Wet bed

[pcontatore]

So I know this has been talked about before. Last night we spent the first night in our new 27RL a cold night out and when I checked the mattress this morning it was wet. The hinge under the bed was full of condensation the wood was wet and so was the mattress. I took all the necessary steps I kept a vent open while the heater was on the under belly storage was all shut but still there was the moisture.

This sounds like a design problem that GD needs to address and come up with a fix for all of us before it causes major damages mold or poses other health risks.

Has GD done anything yet?

PHIL

 

[Cate&Rob]

Hi Phil,

We have the same bedroom arrangement in our 303RLS and have never seen this problem.
How cold was the outside temperature ? Were you running your furnace or an electric space heater ?
The furnace heats the underbelly which would warm the structure under the bed.
We use our furnace whenever temps get cool. Maybe this is why we haven't seen a condensation problem ?

Rob

 

[pcontatore]

Thanks Rob,

It was cold out that night and we were running the furnace the underbelly was all closed up and I had the bathroom vent open a little to help keep the humidity down. I have seen several posts so this sounds like a design problem that needs to be addressed by GD. It looks like the cold air is coming from under the front storage area that is not heated it was the very front of the bed that was wet near the hinge and along the hinge.

Phil

 

[Cate&Rob]

Hi Phil,
Thanks for the heads up on this. I do recall the previous posts. Your analysis makes sense since the front compartment is completely sealed off from the heated underbelly. We may not have seen as cold temps as you have, and thus have not seen the problem, but will keep an eye out for this situation.
Rob

 

[notsosan]

Sounds like a moisture problem and you need more ventilation. We used to have a Titanium and because of the unique front design, none of the area below the bed was heated. We never had a problem with a wet mattress in 12 years. We have Max Air covers on all our vents. The kitchen vent is always left wide open regardless of temperature. No issues.

 

[GDRV Service]

So I know this has been talked about before. Last night we spent the first night in our new 27RL a cold night out and when I checked the mattress this morning it was wet. The hinge under the bed was full of condensation the wood was wet and so was the mattress. I took all the necessary steps I kept a vent open while the heater was on the under belly storage was all shut but still there was the moisture.

This sounds like a design problem that GD needs to address and come up with a fix for all of us before it causes major damages mold or poses other health risks.

Has GD done anything yet?

PHIL

Hi Phil (@pcontatore),

Check to see if you are getting air flow out of the heat duct outlet in the front pass through. For camping in extreme cold, customers will oftentimes place a vapor barrier between the mattress and bed base lid if over a pass through.

Best regards,
~ Janice

 

[mid1dle]

I too have the wet Bed

So I know this has been talked about before. Last night we spent the first night in our new 27RL a cold night out and when I checked the mattress this morning it was wet. The hinge under the bed was full of condensation the wood was wet and so was the mattress. I took all the necessary steps I kept a vent open while the heater was on the under belly storage was all shut but still there was the moisture.

This sounds like a design problem that GD needs to address and come up with a fix for all of us before it causes major damages mold or poses other health risks.

Has GD done anything yet?

PHIL

I have taken delivery of a 27RL in March 2015. When I started to set the unit up, I found mold under the sealed mattress. I took pictures of the mold on the platform for the dealer to work out his side (warranty). He has no problem replacing the platform, yeah for me....but this leaves a problem. How is the water getting in. Now everyone will say open a windows, crack the vents. This will address the symptom not the problem. This unit is an Artic insulated unit I should not have this issue and I have not spent one day camping in the unit.
A few weeks later..... and two trips
I just came home from a camping trip with a group from my RV dealership. What a great time we had over the week end. It was a wet week end. The ducks had on their life vest. Now to my problem. When we arrived it was in the mid to lower 70's nice start to the week end. This was Friday night. Saturday brought rain and lower temps.
So now we have high humidity and lower temps where we had to turn on our heat.
When the heat brought the room up to temp we now are just enjoying our unit and how it was keeping us warm.
Two days of lower temp (48 when we ate Sunday morning) This is not cold yet but still need something to take the nip off.

Just hang on I am getting to it.....

When we arrived home I started to get the unit ready for my work at the dealer. When the wife and I remove the mattress from the platform our plastic liner we placed on the platform was wet. We also placed the mattress in a cover that would protect it from water spillage, this also was wet on the bottom. Under the plastic liner it was dry. The top side was wet, this was the side that touched the mattress. The location that was wet was the same location as the mold.
No evidence of water running in the inside of the unit, no evidence of water coming up from the bottom of the unit. So how???

It is in the platform. Looking at how the platform is made it trapped all the cold air under the part that is screwed to the frame. The side that lift up, had no mold on it as air is always changing in that compartment. The side that is screwed holds the air so the difference in temp, is what is causing the condensation on the mattress.
or
Not enough insulation under that part of the bed.

Question for GD, What do you think the issue may be.....??
Insulation or air flow?

Bill
Richmond, VA
2015 27RL

 

[Cate&Rob]

Just took some measurements on our 303. The hinge in the bed platform is well forward of even the unheated forward storage area. It is close to the aft end of the pin box, well out into the overhang. I don't know what the internal structure is where the pin box joins the frame, but there must be substantial steel structure directly under the bed hinge. Difficult to thermally insulate one from the other, in the space available there.

Rob

 

[mid1dle]

Yes, the underbelly heat stops before it ever gets to the bed platform. The bath has the under belly heat but the bed room has none. The steel is a great cold conductor so the affect will last long. Interesting part is the section that you can lift has no issue. The problem is in the back of the platform (headboard side).

Bill
Richmond, VA

 

[Cate&Rob]

Hi Bill,

In boats, a common solution for small cold spaces is a low current heating rod, that keeps the space at temperature between the cold outside and the warm inside.
http://www.amazon.com/GoldenRod-24-inch-Dehumidifier-5D-24/dp/B005FRG03O
Would there be room for one of these in the sealed space forward of the hinge ?
There is a place to plug it in on either side of the headboard.

Rob

 

[GDRV Service]

I have taken delivery of a 27RL in March 2015. When I started to set the unit up, I found mold under the sealed mattress. I took pictures of the mold on the platform for the dealer to work out his side (warranty). He has no problem replacing the platform, yeah for me....but this leaves a problem. How is the water getting in. Now everyone will say open a windows, crack the vents. This will address the symptom not the problem. This unit is an Artic insulated unit I should not have this issue and I have not spent one day camping in the unit.
A few weeks later..... and two trips
I just came home from a camping trip with a group from my RV dealership. What a great time we had over the week end. It was a wet week end. The ducks had on their life vest. Now to my problem. When we arrived it was in the mid to lower 70's nice start to the week end. This was Friday night. Saturday brought rain and lower temps.
So now we have high humidity and lower temps where we had to turn on our heat.
When the heat brought the room up to temp we now are just enjoying our unit and how it was keeping us warm.
Two days of lower temp (48 when we ate Sunday morning) This is not cold yet but still need something to take the nip off.

Just hang on I am getting to it.....

When we arrived home I started to get the unit ready for my work at the dealer. When the wife and I remove the mattress from the platform our plastic liner we placed on the platform was wet. We also placed the mattress in a cover that would protect it from water spillage, this also was wet on the bottom. Under the plastic liner it was dry. The top side was wet, this was the side that touched the mattress. The location that was wet was the same location as the mold.
No evidence of water running in the inside of the unit, no evidence of water coming up from the bottom of the unit. So how???

It is in the platform. Looking at how the platform is made it trapped all the cold air under the part that is screwed to the frame. The side that lift up, had no mold on it as air is always changing in that compartment. The side that is screwed holds the air so the difference in temp, is what is causing the condensation on the mattress.
or
Not enough insulation under that part of the bed.

Question for GD, What do you think the issue may be.....??
Insulation or air flow?

Bill
Richmond, VA
2015 27RL

Hi Bill (@mid1dle),

Please send me a private message with your 17-digit RV VIN and contact information, as we use that information to research your concerns. Thank you in advance...

Best regards,
~ Janice

 

[GDRV Service]

I have taken delivery of a 27RL in March 2015. When I started to set the unit up, I found mold under the sealed mattress. I took pictures of the mold on the platform for the dealer to work out his side (warranty). He has no problem replacing the platform, yeah for me....but this leaves a problem. How is the water getting in. Now everyone will say open a windows, crack the vents. This will address the symptom not the problem. This unit is an Artic insulated unit I should not have this issue and I have not spent one day camping in the unit.
A few weeks later..... and two trips
I just came home from a camping trip with a group from my RV dealership. What a great time we had over the week end. It was a wet week end. The ducks had on their life vest. Now to my problem. When we arrived it was in the mid to lower 70's nice start to the week end. This was Friday night. Saturday brought rain and lower temps.
So now we have high humidity and lower temps where we had to turn on our heat.
When the heat brought the room up to temp we now are just enjoying our unit and how it was keeping us warm.
Two days of lower temp (48 when we ate Sunday morning) This is not cold yet but still need something to take the nip off.

Just hang on I am getting to it.....

When we arrived home I started to get the unit ready for my work at the dealer. When the wife and I remove the mattress from the platform our plastic liner we placed on the platform was wet. We also placed the mattress in a cover that would protect it from water spillage, this also was wet on the bottom. Under the plastic liner it was dry. The top side was wet, this was the side that touched the mattress. The location that was wet was the same location as the mold.
No evidence of water running in the inside of the unit, no evidence of water coming up from the bottom of the unit. So how???

It is in the platform. Looking at how the platform is made it trapped all the cold air under the part that is screwed to the frame. The side that lift up, had no mold on it as air is always changing in that compartment. The side that is screwed holds the air so the difference in temp, is what is causing the condensation on the mattress.
or
Not enough insulation under that part of the bed.

Question for GD, What do you think the issue may be.....??
Insulation or air flow?

Bill
Richmond, VA
2015 27RL

Hi Bill (@mid1dle),

Question for GD, What do you think the issue may be.....??
Insulation or air flow?

Air flow - will need to install register grates (2) in the bed base. Use 4x10 plastic face or round face.

Best regards,
~ Janice

 

[TimBall]

I just want to add my name to the list. We have been using our reflection 308 bhts for the last 3 weeks, it has rained half the time and 30deg night and about 60 degrees at day. We could not stand the stock mattress anymore, and just replaced it. Well, im going to replace it, when we pulled off the stock mattress we found black and white mold under my and a little on my wifes side. Photo attached were going to install the new dream foam mattress today. But we had to treat the wood to remove the mold. As a home inspector i am familliar with mold, i know some can be dangerous, but most mold is harmless. My main concern is that the mold is digesting the wood. I hope the new mattress won't trap moisture like the old one and i think we'll invest in a dehumidifier, but i think GD needs to step up and at least give us a credit for the mattress, which by the way was way to firm to start and only lasted about 3 days until it was a flat saggy mess. See photo . Photo does not do it justice.
Granted i am a 6'-2" 270 lb. man, but that mattress was junk. Janice i have uploaded my vin to my profile. Please log this issue and respond. Thank you

 

[GDRV Service]

I just want to add my name to the list. We have been using our reflection 308 bhts for the last 3 weeks, it has rained half the time and 30deg night and about 60 degrees at day. We could not stand the stock mattress anymore, and just replaced it. Well, im going to replace it, when we pulled off the stock mattress we found black and white mold under my and a little on my wifes side. Photo attached View attachment 3615 were going to install the new dream foam mattress today. But we had to treat the wood to remove the mold. As a home inspector i am familliar with mold, i know some can be dangerous, but most mold is harmless. My main concern is that the mold is digesting the wood. I hope the new mattress won't trap moisture like the old one and i think we'll invest in a dehumidifier, but i think GD needs to step up and at least give us a credit for the mattress, which by the way was way to firm to start and only lasted about 3 days until it was a flat saggy mess. See photo View attachment 3616. Photo does not do it justice.
Granted i am a 6'-2" 270 lb. man, but that mattress was junk. Janice i have uploaded my vin to my profile. Please log this issue and respond. Thank you

Hi Tim (@TimBall),

Apologies, but you will need to work directly with our Customer Support to discuss your concern. Thank you for providing your 17-digit RV VIN -- I have taken the liberty of asking Ryan Prough (the Warranty Manager here at Grand Design RV) to contact you. Or if it is more convenient for you, please feel free to contact Ryan at our Customer Support direct phone number of (574) 825-9679. Also just so you and others are aware, I do not log issues from the forum nor is the forum the appropriate place to ask for issues or concerns to be logged by Grand Design RV. We respectfully ask you to contact our Customer Support directly with these types of requests -- our Customer Support can be reached by phone, fax, email*, or mail (their contact information is listed in my signature, below). Thank you in advance...

Best regards,
~ Janice

*If emailing photos, rather than attaching them one at a time please compress them into one zip file and then attach the zip file (only) to your email that includes your name, 17-digit RV VIN, phone number and detailed description of your concern.

 

[Gvanderberg]

Mattress platform condensation

We are also having the same condensation issues with the mattress and platform. The moisture is collecting on the metal platform hinge and the upper part of the platform. We also have mold on the platform. The moisture is only an issue on the street side of the platform. We have tried leaving window cracked, vents running, heat up and heat down. Pulled the mattress down on platform away from headboard, dehumidifier, nothing seems to work. Have checked the mattress every morning for the last week, discovered moisture each day. We are having to elevate the mattress from the platform and air dry each day. Has anyone come up with a solution to this issue?

We are currently on our maiden voyage of 6 weeks. We will be taking it in to our dealer when we return to determine if the platform and possibly the mattress will need to be replaced due to mold issues. In our research we have found several threads where owners of Grand Design fifth wheels have had similar issues with the mattress and condensation.

 

[GDRV Service]

We are also having the same condensation issues with the mattress and platform. The moisture is collecting on the metal platform hinge and the upper part of the platform. We also have mold on the platform. The moisture is only an issue on the street side of the platform. We have tried leaving window cracked, vents running, heat up and heat down. Pulled the mattress down on platform away from headboard, dehumidifier, nothing seems to work. Have checked the mattress every morning for the last week, discovered moisture each day. We are having to elevate the mattress from the platform and air dry each day. Has anyone come up with a solution to this issue?

We are currently on our maiden voyage of 6 weeks. We will be taking it in to our dealer when we return to determine if the platform and possibly the mattress will need to be replaced due to mold issues. In our research we have found several threads where owners of Grand Design fifth wheels have had similar issues with the mattress and condensation.

Hi Ginny & Jim (@Gvanderberg),

I have taken the liberty of asking Ryan Prough, the Warranty Manager here at Grand Design RV, to contact you. Or if it is more convenient for you, please feel free to contact Ryan at our Customer Support direct phone number (574) 825-9679.

Best regards,
~ Janice

 

[geb339]

Hi Bill (@mid1dle),


Air flow - will need to install register grates (2) in the bed base. Use 4x10 plastic face or round face.

Best regards,
~ Janice

Where do you suggest placing the registers in the bed base?

 

[Gvanderberg]

I spoke to Grand Design Warranty Department today regarding the condensation issue on the bed platform. I was advised we would need to install 2 air vents, one on each side of the bed platform at our own expense. Apparently it is a known problem as they had a solution but not one affecting enough owners for them to change their design or cover it under warranty. I must say I am very disappointed. The deciding factor for us in choosing Grand Design was the glowing recommendations of their customer service. We have had our unit for 2 months and are having to pay for modifications to have the rig operate properly. I am just glad that we discovered the issue before there was permenant damage to the mattress and platform due to mold. I was informed by Grand Design that they would not cover mold damage either.

 

[geb339]

Thanks did they by chance give you an idea as to where to place the vents?
I would imagine up near the head of the bed since that is the portion that extends over the pin box.
We haven't even gotten our rig yet but being proactive, I have asthma and mold is the last thing I need to deal with!
Thanks again.

 

[Gvanderberg]

He wasn't real specific except to say on the sides of the under bed storage. I did ask him if the vents needed to be in the upper portion toward the pin box and he told me no that they needed to be on the sides of the enclosed storage area. He also said that others who have installed the vents have not had further issues with condensation. We are going to have them installed in about the middle on both sides of the platform. We are also going to lay a product called Hypervent underneath the mattress as well. We found a good price on line at defender.com $9.59 a foot.