Condensation

[FrintonMike]

We are taking delivery of another caravan which has solid bases to the bunk beds and I have forgotten how to stop condensation under the matress.

Any suggestions ?

 

[Martin24]

used polystyrene tiles many many years ago but not had solid bases for so long I can't be of any more help. Sorry

 

[RogerL]

Our first caravan was an '83 Ace with solid ply baseboards - it's replacement is an '01 Bailey with slatted baseboards - neither suffered from condensation.
We don't remove the bedding in winter and don't heat or dehumidify the caravan during stored periods - we don't get condensation.
Many caravanners complain of condensation, even on modern caravans - I'd respectly suggest that the issue is water ingress, ie leaks, which needs tackling at source.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Condensation forms when warm moist air comes into contact with a surface whose temperature is below the dew point of the air.

The only ways to stop condensation are
1 exclude all air from the area which is not practical,
2 Keep all the surfaces warmer than the dew point - not always practical
3 keep a good air flow in the area which in part addresses point 2 but also is not always possible.

With a solid base it becomes quite difficult, but if you can ventilate the underside of the bed space perhaps with warm air so the bed base does not get quite so cold, this will help.

 

[Lutz]

I had the same problem on our old 'van. It also had a solid base under one of the beds. After drilling a series of 1" holes in the plywood, each about 2" from the next, the problem disappeared. With that sort of spacing the strength of the base did not seem to be weakened to any significant extent.

 

[JTQ]

An old cure was to place bits of corrugated cardboard between the mattress and the bed-board. I suspect it was the flutes in this cardboard that allowed the ventilation.

 

[Mel]

What if you laid slats flat across the ply wood? Sort of Duck board style. Would this provide enough of a space for a bit of air flow, or would the mattress simply crush through the gaps? Thinking out loud really. Keeping a couple of windows open a bit at night really helps. Exhaled breath is saturated with water vapour.
mel