RE: Mildew Expectations

[BearsnRabbits]

 
This is the first year we have owned a Sunbrella material(ed) camper.  Previous campers had all canvas. We cannot keep the camper is a garage...so we always took all bedding, cushions and all canvas off, when really dry, and kept in the house.
 What s the general expectation for the Sunbrella material?  The more modern fabrics on the cushions, etc?  Is it a risk leaving the above in the camper all winter?

[Turn Key]

 BearsnRabbits
Last two PU s have both had Sunbrella and we ve never done anything like that.  As a matter of fact, our last PU was a Coleman " Colorado"   wit a soft (vinyl) top and Sunbrella tenting.  As long as they are dry when you close them there is nothing to worry about.  Closing for a day wet is no problem as long as you re-open to dry.  The colder the weather, the longer you can get away with this but 24 hours in any condition will be no problem.

[brainpause]

 BearsnRabbits
**pointing at Turn Key**
 
 What he said!
 
 Larry

[slowpez]

 BearsnRabbits
Agree.  When leaving the campground, we do dry everything off with towels as best we can then open up again when we get home if needed.  Don t even need to do that if it wasn t raining when we left the campground because the towels dry everything off enough.  Have never removed, or considered removing, the bedding.  We do keep pillows and the mattresses in plastic covers between trips.  Take the pillows out while camping but leave the mattress covers in place all the time since we don t sleep directly on the mattress.  Keeping the mattress covers on will also help with rain soaked set-ups and take-downs (and you will have some of each).

[tlhdoc]

 BearsnRabbits
First I would like to welcome you to PUT.
 
 Never considered removing the stuff and we have never had a problem.  What part of the country are you from?  Is it real humid?
 
 What kind of camper do you have?

[BearsnRabbits]

 BearsnRabbits
Thanks for all the input!  I ve lived in the Baltimore, Md., area, and we have a high humidity rate at times, lots of rain and snow, at times also....But I always brought everything into the house, along with my canvas tenting, for two reasons: 1.) mice have gotten in and chewed nice holes in the canvas...and 2.) preventative measure as to mildew.
 Now, with Sunbrella, a newer camper with all holes plugged up, I suppose leaving everything " out"  will work.
 Thanks again!

[mike4947]

 BearsnRabbits
With the level of humidity you get you might want to pick up some Silica gel desiccant. Here a link to explain what it is and does: http://www.dehumidify.com/index.html. I ve got a can that over 20 years old and still suck moisture up like a sponge.
 It s not a substitute for opening up a wet floded down PU, but it ll keep a dry PU dry. You d be shocked at how much mositure accumulates in a humid climate just from the heating and cooling of a PU over several weeks.
 When we were in FLorida we though someone had slod us not a PU but a mildew farm. Silica gel solved the problem and in 20 years not a hint of mildew, no matter what the fabric in our 4 other PU s and a vast expanse of RV s in our extended camping family.

[BearsnRabbits]

 BearsnRabbits
Thanks, I get me some......

[topcat7736]

 BearsnRabbits
BearsnRabbits,
 
 Welcome to " THE BOARD" !
 
 We ve had our Taos, with sunbrella tenting, for over 3 years and have been lucky enough (tongue in cheek) to have it rain everytime we ve been out. We wipe it down with towels, close it up and store it until the next trip. Until this year we didn t have a mildew problem.
 
 Mildew CANNOT grow on Sunbrella tenting. But, it can grow on dirt which is why it is important to keep the Sunbrella clean. Mildew WILL also grow on vinyl, which is where we had a couple of problems this year.
 
 The awning, add-a-room (AAR) and lower portions of the trailer are all vinyl. When we closed the trailer up last November, it was wet. During the winter, the awning and AAR mildewed really badly. The underside of the lower portion of the bunkends also had some mildew. Not being an expert cleaner, I tried every product people said worked.....and nothing did. However, the PopUPTimes Awning Cleaner (available in the PUT Store), not only cleaned the pieces completely but also removed all traces of the mildew.
 
 Dave recently said the awning cleaner is being replaced with an even better product and the new one will be in the PUT Store shortly. No matter what else you ever buy for the trailer, always carry one bottle of the stuff. For vinyl problems, it s the absolute best product money can buy!