Internal frost above drop down bed in Pilote 626D

[BobRivers]

Hi

Does anybody have any experience of ice droplets forming on the internal roof of the motorhome.

Ours is coming up for two years old and I have always noticed that water gathers more externally on the drivers side external roof above the cab. It has been quite chilly over the last three nights and on checking the vehicle I noticed ice particles internally(above drivers cab). We all probably fight a loosing battle with condensation on our windscreens but I wouldn't have expected to find ice droplets internally. I always lower the bed from the ceiling to try and allow for more air flow and I leave a couple of interior dehumidifier to try to reduce the moisture in the air.

Any thoughts if this is a design fault as I'm pretty sure there are no leaks from external roof to internal ceiling.

Thanks

 

[Guigsy]

Hi

Does anybody have any experience of ice droplets forming on the internal roof of the motorhome.

Ours is coming up for two years old and I have always noticed that water gathers more externally on the drivers side external roof above the cab. It has been quite chilly over the last three nights and on checking the vehicle I noticed ice particles internally(above drivers cab). We all probably fight a loosing battle with condensation on our windscreens but I wouldn't have expected to find ice droplets internally. I always lower the bed from the ceiling to try and allow for more air flow and I leave a couple of interior dehumidifier to try to reduce the moisture in the air.

Any thoughts if this is a design fault as I'm pretty sure there are no leaks from external roof to internal ceiling.

Thanks

I think you've come to the same conclusion I would have, it's probably just poor insulation and little air movement, so that corner is getting very cold and allowing water to condense and then freeze.

I'm not sure what the construction of your over-cab is like, but on mine, the short moulded section above the windscreen before it joins to the main sheet of the roof is just thick fibreglass. Where it's flat and level with the rest of the roof, there's a layer of foam backed board for insulation. But in the corners, hidden behind the overcab bed curtains, it's just sticky-back carpet type material directly over the fibreglass. So no real insulation. I'm wondering if I could improve it...?

 

[BobRivers]

Hi Guigsy

I'm not sure of the construction but poor insulation sounds plausible. looks like we will just have to keep drying that area until it starts to warm up a little which I hope is soon. Thanks for your help.

 

[cyberyacht]

There's chilled out and there's chilled out.

 

[varaizian]

Our 2017 G600 doesn't do that but perhaps the difference is our respective locations! That said it is rather chilly here this evening.

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[Northernraider]

Condensation is a nightmare in motorhomes. That's why people should never heat them in winter time unless using it . And then you've to freeze the next morning airing it lol.


Woodburners are the future

 

[varaizian]

Hi

Does anybody have any experience of ice droplets forming on the internal roof of the motorhome.

Ours is coming up for two years old and I have always noticed that water gathers more externally on the drivers side external roof above the cab. It has been quite chilly over the last three nights and on checking the vehicle I noticed ice particles internally(above drivers cab). We all probably fight a loosing battle with condensation on our windscreens but I wouldn't have expected to find ice droplets internally. I always lower the bed from the ceiling to try and allow for more air flow and I leave a couple of interior dehumidifier to try to reduce the moisture in the air.

Any thoughts if this is a design fault as I'm pretty sure there are no leaks from external roof to internal ceiling.

Thanks

My earlier comment aside I've been musing on this and I wonder if your van could be parked to encourage better run-off or if that corner gets a particularly cold draft of wind. Ours tips rain off on that corner (except that we are LHD) but the only effect is to make the driver's door corner filthy very quickly. Like you I drop the bed and invariably head butt it whenever walking toward the cab. We use dehumidifiers too but it is probably a waste of time. I doubt whether the ice droplets are doing any harm but I understand your concern.

 

[Lenny HB]

I've never seen than before, our last A Class on very cold evenings with heating running full blast we would get condensation on the roof above the bed so I used to drop the bed down an inch.
Current van never had a problem with it.

the short moulded section above the windscreen before it joins to the main sheet of the roof is just thick fibreglass

I think you will find it is two layers of thin GRP with a thin layer of insulating foam between them.

 

[Margaritaman]

Other Pilote Owners have had problems with the none opening skylight above the cab seats. The bonding of the skylight to the roof section has failed letting water drip in and track around the headlining which then eventually drips into the vehicle somewhere. Might be worth inspecting the skylight.

 

[unclestinky]

I think you've come to the same conclusion I would have, it's probably just poor insulation and little air movement, so that corner is getting very cold and allowing water to condense and then freeze.

I'm not sure what the construction of your over-cab is like, but on mine, the short moulded section above the windscreen before it joins to the main sheet of the roof is just thick fibreglass. Where it's flat and level with the rest of the roof, there's a layer of foam backed board for insulation. But in the corners, hidden behind the overcab bed curtains, it's just sticky-back carpet type material directly over the fibreglass. So no real insulation. I'm wondering if I could improve it...?

Hi

Hi

Does anybody have any experience of ice droplets forming on the internal roof of the motorhome.

Ours is coming up for two years old and I have always noticed that water gathers more externally on the drivers side external roof above the cab. It has been quite chilly over the last three nights and on checking the vehicle I noticed ice particles internally(above drivers cab). We all probably fight a loosing battle with condensation on our windscreens but I wouldn't have expected to find ice droplets internally. I always lower the bed from the ceiling to try and allow for more air flow and I leave a couple of interior dehumidifier to try to reduce the moisture in the air.

Any thoughts if this is a design fault as I'm pretty sure there are no leaks from external roof to internal ceiling.

Thanks

Hi
I had the same problem a few weeks ago, I lowered the bed and the mattress remained frozen to the ceiling.
I now have an electric radiator in the van on a low setting. I haven’t had any condensation since.

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[The Coops]

Just drop the bed a few inches to let the air flow and avoid cold spots, had the same problem.

 

[Lenny HB]

Hi

Hi
I had the same problem a few weeks ago, I lowered the bed and the mattress remained frozen to the ceiling.
I now have an electric radiator in the van on a low setting. I haven’t had any condensation since.

But it will only happen when the van is heated it shouldn't happen in an unheated van.

 

[NigelNovice]

I'm lucky to be able to park on my drive and so I plug into house and have a small oil filled rad on low plugged in so as to keep frost away and dry any condensation

 

[Landy Andy]

I went into a unheated motorhome about 2 hours ago. When the bed was dropped down I notice ice against the ceiling where the mattress is.

 

[BobRivers]

I'm lucky to be able to park on my drive and so I plug into house and have a small oil filled rad on low plugged in so as to keep frost away and dry any condensation

Hi Nigel
We've had hard frost for the last seven nights and I have thought about adding a small heater but my understanding is that this would create more condensation in the van when the hot air meets the cold (especially windows).

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[DuxDeluxe]

Condensation is a nightmare in motorhomes. That's why people should never heat them in winter time unless using it . And then you've to freeze the next morning airing it lol.


Woodburners are the future

Over my dead body........but you would need to get a really good run up at it

 

[Lenny HB]

I'm lucky to be able to park on my drive and so I plug into house and have a small oil filled rad on low plugged in so as to keep frost away and dry any condensation

But you won't get condensation without heating, pointless heating an empty van.

 

[unclestinky]

But it will only happen when the van is heated it shouldn't happen in an unheated van.

Agree
But it seems to work, no condensation at all.

 

[Guigsy]

But you won't get condensation without heating, pointless heating an empty van.

The same way you can get dew on the ground, you can get condensation in the van. All it takes is a few days of warmer moist ambient air to fill the van. Then the weather to suddenly get colder. The air in the van suddenly can't hold the moisture it's carrying and it gets damp. More ventilation reduces the effect, but it can always happen.

 

[Landy Andy]

I know many on here disagree, but I run a dehumidifier. I can’t stop the sun shining through the windows and warming my van, but I can stop the moisture in the air.