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So you recommended the diesel heater BUT don't recommend it IN THE VIDEO? It's all about the money for you. So disingenuous. RUclips has turned people into greedy monsters
For the winter months bite the bullet and get a dehumidifier as all of the moisture is comming from you and needs to go somewhere. Outside covers are better but you will still be breathing out moist air all night and that moisture needs to go somewhere. Had one on my boat for a couple of years now and makes such a difference. even if I am not there it gathers about two litres over a few days in the cold months. Great content Mel thanks for sharing so many great ideas and tips.
Just seen both your condensation videos, I had the same problem with my first van, I was new to the vanlife watched all the RUclips stuff, I'm on my second van now which I spray foamed an use polycarbonate Windows and treat the back as an insulated box with no access to the glass at the front, an I have already been through a winter again, an this has zero condensation, its the only thing that works, believe me the condensation your getting will also be in your walls, it's impossible to stop unless the metal an glass have zero air touching them
when cold meets warm you get condensation,when i built my truck i left the bulkhead in separating cab,in the back i have 2 double glazed polycarbonate campervan windows and 2 large rooflights which i triple glazed with thermally broken alluminium frames that i made myself,powder coated,colour coded etc.The 3rd sheet of glass was just to stop standing water because of frame shape,4.5kw multifuel stove kicks arse at nightime.I was shocked to see rebekah remove her burner.
The battle is between retaining heat and heat loss . The cab needs to be kept warm but with the condensation on the glass it does stop it going elsewhere and easy to dry . The blinds on the outside are ok but not good if wild camped as you need to get out to remove them. I have my blinds up side window cracked on both . The caravan windows double glazed don’t fog at all but the cab always will get some mist the balance is how much heat are you prepared to loose .
Hi Mel. I have an old Talbot Express. I have it parked outside my house. I have a 500w Oil heater in my van. & Even in these cold morning's, No Frost or Condensation. Love your Channel. Jeff & Helen.
Hi Mel I've just come across an idea that might help with your condensation issue, it sounds ridiculous but Kitty Litter, the cheap clay based ones, supermarket own brands and alike, get an pair of tights or socks fill with the kitty litter and tie off the end, personnel I'd use a cable tie so you can empty out the used clay and reuse the casing, and place it in the window, ie on your dash, the clay should absorb the excess moisture. Give it a go and let us know if it works.
The main issue here Mel is as others have suggested, the glass is still getting cold so you will get the condensation, the glass needs to be warm and the only way to do that is protect from the outside. Lynne and rob on tour have a shield they use and they don't get condensation. Good on you for trying peoples methods though. Onwards and upwards pal.
Mel.... when I get wet windows in the car I put the heaters on full hot and after the car becomes unbearably hot....I open the windows...moisture clings to warm air..out the windows the moisture goes.... so if you turned the van into a hot sauna and opened the sliding door ...out the moisture would go...do it 3 or 4 times in the evening and see how that works....🍺
That's how I've been dealing with lowering the moisture in the air in my house, my shed and my van for quite a few years now, especially since my wife dries cloths on our radiators. The only times it doesn't help is when I forget or get lazy 😂👍 A full bag of kitty litter in the cab, sitting on its side on the passenger seat with a slice or two in the bag works great but eventually needs replaced so the water dense one can dry out in a hot press/airing cupboard or similar. My friend used this technique when a fridge freezer defrosted in the back of his 8 seater car when the dump was closed and it lay in his car overnight. it worked so well that he left the bag in his car ( boot with the parcel shelf removed ) all winter and his car never had steamy windows 🙂
Hi Mel, We always ventilate via our roofwindow, because if we dont then we wake up with a headache and a sore throat. We care less about the condensation-buildup at the glass and other cold spots and more about ventilation in the livingspace. In our current van we have the same windowisolation as you have and the same conensation, however we use the dieselheater together with the useual openings from the car as well as opening the windows a slight bit. In that way we wakeup not in a icy van but in a comfortabel temperature. And the after we get dressed we simply remove the windowisolation and let the heat do the drying of the glass and ventilate it out of our van. In the new situation, we will open the roofwindow above our bed and start the maxfan to suck out the excess of moisture, whilst heating the van to a nice 20° Celsius. We know that'll cost us a bit more diesel than not heating at all, but then we would wake up in a totally damp van. And the plan will be that we'll buy or make an outside isolation for the whole front of our new iveco, hence no condensation on those 3 windows. For the 4 other windows ive plant to make windowisolation out of the fully dampclosed Armaflex which will black-out and keep the inside moisture from the glass and will give us a nice way to stealth camp when I make a black-out curtain for the frontseats as well. We'll see if we can get away with that trick😄. Our new iveco is getting better by the week as at this moment ive finished all the electricallines and waterlines in walls, upper-cealing and subfloor and tomorrow a friend will help me with the ceiling forming out of polypropyleen honeycomb plates. (Because of the heavy wheelchairlift I have to use the lightest materials that our budget allowes. Diddnt get approval for a new floor out of honeycomb tho, wife did'nt wanted to pay an extra 800 euro for 20 kilo's of weight reduction🤣) Lots of love and happyness from Carlo and Mascha. Ps. our business is doing reasonably well even under the current restrictions, so I can continue the build and keep you informed.
@@BigVanSmallWorld I think you are right with this Mel, always park so you can drive straight out, and always keep your drivers seat free, dont store stuff on it at night.
I have tried everything Mel , I have double glazing and the best thing to heat is reverce cycle air conditioning , the diesel heater is the same as no heater , the air con dries the air only way to go but you need to run the diesel 5.5kva generator so NO there is no way to stop it , when you breath out its mosture so you can stop breathing but then the next day your dead ! LOL We have been motorhoming 35 years and never found a good solution to this problem tried near everything great vid buddy , its 32c here in oz today , Rob NSW Australia
good video Mel, what you need is screen covers that are on the outside, they work well for the cab, you may be able to get some for the side windows as well.
Hi Mel try turning on the roof vent fan on a low quiet setting throughout the night will suck the moist air out during the night for some good air circulation
Best solution i found is NOT to put windows in ;) My cab is sealed of with insulated sliding door to the living area. This stops 80% of the heat loss going out the front widows and it blocks the heat in the summer There is sometimes a very slight fogging on the windscreen when below 0 outside. No thermal window stuff required. No glass in the back so retains perfect heat in the winter and rejects most heat in the summer. I got AC in the van anyway. Never had a condensation problem i don't know what it even looks like as never seen it and yes i stay in my van a lot even on the drive. Some say can not live without windows but in fact all most people do is spend all their time covering them up and sealing everything shut. I got 360 IR quad camera system all round the van so i can see everything i need even in pitch black The van is a stealth van everything is hidden and no one complains its a "camper" . This keeps the curtain twitchers and dog walkers from complaining as nothing to see here all the fill points and hookup is underneath.
@@BigVanSmallWorld How are you going to drive without window screen?😉. Try some of the advices here mate, big blanket outside on the wind shield and a low place intake of ventilation, yet another thick blanket between cockpit and living area... all that together hopefully will improve. Not easy situation actually.....but...🙃 Regards Rickard from Sweden
i have a rechargeable oscillating fan that i run on low all night and the front end is dry with no vents open. you just need good air movement. i leave one window slightly down but during winter im pretty sealed up
Mel , what you need is external thermal blinds we had them and put them on when very cold and it does stop condensation keeps the cold penetrating the glass we used to Karcher but didn’t need it when external blinds in place
Hi Mel. I've had Motorhomes for years and the double glazed windows do help. However if you put the external wrap around screen cover it does help but you can't really wild camp with it on. A good way to stop condensation is to stop breathing but not recommended 😂
Hi Mel, try out to hang a really thick blanket between cockpit and living area. About 4-5 cm thick. And cover the cracks properly. Do you have a inlet ventilation close to the floor some where? That makes the cirkulation better. The vent in the roof will automatically sucking out the air because heat rises. You need an intake, maybe on the side door far down or even better , in the floor . Regards Rickard from Sweden 🇸🇪
Wilko and most supermarkets sell Aero 360 moisture traps. Plastic case that holds a big white tablet which absorbs the moisture in the air. I keep one in my door card and don't get any condensation on my windscreen.
@@BigVanSmallWorld I'm not sleeping in mine at present (still building it) so I guess you will create more moisture, but you could always have two on the go and absorb twice as much. Refills are £4.50 for two in Wilko, or £9.99 for four off Amazon.
Used to live in the mountains and we would drag snow in the car on our ski equipment, crank up the heat on the way home to dry the gloves, hats, and boots but would end up with frozen condensation inside the car the next morning. A colleague told me to run the A/C for a while to get a rid of the humidity (I hated it coz who wants the A/C on in the winter, but it worked for the car). Then again we were not sleeping in it so it was just to dry the car from time to time. Not sure how you would manage for a vehicle in which you sleep all night as your breath creates the humidity, but that might be a quick fix to get a rid of humidity from time to time and avoid mold. Maybe worth trying if you have A/C in the van.
I've got a Dometic double glazed window in my side loading door. That gets no condensation. Check the windows before making your Coffee. Gas plus boiling water produces lots of dampness. I hardly get any condensation on the front windows until I boil the kettle.
Hallo Mal again a great video my crafter have double glass in the back and side. the front always have the problem by every camper even a original has that problem
Mel I think most of the condensation is because it's cold outside and you are "breathing " moist air always condenses on cold surfaces and ventilation and some warmth is the best solution. We create a massive amount of moist humid air just by breathing.
People suggest external covers, but if you are free camping you want to be in a position to drive off without exiting the vehicle or if raining cats and dogs. Your internal covers need to touch the glass. I had double glassed caravan, still had condensation and mold behind the seat forming. Thinking about it i wonder if carpet liner stuck to static cling film would help. You know the stuff they made tax disc holders out of. I have tinted static cling on the back of my van. Will have to note if frost forms on it. But i do fit some foam board covers to keep heat in.
After lots of experimentation, we found that the only thing that truly works are external thermal blinds. We have Tailormade ones, they are a bit pricey but since we have had them, we have no condensation at the front of the cab winter or summer. That said, we always leave on skylight slightly open whether we are inside or not. In cold seasons it is a must to put your heating on even the lowest setting during the night as combined with the ventilation and good insulation (thermal external blinds) it stops thermal bridging. We really recommend you buy those external thermal blinds/covers. It will change everything :)
I used to have Hymer.. And if you look at pretty much all Hymers they have an outside rail above the windscreen and front side windows and that's for the Silver Screens. I used to have inside ones but they're crap compared to the outside ones! I never had a problem with condensation and also kept it cool during the summer!
How do you remove the condensation on a modern car's winshield? You blow cold air from the AC. The condensation is formed because of the temperature diference between the inside and the outside. So, the solution is not to heat the interior, but to have it in a temperature as close of the outside as possible. It's clear that the van has not much ventilation. You would need to create some kind of airflow trom the outside to the inside of the van. I've seen some builds where they have a hole on the floor to bring the cold air from the outside. The air circulates from that hole to the ceiling vent. The window covers only isolate the glass from the circulating air. In fact, it created another closed space. That's why it made it worse. Those are good in the summer to keep the sun rays from entering the cabin. I've no experience in van life. But I've learned these lessons from living in a moisty area (Sintra, Portugal).
Hi Mel,have you tried having a large tub of salt(cooking or dishwasher) as a moisture trap.I have one made from a sweet container with some holes drilled in the lid.it holds about 2kg of salt and seems to help cut down the damp.
You need to be careful about using those gas stoves Mel... Not advisable to use it without proper ventilation.... door open is probably best.... you'll definitely find out how loud your Carbon Monoxide detector is if you do use it in your van without adequate ventilation....
Mel as several commentators have already stated, the best result for the cab, which is single glazed, is external insulation. I have Silverscreens, which I purchased as "seconds" on e bay. Arrived and were perfect, no obvious faults. I have a Moho so the remainder of the vehicle has double glazing. I use the silver foil thermal material for the summer to deflect the suns rays on the double glazing but the SilverScreens externaly as heat deflectors during the day.
Have you tried the 3M storm window kit roll of plastic with double sided tape using your heat gun to stretch it tight on the inside of the window use that on my fixed windows not the ones that open.
I have also been looking at some of the shade cloth products that snap on the outside of the windows good for keeping the heat off the glass in Summer and at plexiglass outside storm windows my frames have a raised edge so the Plex would sit flat I just need to figure out a way to fasten them, no air movement out the windows at that point though so winter only
Just bought one of those squeegee hoover gizmos. Hoping it will help. Was using towels to mop up the window moisture but then you have streaks on the glass and a wet towel.
I live in a van.... In the Netherlands... What are you exhaling? pure water? I heat my van on an air heater, leave the roofhatch open and block the front.... without the fan running.. The cabin will condensate but opening the windows in te morning solves it when cook my coffee, creating more moisture. I bought the van with screen covers and use them on the outside, because I think they are meant to be there. Summer and winter. think about it..... Keep everything outside.....
Hi Mel check out wandering Birds vid she done a vid with external blinds and had no condensation at minus -7c With 3 of them sleeping in the van , hope this helps,
I've had no moisture problems living 24/7 in properly built nordic camper. Sure it has double glaze windows and insulated shell but the real deal is how interior air is exchanged. There is two intake vents through floor and then three roof vents always open and roof window also vents. When heating is on, warm air rises through roof vents and thus pulls fresh air from below camper. Built my Chevy campervan to have same setup and its Chinese diesel heater has been working flawlessly even in -28°C temps. Sleeping overnight in below freezing temps and no moisture or ice in single glazed windows...
I didn’t put windows in mine for that reason. having an insulated sealed wall to the cab reduces moister I have a hatch in the bulkhead which at night I plug with insulation board result no moisture in cab. I live full time in van. Build insulated wall between cab find a way to seal off cab a curtain won’t cut it.
Have you tried insulation screens on the outside of the glass? That way the temperature of the glass is the same as the van rather than the outside air, so moisture doesn’t gather on the windscreen .
@@BigVanSmallWorld my only problem with those is they obviously get wet on the outside with frost or rain and youve then got to put them somewhere inside the van if your going to move the van,
Bob Scullion ... I know that’s my caution too, but add a back box and they can be stored in that, saving on condensation and heat loss. Downside is you can’t drive away quickly while wild camping . Pros and cons with everything.
Was gonna read ma Cristal ball Mel to see what you could do, but got to wait for it to demist!..........🔮 I now see lots of experimental vids to come! 😉😂👍
Hi mel you need an exterior windscreen cover and with your interior one fitted it should be ok any exposed metal surfaces don't help cover any exposed metal surfaces with the neoprene tape i suggested pal.
Hi Mel - Have you considered silver screens ? We've never had any problems with cab condensation whenever we've used them. They fit on the outside of the window but not difficult to setup and remove. The iced condensation you showed looked horrendous - I could hear Brass Monkeys in the background crying out for welders
My next door neighbour just finished his build and I just asked him how he manages with Condensation he uses a 12volt screen heater like cars have on the rear window Part Number: 080.109 he uses two on the front and one each side of the van with them all running they us about 240w with his set up he puts them on a timer 2 hours before he wakes or you can run them all night if needed he uses a secondary poweroke to run them hope this helps
Humidity is relative (and some of my relatives are pretty “humid” too) but when the air temperature lowers it can’t hold the same amount of moisture, and that’s when you get condensation. Even with the covers you have on the inside of windows you still have condensation, so imagine how much moisture you’d have on the inside walls of the van without a vapour barrier! The only way you’ll reduce the condensation levels is to stop the glass getting cold (or double glaze it - not practical, especially the windscreen) so applying external screens can really help here - BUT if you need to leave in a hurry you will need to go outside to remove them, so in some circumstances (especially if trying to be stealthy) this is a concern. The best solution to relative humidity issues is to have some relatives somewhere warmer in the winter months, and go visit them until things warm up here in the U.K. Stay safe.
Thank you for the positive comment really appreciated hopefully next winter I will be doing exactly what you suggest doing I’ll be heading somewhere nice a warm 👍
Hi Mel. I'm currently experimenting with window covers, reason being I have a transit Minibus and am planning on blocking the Windows completely from the inside and the best thing I have found so far that is working is laminate floor underlay. No condensation at all 👍👍
Hi Mel, would it be possible to seal your cab area off with some sort of board? Basically, can you prevent the moisture entering the cab area? It's by far the coldest part of the vehicle in winter so you need to isolate it so no new moist air can circulate and reach the glass. In an ideal situation, you need a flush fitting 'removable' panel that will seal on all edges against the partition. This could be cab side or living side, whichever is practical. For daytime running you could store it under the bed or behind the passenger seat and then when it's time to retire, it's quick and easy. You've got 2 extremes, a fully insulated rear and a stone cold front. Just an idea, hope it's food for thought, Russ 😁👍
Hi, maybe you should of split your diesel heater pipe in to tree ways where the cold and the moisture accumulates like one in the cabin area, one in the garage area and one in the living area but close all windows and no cover over them also and set the temperature to 22°C . Try this experiment and see 👍
De humidifier pillows are great and occasionally need burst in microwave, also 12v dehumidifier good to leave on when not in van and have to close all windows. 😎
Are your floor mats Dry Mel? Rubber ones in winter make a big difference, also in sprinter vans check the cabin filter in the engine bay, if its damp or wet it will draw moisture in
Appreciate this test! really interesting, looks as if the balance wasn't quite struck between enough warmth and enough airflow, maybe circulation was hindered by the covers and allowed water to collect beneath - But - the most disconcerting is your dry throat. Almost makes me think if Buddy Heater + Dehumidifier is a better approach 🤔
Hi we will be joining in and building a van maybe next year now but was wondering if it would be better to build a insulated wall behind the front seats with a access door to the front to stop it all in front and have nothing on the windows in the back just hatch open for ventilation
Living is adding moisture to the air, which condenses on the cold surfaces. Ventilation ie replace your warm wet air with cold dry air. Or you actually want the moisture to condense in a known place so you can remove using a karcher. Perhaps buy a cheap temp/humidity meter so you know when to open the doors and get rid of the damp air. Remember cold air does not hold much water, warm air does.
Mel all you have to do is wipe down all the windows on the inside with shaving gel/foam and buff of with some clean kitchen roll once or twice a week job done, problem solved🤙😉
Good video once again Mel, however, is it possible to transition from one frame to the next without putting your hand over the lense, at 1:32, just an idea. Cheers Frank
Have you tried the outside window insulators that wrap around your windscreen and side doors. I have not tried it, but I would have thought by keeping the window warm it should reduce the amount of condensation forming as you are raising the dew point of the surface? Obviously it wont work for your side windows unless you make some up to stick to the outside.
Mel, I'm not surprised with your condensation challenges. So what to do? I don't have all the answers but a small compact dehumidifier will assist drawing that moisture away. Air circulation is key too. Heat is important but not so much as you'd think. For forty notes a modest dehumidifier plugged in up in the cab, some air flow and modest heat has got to help out....... The other option is to stop breathing ( we produce at least 40 g of moisture an hr sleeping) overnight! But that's a bit drastic ha ! My old R.V. had double glazed windows and yes, it wasn't so much of and issue (except the cab).
External covers work ... internal covers not so good I use a paragon thermal external silver screen ....been in -10 with heating on all night not a drop of condensation inside
This is perfectly correct either u must heat the glass up so it isn't cold enough to produce the condensation (Outside insolation and heat on will do that) or seal the damp air from touching it (double glazing). That is why the cover on the side door produced more condensation as this kept the heat from the window but allowed the damp air to get to it. Love your channel👍
Blinds don't stop condensation, they're there to stop heat losses, think of it like the single glazing back In the day waking up to ice on the inside of your bedroom, double glazing stopped this as you have an air gap to prevent the cold coming through, basically it's like putting a coat on your windows, acts as a thermal barrier, because it's not airtight it'll never stop moisture, as others have said, outside ones will be better, the internal ones u have are fine to stop heat losses In your van, put a thermostat in the van, heat it up to a comfortable temperature, turn off the heating and see how quickly the temperature drops with the blinds off compared to the blinds being on
Just watched your heater installation video to see where you got your air intake from. You seemed confident that it would solve your condensation problem way back then. But you have changed your layout or van 😂
if you cover glass and the outside temperature is cold you will always get condensation that's why people in houses with curtains should always open the curtains before you go to bed and make sure the heating is on low run a dehumidifier and you will find in the morning no condemnation on the inside of the glass
yes i have a proper motorhome i dont get water on the side windows because they are double glazed but the front windscreen gets the dreaded water if i dont put the silver screen on the out side
It is a simple fact that moisture in the warmer air inside condensates on the colder glass. You're not going to stop it unless the you keep the inside temperature and outside temperature much closer together, so the air in the van doesn't hit a surface which is much cooler. However that's not advisable because you will very cold and miserable! The condensation issue is part of the reason why I didn't put in any windows and 99% of surfaces are insulated and covered either in cladding, ply or auto carpet. I only get condensation on the drivers cab windows, and that's separated from my living space so I'm less worried about having a damp living space. Another reason I don't want windows is I don't want anyone looking in and it's a little less obvious that it's a camper this way. I also think it's an invite for burglars. If I want natural light I open the door in my partition wall and look through the windscreen or open the roof vents.
Hi Mel I been thinking about the moisture in my van , I had a leak in my sky light and had to pull the ceiling and the vapour barrier out and when I did I noticed moisture building up between the insulation and vapour barrier and the van , surely this can’t be good because that mean the metal of the van will always be wet, what are your thoughts on this mate
@@BigVanSmallWorld yes exactly, that’s what I mean , if condensation is all over the windows all the time in the winter imagine what’s on the walls of the van behind the vapour barrier, that you can get to , I used celotex in my van wondering if this isn’t a good Insulation for vans after all
To be honest Mel you're fighting a losing battle :3 What the covers are effectively doing is *insulating* the windows from the interior heat of your van while allowing the cold from outside to pass through your glass. While this does work to make your van even cozier through those harsh winter nights it won't be helping condensation one bit. Your only choices to completely stop condensation that I can think of off the top of my head: 1) Double glazed windows throughout, 2) Exterior thermal / waterproof barriers (Pretty much what you have on the inside, outside) 3) -Rigging up a moisture barrier per window, completely air tight- (and impractical). 4) Installing the equivalent of your vans factory windscreen de-mister vents on every window :P Now I have no doubt at all that you have the DIY skills to make what is effectively an air-tight bulkhead complete with a centre door with rubber gasket seals for cab access it would be a crazy amount of work / remodeling. As amazing it would be to watch it would be a hell of a lot of effort to save a few minutes every morning with the window vac!
You’re absolutely right it’s a losing battle best thing I can think of is to drive south for winter hopefully next year that’s exactly what I’ll be doing 👍🤓👍
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So you recommended the diesel heater BUT don't recommend it IN THE VIDEO? It's all about the money for you. So disingenuous. RUclips has turned people into greedy monsters
the themal barrier should be on the outside
For the winter months bite the bullet and get a dehumidifier as all of the moisture is comming from you and needs to go somewhere. Outside covers are better but you will still be breathing out moist air all night and that moisture needs to go somewhere. Had one on my boat for a couple of years now and makes such a difference. even if I am not there it gathers about two litres over a few days in the cold months. Great content Mel thanks for sharing so many great ideas and tips.
Thank you buddy that’s really appreciated
mel the best ones are the outside fitting you will not have a problem again
I second this... 👍
Agree
Just seen both your condensation videos, I had the same problem with my first van, I was new to the vanlife watched all the RUclips stuff, I'm on my second van now which I spray foamed an use polycarbonate Windows and treat the back as an insulated box with no access to the glass at the front, an I have already been through a winter again, an this has zero condensation, its the only thing that works, believe me the condensation your getting will also be in your walls, it's impossible to stop unless the metal an glass have zero air touching them
Thank you for the positive feedback really appreciated my next build I think I’ll spry it and see 👍
It’s all about ventilation brother Mel 😎
when cold meets warm you get condensation,when i built my truck i left the bulkhead in separating cab,in the back i have 2 double glazed polycarbonate campervan windows and 2 large rooflights which i triple glazed with thermally broken alluminium frames that i made myself,powder coated,colour coded etc.The 3rd sheet of glass was just to stop standing water because of frame shape,4.5kw multifuel stove kicks arse at nightime.I was shocked to see rebekah remove her burner.
Wow that sounds like you have a fantastic setup 👍
Hi mel brought those balls things that I put in front on ledge which kills water in van
Sounds interesting 🧐
What are these Paul?
The battle is between retaining heat and heat loss . The cab needs to be kept warm but with the condensation on the glass it does stop it going elsewhere and easy to dry . The blinds on the outside are ok but not good if wild camped as you need to get out to remove them. I have my blinds up side window cracked on both . The caravan windows double glazed don’t fog at all but the cab always will get some mist the balance is how much heat are you prepared to loose .
Hi Mel. I have an old Talbot Express. I have it parked outside my house. I have a 500w Oil heater in my van. & Even in these cold morning's, No Frost or Condensation. Love your Channel. Jeff & Helen.
Thank you that’s really appreciated 👍😊👍
So glad I live in the subtropics and only have to drive for 3 hours and am in the tropics. Cheers from Queensland Australia.
Oh you really are lucky Im missing Queensland even more than ever now that travel is restricted where’s your favourite spot 👍🤓👍
Hi Mel I've just come across an idea that might help with your condensation issue, it sounds ridiculous but Kitty Litter, the cheap clay based ones, supermarket own brands and alike, get an pair of tights or socks fill with the kitty litter and tie off the end, personnel I'd use a cable tie so you can empty out the used clay and reuse the casing, and place it in the window, ie on your dash, the clay should absorb the excess moisture. Give it a go and let us know if it works.
Brilliant thank you 😊
The main issue here Mel is as others have suggested, the glass is still getting cold so you will get the condensation, the glass needs to be warm and the only way to do that is protect from the outside. Lynne and rob on tour have a shield they use and they don't get condensation. Good on you for trying peoples methods though. Onwards and upwards pal.
Thank you for the positive feedback really appreciated
Mel.... when I get wet windows in the car I put the heaters on full hot and after the car becomes unbearably hot....I open the windows...moisture clings to warm air..out the windows the moisture goes.... so if you turned the van into a hot sauna and opened the sliding door ...out the moisture would go...do it 3 or 4 times in the evening and see how that works....🍺
Thank you buddy that’s brilliant 👍
That's how I've been dealing with lowering the moisture in the air in my house, my shed and my van for quite a few years now, especially since my wife dries cloths on our radiators. The only times it doesn't help is when I forget or get lazy 😂👍
A full bag of kitty litter in the cab, sitting on its side on the passenger seat with a slice or two in the bag works great but eventually needs replaced so the water dense one can dry out in a hot press/airing cupboard or similar.
My friend used this technique when a fridge freezer defrosted in the back of his 8 seater car when the dump was closed and it lay in his car overnight.
it worked so well that he left the bag in his car ( boot with the parcel shelf removed ) all winter and his car never had steamy windows 🙂
Hi Mel,
We always ventilate via our roofwindow, because if we dont then we wake up with a headache and a sore throat.
We care less about the condensation-buildup at the glass and other cold spots and more about ventilation in the livingspace.
In our current van we have the same windowisolation as you have and the same conensation, however we use the dieselheater together with the useual openings from the car as well as opening the windows a slight bit.
In that way we wakeup not in a icy van but in a comfortabel temperature.
And the after we get dressed we simply remove the windowisolation and let the heat do the drying of the glass and ventilate it out of our van.
In the new situation, we will open the roofwindow above our bed and start the maxfan to suck out the excess of moisture, whilst heating the van to a nice 20° Celsius.
We know that'll cost us a bit more diesel than not heating at all, but then we would wake up in a totally damp van.
And the plan will be that we'll buy or make an outside isolation for the whole front of our new iveco, hence no condensation on those 3 windows.
For the 4 other windows ive plant to make windowisolation out of the fully dampclosed Armaflex which will black-out and keep the inside moisture from the glass and will give us a nice way to stealth camp when I make a black-out curtain for the frontseats as well.
We'll see if we can get away with that trick😄.
Our new iveco is getting better by the week as at this moment ive finished all the electricallines and waterlines in walls, upper-cealing and subfloor and tomorrow a friend will help me with the ceiling forming out of polypropyleen honeycomb plates.
(Because of the heavy wheelchairlift I have to use the lightest materials that our budget allowes. Diddnt get approval for a new floor out of honeycomb tho, wife did'nt wanted to pay an extra 800 euro for 20 kilo's of weight reduction🤣)
Lots of love and happyness from Carlo and Mascha.
Ps. our business is doing reasonably well even under the current restrictions, so I can continue the build and keep you informed.
Hello you two sounds absolutely amazing well done 👍 I’m so pleased you’re doing ok 👍
you need the covers on the outside of the screen
Probably but if I’m parked up and need to getaway quick I’m not going to be able to 👍
@@BigVanSmallWorld I think you are right with this Mel, always park so you can drive straight out, and always keep your drivers seat free, dont store stuff on it at night.
I used to have this worry but in reality in 3.5 years ive only ever had to move twice through the night and it wasn't really a threat just noisy music
@@BigVanSmallWorld Mels other Job, He is 007 !
can you try a mini 12v dehumidifier and let us know
I have tried everything Mel , I have double glazing and the best thing to heat is reverce cycle air conditioning , the diesel heater is the same as no heater , the air con dries the air only way to go but you need to run the diesel 5.5kva generator so NO there is no way to stop it , when you breath out its mosture so you can stop breathing but then the next day your dead ! LOL
We have been motorhoming 35 years and never found a good solution to this problem tried near everything
great vid buddy , its 32c here in oz today ,
Rob NSW Australia
I think the best thing I could do is get my sorry ass back to OZ next winter lol 😂
@@BigVanSmallWorld I will pick you up at Kingsford smith airport sydney buddy
Thank you 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
good video Mel, what you need is screen covers that are on the outside, they work well for the cab, you may be able to get some for the side windows as well.
Cheers I’ll have to have a look
Hi Mel try turning on the roof vent fan on a low quiet setting throughout the night will suck the moist air out during the night for some good air circulation
Thank you that’s a great idea 👍
Best solution i found is NOT to put windows in ;) My cab is sealed of with insulated sliding door to the living area. This stops 80% of the heat loss going out the front widows and it blocks the heat in the summer There is sometimes a very slight fogging on the windscreen when below 0 outside. No thermal window stuff required. No glass in the back so retains perfect heat in the winter and rejects most heat in the summer. I got AC in the van anyway. Never had a condensation problem i don't know what it even looks like as never seen it and yes i stay in my van a lot even on the drive.
Some say can not live without windows but in fact all most people do is spend all their time covering them up and sealing everything shut. I got 360 IR quad camera system all round the van so i can see everything i need even in pitch black
The van is a stealth van everything is hidden and no one complains its a "camper" . This keeps the curtain twitchers and dog walkers from complaining as nothing to see here all the fill points and hookup is underneath.
Sounds perfect and to be honest I wish I’d not put windows in my van now 👍
@@BigVanSmallWorld you would have missed those lovely bleu curtains that I made for you😄
@@BigVanSmallWorld How are you going to drive without window screen?😉. Try some of the advices here mate, big blanket outside on the wind shield and a low place intake of ventilation, yet another thick blanket between cockpit and living area... all that together hopefully will improve. Not easy situation actually.....but...🙃 Regards Rickard from Sweden
i have a rechargeable oscillating fan that i run on low all night and the front end is dry with no vents open. you just need good air movement. i leave one window slightly down but during winter im pretty sealed up
Mel , what you need is external thermal blinds we had them and put them on when very cold and it does stop condensation keeps the cold penetrating the glass we used to Karcher but didn’t need it when external blinds in place
Thank you I’ll have to try it 👍
Hi Mel. I've had Motorhomes for years and the double glazed windows do help. However if you put the external wrap around screen cover it does help but you can't really wild camp with it on. A good way to stop condensation is to stop breathing but not recommended 😂
Haha cheers buddy 👍😂👍
Hi Mel, try out to hang a really thick blanket between cockpit and living area. About 4-5 cm thick. And cover the cracks properly. Do you have a inlet ventilation close to the floor some where? That makes the cirkulation better. The vent in the roof will automatically sucking out the air because heat rises. You need an intake, maybe on the side door far down or even better , in the floor . Regards Rickard from Sweden 🇸🇪
Cheers buddy 👍
Wilko and most supermarkets sell Aero 360 moisture traps. Plastic case that holds a big white tablet which absorbs the moisture in the air. I keep one in my door card and don't get any condensation on my windscreen.
Really that’s interesting
@@BigVanSmallWorld I'm not sleeping in mine at present (still building it) so I guess you will create more moisture, but you could always have two on the go and absorb twice as much. Refills are £4.50 for two in Wilko, or £9.99 for four off Amazon.
Used to live in the mountains and we would drag snow in the car on our ski equipment, crank up the heat on the way home to dry the gloves, hats, and boots but would end up with frozen condensation inside the car the next morning. A colleague told me to run the A/C for a while to get a rid of the humidity (I hated it coz who wants the A/C on in the winter, but it worked for the car). Then again we were not sleeping in it so it was just to dry the car from time to time.
Not sure how you would manage for a vehicle in which you sleep all night as your breath creates the humidity, but that might be a quick fix to get a rid of humidity from time to time and avoid mold. Maybe worth trying if you have A/C in the van.
I've got a Dometic double glazed window in my side loading door. That gets no condensation.
Check the windows before making your Coffee. Gas plus boiling water produces lots of dampness.
I hardly get any condensation on the front windows until I boil the kettle.
Hi mel I use blinds on outside made by Taylor made no condensation
Hallo Mal again a great video my crafter have double glass in the back and side.
the front always have the problem by every camper even a original has that problem
Hello and thank you for your feedback really appreciated I think you are spot on 👍
Incredible 👍👍👍
Thank you 😊
Mel
I think most of the condensation is because it's cold outside and you are "breathing " moist air always condenses on cold surfaces and ventilation and some warmth is the best solution.
We create a massive amount of moist humid air just by breathing.
So true thank you 😊
People suggest external covers, but if you are free camping you want to be in a position to drive off without exiting the vehicle or if raining cats and dogs.
Your internal covers need to touch the glass. I had double glassed caravan, still had condensation and mold behind the seat forming.
Thinking about it i wonder if carpet liner stuck to static cling film would help. You know the stuff they made tax disc holders out of. I have tinted static cling on the back of my van. Will have to note if frost forms on it. But i do fit some foam board covers to keep heat in.
After lots of experimentation, we found that the only thing that truly works are external thermal blinds. We have Tailormade ones, they are a bit pricey but since we have had them, we have no condensation at the front of the cab winter or summer.
That said, we always leave on skylight slightly open whether we are inside or not. In cold seasons it is a must to put your heating on even the lowest setting during the night as combined with the ventilation and good insulation (thermal external blinds) it stops thermal bridging.
We really recommend you buy those external thermal blinds/covers. It will change everything :)
Sound advice thank you it’s just not possible to use them when out on the road especially when parked up in car parks and lay buy 👍🤓👍
"magnets have gone s bit week'...love it!
Thank you 😊
Experiment number two will work mel 👍
for moisture you can use cat litter inside 2 socks to absorb the moisture and then dry them out every few days with your heater.
I used to have Hymer.. And if you look at pretty much all Hymers they have an outside rail above the windscreen and front side windows and that's for the Silver Screens.
I used to have inside ones but they're crap compared to the outside ones! I never had a problem with condensation and also kept it cool during the summer!
Maybe I should get one too 😊👍
How do you remove the condensation on a modern car's winshield? You blow cold air from the AC.
The condensation is formed because of the temperature diference between the inside and the outside.
So, the solution is not to heat the interior, but to have it in a temperature as close of the outside as possible.
It's clear that the van has not much ventilation. You would need to create some kind of airflow trom the outside to the inside of the van. I've seen some builds where they have a hole on the floor to bring the cold air from the outside. The air circulates from that hole to the ceiling vent.
The window covers only isolate the glass from the circulating air. In fact, it created another closed space. That's why it made it worse. Those are good in the summer to keep the sun rays from entering the cabin.
I've no experience in van life. But I've learned these lessons from living in a moisty area (Sintra, Portugal).
External screen covers you order them to fit the van you have. They are Brill and use a dehumidifier. Works for me. Keeps windows dry on inside.
Thank you ☺️
Hi Mel,have you tried having a large tub of salt(cooking or dishwasher) as a moisture trap.I have one made from a sweet container with some holes drilled in the lid.it holds about 2kg of salt and seems to help cut down the damp.
Sounds like a great idea thank you 🙏
You need to be careful about using those gas stoves Mel... Not advisable to use it without proper ventilation.... door open is probably best.... you'll definitely find out how loud your Carbon Monoxide detector is if you do use it in your van without adequate ventilation....
Thank you 🙏
Very helpful mel cheers! I knew blinds wouldn't work but I thought heat would, obviously not though👍
Mel as several commentators have already stated, the best result for the cab, which is single glazed, is external insulation. I have Silverscreens, which I purchased as "seconds" on e bay. Arrived and were perfect, no obvious faults. I have a Moho so the remainder of the vehicle has double glazing. I use the silver foil thermal material for the summer to deflect the suns rays on the double glazing but the SilverScreens externaly as heat deflectors during the day.
Thank you that’s really appreciated 😌
Hi high just leave the side windows open about 1.5 inches no heater on regards paul
Thank you 😊
Have you tried the 3M storm window kit roll of plastic with double sided tape using your heat gun to stretch it tight on the inside of the window use that on my fixed windows not the ones that open.
No I haven’t
I have also been looking at some of the shade cloth products that snap on the outside of the windows good for keeping the heat off the glass in Summer and at plexiglass outside storm windows my frames have a raised edge so the Plex would sit flat I just need to figure out a way to fasten them, no air movement out the windows at that point though so winter only
Just bought one of those squeegee hoover gizmos. Hoping it will help. Was using towels to mop up the window moisture but then you have streaks on the glass and a wet towel.
Morning Mel internal blinds Are fine for summer but for winter you need external blinds mate
💙❤️
I think you could be rite 👍😊👍
I live in a van.... In the Netherlands... What are you exhaling? pure water? I heat my van on an air heater, leave the roofhatch open and block the front.... without the fan running.. The cabin will condensate but opening the windows in te morning solves it when cook my coffee, creating more moisture. I bought the van with screen covers and use them on the outside, because I think they are meant to be there. Summer and winter. think about it..... Keep everything outside.....
Cheers buddy that makes perfect sense 👍
How about a 12v dehumidifier or a tub of salt?
Hi Mel check out wandering Birds vid she done a vid with external blinds and had no condensation at minus -7c
With 3 of them sleeping in the van , hope this helps,
Thank you I’ll have a look 👍
I've had no moisture problems living 24/7 in properly built nordic camper. Sure it has double glaze windows and insulated shell but the real deal is how interior air is exchanged.
There is two intake vents through floor and then three roof vents always open and roof window also vents. When heating is on, warm air rises through roof vents and thus pulls fresh air from below camper.
Built my Chevy campervan to have same setup and its Chinese diesel heater has been working flawlessly even in -28°C temps. Sleeping overnight in below freezing temps and no moisture or ice in single glazed windows...
Sounds like you have a great setup well done 👍
@@BigVanSmallWorld wait until you see my next campervan build, Iveco Daily L4H3 for four season use including arctic winter...
I didn’t put windows in mine for that reason. having an insulated sealed wall to the cab reduces moister I have a hatch in the bulkhead which at night I plug with insulation board result no moisture in cab. I live full time in van.
Build insulated wall between cab find a way to seal off cab a curtain won’t cut it.
Thank you Mark I was thinking the same thing well hopefully next winter I’ll be able to just drive south 👍
Have you tried insulation screens on the outside of the glass? That way the temperature of the glass is the same as the van rather than the outside air, so moisture doesn’t gather on the windscreen .
I’m going to have to go shopping again 👍😂👍
Mel's Van Life 😂
Mel's Van Life maybe worth a try? ruclips.net/video/8Vj9avZxuwI/видео.html
@@BigVanSmallWorld my only problem with those is they obviously get wet on the outside with frost or rain and youve then got to put them somewhere inside the van if your going to move the van,
Bob Scullion ... I know that’s my caution too, but add a back box and they can be stored in that, saving on condensation and heat loss. Downside is you can’t drive away quickly while wild camping . Pros and cons with everything.
You need external windows cover to stop the condensation, try Silverscreens or Taylor made. We use them and have no condensation
Thank you that’s really appreciated 👍
Thanks for the vid always loved watching you mate
Thank you buddy that’s kind of you to say 👍
Was gonna read ma Cristal ball Mel to see what you could do, but got to wait for it to demist!..........🔮 I now see lots of experimental vids to come! 😉😂👍
Thank you that’s made my day 😂😂👍
Hi mel you need an exterior windscreen cover and with your interior one fitted it should be ok any exposed metal surfaces don't help cover any exposed metal surfaces with the neoprene tape i suggested pal.
Thank you 😊
No worries mel you must be inundated with suggestions mate hope you get it sorted.
Hi Mel - Have you considered silver screens ? We've never had any problems with cab condensation whenever we've used them. They fit on the outside of the window but not difficult to setup and remove. The iced condensation you showed looked horrendous - I could hear Brass Monkeys in the background crying out for welders
Mel use exterior blind from silver screens wrap all round outside and you won’t have that problem 👍
Thank you 😊
My next door neighbour just finished his build and I just asked him how he manages with Condensation he uses a 12volt screen heater like cars have on the rear window Part Number: 080.109 he uses two on the front and one each side of the van with them all running they us about 240w with his set up he puts them on a timer 2 hours before he wakes or you can run them all night if needed he uses a secondary poweroke to run them hope this helps
Thank you that’s really interesting 👍🤓👍
Humidity is relative (and some of my relatives are pretty “humid” too) but when the air temperature lowers it can’t hold the same amount of moisture, and that’s when you get condensation. Even with the covers you have on the inside of windows you still have condensation, so imagine how much moisture you’d have on the inside walls of the van without a vapour barrier!
The only way you’ll reduce the condensation levels is to stop the glass getting cold (or double glaze it - not practical, especially the windscreen) so applying external screens can really help here - BUT if you need to leave in a hurry you will need to go outside to remove them, so in some circumstances (especially if trying to be stealthy) this is a concern.
The best solution to relative humidity issues is to have some relatives somewhere warmer in the winter months, and go visit them until things warm up here in the U.K.
Stay safe.
Thank you for the positive comment really appreciated hopefully next winter I will be doing exactly what you suggest doing I’ll be heading somewhere nice a warm 👍
Hi Mel.
I'm currently experimenting with window covers, reason being I have a transit Minibus and am planning on blocking the Windows completely from the inside and the best thing I have found so far that is working is laminate floor underlay. No condensation at all 👍👍
Brilliant
Nice one Mel ,😎 soon will be summer mate 👍
Can’t come faster 👍🤓👍
Hi Mel, would it be possible to seal your cab area off with some sort of board? Basically, can you prevent the moisture entering the cab area? It's by far the coldest part of the vehicle in winter so you need to isolate it so no new moist air can circulate and reach the glass. In an ideal situation, you need a flush fitting 'removable' panel that will seal on all edges against the partition. This could be cab side or living side, whichever is practical. For daytime running you could store it under the bed or behind the passenger seat and then when it's time to retire, it's quick and easy. You've got 2 extremes, a fully insulated rear and a stone cold front. Just an idea, hope it's food for thought, Russ 😁👍
Thank you buddy 👍
Hi, maybe you should of split your diesel heater pipe in to tree ways where the cold and the moisture accumulates like one in the cabin area, one in the garage area and one in the living area but close all windows and no cover over them also and set the temperature to 22°C .
Try this experiment and see 👍
Thank you I’ll give it some thought
De humidifier pillows are great and occasionally need burst in microwave, also 12v dehumidifier good to leave on when not in van and have to close all windows. 😎
Thank you can I borrow your microwave though 👍😂👍
Are your floor mats Dry Mel? Rubber ones in winter make a big difference, also in sprinter vans check the cabin filter in the engine bay, if its damp or wet it will draw moisture in
Appreciate this test! really interesting, looks as if the balance wasn't quite struck between enough warmth and enough airflow, maybe circulation was hindered by the covers and allowed water to collect beneath - But - the most disconcerting is your dry throat. Almost makes me think if Buddy Heater + Dehumidifier is a better approach 🤔
Thank you for the positive message I think the bests thing I can do next year is to go to a warmer climate 😂😷👍
Mel try shaving gel on your windows just seen it on RUclips got to be worth a shot
Hi we will be joining in and building a van maybe next year now but was wondering if it would be better to build a insulated wall behind the front seats with a access door to the front to stop it all in front and have nothing on the windows in the back just hatch open for ventilation
Yes probably the way to go 👍
A dehumidifier might help.
Thank you yes I got one 👍
Two layers of Cheap foil type groundsheets and 6mm underfloor foam insulation between them with spray adhesive makes a brilliant cheap alternative.
Try external blinds Mel , makes a difference on my T5
Thank you ☺️
You need external screen cover, look at taylormade or polar screens in Sheffield
Thank you ☺️
Living is adding moisture to the air, which condenses on the cold surfaces. Ventilation ie replace your warm wet air with cold dry air. Or you actually want the moisture to condense in a known place so you can remove using a karcher. Perhaps buy a cheap temp/humidity meter so you know when to open the doors and get rid of the damp air. Remember cold air does not hold much water, warm air does.
Thank you that’s a great idea 👍
External thermal window blinds will cure the wet window problem you can pick up a decent set for less than £100
if u want to stop condasation you must cover up all windows from out side of them
This is just a thought but couldn’t a 12v style blind be put up at the window
Mel all you have to do is wipe down all the windows on the inside with shaving gel/foam and buff of with some clean kitchen roll once or twice a week job done, problem solved🤙😉
I’ll have to go shopping for some 👍
Good video once again Mel, however, is it possible to transition from one frame to the next without putting your hand over the lense, at 1:32, just an idea. Cheers Frank
Thank you buddy I really appreciate you taking the time to comment note taken 👍😊👍
Have you tried the outside window insulators that wrap around your windscreen and side doors. I have not tried it, but I would have thought by keeping the window warm it should reduce the amount of condensation forming as you are raising the dew point of the surface? Obviously it wont work for your side windows unless you make some up to stick to the outside.
Thank you I’ll think about that
Hi Mel thanks for the video. Where are the cats now you are full time in the van? We miss them popping up lol. Stay safe
Thank you don’t worry about the cats there fine being well spoiled 👍
I thought those window curtain thingy is meant to o on the outside? That,s what we do
Thank you ☺️
Mel, I'm not surprised with your condensation challenges. So what to do? I don't have all the answers but a small compact dehumidifier will assist drawing that moisture away. Air circulation is key too. Heat is important but not so much as you'd think. For forty notes a modest dehumidifier plugged in up in the cab, some air flow and modest heat has got to help out....... The other option is to stop breathing ( we produce at least 40 g of moisture an hr sleeping) overnight! But that's a bit drastic ha ! My old R.V. had double glazed windows and yes, it wasn't so much of and issue (except the cab).
Thank you buddy that’s really appreciated 👍
External covers work ... internal covers not so good
I use a paragon thermal external silver screen ....been in -10 with heating on all night not a drop of condensation inside
Thank you 😊
This is perfectly correct either u must heat the glass up so it isn't cold enough to produce the condensation (Outside insolation and heat on will do that) or seal the damp air from touching it (double glazing).
That is why the cover on the side door produced more condensation as this kept the heat from the window but allowed the damp air to get to it.
Love your channel👍
Cant you run some ducting into the front cab section?
Probably not as my fridge is in the way good idea though 👍
Thermal screen on the outside will sort your condensation problem
Thank you 😊
Blinds don't stop condensation, they're there to stop heat losses, think of it like the single glazing back In the day waking up to ice on the inside of your bedroom, double glazing stopped this as you have an air gap to prevent the cold coming through, basically it's like putting a coat on your windows, acts as a thermal barrier, because it's not airtight it'll never stop moisture, as others have said, outside ones will be better, the internal ones u have are fine to stop heat losses In your van, put a thermostat in the van, heat it up to a comfortable temperature, turn off the heating and see how quickly the temperature drops with the blinds off compared to the blinds being on
Just watched your heater installation video to see where you got your air intake from. You seemed confident that it would solve your condensation problem way back then. But you have changed your layout or van 😂
Yes I have a different van now 😂👍
I use a condensation trap I bought two from amazon they stop 90% of the moisture build up and I leave a small gap in the side windows
Thank you 😊
if you cover glass and the outside temperature is cold you will always get condensation that's why people in houses with curtains should always open the curtains before you go to bed and make sure the heating is on low run a dehumidifier and you will find in the morning no condemnation on the inside of the glass
yes i have a proper motorhome i dont get water on the side windows because they are double glazed but the front windscreen gets the dreaded water if i dont put the silver screen on the out side
Thank you that’s interesting 👍
It is a simple fact that moisture in the warmer air inside condensates on the colder glass. You're not going to stop it unless the you keep the inside temperature and outside temperature much closer together, so the air in the van doesn't hit a surface which is much cooler. However that's not advisable because you will very cold and miserable!
The condensation issue is part of the reason why I didn't put in any windows and 99% of surfaces are insulated and covered either in cladding, ply or auto carpet. I only get condensation on the drivers cab windows, and that's separated from my living space so I'm less worried about having a damp living space.
Another reason I don't want windows is I don't want anyone looking in and it's a little less obvious that it's a camper this way. I also think it's an invite for burglars. If I want natural light I open the door in my partition wall and look through the windscreen or open the roof vents.
I think you are absolutely rite on the money with that setup 👍
Insulated external covers are better in our experience
Thank you 😊
Back to the drawing board 😊
Yep 👍 😂
@@BigVanSmallWorld 😂
Hi Mel I been thinking about the moisture in my van , I had a leak in my sky light and had to pull the ceiling and the vapour barrier out and when I did I noticed moisture building up between the insulation and vapour barrier and the van , surely this can’t be good because that mean the metal of the van will always be wet, what are your thoughts on this mate
That’s not good the last thing you want is for it to go mouldy
@@BigVanSmallWorld yes exactly, that’s what I mean , if condensation is all over the windows all the time in the winter imagine what’s on the walls of the van behind the vapour barrier, that you can get to , I used celotex in my van wondering if this isn’t a good Insulation for vans after all
Hiya,I've found if not on windscreen condensation has to go somewere..a outside screen also helps..Peace man..
Thank you buddy 👍😊👍
To be honest Mel you're fighting a losing battle :3
What the covers are effectively doing is *insulating* the windows from the interior heat of your van while allowing the cold from outside to pass through your glass. While this does work to make your van even cozier through those harsh winter nights it won't be helping condensation one bit.
Your only choices to completely stop condensation that I can think of off the top of my head:
1) Double glazed windows throughout,
2) Exterior thermal / waterproof barriers (Pretty much what you have on the inside, outside)
3) -Rigging up a moisture barrier per window, completely air tight- (and impractical).
4) Installing the equivalent of your vans factory windscreen de-mister vents on every window :P
Now I have no doubt at all that you have the DIY skills to make what is effectively an air-tight bulkhead complete with a centre door with rubber gasket seals for cab access it would be a crazy amount of work / remodeling. As amazing it would be to watch it would be a hell of a lot of effort to save a few minutes every morning with the window vac!
You’re absolutely right it’s a losing battle best thing I can think of is to drive south for winter hopefully next year that’s exactly what I’ll be doing 👍🤓👍
@@BigVanSmallWorld Ooooooh! Can't wait for the laid back van-life vlogs of tanned (burnt) Mel 👍
Motorhome double glazing windows make a big difference cover van windows
Thank you I think next van I build I’ll be getting proper windows for sure 👍