Suwannee, How I Luv Ya!

Suwannee River State Park is in the Florida Panhandle, just east of Tallahassee.  Recommended to us by dear friends, Linda and Frank, we look forward to its trails on the Suwannee River.

We are not disappointed! Three hikes in three days along well marked paths past cypress swamps, pine woodlands, a balancing rock and bubbling springs...

But, I digress.  Unfortunately, three days of our stay is spent retrofitting the Silver Chalet.  It is a long, sad story about a design flaw that Airstream International just cannot bring itself to recognize.

Lake Umbagog,  NH

In September, we are camping at Lake Umbagog, NH, when I discover mildew on the rear curtains.  After removing them and soaking them in detergent and bleach, voila...the problem is remedied.  (The small leak that caused the mildew is soon repaired at the Airstream factory in Ohio a few weeks later.)

Whilst hanging the curtains out to dry on this glorious New England summer afternoon, I get the bright idea to air out the pillows and comforter!  While we are at it, let's flip over the mattress!  I am in full spring cleaning mode!

As we set the mattress down on its opposite side, I notice that the fabric is damp to the touch, as well as the plywood platform it rests upon.  Wuh-oh, Houston, we have a problem!  By the time we reach Jackson Center, Ohio, mildew and mold is in full bloom on the backside of the mattress and plywood.

Airstream attributes the dampness to the window leak, repairs the leak in the window, replaces the damaged plywood and orders us a new mattress to be picked up when we get to the Tampa Bay area on our trip home.

So, all well and good, Airstream!  But that does not eliminate the problem of what we have determined is a condensation issue.  Half of the bed platform is directly above an uninsulated rear cargo storage area where temperature differentials are obviously creating condensation.  The techs at Airstream suggest that we insulate the compartment.  I ask Mike why this is OUR problem...but nevermind...after discussing it at the Airstream factory and getting nothing but 'never been a problem before'...yeah, right!

After much research, head scratching, and what ifs, we conclude that WE must insulate the compartment, construct slats to create air flow beneath the mattress and paint the unfinished plywood.  We return from our trip to Lowe's in Live Oak with 3/4 inch styrofoam/foil backed insulation sheets, foil tape, spray foam insulation for the cracks, 1X2's for the slats, screws, wood glue, liquid nails, drill, saw, and saw guide.

We place the slats at various distances apart until we are satisfied that they will support the mattress with ample airflow.  After sleeping on the prototype for one night with no condensation whatsoever, yipee...successful design accomplished!

For three days, we work tirelessly:  measuring, sawing, gluing, and attaching screws.  The last step is two coats of dark brown paint to match the interior wood.

That night, crawling into bed is a pleasant experience, indeed!  Instead of freezing our tushes off on an mattress as cold as an icicle, we are greeted with a relatively warm bed!  All of the warm air is not being sucked out through the large opening under the bed!  Bet the A/C will be more efficient in the summer months as well, since the bedroom area has always been difficult to cool in the past.

Warm, comfy, and DRY at last!

To say that we are disappointed that Airstream did not do their due diligence with this design issue would be an understatement.

Wally would be disappointed with the response we got from Airstream Corporate! :(

But, it is what it is, and they are not going to budge....so we get creative and fix it ourselves! Ah, Yankee ingenuity!  So there!  Mike and I are problem solvers by nature and both love a challenge!  What an exhilaratitng feeling to figure out a solution to something that Airstream chooses to ignore.

Every RV, trailer and boat has its own little idiocencracies.  After almost two years of traveling in the Chalet, we have discovered hers and have dealt with them.  We love, love, love our Airstream, but Corporate really dropped the ball on this one design flaw.  :(