A persistent smell - anyone have similar experience

rgclemens

We purchased our 2014 T@B new in February and noticed a kind of "chemical" smell when we first took possession. Thinking that this might be something like a "new car" smell we figured that this might go away. About a half dozen outings later, we notice the smell when we open it up again when it has been closed up between outings. We thought of many things, the new upholstery, still breaking in the unit, we have the ALDE heating system and thought the gel might have an oder, etc. This is our first posting on the forum - did not notice anyone else mentioning a smell, so thought we would see if this group of knowledgeable owners/interested T@B crowd might have some ideas. Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

RollingLagrima

I have the same thing in my new (April 2014) Silver Shadow. It is so strong that it makes my eyes tear up when I first stick my head in the cabin after unlocking the doors heading in to air out. I presume it is the memory foam mattresses in my case, as the 5x10 space is small and when closed up, well, it is closed up, and the vapors have nowhere to go. I will say that once I get the fantastic fan going or leave a door open for a bit it dissipates considerably. If it is not the mattresses, it can only be the treatment on the birch wood, as I don't have an Alde or anything else in the interior that is clearly "plastic" or "chemically treated". I have gotten used to it...

DurangoTaB

Our 2015 has a slight odor, and it seems strongest from the shower area. I wonder if it could be some of the glues...floor, ceiling, bath, etc. I don't think it's the insulating foam, since it's not spray urethane (which I had a bad experience with in a work trailer in the 80's...as did many from Katrina). p.s. I'm a retired chemical engineer...

rgclemens

Thanks for your comments - memory foam certainly is a possibility as well. The smell has not negatively effected us when we are actively using the T@B and we are looking forward to the next 10 days as we head North.

Michigan_Mike

If I was guessing I'd probably say it was glue or even some of the laminates/silicone sealers used during the build process.   I know that the Little Guy sidewalls have the ends sealed up to protect against water infiltration, so maybe you have a similar process for the floor sections, etc.?   I sent a note of inquiry to the factory and will post up any info I receive back.  I would think that over time the odor will dissipate as curing, drying, bonding and venting take place.  

Michigan_Mike

Okay, I just received a note back from the factory and this is what their recommendations are as follows:

Not any glues...it is 100% the finish on the cabinetry.

when they come off line, the unit is locked up...if the dealer doesn't open it up and let it breathe, the finish will bake into the unit more than it should...first thing to do is to get some coffee beans/grounds in a cup/bowl and set it on a shelf/counter and it will help to eat it up.

I wonder along with the above advice if you also place a couple of boxes of baking soda open in the unit, if that too would help suck up the odors?   Interesting stuff for sure!  

rgclemens

Case in point of the value of this forum - greatly appreciate your comments, research and feedback. We will definitely try these options out and observe the results. Thanks again!

RollingLagrima

Good to know!

Mouseketab

When mine was stored outside without power, for the first 2 years, every time I opened it up, it had that smell. It now sits in a garage, and I'm able to keep windows open, and never have that smell again. Even now, 8 years later, after being closed up on the road, there is a slight closed up smell when first opening it up upon arriving at a campground, especially if it's hot outside.

JandJ92010

I leave my roof vent open when we're home,  I still notice a minute odor, but not a bad one. That new T@B smell, nothin' wrong with it.

Verna

Just a bit different than the new car smell   I have a vent cover on my Fantastic Fan so I can leave the FF vent open all of the time.  I don't notice a smell.

ChanW

Yep, I wondered about that smell for the first 6-8 months we had ours. Doesn't seem to bother me now, so it must have dissipated some. I thought it might be the rubber hoses in the heating system.

Nice to hear what the factory says. Thanks Mike.