Condensation - dealing with it.

[Piratepete]

Hi Guys
It's that time of year when you wake up to the windows running with condensation. Windscreen is the worst followed by the rear window and then the sides. Wiping them down results in buckets of water! My neighbour, in a T4 had an external thermal cover on their windscreen which worked a treat!
So off to the Motorhome and Caravan Show to find said covers.
All I could find was Rainbow Screens who want £172 for the front one and £65 for the rear. OLPRO sell internal thermal screens for £35 but not for a T25.
JK sells a complete all around internal set for the T25 and also an external windscreen Thermoscreen.
Q1. Do the internal screens stop condensation as well as the external ones?
Q2. Has anyone bought  internal or external thermoscreens and been happy with them? If so, where did you get them, please?
Cheers!
Pete
 

[clift_d]

In my experience the only two things that stop window condensation in a van are double glazing and decent external screens.

Our Westy has the former in the tailgate and side windows from the factory, so we only needed to solve the problem of condensation on the windscreen. We found that the internal screens still allowed the moist air in the van to get to the cold glass and condense, and so we finally decided to get an external screen.

Based upon forum feedback we ended up choosing one from SilverScreens, and it seems to have done the trick. They make everything bespoke in the UK to fit your van, including different mirror types, so it’s best to call them to discuss what you need. The only downside is that they are, as you guessed, going to be quite a bit more expensive than the internal screens.

[Mocki]

Ventilation is the only real way to stop it , i always have the two front windows down a good 40mm and the heater set to cold , open to the screen and feet switched off .
You are basically breathing out moisture , its need air flow

[Stesaw]

Ventilation is the only real way to stop it , i always have the two front windows down a good 40mm and the heater set to cold , open to the screen and feet switched off .
You are basically breathing out moisture , its need air flow

This. Scotland camping was a fine example of that when last went this time last year. Was like id washed the inside of the van with a hose first night. After opening windows and the skylight following night it helped a bit, but when its 0 degrees outside you notice it a bit more inside.. so wrap up more

I've got a small cheap dehumidifier that sits in the van. its 12v mains so I'm going to find another cable to mess with and try run it off the leisure system. If we aren't on hookup that is.

[Porkscratching]

I camp extensively in the winter and I've found that using older / preused internal mats stuck on the outside with the silver facing inwards coupled with a "Silver Screens" wrapped around the front stops condensation dead in its tracks.

This coupled with adequate ventilation one can cook and camp in comfort.

Condensation is a van killer. Although you mop up the obvious floods of water off the glass it's sitting where you can't see it slowly turning into metalworm.

Regards, Max.

[Dobble]

We were out camping last weekend in Wales and our friend with a Syncro had a Karcher window vacuum. It obviously doesn't stop condensation but makes taking it off the windows super easy. We will defiantly be investing in one.  

[Porkscratching]

makes taking off the windows super easy.

Does it take off behind the bulkhead and inside the tailgate and other nooks and crannies?
In my opinion prevention is the answer.

Regards, Max.

[cobblers]

Yes, ventilation is the only real solution. People exhale loads of water and that just has to go somewhere. We only notice it on cold surfaces, but a well insulated van will eventually end up damp.
A small diesel heater will be more than enough to keep you lovely and warm in any weather in any t3, and with the cab windows left open 15mm the ventilation will keep the condensation to almost zero.

I have a bigger van, and even in -7c temperatures we can camp for a few days (two of us, two dogs) and come back wet from walking, have long hot showers in the van, cook meals etc and we never have a condensation problem because we keep some airflow through the van.

[Dobble]

makes taking off the windows super easy.

Does it take off behind the bulkhead and inside the tailgate and other nooks and crannies?
In my opinion prevention is the answer.

Regards, Max.

No obviously not, it's a window vac to vacuum any condensation off the windows. I agree that prevention it better than a cure but in this weather it's hard to be 100% condensation free.