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Does anyone have a problem with this?

We've been finding water under our bed, not just moisture but pools of it, I was terrified damp was getting in from somewhere but we've had it serviced this morning and its 100% damp free all the way around it, the guy reckons it's caused by condensation, we dont keep loads of stuff under there, 2 chairs, 2 windbreaks, the groundsheet & a few other bits but not packed full.

He's said we should leave the bed up when we store it and remove the cushions over the winter.

Hi,

Just a thought, you mention it is a fixed bed, do you have one of those locker doors giving access to the under bed space from outside? In a previous van I had a problem with a faulty seal letting in water in driving rain. Ended up with a nice puddle under the bed and I've since read of one or two others experiencing the same problem.

Robert

We do have lockers on both sides, it's a transverse bed and the puddle does seem to appear more on the left (the headboard side). We've been away in it when it's poured down and felt the locker seals and they've always felt dry, plus the wood that surrounds the cut out isn't bubbled or warped at all. 

We were just suprised that condensation could cause such a big pool. There aren't any vents at all under there, the only gap is the space where you put your fingers to lift the bed so we're keeping our fingers crossed the service guy is right.

Are there any water pipes threaded through the bed base anywhere. Could be a joint leaking. Condensation doesn't usually form puddles unless it is very serious.

Wow... I was just about to ask the same question!

I am just back from a week away and the whole time I was away it never rained once, yet every morning the walls behind the kids bunk beds at the rear of the van were wet.  There were also some wet patches under the bad area.  I thought DAMP and was going to investigate when I got back on Friday.

Anyway to cut it short, It is peeing it down right now and has been all night and the van inside is bone dry so no leeks (I assume).  So where did the water come from?

Under the bottom bunk there is a water heater / storage tank and various pipes but I don't like the idea of this being on when the kids are above it (Gas) so I turn it off at night.

I am interested to see the answers that come back to your question as I think it could be the same thing.  I am also going to try and simulate it at some point over the next few weeks even if it means me and kids in the van in the drive over night with aquaroll and EHU all set up.

Cheers

Things are making sense... Please forgive me as I am new to this game and this is only my second season

I am not sure if the water heater runs on electric as there only seems to be a symbol for Gas but I will consult the manual later today (when I can find it).

There are warm air pipes (the big ones with pin holes in) all around the van including under the beds, but as it also appears to only run on gas and we have paid for electricity anyway, we use an oil filled radiator left on all night (on Low) just to take the chill out of the air.

I blocked the vents on the floor so's not to cause a draft for the kids in the back (maybe not such a good idea in hinesight)

It could be that a combination of not allowing warm air to pass under the beds and storage areas and also turning the water heater off is allowing a build up of condensation to occur.  This kind of makes sense as last year (same sort of time) we were completly new and left everything switched on including water heater and warm air and no problems.

I think I will test it out in the next few weeks to confirm and if so maybe alter the way I use the van in terms of the heating.

I hope the answers have been usefull to you Esther1 and thanks for asking the question!!

Cheers

Richard

Quote: Originally posted by johnks on 18/4/2010

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... Condensation doesn't usually form puddles unless it is very serious.

 

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Quote: Originally posted by rhsc01 on 18/4/2010

Things are making sense... Please forgive me as I am new to this game and this is only my second season

I am not sure if the water heater runs on electric as there only seems to be a symbol for Gas but I will consult the manual later today (when I can find it).

There are warm air pipes (the big ones with pin holes in) all around the van including under the beds, but as it also appears to only run on gas and we have paid for electricity anyway, we use an oil filled radiator left on all night (on Low) just to take the chill out of the air.

I blocked the vents on the floor so's not to cause a draft for the kids in the back (maybe not such a good idea in hinesight)

It could be that a combination of not allowing warm air to pass under the beds and storage areas and also turning the water heater off is allowing a build up of condensation to occur.  This kind of makes sense as last year (same sort of time) we were completly new and left everything switched on including water heater and warm air and no problems.

I think I will test it out in the next few weeks to confirm and if so maybe alter the way I use the van in terms of the heating.

I hope the answers have been usefull to you Esther1 and thanks for asking the question!!

Cheers

Richard

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Quote: Originally posted by G7ACU on 18/4/2010

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I've since discussed this thread with a colleague who has a fixed bed van and he's fitted some fairly neat grills to the vertical face of the bed frame to provide ventilation and he's cured a condensation problem too, that again he thought initially was a leak.

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I have just had a similar problem. We use a caravan cover over the winter and this year found there had been a lot of condensation - the previous year it was pretty clear. It may have been due to the warm weather in early April when the cver was still on. 

This year we found that the fixed bed frame was full of water. Also under the bed was a steel BBQ and the bag it was in had loads of water in it. It was very messy up that end of the van. The springs in the mattress had gone rusty and there was a lot of mould on the mattress, bed slats, cushions.

In future I shall take extra precautions when winterising the van:

1. Take mattress off the bed  2. provide extra water absorbing crystals 3. Open more windows 4. Check the interior during the winter