I took delivery of my 13' in January. I have a bathroom but have not used it. I've been out a few times and it was either going to go below freezing or nearby bathrooms were available.
There has been an odor in the bathroom since I got the trailer. I associate the smell with new plastic, adhesives, or the like. I've run the bath vent fan for days at home on shore power even running with the general fan pushing air into the trailer. I prop the door wide open when I'm home. I tested my city water connection and ran some water through the toilet and then emptied the tank I'm pretty sure the odor is not coming from that new waste tank.
The smell has not gone away. It seems as strong as ever. Has anyone else had this problem? What did you find works? Any ideas and suggestions would be most welcome.
Thanks, Tom
i always throw a couple TST tablets in the tank after each empty. it keeps the odors down.
1987 Scamp 16
Good advice but the bath has never been used.
Have you run a tank of fresh water through the shower and toilet? If not, that might help. Don't forget to turn on the scavenge pump when using the shower (or the sink if it has one).
Hi Tom,
I know this is an older post, but I picked my Scamp up in May of this year. (Have put 6,000 on it already). The smell in my Scamp was, and still is, very powerful. It isn't a smell which comes from the use of a toilet.
I used my nose to sniff out where it's coming from. I at first thought it might be the plastic the toilet is made of, but now I don't think so. I think it is coming from the wall in the bathroom which does not have the white plastic(?) wall covering it. It has some sort of roughing paint on it. I also notice the very strong smell in the closet and cupboard next to the door, which also has a wall that is painted with the same stuff as the wall in the bathroom.
It is an uncomfortable smell. When I haven't been in the camper for awhile and enter, the smell really hits you, and is sharp enough to feel a bit of a burn in the nose. After opening the window and using the fan it lessens, It sure would be nice to get that smell out of there though.
I have wondered if the factory forgot to put a white (plastic?)wall in these two areas and the roughing paint on these walls was tithe prep for the gluing of the plastic walls?
I have also wondered if I would paint over the top of these two walls if that might reduce this strong smell.
Wanda PNW
Actually only June-July, so still very timely. Thanks for the note. My smell seems confined to the bath. If the door stays closed, I don't smell anything.
I have it on shore power here at home. I put a box fan in the bathroom doorway blowing into the bath, turned the roof fan to exhaust and top speed, and left it for a few days. It seemed to help a lot. I just got back from being gone for a couple of weeks. Scamp has been sitting buttoned up. Bath door remained open. I'll go check the smell.
It is odd that not everyone seems to have this issue. If it was simply the new plastic of the toilet and surround, you'd think it would be universal.
Tom
In the process of making a Fiberglass trailer there are resins mixed with the fiberglass glass and even the Gel coat coating has the same issue. It takes quite a while for it to stop off gassing but will eventually drop to a good level. we have a 2019 with bath and even last year it was noticeable if closed and hot weather. It is nearly gone now. All Fiberglass is like this from Scamps and boats and even a tub surround in my Pop's place till the resins are done curing ventilation is your friend. No amount of fresheners or Fabreez will stop. Only ventilation and time.
2019 Scamp 13 standard
Thanks for this input. If the bath door is closed, there is no odor. If the shell is off gassing, the insulation and rat fur must be blocking it. Open the bath door and the smell in there is strong. There is exposed plastic surround in there along with the exposed plastic of the toilet and base. I have assumed that those were the source. It's bad and I can't believe everyone with a new bath isn't complaining about it. But I don't see other posts. That makes me think there's something different with mine. Puzzling.
Tom
I had a Casita that the bath had an odor I could not get rid of after a bunch of cleanings. I waxed the fiberglass walls and that got rid of the odors. Other odor remedies while in storage. Balled up newspaper, a plastic tray of charcoal briquettes or an open bow of vinegar but then you have to deal with the vinegar odor.
Eddie
I had a Casita that the bath had an odor I could not get rid of after a bunch of cleanings. I waxed the fiberglass walls and that got rid of the odors. Other odor remedies while in storage. Balled up newspaper, a plastic tray of charcoal briquettes or an open bow of vinegar but then you have to deal with the vinegar odor.
Eddie
Thanks, Eddie. That is a brilliant idea. I'm going to get some wax today and try it.
I may also try to storage ideas. Easy and worth a try.
Tom
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