New Camper Smell

[lifercars]

I guess that just like with a new car or house, every new camper will have a smell. I like JAYCO's commitment to going GREEN and I also like their choice of materials such as plywood instead of OSB for the bed boards as well as real wood for cabinets and woodwork. We looked at a JAYCO TT recently at dealer and I noticed a slight odor when I entered. I quickly got used to it and it didn't bother me after a few minutes. I also noted to my wife that my eyes were not irritated later on after we left the dealer. But the dealer knew we were coming and had the trailer opened up (with the door open) for sometime before we got there. Our current camper is a popup which has no unpleasant odor but as you can imagine, when we camp we open up all the screens so it gets aired out really quick. So here's my question to the hard wall campers out there. Do any of you have to air out your JAYCO TT's when you first get to your site before entering the trailer? If yes, do you know roughly how long it takes to air out the trailer to the point that you can enter with no unpleasant odors?

[dalenoel]

The only smell in mine, it has been covered for several months and closed up, is from bounce dryer sheets. I never need to air-out the TT when getting to a site or when opening it up.

[lifercars]

[Dalenoel] The only smell in mine is from bounce dryer sheets.

Dalenoel, do you use dryer sheets to scare the mice or to give your trailer a nice smell? Or maybe both...

[RVhiker]

We've got vent covers over each of our three vents. I leave all the vents open when the trailer is stored. This keeps it aired out and fresh inside.

More importantly, leaving the vents open keeps the inside humidity from rising higher than outside, so it helps to keep the inside dry. I've seen pictures of interior wall finishes and coverings that have been ruined by prolonged high humidity.

[lifercars]

[RVhiker] We've got vent covers over each of our three vents.

RVhiker, just so I understand, the vent covers will not allow rain to get into the camper (even during a storm) but still allow moisture to get out? Did the covers come with your trailer or did you install them on your own?

[rvrev2]

I believe most of that "new" smell dissapates fairly quickly. I've heard that for new rigs, it is recommended to turn on the furnace and keep the rig hot for a number of hours to assist with the outgassing of the new materials.

[dalenoel]

Originally Posted by lifercars

[Dalenoel] The only smell in mine is from bounce dryer sheets.

Dalenoel, do you use dryer sheets to scare the mice or to give your trailer a nice smell? Or maybe both...

I have not had mice at this house. Had them at the last one and they used the sheets for bedding. Don't think they hurt but they sure smell good. I keep Dcon under the trailer behind the wheels for the mice. Trailer is on concrete right next to the house.

We also have the vent covers and keep them open. Got them at WM cheaper than anywhere else. Great add-on for the TT

[CruizinKim]

Love the bounce sheets! I put those in luggage, empty & full. I'll have to try in the TT, as well.

[RVhiker]

Originally Posted by lifercars

[RVhiker] We've got vent covers over each of our three vents.

RVhiker, just so I understand, the vent covers will not allow rain to get into the camper (even during a storm) but still allow moisture to get out? Did the covers come with your trailer or did you install them on your own?

Right, the vent covers allow the vents to remain open but do not allow rain - even in a storm , at least not so far for me. I had to buy them and installed them myself. I got MaxAir covers, and there are other brands. The MaxAir covers are easy to install, and do not put any holes in your roof, but do require small holes to be drilled into the frame of your existing vent; this is much easier to do than it sounds. Here's a link: MaxAir Covers.

[hotrod51]

The new to us camper had awful smell when we walked into it. The dealer explained they are required by law to completely sanitize every trailer, I think it added something like 300.00+ dollars to every used unit. Since we got it in October, we put an air freshener in it. Our shop is a stick built with foundation, the only mouse we have ever had got in the trunk of the convertible and destroyed a box of tissues. Anyway we were just up to the trailer today and no foul odors, we leave the trailer opened up so the temp difference's do not make make the humidity in the trailer rise.

[Chakara]

I installed MaxxAir's as well. In the bathroom just a cover as it already had a cheap fan. For the one in the living area I put in a TurboMaxx. That Turbo moves the air - I'd guess it changes the air in our trailer ever couple of minutes on high - never use anything but low. The point being, you could use that to ventilate out your trailer in no time flat. Here's a link to the one I got, but there are others: http://www.maxxair.com/turbo-maxx.html

One last thing I like about the TurboMaxx is that on the low setting it draws just over 1amp and still manages to move a lot of air. As be boondock a fair amount, the less power drawn, the better

Oh, and RVHiker is right - they really are an easy install. For the turbo I was lucky and found DC wires right next to the vent hole, so no need to run any new wire!

-Chak

[clutch]

Welcome to the Jayco Owners Forum.

[lifercars]

[Chakara] I installed MaxxAir's as well. For the one in the living area I put in a TurboMaxx... you could use that to ventilate out your trailer in no time flat. Here's a link to the one I got, but there are others: http://www.maxxair.com/turbo-maxx.html

Thanks for the link Chakara. That turbo-maxx does look like a good one and I like that it fits over the existing vent w/out drilling holes. I hope our camper will have the DC wires for easy hookup also.

[clutch]

We live in our trailer a lot and that new smell was gone in a couple of days.