We had exactly the same problem in outs Conway crusader. We rolled back the plastic sheeting so that it is now at the side rather than under the mattress. We asked the experts at Conway who suggested that we buy a camping mat to put under the mattress to create an air flow. Alternatively, as has already been said we have been known to put tins of beans underneath for airflow. Just remember to remove then before sleeping Lol!!!
Hope this helps
we use a couple of camping mats under our mattress. You know the insulating ones about 8mm thick.Stops body heat warming the surface of the bed boards so that the cold outside air doesn't cause condensation. Works very well.
F
------------- No matter where you go....there you are
Do you have skirts for your camper?
Maybe putting them on would help?
We always have the outer window 'pane' rolled down and open (with the insert rod) ... have found that rain doesn't get in, but there is ventilation.
Then we always have the inner window unvelcro-ed, unzipped, and rolled down, and the bed pod window access panel unzipped and rolled down ... so that there is good air circulation.
Mind you, as we are summer on the continent campers, we probably don't meet the colder weather in UK at this time or year/earlier .... though some mountain camping sites have been pretty cool at night.
I think I have zipped up the bed pod window panel a couple of times ... but never closed the window (on either side) ... and always use bedskirts ... except for a couple of one nighters.
Quote: Originally posted by Mod-con on 05/5/2015A thermal membrane? Condensation will only form when cold air meets a warm surface and vise-versa. When the warm moist air meets a colder surface, the warm moist air condenses below its dew point and depending on the relation between the air temperature and the air humidity present, the moisture condenses. The conditions that this can happen can vary of course. That's when you get dampness in a folding camper. There is a relationship between the different temperatures and humidities at which dew point occurs. Water vapour from breath and skin will condense especially at night on any surface that is below its dew point. The silver backing and space between the outer and inner layers of insulated radiator foil, stops the heat from passing through it. It stops heat by reducing, conduction, convection and radiation. That's how the foil works and is designed to so, with the little air pockets between the foil layers. It will keep the moist warm air from either cooking or body heat from coming into contact with the colder wood or (steel frame), which I think could be more the culprit. Steel is a better conductor of heat and cold. That's why a tent needs a inner tent to trap the warm moist air inside, from condensing on the colder inner surfaces. The pvc windows are cold at night, and they will show condensation too if conditions are right.
The slats may work because they allow some air to circulate between them. The plastic bed sheet can act like a vapour barrier of course, but if it too gets cold enough to satisfy the humidity of the air inside the unit, then condensation will form. The silver foil insulation with the sealed air pockets between, must be placed directly onto the wood surface of the bed on the inside, just below the mattress. Any metal that is exposed to outside air must not come into contact with the mattress especially if it's very cold at night. The plastic sheet acts like a vapour barrier and should be placed between the insulated foil and the underside of the mattress. Correctly it should be pulled over the top of the mattress during long term storage, or if the canvas is wet when its being dropped down. It protects against dampness on the bed. On my folding camper, I have ensured that the insulated foil turns up from the wooden base, all the way around the top of the exposed metal base-frame, that encloses each bed. Contact of parts between the inside and outside walls of every camper should normally have a metal break of non-conductive. This can been seen around the door and top edges of any folding camper, and is normally made of plastic.
Thanks everyone for the ideas. Will try next time we go away and hopefully will reduce the chance of damp mattresses. We did use the side skirts around the beds so that wasn't the problem. As the weather was so bad, torrential rain and very windy we didn't open the side windows so maybe we did need a bit more ventilation.
We have these plastic sheets on our pennine pullman. The dealer told us they are for using only when folding the canvas down when its wet. They fold over the matresses to protect them from the wet canvas. When not in use they should be rolled and stored out of the way of the mattress etc.
We've had probs with condensation building up under our mattress, even when we have left the windows open for ventilation & used tins under the matress to let the air circulate under during the day. (It's not as bad when you get dry weather.)
Last year we used a couple of foil backed camping mats & found they did make a big improvement. They didn't cost a lot of money & definately worth a try. We also carried on putting the cans under the mattress each morning as well.
P.s. The first time we used our f/c we forgot to roll up the plastic sheet & found the same as you did.
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Topic: Condensation under mattresses
