My crew cab project has to live outside under a cover. I took the covers off yesterday and opened the doors to let it air in the sunshine. The inside was absolutely soaking with condensation. The headlining was dripping with water which I soaked up with a load of kitchen towel. What’s the best way to combat this ? I don’t want it to rust on the inside. There’s already plenty on the outside ! Stirlingmoz
Leave the cover off, it’s no doing it any good, sun on it with the windows down a tad would be better, the condensation on The inside Like that will rust it out waaaayyy quicker than rain will
Leave the cover off ? Rad ! I guess I could wash and polish it and try with the cover off. I assumed a cover was the way to go for laid up vehicles that live outside. Stirlingmoz
These covers are bad, I had one on my first camper and the condensation was terrible everything went mouldy, best to leave the cover off and give it a good anchor waxing and at least a weekly drive, as @davidoft said leave the windows down a tad
Best with no cover. Mine is outside with no cover. Wash down the exterior and give it a good waxing. Inside, condensation is hard to avoid and the priority is to remove all the soft stuff like cushions, curtains and so on which will go mouldy. Mop up the condensation when it gets bad, I do that. and spread out a few old towels to catch the drips. Dry the towels off at least once a week.
and my son's high top T25 sits out in the open without a cover, but he has had a lot of success with moisture traps and ventilating the van on dry days.
So did a bit of Christmas shopping this afternoon. Spotted moisture traps on sale in Dyas. Two for £8. Nothing posh, just desiccant in a plastic box. These are now installed and we’ll see what happens. Probably should have mentioned the cab area is open to atmosphere at the moment as the fuel tank is out being cleaned and the blanking plates under the back seat have been removed. Stirlingmoz
The problem with that is I have a big fat tabby and he may be tempted to use it. He already likes sitting on the back as it catches the sun in the afternoons. Stirlingmoz
You need a compromise between stopping the rain and keeping air moving. If your cover is allowing condensation inside its probably not letting air flow round the bus when it is windy. Quite often my Peugeot 307 is wet inside with condensation while my bus with various gaps under a light flappy and fragile JK breathable cover is quite dry.
Been away with work since Sunday. Hopefully be home tomorrow before it gets dark and see if the moisture absorbing crystals have helped. Considering a (used) canvas cover that I can chop up to better fit the shape of a crewcab. It’s all a bit flaccid at the back at the moment. Stirlingmoz
I use a JK cover, keep the van on hookup and a have a small dehumidifier inside plugged into a timer so it comes on for a few hours each night. Stays completely dry.
I'm on the look out for a little electric heater. I'll be leaving it on in the Van for a good 12 hours once a week all winter. It gets driv 2-3 times a week too. So dry out moisture on the inside with the heater, and dry out the outside by driving.
Having a heater on for 12 hours once a week is the worst thing you can do, the increase and decrease in temperature will encourage condensation, not reduce it. Either leave the heater on constantly or not at all.
