Storage and Gasing

[Bandit]

I have stored my Weekender in a dry building for the Winter and put some containers of a drying agent to eliminate moisture. I completed the build in August and put in a new Knox foam matress.
When I opened the tear over the weekend, there is a very strong odor that will burn your eye's. I let it vent most of the day, but it is still there.
I only used water based finish inside the tear, so I am assuming the gasing is coming from the matress.
Anyone else come across this problem??

[Arne]

No, but when I open the door, I can still smell paint, and mine is over 2 years old, and used extensively, many times with windows, vent, and doors open at campgrounds....

I think it happens most places, but a tear is a very confined space.. I could see where the foam might do it... it usually comes wrapped in plastic, so no venting there... then into a tear with the doors usually closed...

Any way a mouse could have gotten in.? take a look around and see what might have died over the winter.

[Bandit]

It is not Critter related.
The gasing is more like a chemical/solvent smell.
Since I used all water based finishes, I am guessing that it is the foam that is gasing. I me remove the foam mattress and let it air and see what the results are.

[Arne]

except for some minor trim, all my interior paints were water based latex... I can still smell it... It does not drive me out, it just smells like paint, and getting weaker every year. But then, so am I.../g/

[BILLYL]

I stored my Knox mat in the basement and the tear had a tarp losely on it outside. Open the door and it did have a "NEW CAR" type smell. But nothing to objectable,

Bill

[josephhanson]

I know the smell! My wife tells me that her eyes burn when we are loading up for camping after the trailer has been closed up for a while. I don't know if it is the Knox foam or what, but when the trailer has been opened for a while it doesn't bother her. Once we are camping there are no more problems. I used spar varnish on the interior, new fabric for the curtains and cushons, and knox foam.
Good Luck.

[BrianB]

Have you guys tried leaving a big tub of some sort of odor-absorbing material in your teardrops? Something like baking soda or kitty litter?

[asianflava]

We were at an RV dealership once and decided to check out some 5ers. We walked in and walked right out of a few of'em. The vapors were so strong that our eyes were burning. I didn't know how the salesman did it.

[Bandit]

The main reason I used the water based urethane was because of the comments I got here about the odor from the polyurethane.
I thought I was eliminating the sources of odor/vapors by using a water base finish.
The only source for the fumes is the mattress. As I said, earlier, we pick the Knox foam mattress in Knoxville, TN on our maiden voyage and it was stored shortly after that.
In the next week, I plan to move it into my heated and ventilated shop to finish up some trim. This will let me open her up and leave it open to air out.
One of my employees is planning a two week cross country outing and I've offered my TD to make it a little adventure. Along for the trip is his wife, 14 yr old daughter and 4 yr old son.
I have a tent that can butt against the tear for the children, and also have a 10X10 pop up canopy.
I hope the airing out helps, I may also remove the mattress.
And yes, I have an odor and moisture absorbing container in the TD.

[Joanne]

Hi Bandit,

I used Minwax water based urethane for the entire interior of my trailer and have not noticed any fumes even when the temperature is above 100 degrees outside (higher inside of course). I also installed a cheap Sealy mattress a few months ago and have noticed no increase in odor since then either.

If you can remove the mattress for a while, that should give you the answer.

Joanne

The main reason I used the water based urethane was because of the comments I got here about the odor from the polyurethane.
I thought I was eliminating the sources of odor/vapors by using a water base finish.
The only source for the fumes is the mattress. As I said, earlier, we pick the Knox foam mattress in Knoxville, TN on our maiden voyage and it was stored shortly after that.

<snip>

[tonyj]

Loosely crumpled balls of newspaper work really well to absorb odors. I would air out the mattress and throw in a bunch of newspaper to soak up any residual smell while the mattress is out.

[Jiminsav]

it's the foam mattess, I got the foam one from walmart and it stated on the package that the thing would smell for a week, and it did.
I just bought a memory foam pillow friday and used it saturday and it reeks.