Ketchup smell

ssp · September 2025

Hello Everybody,

When I open the door of my T@B (2019 T@B 400 DB) I am greeted with a pretty unique smell. The best I can do to describe it is.. ketchup. We purchased it in April this year, and I recall it from day 1. So, spring like temperatures, summer intense heat, all the same ketchupy smell that goes away once it ventilates a little. Googling this, the smell is linked with mold or bacterial growth associated with high humidity (I do not have any leaks, new or old on all the compartments I've opened) or coolant leaks (none that I know) gas leaks (none either, no alarms or stove Alde malfunctions).

I'm starting to think that it might be one of the interior finishings off-gassing something that I hope is not harmful.

Anyone else with a distinct sweet, ketchup-like odor in their trailers? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

qhumberd · September 2025

When I think of smells I think of the refrigerator. Which one do you have, large 3 way or the smaller 2 way? Something around/behind or under the frig is worth checking.

Sharon_is_SAM · September 2025

I think of a dry P trap. Run water in your sinks and shower and add some diluted Happy Camper.

Tabaz · September 2025

Yep - 2X about the P-traps. Been there, done that.

ssp · September 2025

Thanks for your answers but not the p-traps, used the camper this weekend and the smell persists. Not the refrigerator either, it is clean (smaller 2 way under the stove). It is not a bad odor at all, like it would come from a dry p-trap or a refrigerator.

TourDeForth · September 2025

This is a wild guess, but if you have agm batteries that are getting old they can sometimes emit an odor, maybe have them checked? Usually the smell is “rotten eggs” due to sulfation while charging. That ketchup smell could be the mild start to the failure.

ssp · September 2025

Thanks. Changed 6 year old AGMs to LiFePO4 a couple of months ago. Smell persists.

Gomers2 · October 2025

We had a similar issue with our unit. It was a head scratcher but ultimately we determined it was the brand of dish soap we were using. It didn't really smell when you were using it if that makes sense ... But when stored in a warm closed environment the smell when you opened the door was quite strong. So maybe you have something similar going on? Soap or lotion or bug spray or some bedding that has an order? Just one more thing to try I guess!

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