Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > MOTORHOME FORUMS > MH-General Discussions & Problems
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-19-2017, 05:21 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1
Mildew smell

Just joined and love the info being shared. Still looking to purchase and visiting dealers. Viewed and drove a used 2014 Coachman Pursuit. Owner had dryer sheets in cabinets and an air freshener in the master bedroom. Said it was to hel with the mildew smell that all RV's eventually have. Sounded odd to me. Does the shower leave that smell in an RV or could it be that the smell was being masked because of a leak? Looked all over for signs of leaks but saw none. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks. Joe
jkimbar is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 08-19-2017, 05:52 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Jake21's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3,281
Well we have a 2002 that we have taken roughly 3600 showers in in the last five years and no mildew smell. I suspect something fishy, and it's not sushi.
Jake21 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2017, 06:04 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Snowbird - Waterford Mi and Citrus Springs Fl.
Posts: 3,609
I think to some extent anyway, that some of this is going to depend on where the coach is stored. We kept ours covered with the ceiling vents and a couple of windows open to encourage air circulation in the winter months.

This resulted in mildew accumulation. Keep in mind we're in Florida, 10 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, but not summer. This was happening in the Winter.

We ended up closing the coach up and setting a small de-humidifier on the kitchen counter next to the sink - allowing the machine to drain directly into the sink, with the water making it's way to the holding tank, which was left open with a screen covering the outlet to prevent critters from entering. This was a very effective plan that totally eliminated our smell and accumulation issues.

On the other hand, I wouldn't blame anyone for investigating the source of that smell, because it is the same one generated by a water intrusion issue....
__________________
1997 37' HR Endeavor, 275hp Cat, Freightliner
03 CR-V Blue Ox, Ready Brake
ahicks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2017, 06:57 PM   #4
Moderator Emeritus
 
barmcd's Avatar


 
Monaco Owners Club
Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 13,426
I've never owned an RV that smelled like mildew. They have a leak somewhere and I would walk.

We must have walked in 50 coaches when we were looking to buy and Katherine said she smelled mildew in about 40% of them. We were able to find signs of a leak in every one of them. The one we bought was 16 years old and it didn't smell at all.

One of them was really odd. It looked great and had no signs of a leak. I opened the cabinet behind the passenger seat and the smell of mildew was really strong. I got into it with a flash light and it was full of mold on the underside of the top. I got to poking around the wall above the cabinet and it was totally rotted and that's when I noticed there were screw holes where a grab rail was supposed to be. The seller had done a great job removing all signs of mold, but missed the underside of the cabinet.
__________________
Dennis and Katherine
2000 Monaco Dynasty
barmcd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2017, 08:04 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
FatChance's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,984
Mildew smell is in no way normal and should raise alarms! It is the bad gift that keeps on giving.
__________________
'04 Newmar Mountain Aire 4016
400ISL/Freightliner
FatChance is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2017, 04:56 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
rapid rick's Avatar
 
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: May 2013
Location: CT
Posts: 664
WATER LEAK, WATER LEAK, WATER LEAK, WATER LEAK.
That's all I have to say about that,
__________________

Rapid Rick
2013 Fleetwood Terra 35K
rapid rick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2017, 10:53 AM   #7
Moderator Emeritus
 
Gary RVRoamer's Avatar


 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,519
Mildew is preventable and a coach that is well cared for won't have the smell, even if it lived in a humid environment. We live in Florida where humidity runs 70+% and none of our RVs had mildew odor. Mostly a matter of adequate ventilation.

So, a mildew smell may not necessarily mean a leak, but it does mean that moisture is and has been present. I would look around for the source and inspect thoroughly. Covering up the smell is not the answer. And it can be difficult to get deep-seated mildew out of carpets, furniture upholstery, a/c ducts, etc. If you aren't confident yu can do that, pass that rig up and keep on shopping.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
Gary RVRoamer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2017, 10:55 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Mr_D's Avatar
 
Country Coach Owners Club
Solo Rvers Club
iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
Mildew smell means moisture = a leak.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
Mr_D is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2017, 12:28 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
pcurt23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,295
Quote:
Originally Posted by jkimbar View Post
Just joined and love the info being shared. Still looking to purchase and visiting dealers. Viewed and drove a used 2014 Coachman Pursuit. Owner had dryer sheets in cabinets and an air freshener in the master bedroom. Said it was to hel with the mildew smell that all RV's eventually have. Sounded odd to me. Does the shower leave that smell in an RV or could it be that the smell was being masked because of a leak? Looked all over for signs of leaks but saw none. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks. Joe
10 years and no mildew smell. Do you have to clean? Yes. Does mildew sneak up on you? Yes. Maintenance = no mildew. Walk away.
__________________
Pcurt
2007 Fleetwood Bounder 38V
pcurt23 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2017, 12:30 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,442
Agree with others that there is a leak somewhere.
__________________
2014 Raptor 300MP, 2014 Cowboy Cadillac - Ram 3500 Crew Cab Long Bed Longhorn 6.7 Cummins Turbo Diesel DRW 4.10 Rear End, 5588 Payload, Firestone Airbags, Curt Q20, TST507
raineman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2017, 03:15 PM   #11
Senior Member/RVM #90
 
MSHappyCampers's Avatar


 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,578
Hi Joe! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

I would shy away from that one! Too many others out there to choose from.

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
MSHappyCampers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2017, 03:55 PM   #12
Junior Member
 
SFarmer's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Lakeland, TN
Posts: 26
Sounds like a leak occurred at some time. Cabin type smell is very different from the mildew smell. We use a product called "Damp-Rid" to help remove moisture when we have our 2001 Journey stored. They seem to work real good.
__________________
2001 Journey DL, 36' Freightliner XCA, Cat 330hp
SFarmer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2017, 04:10 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Forkyfork's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,975
We looked at 25 or more rigs and all but five had mold/mildew smell...well one didn't smell like mold/mildew but had a dog pee smell. We bought one of the ones without mildew (and pee) smell.

You can survive a leak if its dried out after. We are going to run a dehumidifier in ours. No stink but been chasing a few leaks when it rains really hard. We are still running the air in it which is helping to keep the humidity down.

RV= Leak on Wheels Its not if it's when will it leak. Be diligent and don't buy a stinky one now because that smell is difficult to get rid of. Not to mention the rot that goes with it.
__________________
2004 Winnebago Adventurer 38R
Proud Navy Mom
Forkyfork is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
smell



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Panama City Beach - Captain Joe's Restaurant Lorna Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports 0 02-25-2006 09:52 AM
Prayers for Linda & Joe Jayne Cookestwo Southeast Region 10 09-21-2005 09:28 AM
Prayers for JOE JAYNE'S Surgery on THURSDAY! Cookestwo Southeast Region 5 02-09-2005 11:03 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:56 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.