

charcoal briquets absorb moisture too.



I used an old popcorn tin container for bbq's while camping and in the winter place the container in the 5er with the lid off



been working great for many years

 

[WMeyers]

Gary,



I use 2 of the Dri-Z-Air and my rig is about 24 feet long. I put them in there in mid November and only have to refill them once before I take them out in late March.

 

[John Berger]

I usually don't have a problem with moisture. I let the smart fans run during the summer to pull some of the heat out of the trailer when it's not being used. A window cracked open helps, also.



Interesting story. Last May we were visiting a friend of ours in Chattanooga. It was cool and rained the last two days we were there. Temps were in the 50's with a steady rain. I love sitting on the steps in the trailer and drinking a beer, listening to that rain on the awning. I digress. We headed out the next morning and it was still cool and raining. By the time we got to Atlanta, the temperature had bottomed out at 47 degrees and it was still raining. Forty miles south of Atlanta, we crossed an invisible weather line and all of a sudden it was 87 degrees, sunny and Georgia hot. I stopped to get fuel not to long after that, and it looked like it had rained in my trailer. No damage done, but that was interesting to behold.

 

[dvaughan]

Moisture

I leave the two roof vents open a pinch so that you can have air movement all winter with no heat. I live in British Columbia(Vancouver area) which gets lots of rain, moisture in the winter and spring and this works great and it doesn't cost a penny. Could you possibly have a leak some where on the roof or around the windows that is letting moisture in and when you are not there you have it closed up solid and when you show up on week ends and put heat to it condensates? The only time I close the vents is when I move it.