Formaldehyde in Carriage Cameos?

Jane, rent a house for the times as you are waiting for your home to be readied so you have peace of mind.

Wish we had known your real intention from the get go.

Good luck.

Us out West wrote:
Jane one other thing,

If you are uncomfortable about formaldehyde in an RV, even though the gasses in an older rig are long gone, it might be time to re-think about some other way of traveling and enjoying the great outdoors other than in an RV.

Maybe rent a cabin at different RV Parks around the country...a lot of parks will have those and from what I've heard/seen are very nice.

From reading the many different threads you've started you have have received plenty of feedback, and that is why the Forums are so usefull, to make an intelligent buying decision.

In any case please let us know what your choice is and if an RV congrats and safe travels.

Thanks for the idea, but our top priority is not travel. We need a place to live in for a year while our house is being completely gutted and remodeled.

I found a solution...when I read the above article about measuring formaldehyde levels, I looked for a meter on Amazon and I found one. The only way to know for certain, is to take the meter along when I go see trailers. I have been ill for a couple of years, so I have to be very careful about chemical and mold exposure.

Yes, many of the people have been very helpful! Every question answered gives me ammunition to make a more intelligent decision!

Jane one other thing,

If you are uncomfortable about formaldehyde in an RV, even though the gasses in an older rig are long gone, it might be time to re-think about some other way of traveling and enjoying the great outdoors other than in an RV.

Maybe rent a cabin at different RV Parks around the country...a lot of parks will have those and from what I've heard/seen are very nice.

From reading the many different threads you've started you have have received plenty of feedback, and that is why the Forums are so usefull, to make an intelligent buying decision.

In any case please let us know what your choice is and if an RV congrats and safe travels.

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
We have no formaldehyde insulation or issues with our '09 Cameo.

I venture to say in all other brands and years also.

We have no formaldehyde insulation or issues with our '09 Cameo.

TXiceman wrote:
A 7 year old trailer should be totally out-gassed by now.

Ken

You would think so...but I have a friend who became ill when she moved into a 13 year old trailer, from formaldehyde. Some people are much more susceptible...such as those who have multiple chemical sensitivities.

When I researched, this was one of the very few references that I could find. These people actually MEASURED the formaldehyde levels. So, I was wondering if any changes may have been made by Carriage in their choice of materials SINCE those earlier days.

Copied and pasted:

"1999 5th wheel tests over the limit for formaldehyde

My husband and I purchased a 1999 Cameo Carriage 5th wheel last summer. We noticed a pungent odor when we first stepped into the coach but dismissed it as a "new camper smell" even though the RV was six years old. We soon found out that this odor permeated sealed food and anything that was in the camper for more than a few hours. We opened a new bag of chips that had been in the pantry overnight and it tasted like this strange odor. The smell would not come out of Tupperware when run through a dishwasher on the hottest level.

In the meantime, my "allergies" went into overdrive. Burning eyes and throat, sneezing, and wheezing. Not horrible, but annoying. I decided to call the Carriage company, and the customer service agent flatly denied ever using formaldehyde in any of their coaches. We couldn't believe that the odor was anything else, so we tested for formaldehyde and the level was .11 ppm. Not that high, but high enough to cause problems.

I called Carriage back and informed the same representative of the test results, and he told me to pursue it if I want to but there is nothing more to be said or done on their end.

For now, I am going to re-test for formaldehyde to double check the results. I am also letting a dry water bottle sit for a couple of days in the RV, capping it, and sending it to Advanced Chemicals, where the formaldehyde test kit was received.

I'd love to hear if anyone else has had similar problems. I spoke with an RV dealer for another company and he basically said, "Get over it. They're all made with formaldehyde. Just open your windows." Now, isn't that a nice solution? *sigh*"

A 7 year old trailer should be totally out-gassed by now.

Ken

Jane,

You are not reading your own paste. Hardwood plywood which is very expensive and not used in RV construction. Carriage uses soft wood plywood like pine wood and soft wood solids in their construction. Just like the stuff you see at lumber companies, Lowes, Home depot, etc.

After 7 years I don't think there's anything to be concerned about if there ever was

Based on all your questions and study on this RV it might be best that you past on it and find something different. It doesn't look like it will meet your needs.

janegowest wrote:
I researched and found this earlier. They must have used it at some point, because I found this post:

http://www.toxictrailers.org/2007/11/1999-5th-wheel-tests-over-limit-for.html

And, according to the CPSC.gov (consumer product safety commission), PLYWOOD does contain formaldehyde.

copied and pasted:

What are the Major Sources of Indoor Formaldehyde Emissions in Our Homes Today?

Pressed-wood and wood-based products: Pressed-wood (i.e., hardwood plywood, particleboard, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF)) and wood-based products, especially those containing UF resins, may be a significant formaldehyde source.