Took our first trip (& a question)

[Mark G.]

Took our first trip (& a question)

The wife and I took our first trip in our 16' scamp. It was a 2 night shake down run to Fort Stevens in Oregon.

http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_179.php


We had a great time, all the appliances, furnace, water and such preformed flawlessly…..

Are scamp is the deluxe with side dinette and front bath (1998)….. We may make a removable, wood slat floor for the shower well….. We would like the floor higher.

One issue we did have was window condensation. Just to be clear… They are not leaks. The trailer stays bone dry when parked at the house but with the 2 up us breathing in it all day and night we get a bunch of waster on the interior glass.

What are the tricks for this? We did start cracking the roof vent (furnace also running) and it did help. Are we on the right track?


Anyway…. We are very happy to be part of the Fiberglass RV community and look forward to meeting some of you in the future.

[Lizbeth]

Good to hear you had a nice first trip!

You are on the right track about the condensation. Cracking a window is a good idea. I also make sure to try to dry the trailer out during the day and make sure the damp towels and such are dry or put in the truck. Also cooking can add to the moisture so be sure to use the stove vent.

I'm sure others will have more hints.

[Nancy]

Buy a small inexpensive electric cube heater and see if that works better than your furnace when you are plugged into power.

Keep the vent cracked and maybe another window cracked too.

We don't have a furnace so I can't compare, just guess.

Nancy

[Harry Young]

Mark congrats on the safe trip,

The 1995 Scamp Deluxe side dinette has the same issues. The vent is the best approach...we made covers for the rear windows and installed silver bubble wrap cut to size behind the covers, this was done so they lay between the window and the outside cover, the outer cover stays in place with snaps pop riveted in place to provide the multiple barrier for the rear windows when sleeping, our bed stays made up... To dehydrate the trailer we use this trick below on both the Scamp and the Astro.

Open the top vent at night, put a cheap tarp over it and bungee in place, the heat will pretty much stay in the trailer, but the cold tarp cap over the vent will make an outside tent which will sweat like a rain forest, this dehydrates the trailer, the condensate will harmlessly drip off to roof out side the living space.

Happy Camping, Safe Trails.

Harry & Kenna

[Bill and Jacquie G.]

Mark and WIFE !!!!!!

Welcome to the World of FGRV'S !!!!!!

You are "right on schedule" with your condensation problem. : ) Even with the 17,18,19------20ft
models, everyone needs to find their own "perfect combination" of windows/vents/doors open-to-vent and allow the steam out. (think of your bathroom at home; LOOOOOOOoooooonnng Shower, mirror foggy) Even in the winter your windows/vents will be open. Most of us have a dedicated towel or rag to wipe the windows and walls.......... even with venting, while you are sleeping, the windows near your head may cloud a little. Not to worry. BTW many(most?) of us have one of those little cube/box heaters to keep the chill off at night because the big furness is so noisy we shut them off if we have 110AC shore power. If you don"t have shore power, that's a very good reason to snuggle! .
Bill : )

[Donna D.]

Yeah, says a lot about the double-pane windows Escape can install! Anyway, you might consider getting Reflex and cutting it to shape/size of the windows... especially the ones around the bed area. It will insulate the windows and make that area darker. Mount the Reflex using peel n stick velcro, or go more permanent with rare earth magnets glued to the window frame and the other glued to the Reflex.

Feels a bit like a cool sauna doesn't it. Ditto to opening vents, using a dry air cube heater and don't cook pasta!

[Ellen B]

What is REFLEX?? Sounds like we need some.

Thanks!

[Donna D.]

It's actually Reflectix... I just can't remember that name, so I shortened it... sorry. Same stuff as Scamp uses under the Rat Fur for insulation. It's available at the big box stores in rolls, like here: Lowes Reflectix

[peterh]

Yea, if you keep the vents closed the windows do get damp. We've found that very slightly cracking the roof vent at night helps a lot. On really cold nights we just button everything up and just deal with the condensation on the windows in the morning. I've been thinking a squeegee might be a great addition to our trailer tools. It would help get the doggy-nose-prints off the windows, too!

I cut some Reflectix window covers for some of our 5er windows just recently. We'll get a chance to use trhem for the first time at the Spring NOG and again in May when we visit the Grand Canyon. I didn't go the route with the magnets, though. One panel I cut just press-fits into the window, the other slides between the window and the screen.

It's big downside is it blocks out all the light, so the trailer still feels very dark when you get up. That could be a big plus, however when overnighting at a Walmart or rest stop or when stealth-camping.

[Greg A]

Camp in Arizona, condensation is a very rare occurrence here.

[Bill MacDermod]

If you own a Casita or any others that have carpet walls the carpet absorbs a lot of moisture, being original New Englanders we like it cool while sleeping so we still open the vent and a window and maybe even the fan blowing out, the secret is lotsa blankets and a cube heater with in reach of the bed for morning warmth

[Alf S.]

Hi: All...We take a damp immitation chamois in a ziploc baggie. Great for wiping down the shower walls and to wipe off any condensation from the windows...very rare if using the MaxxFan or just leaving it open at night. The chamois is also great for wiping rain/dew off the tables & chairs outside too!!!
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie The Rain In Maine Falls Mainly on the Plains