ohh condensation

[hayduke]

i got a question for you guys with toppers out there among those that have beds in the toppers what kind of ventilation do you run. I have a aluminum topper with win/doors and crank out vents w/ screens. i just got back from a ski trip in BC and spent a lot of nights in the topper w/the girl. It was great and got to try out eh slide out kitchen I made, BUT in the AM there was a lot of condensation on the top of the topper. Mostly it was frozen but than when it would heat up there would be a lot of dripping going on.
My thoughts include the aluminum being cold and maybe some insulation helping, anybody heard of spray on stuff that might work for me? or some of the carpet like material? or do I need to crank the windows open more(but than its so darn cold) Ideas would be great!! thanks

 

[fisher205]

Are you using a heater? and if you are what kind?

 

[hayduke]

nope no heater, just body heat.

 

[DaktariEd]

Condensation will occur any time humid air comes in contact with a sufficiently colder surface. The only option that I see is more ventilation where the humid air meets cold surface.
I don't know the layout of your vents, but is it possible to better ventilate the area where the ice/condensation is forming?

 

[Desertdude]

On our tents the manufacturer added a quilted material on the ceiling, this helps a bit to insulate the fiberglass top.

One of our tents has breathable fabric which needs less venting of the windows to keep the moisture low, the other tent requires major air flow in the tent depending on if there is one or two people sleeping inside.

 

[KMR]

Condensation will occur any time humid air comes in contact with a sufficiently colder surface. The only option that I see is more ventilation where the humid air meets cold surface.......

.....or, to better insulate the surface.
I actually just got back from a ski trip to BC as well, and spent the nights camping in the truck, with wife and dog. Granted, I have a seriously insulated cabin, so the roof is not an issue, for us is was always the back windows We have a heavy canvas curtain that rolls down from the roof to help keep us insulated, but we would still get a good amount of condensation on the windows.
Before the trip I purchased 3 of those folding-foil-bubble-winshield-sun shades thingys and cut them to the shape of the three rear windows. I put a strip of self adhesive Velcro at the top and bottom, so at night we could simply stick them to the windows.
The layer of insulation almost completely negated the condensation problem on all but the front window.
I think better insulating your roof will help your problem a lot, and it will also help to keep it cool in the sun. Spray in foam might work, or there are glues available that will hold headliners up, any insulation material will help, wool carpet batting, canvas, sail cloth, foil bubble (but the glue would not work very good on that, so you might think of some bow-stays).
HTHs
Kevin R.

 

[hayduke]

Thanks guys, Kevin sounds like insulation is the way to go, any recomendations on adhesive on aliminum? I am still intrested in spray on stuff due to having lots of different angles and knooks and cranies in the topper. I will keep you guys informed. Alsdo any further ideas would be great. I almost want something that I can take out pretty easily due to some nasty stuff in the back of the truck! thanks EP
kevin you got a heavy canvas curtain on the topper, Inside? Any specs, That sounds pretty optimal! Thanks.

 

[KMR]

Thanks guys, Kevin sounds like insulation is the way to go, any recomendations on adhesive on aliminum? I am still intrested in spray on stuff due to having lots of different angles and knooks and cranies in the topper. I will keep you guys informed. Alsdo any further ideas would be great. I almost want something that I can take out pretty easily due to some nasty stuff in the back of the truck! thanks EP
kevin you got a heavy canvas curtain on the topper, Inside? Any specs, That sounds pretty optimal! Thanks.

Sorry to mislead you, I was referring the setup in my Cruiser. There are more pics of the curtain and info on wither camping on page 6 here (post #165). For adhesive, a good upholstery shop will have whatever you need, especially one that does marine stuff. Depending on where you are in AK that could be easy or hard. :sombrero: