King Mattress

[barkermd]

Just bought a 2014 Solitude 369RL about a month ago. We have spent about 3 weeks in it. Several smaller issues, but the main on is the king mattress. It has already ripped at one of the seems, (about 8 inches), which allowed me to see what is inside.. A piece of foam. The material on the mattress has already stretched and buckled on the top.. Additionally, it holds heat to the point of moisture forming under the mattress that actually wet the plywood under the bed and is already corroding the hinge in the plywood that is rests on. I weigh 210 and my wife about 140, so we aren't really large people. With all that said, the mattress is very comfy, but made very lousy.. It goes in for warrantee work this weekend, but I assume I will get the same kind of mattress with will do the same thing in 3 weeks?? Also one of the upper cabinet doors in the kitchen bangs the edge of the trim over the refridge when it opens.. Maybe a door stop of some kind or maybe a redesign on that piece of trim would be a thought? I love the RV, don't get me wrong, but in my book, these are silly design mistakes...

 

[Steve and Cill]

Welcome to the forum barkermd!

We also have the Solitude 369RL, #96, and haven't had any problem with the mattress and I am a large guy ;D

I also didn't like the cabinet door striking the kitchen slide frame so I put one of those cushioned stickys that go on chair legs for hardwood floors on the door were the frame and door meet. It doesn't look real good, but it keeps the cabinet door from getting all scratched up.

 

[Ron S]

We took delivery of our Solitude last March...While the original bedspread needed to be replaced, we haven't had any problems with the mattress.

 

[barkermd]

Maybe we got a dud mattress. Although it is obviously made very cheap. We have another issue that is actually worse. Underneath the mattress, about in the middle of the mattress, we found a two large wet spots, about the size of beach balls on the wood that the mattress rests on. The mattress itself underneath was soaked. The top of the mattress was dry. The hindge in the wood where the bed lifts up, had corodided already from the moisture. Not knowing what caused this, we lifted the mattress and put a fan on it all day to dry it all out, which it did. We then put plastic down under the mattress to keep from the moisture from ruining the board should it happen again. Today we carried it in to the dealer for other warrantee work,, lifted the mattress and it was soaked again. The roof isn't leaking, and the top side of the mattress is dry. The dealer hasn't a clue. It's been in the 20's and 30's here, so we have been running the heat.. And ideas??

 

[huntr70]

Window leak above the headboard??

 

[barkermd]

That is one of the first things we checked actually.. No leaks anywhere. It is in the center of the mattress on the bottom. It is almost like there is a draft underneath somewhere, and maybe the cold temperature outside, and the heat on inside, is causing moisture to form in that spot. And, we have been sleeping staying in our RV while this is happening. It is a mystery, but a serious problem....

 

[Dave and Monica]

[quote author=barkermd link=topic=268.msg1722#msg1722 date=1390140448]
That is one of the first things we checked actually.. No leaks anywhere. It is in the center of the mattress on the bottom. It is almost like there is a draft underneath somewhere, and maybe the cold temperature outside, and the heat on inside, is causing moisture to form in that spot. And, we have been sleeping staying in our RV while this is happening. It is a mystery, but a serious problem....
[/quote]

Condensation can be a significant issue if you're camping in it with the temperatures you're mentioning. I wonder if the storage area under the bed is acting like a cold air space and condensation is forming on top of it, under the mattress. I know that condensation will form inside of closets/cabinets if there's a significant temperature difference and no air movement. I wonder if you try putting more heat in the storage basement under the bedroom if that would lessen the problem. Do you have any vents or windows cracked open?

Dave

 

[barkermd]

No windows or vents are cracked. The storage area under the bedroom is heated automatically when the heat is on.

 

[Dave and Monica]

[quote author=barkermd link=topic=268.msg1727#msg1727 date=1390146108]
No windows or vents are cracked. The storage area under the bedroom is heated automatically when the heat is on.
[/quote]

It may sound strange allowing fresh air into the camper when you're trying to stay warm, but I suggest that you crack a window and vent open in the bedroom. With using the propane furnace and your breathing, there's a lot of moisture in the air...fresh air will help to reduce that. The other option, in addition to some fresh air is a dehumidifier.

I can still remember waking up on a cold morning in the pop-up and having condensation dripping off the canvas in the tent end because I didn't have enough fresh air coming into the camper. That's an extreme example, but it shows what can happen.

Dave

 

[barkermd]

I can remember the same in a pop up. But there is a few K difference between the pop up and this RV. I'm sure it is a venting issue. Maybe someone at the factory should take a look at the issue. Maybe vent underneath the bed somehow. I can see hot air in the RV from heat, and hot air under the bed in the heated storage area, and cold air trapped directily under the bed with no vent.. I'm quite sure I won't be the only one with this issue.. If anyone stays in their RV in the winter time for a few nights,, check under your mattress..

 

[barkermd]

After some research, I have found what I believe is the answer. Foam mattresses are notorious for holding heat. When you put a foam mattress on a solid surface without anything in between to vent, it causes condensation. ie,, warm bodies on a mattress that holds heat, sitting on a cool slab of wood with no ventilation. It will actually mildew. The marine industry actually sells a material that was made for boats to put in cuddy cabins because of this issue. A material that goes between the mattress and wood that allows for ventilation. It isn't cheap, but I have read many posts that it works. I have never had this problem in other RVs with regular mattresses. So,, with that said, looks like I will have to purchase a regular RV mattress and not use the foam. If you have the foam mattress, I would suggest that you look under it after a few nights of sleeping on it.. A solution might be to either vent the wood that it sits on, or ventilate the storage space underneath if foam is to be used.

 

[Egork71]

Maybe trying Damp-rid under the bed to absorb moisture. I use them in our RV all summer long and I am always surprised at how much water they collect. I have a whole house stereo system at home with speakers in the ceiling. I noticed water dripping from one this winter and had no idea how it could even be possible since there couldn't be any water coming from the ceiling. I went up to take a look and noticed the insulation was pushed up where the speaker was and it was exposed so with the cold speaker core and the warm air from inside the house it created enough condensation to create a drip. I covered the exposed speaker with insulation and within an hour the dripping had stopped and has not happened again. I'm not quite sure where I'm going with this but I hope it explains what happens when cold air meets warm air.

 

[barkermd]

Actually Dixie RV in Mossy Head Florida sent a warrantee claim into GD for replacement of the mattress. It had a large rip in the mattress when we took delivery in December. Pictures of the rip was sent to GD and they said they would ship a new mattress. That was over a month ago. I just learned from Dixie RV, that GD sent a mattress cover. Not exactly what I had in mind for a warrantee claim. Now I have to get a new mattress at my expense. Not really happy about this situation...

 

[TucsonJim]

We've done winter camping before in our previous FW, and we experienced the exact same moisture issue you've been discussing. My solution was to drill 1/2 holes in the plywood every 3 inches in order to allow ventilation. I did it in a random pattern so I wouldn't set up a fracture line in the plywood. It worked great.

p.s. I never had the problem in warmer temperatures.

 

[barkermd]

I thought about that, and actually put some light weight slats under the mattress and spaced them out.. It helped. but there was still some moisture. Plus I kind of hate to drill holes in something that is brand new, that the manufactor shoud be taking care of. If this kind of mattress is an issue on a flat surface that isn't ventilated, then the manufactor shoud either fix the problem, or send me an interspring mattress. I hate to have to modify something they should correct.. I love the RV, but this is an issue since we use it,, alot.....

 

[huntr70]

An innerspring mattress can do the same thing.

They all trap heat and moisture.

 

[barkermd]

I've never had that problem with an interspring. I have had many Rv's with intersprings in them. An interspring allows for some air to flos under the foam and through the material that a foam mattress don't. I guess i'll have to try one and see. I appreciate your input and comments thpugh. It's really aggravating to have to lift the mattress up every few days and dry it out.

 

[barkermd]

If anyone is staying in their Solitude for an extended period of time, lift up the mattress and check underneath. My dealer just had another one come in with the same problem. GD warrantee said they have never heard of this, but it is a serious issue. My mattress has to be lifted up ever couple of days and a fan put under it to dry out.
Even doing this my mattress has a mold spot underneath... As far as the rip in the mattress,, GD warrantee says the manufactor says it is cosmetic, even though it was there from the day of delivery. They sent a cover. A bandaid if you will.. Totally unacceptable.

 

[TucsonJim]

How can a "rip in a mattress" be classified as cosmetic on a high end FW like a Solitude. I agree, unacceptable.

 

[barkermd]

That is what I said. It was like that from day one, I just didn't see it until I took the factory comforter off the bed to put on sheets. It is like offering to patch a new tire with a hole in it. And what really makes it bad, is I am the one that is having to deal with the warrantee guy at GD, not the dealer.. My time is worth money as well, and the dealer and GD is making a salary for this, not me.