I have a 2008 Sunset Trail TT and have had it stored for the last eight months. It is parked under a shed roof which joins the barn. I winterize it for winter but open windows and vents in the heat of summer. We are in a Southern State and live next to a river so conditions are very humid. My wife has been cleaning up the inside for a trip across country and is complaining about how dirty the inside is. I'm working on the outside. My question is, Is it better to leave the trailer completely shut up year around? I'm looking for what is best for the life of the trailer. The mold was very minimal and cleaned up easy.

I live in a very dry climate, but very hot (AZ) so can't really speak to the humidity issue but I crack open the vent over the shower a little and shut the windows tight. We have a lot of wind and don't want all that dirt and sand in the trailer. I've never had a problem with anything inside. Even with your humidity and I don't think I'd leave the windows open.

I used to fill a small burlap sack with a few pounds of calcium chloride (the stuff used in the dri z air product) then set it on a wire mesh screen over a bucket. We were living a half mile from the beach in Washington where it's very damp in the winter. Only problem was having to empty the bucket every month or so. We also left a 12" fan running all winter.You can find it cheap in 50 pound bags from your local cement mix plant or a tractor dealer. They use it as weight in the tires for tractors and the cement plants use it to dry the concrete faster.

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Here in Alabama I just leave the two roof vents open, they are covered of course, and have never had an issue. Our is stored outside in the full elements. Smells fresh with no mold issues for five years now.

My TT is parked on a concrete slab next to my house. I live in FL, and don't leave windows/vents open. I run a dehumidifier though. Before that, I used damp-rid buckets. I periodically open it up and run a fan to ventilate it. I suppose I could just have the AC run set to 80, but haven't tried that yet.

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K-9_HANDLER
Explorer
Aug 27, 2016
Mine is completely closed but if we get a nice day with low dew points I open up the entry door with screen door closed to let some fresh air in.
Community Alumni
Aug 25, 2016
I've seen arguments from both sides, but it seems like personal preference really. I've always kept mine completely closed and never had a problem. We get some pretty intense heat and humidity down here.
93Cobra2771
Explorer
Aug 25, 2016
Where problems usually occur (especially in my area) is when you have large temp/humidity swings from one day to the next. When those happen, the longer it takes for those changes to equalize inside the TT, the greater the chance for mold issues due to condensation.

Case in point - Monday we had low 80s and low humidity. Tuesday we had low 90s and double the humidity.

If I kept one closed all the time, I'd have some type of dehumidification inside the TT.

With top vents popped, temp stays consistent with outside temp. Much more difficult for condensation/mold to occur.

YMMV
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Aug 25, 2016
We have horrible humidity in Indiana. Keep the camper shut up completely, unless actually using it or needing to air it out before use. Other wise, closed up completely, even in the winter. If it's closed up, how can it get humid INSIDE unless you've got a roof leak or something?
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Aug 25, 2016
Here in Florida it is very hot and humid and I leave mine shut up tight when not in use and parked in the sun. I have encountered no problems doing so for the last 13 years.
93Cobra2771
Explorer
Aug 25, 2016
Leave top vents open all the time, and I have max air vents covering them. Your dirt intrusion is coming mainly from the side windows being open.

I leave open year round and have zero problems.
nineoaks2004
Explorer
Aug 25, 2016
Good idea, Cheaper than the (probably) same stuff wally world carries,
available at Lowes for $19.48 for 50 #
item 151998 MOD 50B HEAT

Thanks for sharing this bit of knowledge :D
Campfire_Time
Explorer
Aug 25, 2016
If it's easily accessible and on your property I'd open up windows once a month for a day. I've been doing that for many years, even in winter when I can, and have never had any odors or moisture damage from humidity. Of course it's not as humid here as it is where you are but we get 4-6 weeks of it every summer.
Tvov
Explorer II
Aug 25, 2016
We leave ours closed up when we aren't using it. I have damp-rid buckets in the main part of the camper and in storage areas. Considering how high humidity levels can be, I don't want open windows letting in all that damp air. Camper can get a little "musty" smelling after extended sitting. I have found that scented DampRid can help with any smell. Also, it seems to me that the DampRid hanging bags (designed for closets) seem to work better than the buckets, but they are more expensive and don't last as long.
2012Coleman
Explorer II
Aug 25, 2016
My TT is parked on a concrete slab next to my house. I live in FL, and don't leave windows/vents open. I run a dehumidifier though. Before that, I used damp-rid buckets. I periodically open it up and run a fan to ventilate it. I suppose I could just have the AC run set to 80, but haven't tried that yet.

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