Dehumidifies for truck camper

[brholt]

Getting into fall and starting to think about what if anything I should do for moisture in the camper. We are in Seattle so it's wet. We also plan on using the camper weekends.

Possibilities:

1. Just leave the vents open (they have covers) along with the pass through window.

2. Seal it up and buy a small dehumidifier.

3. Seal it up and put in a small heater like an oil filled heater and run it at 600 watts or so.

4. Seal it up and add some of the chemical water absorbers. If only a little moisture probably easier than 2.

5. Seal it up and buy one of those little heater thing they sell for humidity control at rv and boat supply places. Though it seems to me this is nothing more than a little heater or am I missing something.

Thoughts and comments?

[whizbang]

We are in Seattle too. After having RV's in the Northwest for 12 years, I finally have THE answer.

I cover our camper with a Heavy Duty plastic tarp, and, run an electric dehumidifier.

I got the humidifier at Home Depot for a little less than $200. About once a week I undo the end of the tarp to get into the camper and empty the water in the tray.

The weekly dumping is a pain in the butt. However, it is well worth it. This last winter our camper was much dryer than the previous 11 years. No moisture. No mildew. No cabinet door swelling. It was fabulous. No need to "air it out" before the first spring trip. I like it. You will too.

[-Kevin]

last fall/winter I sealed it up and put in a Eva-Dry 1100 and it worked great till the 362nd day and it died. I tried and was unable to get any help from Eva-Dry for warranty replacement (1 year). I have the 500 that I use when I am using it and it doesn't seem to do anything near what the 1100 can do.

[2oldman]

All I ever did was heat my trailer to just above ambient. But forget about the outside.. cleaning moss every 3 months.

[smooth1]

I am in the Seattle area too. Get one of the little heaters with a fan on it, and put it on a timer to come on for an hour or two twice a day on the low heat setting. Vents open to let it breath.

In my opinion, leaving a vent or two open and moving the air thru with the fan is probably enough but having a bit of heat won't hurt. I also have a carport which helps keep it out of the weather.

[Boatycall]

brholt wrote:
Getting into fall and starting to think about what if anything I should do for moisture in the camper. We are in Seattle so it's wet.

Since we're in the same 'hood,(I'm just south of Tacoma), I can tell you, if you don't have a covered place to park it, it's a PITA.

I just hired a contractor to get the ball rolling for a large 26x24x14 carport to put mine under cover. (And for Sleepy to park under when he visits). I got soooo tired of covering/uncovering all the time in the rainy season here.

In the fall - I cover the camper, then crack both vents, but not so far as to put stress on the vents trying to push on the cover.

Winter - Double covered--Vents closed, an off the shelf camper cover, on top of that a big grey tarp ensuring it's water proof. Normal breezes still got underneath everything, so no mold/mildew under the covers. I found that to be the best, it worked very well. I installed baseboard heating into my for Arctic Fox that had a thermostat minimum of 40 degrees, so it was it's own anti-freeze heater. Only way to go lower was to kill the breaker I put it on.

I'm soooo looking forward to my carport to get done. It's in permitting right now. When it's done I'm going to grab a lawn chair and a six pack and take a match to 'em and watch'em burn! (To the tree huggers, no I'm not really going to burn them, it's a joke. Maybe.).

[sleepy]

I like doing it the easy way... I leave the camper plugged up and the air conditioner turned on when it's in storage at home... the humidity is converted to condensate. the condensate is expelled to the TC roof... and runs off.

When the ambient air is cool enough that we don't need air conditioning humidity is no longer a problem.

[RickW]

I am in a much drier climate but,

I seal it up and use a small dehumidifier on a timer to run at night when humidity is highest and condensation is most likely to occur.

I tried the damp rid desiccant. It quickly became a dilute gooey mess. It will only absorb about a cup or two of water per container. I can dump a cup of water a week from my little dehumidifier in a little pop up in a dry climate.

The inside water content will always try to be in equilibrium with the outside and it will come in through all the small air leaks. Once it is inside, it will condense on the cold windows and walls because it cannot get back out quickly. The heater raises inside temperature, lowering the water carrying capacity of the air and reduces condensing, but at a significant energy cost.

Seal it tight. Get a dehumidifier.

[Bumpyroad]

I vote for option 2.
bumpy

[chevyman2]

I go to Wally and buy a bucket called "DAMP RID" it is in the RV accessories aisle and (the one I bought yesterday) cost $9.88. All you do is remove the lid and place on floor. I leave it in all year, and replace it every year at winterize time. You can replace the lid when using the camper, but I forgotten to at times with no negative results.

It is calcium chloride (fragrance free) Usually by the end of summer I end up with a very full bucket of partially crystals and partially water.

It does work very well in my PUP trailer. Everything ia always dry when we get back in it. And the canvas is dry with no mold or stains.

[donn0128]

do some online research for the highest rated one and buy it. You wont regret it one bit. I use one in my trailer all winter. Really makes a dufference thefirst couple of trips in the spring

[romore]

We are just north of you, it is dang humid now.:( My plan is to leave a vent open, they have hoods, and a window. This will allow air to circulate and with any luck prevent condensation and mold.