Club 80-90 Forums

The last time I went away in the van this year was in October. When we woke up in the morning there was loads of condensation all over the inside. My question is, how do you avoid it?

As my father used to say when there were 6 of us in the family volvo estate

'Don't breath'

ventilation! Anyone who sleeps in a space as small as these vans without a open window or vent is asking for trouble, beit waking with a headache, or condansation, or worse........
most of the so called "hangovers" are becuase there was two (or more) peeps sleeping in a van with everywhere shut up tight, mostly because of lack of heating.

lack of insulation makes it worse, walk round early at a meet, you can see the vans without insulaion sticking out like a saw thumb, they are going to have more condensation than anyone. Those with wet windows on the inside have no air flow, even just switching the heater controls to cold and up to the screen makes a big difference, as do the door vents... i always leave the front two windows down a inch or so , and if its not raining big style the roof vent open a couple of inches....... (got one of the newer fiamma roof vents which are "constant flow" so still ventilate evenif shut tight)
the only place i get any condensation is at the top of the tailgate where the insulation isnt , in the bit where the tailgate meets the van....

I use have a couple of small fan heaters, when camping one 12v & one 240v. If on powered sight its great for keeping van warm & cond'n free. JK sell some rubbishy window vents that you can jam up in the door windows, this helps & they r reasonably secure even when youre not at the van.

I use 12v solar powered window fans & am currently rewiring one to run of the leasure batt.

When th evan is at home i keep a de-humidiefier in it. It sucks up loadsa water & you can use it when topping up the rad as it is distilled.

There will always be some condensation, even with all the tips & tricks..just gotta keep a soak up cloth or chammy to hand...for safety sake always keep some ventilation & if you have a high top fit a vent big enough to get out of if ya keep kids stowed up top...just incase a fire breaks out.

I think there are more tips in the wiki.

Kev

minke wrote: if you have a high top fit a vent big enough to get out of if ya keep kids stowed up top...just incase a fire breaks out.

Kev

If you have a fire going inside, DO NOT OPEN a roof vent as it becomes an instant exhaust for the heat from fire! Instant chimney and I don't want to be in a chimney with a fire burning. Get out the lowest point you can to avoid heat. Break side windows to get out if you have to.

PS: Some Westys exported to America had rear hatch emergency releases... And there are a couple of write-ups of hatch releases on internet.. I have a couple stored on hhd.

would those condensation things work? you know the cheap things that draw it in, like the things you get in shoes and purses sometimes.

If you mean those little bags with crystals in I doubt it. They can only absorb a bit and a van interior is HUGE

1664 wrote:If you mean those little bags with crystals in I doubt it. They can only absorb a bit and a van interior is HUGE

to be honest i use two of them moisture traps from poundland one on dash on on seideboard youd be suprised over 2 weeks there be 2" water in it my van never has condensation or damp in it so they must work TO A DEGREE

gti mad man wrote:to be honest i use two of them moisture traps from poundland one on dash on on seideboard youd be suprised over 2 weeks there be 2" water in it my van never has condensation or damp in it so they must work TO A DEGREE

Never seen them. Do you use them when you're camping or just leave them in the camper when it's parked up? Are they bags then or something else? Presumably they have to be changed / emptied periodically?

I'd be chuffed if they could cope with the condensation when I've slept in the van

1664 wrote:

gti mad man wrote:to be honest i use two of them moisture traps from poundland one on dash on on seideboard youd be suprised over 2 weeks there be 2" water in it my van never has condensation or damp in it so they must work TO A DEGREE

Never seen them. Do you use them when you're camping or just leave them in the camper when it's parked up? Are they bags then or something else? Presumably they have to be changed / emptied periodically?

I'd be chuffed if they could cope with the condensation when I've slept in the van

hee hee bren, didnt mean put a little bag in the van , moisture trap was waht i was thinking off just couldnt remember the name i used to put them on my window sill in my old flat, condensation was awfull, they did work to a degree

moisture traps as mentioned you will never %100 get rid of it yes they do work my theory beign if theres water in them its better than being inside the van in form of moisture my van never smells musty nor is damp or much condensation
this is while parked up have used while sleeping to

COURGETTE wrote:hee hee bren, didnt mean put a little bag in the van

well you did say the things you find in shoes and handbags - they're little bags of crystals aren't they?

So, what are these 'moisture traps' then, and how do they work? (A piccie would be nice)

ive no idea bren , little moisture traps. like an air freshner

Well it strikes me that those are still crystals but in a box instead of a bag?