I've been driveway camping for the past week, due to extreme humidity in the area. I've been emptying the 2 gallon bucket on my dehumidifier twice daily, and I'm very tempted to poke a hole in the floor for a drain line.I think I'd rather drain it to the ground rather than install a lift pump to push the water into the gray tank.I seldom stay in campgrounds where someone might be offended by water draining from my camper, despite it being "clean" water. If I am somewhere where someone might be offended, I can always disconnect the hose and go back to using the bucket. Then they can be offended by me dumping large buckets of water out the window instead of a slow drip.I have an enclosed underbelly, which I don't plan to remove for this procedure. I'll cut through the fabric with the drill bit, or a knife, and then caulk around the hose from the inside.Should I do something to attach the underbelly to the hose? It looks like Elkhart used sprayfoam to attach the other penetrations to the cloth, I don't really see what purpose that serves.What else an I not planning for?

There is likely wiring, plumbing, and duct work under the floor. I would not blindly drill thru there or you may end up with far more concerns than water. As far as dripping under the trailer, no different than the constant drip from air conditioners. Would not be concerned about that.

I think I'd try opening some vents and windows to get some air flow to possibly reduce the humidity instead of cutting a hole in the floor. How about running the A/C?If you don't have them the Maxxair covers over the vents are a good investment. It allows the vents to be open in all kinds of weather. They have a new one that is able to be tipped up for cleaning and has more openings for air flow.Just my $.03 adjusted for inflation.We are in the Chicago area having much the same humidity condition and there is no build-up of moisture in the RV

Can you get a piece of PVC pipe to go through the floor? You could put the drain hose in the pipe and have a removable plug where the pipe exits the RV. It would keep small creepy things from building nests in the drain pipe.Or could you snake a piece of PEX under the floor and have it exit at a convenient location for a plug or a catch bucket.Or just get a dehumidifier with a pump and drain it out a window.

BB_TX wrote:There is likely wiring, plumbing, and duct work under the floor. I would not blindly drill thru there or you may end up with far more concerns than water. As far as dripping under the trailer, no different than the constant drip from air conditioners. Would not be concerned about that.Good concerns, thanks for pointing them out.Ductwork - nope, not on this small trailer, the furnace and AC both vent directly into the living space. Wiring - that's a possibility, I know where the DC wiring runs, which is inside the box section of the frame. The AC wiring, that is an unknown that needs further exploration. There are outlets on either side of the bedroomPlumbing - there's a cold water line running from the bedroom water tank towards the rear of the trailer, I know where it is and will not be anywhere close. The city water and gravity fill line locations are also known, and will not be in the way. The gas line runs outside the underbelly straight down the middle of the trailer.

Check/research the manufacturer's data on this. It may be using the full container as a "cool down" period until its emptied. Worked a sail boat fire where the owner did this exact thing. Smaller unit though. It was a great idea until the unit never shut off, overheated and caught fire in the head. It was a new boat to him and because of the $ amount damage/repair the insurance company totaled it.

About to drill a hole | Good Sam Community

rockhillmanor
Explorer
Jul 25, 2018
I've been driveway camping for the past week, due to extreme humidity in the area. I've been emptying the 2 gallon bucket on my dehumidifier twice daily,..

BTW.
Putting RV insulator pillows in all your roof top vents makes a BIG BIG difference regarding heating and/or air conditioning the RV.
I use them both the the winter and summer.

Those thin plastic roof top vent covers are NOT sealed and cold comes in in winter and your furnace heat goes right out, and in summer the heat comes in and also allows the humidity in also.

Putting those in your roof vent openings will cut down how much humidity your are getting inside your RV.

Buy the RV roof vent inserts with the white cloth material on one side and reflective silver on the other side.
Do 'not' buy those rubber ones.
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Jul 25, 2018
Seems to me the 'easier' way is to buy a new dehumidifier that ALREADY has a hose attachment on it. :B

Buy a new small inexpensive one, they have the smaller reservoirs but it won't matter because it will have a drainage hose with the option of hooking up the 'included' hose for draining by passing the holding tank cup.

I put mine by the shower and run the hose to drain inside the shower.

I bought the de-humidifier on the advice of my RV repair guy to help assist my ac while staying in Florida for the summer. WHAT a difference in how much cooler it was in the RV.

Just saying I sure would NOT be drilling holes anywhere in my RV.
wopachop
Explorer
Jul 25, 2018
I think the fabric underneath is throwing you a curve ball. The only thing hiding between that fabric and the plywood floor is a small bit of insulation.

Please correct me if im way off.

I would use an existing hole or drill a new one. What are you thinking like a 1/4" tube? You could probably peel away the expanding foam from an existing hole and stuff a tube down. Then reseal.

Or make your own small hole. Start inside the trailer and determine a good area. Then go under the trailer to see where tanks and metal frame are located.

I recently drilled a 4" hole in my floor. Spent many many hours debating where to put it. Scared to actually make the cut. Once it was done i realize that i stressed over something that was very very simple. Youre drilling a hole though plywood and can see above and below the plywood. Not really any hidden variable to screw you up.
myredracer
Explorer II
Jul 25, 2018
If this is the floor plan below, where does the dehumidifier sit? I can see numerous options depending on location. You could poke a hose out through the exterior fridge vent. Rather than drill a hole in the floor, look for existing openings large enough for a hose like a gap around the drain pipe for the bath. sink. A city water inlet with a male-male adapter might work.

If it were me, I would def. never drill through the floor unless you have 100% verified there is nothing in the way. You *may* think it's clear but you don't want a surprise and end up with a big issue to deal with or costly damage. Maybe you could cut a 3-sided flap in the coroplast around it's perimeter somewhere. Then use some gorilla tape to close it up again.

Our KZ TT had some unnecessarily large gaps in the floor - large enough to throw a cat through... :R

I'd get a hydrometer so you can monitor the RH and not run the dehumid. more than needed.
Almot
Explorer III
Jul 24, 2018
Drilled more than one hole in my floor. For rerouting battery cables and installing permanent catalytic heater. Plugged a few too.

Check there are no steel frame members, holding tanks or propane lines where you drill. Water pipes are mostly above the floor, and AC wires go from exterior receptacle straight to converter (and up the walls, which shouldn't bother you).
RayJayco
Explorer
Jul 24, 2018
You could use the same method as bathtub, except allowing it to drain into the kitchen sink (should be an open area) and leaving gray tank open until the time that you use the sink/gray tank, then simply turn it off during that time.

I would at least try it before making a hole...
stevemorris
Explorer
Jul 24, 2018
Boomerweps wrote:
DrewE wrote:
If you have a shower in the TT, can't you just put the dehumidifier on a small riser (if needed) and run the hose into the shower stall, rather than getting a lift pump? Or maybe just put the whole dehumidifier unit in the shower if you can open the doors etc. sufficiently to have it circulate the air enough to be effective.

BINGO We have a winner.

The simple way is often the best way.

exactly what I was thinking too, put it in the bathtub or get fancier and build a shelf for it nearby
TNGW1500SE
Explorer
Jul 24, 2018
I'd just look around and check for wires and plumbing then I'd drill.
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Jul 23, 2018
Not ideal, but you could also go through the wall with a male garden hose bulkhead fitting.
time2roll
Nomad
Jul 23, 2018
Condensate pump is only $40. Otherwise yes I would drill the hole and not worry one wit about putting that water down on the ground. However I would not be brave enough to blindly drill a hole through the floor.