Mildew pre treatment

rickhise wrote:
Any recommendations for wiping everything in the camper down with that could minimize mildew.
I will leave 2 fans running this winter.
Roof vent open
Small window open
It’s stored under roof with side walls.
Also a full camper cover.

Wondering if the cover defeats my windows open an fans running.

I realize some will need more info, I’ll answer all questions
(Location, year, length, manufacture etc)
Manufacturers didn’t provide any info in owner’s manual

So we full time now so this is far less of an issue for us, but before we full timed, we never had an issue with mildew in winter storage.
We lived in the greater Portland, OR area. Our 5er was stored at a storage lot, all vents opened, no windows (no Power).
We kept it stocked with clothes and non-perishable food, so we could take off at a moments notice, never had an issue with mildew.

So where are you located, has a lot to do with mildew.

You state it is under a shed with sides, I would not use a cover, I would make sure you have vent covers on your vents.

As you have power, fans, and a dehumidifier will be a big help.

You are storing it in a dry condition. You should be able to close everything up and run a dehumidifier inside for a week, shut down the dehumidifier (cut power to the trailer)and keep it closed up.
That week should get the moisture level down and there should be no way for moisture to get back inside.
Note: Do not "heat the trailer". If you are making the inside of the trailer warmer than the outside you will get condensation.

Timmo! wrote:
Small dehumidifier will offer you excellent protection. And we live in the PNW where mildew thrives like a king.

Maybe we should try a dehumidifier next.

We use this in our upstairs bathroom....good for 2200 cuft (about the size of a 40' trailer).



https://www.ivationproducts.com/products/ivagdm30-midium-thermo-electric-dehumidifier#

I always find these mildew and moisture posts intriguing. in the RV's I have owned in the past decade (2 MH's and now a FW) and now living in a moisture prone environment near the shore, I have never had an issue with high moisture levels in the coach. I keep it sealed up when not in use - no vents open and it stays dry as a bone. Not sure what I am doing right but I've just never had an issue.

Timmo! wrote:
Small dehumidifier will offer you excellent protection. And we live in the PNW where mildew thrives like a king.

yup, and it sounds like the OP has power to the trailer so my suggestion is to go to big box store and buy the smallest real (compressor driven) dehumidifier, turn it on low and maybe on a timer, and use the optional drain tube to drain water outside.

And IMHO one of the worst things you can do is cover the trailer with the blue (or silver etc.) plastic tarps. They don't breath and capture moisture.

The best thing to do is cover the trailer with a RV cover, they are breathable so moisture can escape through them.

prichardson wrote:
A cover will defeat the advantages of having the roof vent and a window open for cross ventilation.

Not unless the cover is made from plastic or rubber and sealed up tight.

Air circulation is key.
And if there are specific areas that are known to mildew, I'd suggest direct air movement as close as possible to those areas.

Small dehumidifier will offer you excellent protection. And we live in the PNW where mildew thrives like a king.

A cover will defeat the advantages of having the roof vent and a window open for cross ventilation.

Put a few damp rid containers inside in different areas. Damp rid is your friend.