Cigarette Smoke

[mtofell1]

Is there any salvaging a TT that has been smoked in?

I found a model TT I've been looking for but it has been smoked in heavily. I haven't actually been in it yet - the dealer it's at is 180 miles away. The dealer was gracious enough to tell me on the phone that it had been smoked in. He said they did their best to clean it but you could still tell.

I'm about 95% sure I'm going to pass since smoke makes me want to barf. I guess I'm looking for someone with a miracle cure.

[Wes_Tausend]

Gdetrailer wrote:
Walk away, cig smoke is one of the most difficult smells to get rid of.

Not only the smoke but tar and other leftovers of second hand smoke will have coated every inch of paneling, drawers, cabinets along with every nook can cranny..

One of the most disgusting things I hated back in the days of repairing consumer electronics was when a customer who was a heavy smoker brought in a TV or stereo.. It smelled up the shop and it coated everything not only on the outside but the inside.. Took a lot of hard work to clean up and still smelled, but at least when I was done the customer thought it was a new unit..

There ARE a "surplus" of used RVs, in other words there are more used RVs than buyers, go and find one that was not smoked in.. You WILL be happier.

Gdetrailer,

I did the same sort of work and noticed the same thing. Sometimes the inside almost looked like it had a coating of ear wax. Usually I only cleaned pots and tuner sections, 1st with alcohol/q-tips/vasoline, then later with aerosol contact cleaner/lube when that became commonly available.

Did you ever find a bulk cleaner that you preferred to economically clean the entire component assembly, i.e. immersion/spraying? Carbon Tet once came to mind long ago, but that is hard to find anymore, dangerous and may still damage some plastic components. I never considered soapy water as that seems certain to leave some residue damage. Maybe not, if a distilled water rinse is used. Maybe evaporate the remaining water inside a vacuum bag?

One reason I ask is that a former BIL left me several oscilloscopes, generators, meters and other equipment. I hate to just throw them and would try to rummage them if they weren't so filthy. The other reason is, that type thorough cleaning is also best required of house, automotive or RV electronics, if there is serious smoke damage.

Wes
...

[webwrangler]

Tequila wrote:
On the other hand, it will get you chicks

LOL! Good one!

[AmericalVette]

During 27 years on the job, I was at many crime scenes that were very unpleasant, some of which were not discovered for several days in intense summer heat... you get the picture.

There was a company that specialized in the cleanup. One product they used was called "Unsmoke last resort", and sometimes in conjunction with an ozone machine. The Unsmoke Last Resort is available on line from a company called (if I remember correctly) Jon Don. It was amazing how well it worked... but I will add that there were some places that there was just no hope for. So glad to be retired.

[CavemanCharlie]

It also depends on the type of smoke. Cigarette smoke, to me, can with some cleaning, and airing out, be gone in a very short while.

But, I once dated a woman that smoked those little cigar things? I don't remember what they were called. They were so bad that I could not sleep in the TT for a week after she had been smoking in there. I could eventually get rid of the smell but, it took some work and time. I told her no more smoking of those things in the TT or house

There are other things that people smoke too. I imagine that that smell could be different, and maybe difficult, to get rid of as well.

[fil564]

We traded our first trailer in April 2014, they sold it shortly thereafter. This past April we were back at the dealer picking up our trailer after some minor warranty work and stat inspection and my wife and I were walking their lot. I happened to look and see our old trailer sitting there, we went over and went inside and I almost gagged. It still looked pristine inside like the day we traded it in but the smell of smoke was overbearing. We ran into the salesman and we talking and he fully admitted they had no idea how they were going to get rid of the smell out of the trailer. It was less than a year and it was that bad.

[Fisherguy]

Our trailer was 2 years old when we bought it. When we went to the dealer to look at it they had in inside with all the doors and windows open, seemed fine.
When we got it home (after a long drive that included crossing the border) we opened it up and you could really smell that it had been smoked in. I was not happy but we aired it out as much as we could, washed down the walls etc and the smell is totally gone now, no one ever says anything about the smoky smell cuz there isn't any.

[dodge_guy]

An Ozone machine (Ozone Generator) will get rid of the smell. it may take a few times, but will work.

But considering the trailer is that far away I would pass. plenty out there that will be much better!

[eichacsj]

The Texan wrote:
I am one of the few non-smokers that say, yes the smell can be removed, as I have personally witnessed it. One dealership I know invested in an ozone generator and they use it on vehicles they take in trade that are smokers and the results are awesome. There are a couple more types on the market that do work and work very well, as at least one other has said. As a non smoker I would have NO problem with a trailer that had been smoked in, IF it was properly cleaned and de-smoked.

Have to agree with the ozone. We sold our 29v and my wife is a locomotive on cigarettes, I am not a smoker and won't tolerate the smell, when we traded the TT in the dealer said "good you are not smokers" also on a truck we traded, same response. We did not correct either of them. Also keep in mind many higher-end grocery stores use them to get rid of fish smells.

Discoloration, you may see some of that.

[Doug33]

I am very sensitive to cigarette smoke. When I went to buy a car for my daughter back in January, I got a good deal on the car I wanted to get her. But when we test drove the car it was obvious the previous owner was a chain smoker - absolutely disgusting inside. I wrongly assumed the dealer could get rid of most of the smell, and bought the car. Their cleaning made very little difference. After we bought the car I cleaned everything in the interior, including the head liner. But when I turned on the vent fans the car smelled worse than ever.

So I decided to change the cabin air filter, which was a cheap part. I couldn't believe how disgusting the filter looked - coated with a black grime that smelled horrible. I venture to guess the inside of the previous owner's lungs looked the same. Once I changed that filter, the vent started bringing in cleaner air and the car smelled better. But even nine months later, when I get in her car, I can still smell some of the smoke. It doesn't seem to bother her, but I couldn't deal with it every day.

There is no cabin filter to replace in a TT, so I would pass on this one. Smoke gets in the fabrics and plastics, and it takes years to get out. It's hard to believe that people still smoke inside cars and RVs. But then again, I recently went to a concert in an indoor/outdoor theater. We had lawn seats, and it seemed like every other person around me was chain smoking. I couldn't believe people were even allowed to smoke in a public area like this. It really ruined the experience.

[OutdoorPhotogra]

mtofell1 wrote:
Thanks everyone for the input and ideas.... fwiw, the dealer said they already did the ozone treatment. If it still smells bad enough them to tell me over the phone I'm guessing it's still pretty bad.

With all the trailers out there in the world I'll probably pass on this one. It is in an area where there seems to be a lot of trailers for sale so if I do travel there I'll check it out. It's seeming pretty unlikely I'd make the trip just for this one.

Good decision. Good luck on your search!

[GMandJM]

Pass

[Gdetrailer]

SuperiorBound wrote:
If it were cheap enough so I wouldn't mind replacing all cushions and fabric and wiping down every wall and cabinet and drawer. Letting it air out well.
It may always have a hint of a smell anyway, that would depend on your tolerance level.

I don't care what anyone says, the only way to remove the smell is to remove and replace EVERYTHING..

Folks just don't seem to understand just how well embedded this smell can get. Your walls, ceiling, cabinets and even the flooring is somewhat porous.. The smoke over time finds it's way INTO all those open pores..

Myself I am extremely allergic to cig smoke.. I can smell someone smoking one single cig at 50 yards away with a slight breeze down wind.

Now compound that inside a SEALED box for years, add a little summer heat and that stale smoke smell will simply pop out of all those pores..

Nothing short of priming with a good stain resistant primer and painting over top of EVERYTHING is going to help the cause and even that might be a stretch due to places you are not going to get to (IE underside of counter tops, inside and under drawers)..

There is no value to a non smoker if they are allergic to cig smoke.

Best option is to pass.

There simply are too many other used RVs for sale in the market. Wait a while and keep searching.

[Bumpyroad]

those who say it can be done, have you checked later on a hot and very humid day? yes, initially it probably can smell OK but give a little time and the right conditions.???
bumpy

[The_Texan]

I am one of the few non-smokers that say, yes the smell can be removed, as I have personally witnessed it. One dealership I know invested in an ozone generator and they use it on vehicles they take in trade that are smokers and the results are awesome. There are a couple more types on the market that do work and work very well, as at least one other has said. As a non smoker I would have NO problem with a trailer that had been smoked in, IF it was properly cleaned and de-smoked.