Motorhome over winter

[Terry Everall]

What do people recommend for keeping condensation and mildew to a minimum over winter in motorhomes.

Dehumidifiers

Absorption crystals

Something else?

[AdamR]

Using it 

[Terry Everall]

I had thought of that but its not good in snow, ice or on wet fields!!

[DamperMan]

My camper fits in a garage but I still take the curtains and bed into the house to avoid the damp smell. Condensation is the issue for me.     If you can have a powered dehumidifier great although read the small print.   My Lidl one grew a block of ice over the grill as there was no temp cut off and the weather was cold.  Being in a confined damp place with a roof is far worse than being exposed with no roof.   It’s also better for it parked on tarmac than sitting on grass/ soil/ chippings as the moisture will rise through the floor and be captured by the sealed roof. 

[Terry Everall]

Mine will be outside and on tarmac

[Onliest Smeg David]

Wendz puts crystals in ours. 

And tyre savers if not using periodically.

As Adam said, best to use your investment!

[pistonbroke]

and keep it well ventilated

[jeff oakley]

If you look at the link below it gives useful information on looking after interiors on caravans and motorhomes and then end section is regarding motorhomes specifically.

The only thing I would add is to spend some time and get a lot of wax on the unit. Winter is awful for black streaking and is a b******* to get off if not on heavy wax.

 

https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/1022814/storage-mo.pdf

[Arm]

Dont let water stand on the roof ie jack up one end and make sure it drains off. Ive also used a breathable cover and that works well. 

[Alan Cutler (Adge) - Dorset AO]

I check ours regularly, and in cold snap, have the heating on at night (ours has a timer) on mains electric, with the thermostat turned down to 7 or 8 degC, and open cupboard doors. The heating will help get the air circulating is my theory. Have never taken the soft furnishings out over winner in the 28 years we've had motorhomes. As others have said its good to use them, but echo your sentiments on traction! If we haven't been off to stay, I try and take ours for a 1/2 hours run once a month, to blow the cobwebs out. Use chocks behind/in front of the wheels, and leave the handbrake off if possible.

 

[Trevor Little (Trevturtle) - Treasurer]

Hi Terry.

I do the following: remove the mattresses, they absorb damp and may go mouldy,  2. Electric dehumidifier.   Usually needs emptying  every 7 to 14days 2 litres of water each time.3. Cheap electric fan heater set on very low and on a timer. ...(If you have electric to the motor home?)  To stop the place freezing if you have a few days of less 0 degrees the water pipes and filters will freeze..and things may crack. 4. Raise the motor home on wooden blocks 700kg on a tyre over 3 to 4 months doesn't help. My last tyres perished and cracked due to sitting in one place over winter before they were worn out.

As a minimum I would recommend  a de humidifier.. if you have electric?

[John Loudon - Sponsorship Liaison]

Terry

We have a couple of oil filled tube heaters that I put on via  time switch on the hook up lead plug to come on a couple of times a day. They also have a thermostat control from a central heating setup where they plug into the socket in the motorhome to avoid heating when its mild outside.  We also use some of those disposable moisture trap things that Poundland sell dotted around the interior and also open all the cupboards. its amazing how much moisture these things gather in a short space of time

Ideally you want to take the seat cushions indoors as well but a humble man only has some much house space

John

[Terry Everall]

Thanks for all your comments

looks like I have a variety of options to consider