Formaldahyde poisoning????

[SheBantam]

Oh goodness me!!! The Cabin A is poisoning me...I already knew I had pine and rag weed problems, but I keep getting sicker and sicker everytime I go camping...AND when I turn the CO detector on, it goes off for NO reason...especially when hot outside...a former Aliner dealer man told me the detector needed calibrating...no place to calebrate it, It has had 2 since I bought it...so not an old detector...

I did a Google search on FEMA trailers making people sick, and low and behold it is the same symptoms I am having.  I am ordering a testing kit and going to get to the bottom of this.  

Aliner just got back to me and said they had no reports of this and want over $800 to change out my bubble windows for opening ones...NO THANKS!!  But back when Colemans were having trouble with ABS roofs, a dealer down near Baltimore on US 40 told me that they had not heard of any problems...yeah right!!!

[DiW]

Paula, since you bought this trailer used, is there anyway to contact the original owners to see if they became sick? Maybe check on one of the Aliner forums. Sure wish you could resolve this and feel better.

[SheBantam]

The owner only used it a time or two, he was in his 80's. I bought it from a dealer...who could not get the carbon monoxide detector to quit squalking, so they put in a kill switch AFTER putting in a new detector...that is a problem reported buy aliner owners. A former dealer contacted me about that after I asked the question and followed suggestions they gave...he said that it was calibration of the detectors and the dealer should have reset it...I looked and there is no place to calebrate anything, so something IS going on with Aliners, at least the ones in 2004, 2005 and 2006.  Maybe earlier...I quit asking because all I got was a lot of suggestions and nothing short of keeoing the kill switch on off worked...that was the main reason I moved the battery out to the tongue, I thought that the battery acids might be leaking out and causing the detector to go off (a sugggestion made to me).

I am NOT into chemistry, so I have no idea if a carbon monoxide detector would go off with formaldahyde, I did a search but could not find an answer.  What I did find was report after report that says that the FEMA trailers as well as other trailers built near the same time were making people sick, and it was found from testing that it is formaldahyde.  Dan Rather has done a couple of reports on this, as well as other news agencies.

And by cutting the cabinet (again I am not into chemistry and carpentry), but I may have made the problem worse cutting into the paneling and pressed board (the glue from what I understand contains formadahyde)

But if ya read the reports, and check the symptoms, I have the same symptoms mostly, and the longer I stay in the trailer (as in Myrtle Beach for a week) the sicker I get...ASTHMA...something I did not have that much of (cold weather would get me going (like little Georgia) as would cigarette smoke, but only rarely and Pine which causes a sinus irrritation that goes into an infection) until AFTER I bought this trailer...suddenly EVERYTHING bothers me, I go home weak and sick everytime I use the Cabin A.  I used the Bantam primarly last year and was not as sick, until the MB vacation.

[HersheyGirl]

Sounds like this is what you have. Now, what is the solution? Not camping in the camper? That would be such a shame. There must be something you can do. Getting sick while camping is not an option either.
What about the new mattress that you got?  That may have some fumes too.
Let us know what you find out.

[SheBantam]

I found a phone number of the company who did the FEMA testing for the CDC, I ordered a kit, it will be in the mail today, so I should have it in a few days, from Boca Raton Florida.  I will follow the directions, it is a dosometer, and then mail it back to them and they will mail me a certified report of what they found.

IF it is formaldahyde, I was getting very very sick before I added the mattress.  I will be contacting A-liner and fax them a copy and a copy to the CDC.

What do I want?? an opening bubble window at a REASONABLE price and maybe one of those fantastic vents, the Aliner and Chalets are a special size. I do not mind paying, I just do not like to be taken to the cleaners.

[camperjohn]

They may give you a problem because you are not the original owner.  They may do the right thing but sometimes they are particular about 2nd owners.

I found a phone number of the company who did the FEMA testing for the CDC, I ordered a kit, it will be in the mail today, so I should have it in a few days, from Boca Raton Florida.  I will follow the directions, it is a dosometer, and then mail it back to them and they will mail me a certified report of what they found.

IF it is formaldahyde, I was getting very very sick before I added the mattress.  I will be contacting A-liner and fax them a copy and a copy to the CDC.

What do I want?? an opening bubble window at a REASONABLE price and maybe one of those fantastic vents, the Aliner and Chalets are a special size. I do not mind paying, I just do not like to be taken to the cleaners.

[SheBantam]

John, of that I know. they don't even want to talk to me. There is a PA Dr. in the house, but no PA lawyers that I know of...

[Recumbentman]

Paula
A lot of smaller RV trailers have formaldehyde in there panels and insulation. The FEMA TT were built for the so purpose of an RV TT and as such they are only meant to be lived in for a short period (IE few days or a week) they where not meant to be lived in. These trailers need a good amount of air exchange from open windows to AC or powered vents. This is why so many people are having these problems. FW just saw the money and took a chance on people reacting to the chemicals from inside a closed trailer.
Your best bet would be to install a powered vent and have it running while you are camping. this will change out the air in your unit and hopefully you will not have any more problems.
I don't think the manufacture has done something wrong. its just that you are more sensitive to it.
just my 2 cents
good luck

[wavery]

Just about any synthetic material that you can think of has formaldehyde in it, including carpet, wood paneling, upholstery, curtains, laminate flooring, insulation etc.

I think that if you have a low tolerance for formaldehyde (as do I) you may have a hard time moving into a new home as well.

Sorry to hear that you're having a hard time with it but I think that Recumbentman is right about increasing the circulation in the trailer. I'm not sure that you can hold the manufacturer responsible for your personal intolerance to formaldehyde though. :sombraro:

[SheBantam]

Thanks guys, what I want is better ventilation at a DECENT price...to change out the solid closed bubble windows, they want between 800 and 900 dollares. these are glorified skylights.  Glued on glorified skylights...I know they make the glorified glued on skylights that open. I need ventilation from front to back.
I have been thinking about one of those Fantastic fan vents and there is a place to buy them for Aliners and Chalets.  About $250 plus installation. For me putting it in is not the problem, it is the wiring...do not know how to wire through a trailer that has virtually no frame...unless I run the wiring where it can be seen. I have one of those square AC/DC fans and was thinking about mounting that inside the vent opening and plugging in.

All I want is the opening front windows and/or fan vent at a decent price. I would pay $400 or $500 for the windows and to be put in, but I just cannot go the $800 plus that Aliner wants.

Come to think of it, when I turtled my Bantam I get very sick, but not when it is open...remember how sick I got at Little Pines? I think I was turtled there and was in from like Thursday to Sunday, went home a day early because I was so sick...I pull that baby through the circle drive around the back of the house. The cabin A I have to back in

[SheBantam]

here is another question:

Battery was moved to the tongue, gas is shut off, I do not use the stove inside and run an electric heater, when necessary, and only run the gas heat when dry camping...It is on the off position mot of the time, unless being used.  

Why is the carbon monoxide detector going off?
I have had three since the day I bought the trailer, the dealer put in 2 that day as it kept going off, and then they mailed me another one when that one kept going off...Delivery was held up a little because they had to put in a kill switch, NOT at my request but because they could not get the detector to stop going off when the trailer was closed up.

Aliner Owners Forum also has that as a problem with a lot of Aliners.

The newer models of what used to be called Cabin A have the fantastic fan as standard...that tells me that they know they have a ventilation problem

Why do I have to keep my CO detector turned off?? What would make it beep when the trailer is closed up? I cannot see any facts where formaldahyde would, but I am NOT a chemist.

[wavery]

here is another question:

Battery was moved to the tongue, gas is shut off, I do not use the stove inside and run an electric heater, when necessary, and only run the gas heat when dry camping...It is on the off position mot of the time, unless being used.  

Why is the carbon monoxide detector going off?
I have had three since the day I bought the trailer, the dealer put in 2 that day as it kept going off, and then they mailed me another one when that one kept going off...Delivery was held up a little because they had to put in a kill switch, NOT at my request but because they could not get the detector to stop going off when the trailer was closed up.

Aliner Owners Forum also has that as a problem with a lot of Aliners.

The newer models of what used to be called Cabin A have the fantastic fan as standard...that tells me that they know they have a ventilation problem

Why do I have to keep my CO detector turned off?? What would make it beep when the trailer is closed up? I cannot see any facts where formaldahyde would, but I am NOT a chemist.

There are solar vents available. I had them on my boat and they ran day & night. No wiring needed. They aren't expensive, they're easy to install. They move quite a bit of air but you may need 2 of them.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SiteSearchView?dispName=Ventilation&jspStoreDir=wm51&catalogId=10001&Ntt=Vents&N=377+710+1657&langId=-1&page=CategoryDisplayLevel1&omniTag=Category%3aVents&storeId=10001

As for your CO detector, I would think that it would be illegal for the manufacturer or one of their dealers to put a "kill switch" on it. The CO detector is required by law and to circumvent it seems pretty dangerous to me.

I think that I would sit down and write the manufacturer a letter and ask them to explain this action IN WRITING. I wouldn't except any explanation over the phone. If that thing is going off and replacements keep going off, that would tell me that the air inside the trailer may have leathal amounts of carbon monoxide in it. I would want that resolved.

Get the manufacturer of the CO detector involved. Turning off the detector is surely not the right solution. I think what they did was outrageous (at least) and may be illegal.

[SheBantam]

Interesting gadget, if I were brave, I would cut a hole between the 2 bubble windows and open the roof vent...but my husband is balking at the idea of cutting a hole and we don't have a 4" nicro opening to retrofit...I wonder how much a dealer would want to put a hole between the eyes and give my Cabin A a literal Nose???

[SheBantam]

I stopped by my local (NOT Aliner) dealer and talked to the service department.  yes these are the guys who put my awning on backwards, and lost one of my wheel chucks and I am not sure what else...

We talked about the Nicro vent and they are hesitant to bore another hole in my trailer. I understand...
So I ordered a Fantastic Vent that is specific to Aliners. That is in the mail.

The service Dept said that I should put in an oscillating fan, open the windows and turn on the vent, that should ventilate the camper well.

I ordered a Fantastic Vent last night and hopefully it will be shipped soon.

[butterflyfish]

Would it help to run an air purifier in the camper?  When you use it and when it is being stored...  I am not sure, but maybe it would help with some of the fumes?  I know you can find smallish ones that might do the trick...  Just a thought.  

Good luck with everything with the camper.  I am sorry you're having this reaction, it must be really frustrating.