I'm currently traveling in the Pacific North West and am starting to see signs of mold and water inside my 2005 Hawk. I've just recently taken some steps to stop water (and hopefully mold) from moving seeping from the outside-in. After a week in Portland I noticed small amounts of mold on my rear wall to the left of the door under the small window. Also I noticed mold on the side of the sleeping area behind the mattress. I pulled the panels off the aluminum frame and waited overnight. I'm getting a large amount of condensation on the inside of my windows as well as the inside of the aluminum and wood paneling behind where the mattress sits. I also notice condensation on the very top of the pop-up tent part, all the way around the top of the camper (inside). I went a little overboard and tore the carpet out that sits behind the couch seating area (i found it was collecting water). I cleaned the mold with bleach and dried everything, caulked the corners and let it dry overnight. This morning I went to town and rolled Herculiner bed liner onto the wood step and up onto the walls. Hopefully this will help a little. Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Four Wheel Camper interior water and mold
- Thread starter 4whtundra
- Start date
brianjwilson
Some sort of lost...
I don't have any specific advice, but I do have space in my garage in Hillsboro (west of Portland) if you are still in the area and need space to dry it out and work on it for a couple days. You'd have to come up with a creative way to unload it and roll it in I guess but the offer is there.
I really never liked the older FWC roof style with so many screws and seams myself, and not much of a seal when it's closed up. Living in the northwest, I see every hole and seam as a place to leak. I sold my hard side, wood framed aluminum sided camper because I just knew I wouldn't be able to keep up on it stored outside.
Anyway if you need a hand in the Portland area I'm back in town tomorrow and off for a couple weeks.
And for what it's worth, Stan at four wheel campers is normally very helpful with this stuff. If you haven't already I recommend getting on the phone with him.
I really never liked the older FWC roof style with so many screws and seams myself, and not much of a seal when it's closed up. Living in the northwest, I see every hole and seam as a place to leak. I sold my hard side, wood framed aluminum sided camper because I just knew I wouldn't be able to keep up on it stored outside.
Anyway if you need a hand in the Portland area I'm back in town tomorrow and off for a couple weeks.
And for what it's worth, Stan at four wheel campers is normally very helpful with this stuff. If you haven't already I recommend getting on the phone with him.
Overland Hadley
on a journey
Is the problem mostly condensation, or water leaking in from outside?
If it is condensation, then:
are you running a heater?
if so what kind of heater?
how much ventilation do you have and is it creating good cross ventilation?
do you have the polar pack insulation on the pop top fabric?
If it is condensation, then:
are you running a heater?
if so what kind of heater?
how much ventilation do you have and is it creating good cross ventilation?
do you have the polar pack insulation on the pop top fabric?
Stan@FourWheel
Explorer
These are good questions ...
<< are you running a heater? >>
If you have a forced air furnace w/ thermostat (factory installed style of furnace), that usually works in your favor a little.
If you are running a catalytic propane furnace, that might be the source of some of the condensation. Those do produce some moisture as they burn.
<< how much ventilation do you have and is it creating good cross ventilation? >>
In wet or humid areas, it is a good idea to very slightly crack the roof vent, and very slightly crack one of the access port holes inside the camper that allow you access into your truck bed.
This will create some natural convection to allow hot air to slowly move out the roof vent, causing a very small amount of air flow inside the camper (helps to dry things out).
<< do you have the polar pack insulation on the pop top fabric? >>
This option does help cut down a little on condensation inside the camper.
But is is an expensive option, so you might want to try some other simplier idea first before dropping down the big bucks.
The other easy thing you can try is to buy some moisture removers.
I like the hanging style because they are easy to use and not too messy.
Something like could help ...
http://www.damprid.com/product/hanging-moisture-absorber-activated-charcoal-fg80cr
Might be worth a try.
Feel free to post other questions if you have them.
Wish you the best of luck on your travels.
Thanks
.
<< are you running a heater? >>
If you have a forced air furnace w/ thermostat (factory installed style of furnace), that usually works in your favor a little.
If you are running a catalytic propane furnace, that might be the source of some of the condensation. Those do produce some moisture as they burn.
<< how much ventilation do you have and is it creating good cross ventilation? >>
In wet or humid areas, it is a good idea to very slightly crack the roof vent, and very slightly crack one of the access port holes inside the camper that allow you access into your truck bed.
This will create some natural convection to allow hot air to slowly move out the roof vent, causing a very small amount of air flow inside the camper (helps to dry things out).
<< do you have the polar pack insulation on the pop top fabric? >>
This option does help cut down a little on condensation inside the camper.
But is is an expensive option, so you might want to try some other simplier idea first before dropping down the big bucks.
The other easy thing you can try is to buy some moisture removers.
I like the hanging style because they are easy to use and not too messy.
Something like could help ...
http://www.damprid.com/product/hanging-moisture-absorber-activated-charcoal-fg80cr
Might be worth a try.
Feel free to post other questions if you have them.
Wish you the best of luck on your travels.
Thanks
.
brianjwilson,
Thank you very much for the offer, I really appreciate it but I am in Northern Washington as we speak.
OH & Stan,
I installed an Atwood 8012 forced air unit myself, along with the analog/mechanical style thermostat. I've been keeping the vent cracked every night but just recently tried cracking a window as well. That seemed to help. Stan, I will try the turnbuckle opening tonight. I went a little overboard and tore out the carpet behind the couch, I calked the seams and herculined the floor and about a foot up the walls. I had to deal with the stink of the liner for a couple days but I'm really happy how it came out. Hopefully it will keep the mold out, I do notice some condensation on the walls at night and in the early morning. I am still getting dampness behind my mattress, near my head and feet. I haven't checked for mold there. I will look for the moisture removers and give them a try. I've been in search of some bubble style insulation for the tent part as it is getting to be pretty chilly up here, but no luck so far. If I can't find any I will most likely get more foam style and devise a way to hinge it when the top is down. Thanks to you guys for the recommendations and help!! :bowdown:
Thank you very much for the offer, I really appreciate it but I am in Northern Washington as we speak.
OH & Stan,
I installed an Atwood 8012 forced air unit myself, along with the analog/mechanical style thermostat. I've been keeping the vent cracked every night but just recently tried cracking a window as well. That seemed to help. Stan, I will try the turnbuckle opening tonight. I went a little overboard and tore out the carpet behind the couch, I calked the seams and herculined the floor and about a foot up the walls. I had to deal with the stink of the liner for a couple days but I'm really happy how it came out. Hopefully it will keep the mold out, I do notice some condensation on the walls at night and in the early morning. I am still getting dampness behind my mattress, near my head and feet. I haven't checked for mold there. I will look for the moisture removers and give them a try. I've been in search of some bubble style insulation for the tent part as it is getting to be pretty chilly up here, but no luck so far. If I can't find any I will most likely get more foam style and devise a way to hinge it when the top is down. Thanks to you guys for the recommendations and help!! :bowdown: