Community Forums

WyGal · 08-09-2019, 02:24 PM

I am considering a used RV purchase and asked if they had pets. If so does the RV smell.

The owner said all RV have the RV smell. What is the RV smell? What can you compare it to?

**CLIFFTALL** · 08-09-2019, 02:28 PM

The only Rv I’ve ever been on that smelled had to do with its occupants , their animals and cooking habits. Otherwise , RV’s don’t have any particular smell , except some may have new Coach chemical odors.

twogypsies · 08-09-2019, 02:32 PM

Not all used RVs smell. How old is the RV? If it's been closed up for a long time then yes, it will probably smell musty. Sometimes airing it out helps; sometimes it doesn't. As stated above, smells can come from people, pets and cooking.

**NLOVNIT** · 08-09-2019, 03:23 PM

Yep, RV's can smell or not smell depending on occupants, the housekeeping habits of those occupants, did they smoke, how long they've been closed up & new RV's have that "new" smell related to off-gassing of the components. Same as with any enclosure.

Lori-

TXiceman · 08-09-2019, 04:10 PM

Depends on the occupants, how clean they kept it, did they smoke, cats, water leaks, Etc.

Ken

MSHappyCampers · 08-09-2019, 04:50 PM

When the RV is new, yes, there will be an "RV smell". That wears off pretty soon and the smells after that are depending on the occupants, their habits, and their furry friends! I'm told that most any smell can be eliminated with an ozone generator, available from companies like ServPro and Service Master that do fire cleanup and restoration.

nathaniel · 08-09-2019, 07:43 PM

Not sure, but my rv smells like teak wood after being closed up for a period of time.

Bahamaniac · 08-10-2019, 04:36 AM

RVs that have sat unused for a while tend to get a musty, stale air smell. That's what I think the OP was referring to. Ours had it when we first got it. A good cleaning and airing out got rid of it. Now that it gets used and taken care of it's been long gone.