Argh - not a happy camper!I dragged my TT out of storage for the first time this year to go camping for the Victoria Day long weekend. I hooked up, did a cursory check inside, closed the fridge, things like that and got home to load for the weekend. It was then that I looked at the ceiling and saw mold and mildew all over the place. Further examination revealed the same disgusting mess everywhere, in my tub, toilet, kitchen counter, walls - you name it. Ugh! simply Ugh! I was so disgusted with it all. I keep the TT stocked with a large amount of extra bedding, blankets, towels, clothing, undies etc. etc. When I park the thing I strip the bed and put the bedding on the sofa and stand the mattress on edge so it can air out. Well, the bedding on the sofa was moldy. My pillows have to go straight to the garbage - they are covered in huge mold stains. I opened the wardrobes and everything stunk and much of it had mold on it. Geeeeeez - not impressed, and I only had a few hours to get ready to leave. So I closed the wardrobes, laundered the bedding and towel I was going to use, did a quick cleanup and left. All weekend, nice and warm out and the place stinks.I got home and pulled EVERYTHING out, 3 huge garbage bags full and I'm still in the process of bleaching and laundering it all. What a task!OK, I'm done whining......What do you guys do with your RV's when stored for months over a very wet rainy winter to prevent this stinky moldy situation?I always make a point of storing it with the 3 roof vents open about halfway for the winter. They have covers and it rains a LOT here in the winter.But I think I may have left them closed for 2 or 3 months and opened them on one of my monthly checkups of the rig. Don't remember for sure - CRS strikes again!I have heard of some device you put in the unit that attracts moisture and drains it to a pan or bucket.It can't be just me!

Since mine is at home I run a dehumififier all winter

Been using multiple of those giant DampRid buckets that are ready to go, simply remove the lid and leave in place. If power is available, there's a little marine air dryer unit you can get that basically is a small heating element and a blower, ya basically stick it in your sink and leave it running.

I live in the same climate you do, O.P., but I'm lucky enough to have the old time jalousie windows that shed rain on all four sides of my trailer. I leave each one "cracked" a bit all winter long, and never have mold problems. It's been my hard-won experience that roof venting isn't enough- one needs crosscurrents.If your rig is parked undercover you could do the same thing with sliders, that is of course assuming you're not worried about security. But even then, the ol' stick-in-the-track would work to prevent anyone from opening the window farther than the inch or so you've left for ventilation.

I've read on hear of many people putting a tub or two of Damp Rid Link With these tubs the water collects in the tub and you have to pour it out from time to time.If you are looking for something with a drain hose you would probably be thinking dehumidifier and those require 120v power. Although you might be able to figure out how to rig up a drain hose from a tub of damp rid. Are you sure though that you don't have a leak that is causing all this mold?

Gosh, that's not good....:(I stick one of these in during storage (rainy Northwest). After a couple of weeks the catch pan is always full of water.Walmart. Dri-z-air LINK

Moldy interior of TT - disgusting! | Good Sam Community

rhagfo
Explorer III
May 27, 2013
Well this post doesn't really apply to us as we use the 5er year round, but it does sit for about a month at a time during the cold, wet months. I HATE Dri-Z-Air dehumidifiers, I had one and it spilled on a wood surface, I needed to replace that surface as the it absorbed the chemical and was always wet!!

I now use Eva-Dry, reusable drying crystals, no fluid to spill, or crystals to play with. Not cheap, but as far as i am concerned, better than the crystals.

Eva-Dry
Pogoil
Explorer
May 27, 2013
I also am in Oregon. Here is what I have learned. I take care of no less than 10 stored RVs each winter.
I always advise owners to open all blinds. Mold likes dark and damp.
Open the roof vents if covered by roof vent covers. 1 inch is plenty.
Then the real secret is to super clean the surfaces and window sills.
Then use a vac. to clean the floors.

Mold grows on dirt, dust and dirty surfaces. 2 times in 8 years of storing RVs they have come out with mold and both were dirty when stored and 1 closed the RV up tight and had all the blinds closed.

That is out of about 100 stored in 8 years.

Pogoil.
Sea_Dog
Explorer
May 27, 2013
Francesca Knowles wrote:
Sea Dog wrote:
Why would anyone store an RV with windows/vents open?

Because leaving them open allows for the humidity inside the trailer to be at the same level as outside the trailer, and the constant exchange/flow of fresh air prevents mold formation.

No need for kitty litter/dehumidifying machines or chemicals that way...

I live in the Pacific North WET, and believe you me- we know what's up when it comes to mold prevention!

Different strokes for different folks!
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
May 27, 2013
Sea Dog wrote:
Why would anyone store an RV with windows/vents open?

Because leaving them open allows for the humidity inside the trailer to be at the same level as outside the trailer, and the constant exchange/flow of fresh air prevents mold formation.

No need for kitty litter/dehumidifying machines or chemicals that way...

I live in the Pacific North WET, and believe you me- we know what's up when it comes to mold prevention!
RambleOnNW
Explorer II
May 26, 2013
I'm another that keeps the RV closed up. Some air does still circulate due to the stove vent hood vent flapping in the wind. I do open the vents some if it is going to get hot in the 90's for several days. Used to use Dry-Z-air units, 5 of them, emptied once per month. Now using Eva-dry 500 units, plug them in to dry out when they have absorbed all the water they can.
JoeChiOhki
Explorer II
May 26, 2013
Sea Dog wrote:
Why would anyone store an RV with windows/vents open?

With our Florida fifth wheeler, we set out two large pails of DampRid,
numerous margarine tubs of kitty litter.

All openings are tightly shut.
Sits from April first until mid Oct,
never any sign of dampness or mould!

Aye, confused on that myself. I always buttoned her up tight and let the moisture absorbers control the interior air's moisture content as much as possible.
Sea_Dog
Explorer
May 26, 2013
Why would anyone store an RV with windows/vents open?

With our Florida fifth wheeler, we set out two large pails of DampRid,
numerous margarine tubs of kitty litter.

All openings are tightly shut.
Sits from April first until mid Oct,
never any sign of dampness or mould!
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
May 26, 2013
BobsYourUncle wrote:
Problem solved!!! :B:B

I bought a replacement TT today and I can scrap this rotten old Sportsmen!!

New to me TT thread & pics

:B

The Zsa Zsa Gabor solution! (She once said that when her jewels get dirty she just throws them away and gets new ones.)

Say....I'll do you a favor and come tow that oldy moldy Sportsman away- no charge! :W
Dakzuki
Explorer
May 26, 2013
BuckBarker wrote:
Either open the roof vents that are covered with Max Airs or run a dehumidifier. Being it's stored away from home I guess you are stuck with the first option.

I button it up tight and use a dehumidifier and/or Dry-Z-Air. Opening vents just lets more moisture into the RV during our wet season in the PNW (Oct-mid July).
BobsYourUncle
Nomad
May 26, 2013
Problem solved!!! :B:B

I bought a replacement TT today and I can scrap this rotten old Sportsmen!!

New to me TT thread & pics

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