Every Camper Owner's Worst Nightmare

This week, while tackling a project to add some additional battery and charging capabilities to my Northern Lite truck camper, I discovered every camper owner's worst nightmare; hidden water damage and mold.
If you missed this week's camping adventure: • A Relaxing Winter Nigh...
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[@Krusty1971]

Oh no. We have seen this scenario before. Tear camper apart, making an attempt to rebuild, give up halfway through, sell camper and buy another one.

[@evanwehmeyer2515]

rinse and repeat. 😒

[@JonathanYentch]

Well fortunately this one doesn’t need to be torn down and I don’t have to rent a shop to work on it.

[@marioramos7741]

Just make sure you finish this project. Don't give up. You can do it!!

[@dutchglobetrotter6464]

Indeed, sounds familiar.

[@kelvincaspell1755]

Not a bad thing to know when to cut your losses

[@johnandargiesadventures4203]

DON'T Tear it apart!! Just put a residential size portable dehumidifier in it with an electric heater when you get back from an Adventure, the oil filled radiant type and do that after every adventure especially in the winter, I had a 33' motorhome that we used to go snow skiing all the time and had to do that plus keep a small amount of dry electric heat in it all year except blazing hot summer. YES you could have leaks but that can be fixed easily, Tearing your camper apart without the proper place and skills is a terrible idea, It looks beautiful inside, Just dry it out and prime and paint the interior if you need to. On top of all this good advice I have been in the RV business over fifty years and know what I'm talking about, and have rebuilt many a RV. Good Luck on whatever you decide to do. Thanks for sharing your Adventures with us.

[@richardrice1068]

the propane heater adds a lot of moisture to the air in there, could be contributing to the problem

[@cougarash77]

100% run a dehumidifier along with a diesel heater ( dry heat) later on, once fully dried out, you can treat the wood with a hardner.

[@TheLotroNerd]

As a boat builder, this is fairly normal. Caulking, cooking inside, pinholes self tapping screws, undercarriage design, etc are all sources. At 20 years old this is fairly typical anything past that in age is going to have issues like this. Remove the windows keep them! fill with butyl tape really get that putty in all the spots and crevices. It will weather and start to crack as well as squeeze out. So you want to seal it with a window seal caulk over the butyl tape. This will protect the butyl from weathering. Windows are expensive and hard to source. Before covering up. run a heat lamp on wet areas keep windows open and allow the camper to ventilate out moisture. any rotted wood remove and replace. This is a "do it right the first time job."

[@joesprague1464]

At least it won’t sink.Only your bank account is in danger of that.

[@bobculhane4746]

Good luck John you may want to get a professional take a look make a assessment.

[@nomadhues8606]

this is good advice

[@Surferkeldain]

You got this buddy! 😄

[@hgj2019]

Thanks Jonathan. This reminded me of why I don’t need another camper!

[@kenuber4014]

Oh no! We saw what happened the last time you tried to remodel a camper! Lol

[@derricksmith5547]

It’s from Condensation running down the panels and settling into those cracks for decades

[@martyb3783]

I agree wit @derricsmith5547, I think this is condensation. When you camp in freezing temperatures water from cooking and your body will settle on the interior surfaces. Invest in a diesel heater and a good quality dehumidifier. Run the dehumidifier on High when you are at home on shore power to dry everything out.

[@truthseeker2222]

@@martyb3783 agree. I live in my travel trailer and a good dehumidifier is a must. Also monitor indoor RH and keep it under 50 percent always. I also run ozone for a couple hours once a month to kill and potential mold.

[@horsetrader1991]

I think it is too. We sold our 2023 Northern Lite NOT because of condensation our NL certainly had a lot. MORE than any I've seen in any truck camper. Perhaps that's why there's carpet everywhere? I'm cripple so getting in and out was hard plus the wife hated some things on our NL. We didn't have it long and took a serious hit. Anyway, after this fix, Jonathan will know his camper inside out. Bill in GA.

[@martyb3783]

@@truthseeker2222I forgot about the Ozone generator. Great idea!

[@shawnrobertstevens]

Bro you gotta start keeping damp rid in your camper to help wick out all of the moisture buildup from cooking, breathing, wet clothes, the propane heater, etc.

[@robertbecker2910]

Before you dismantle this camper too, let me know and I will take it off your hands so you won’t have to be burdened with it anymore.

[@Decepticon215]

I'm so sorry to hear about the mold. You're a good dude that deserves to catch a break.

[@schassis_eddi]

No idea where my original comment went, but penashield from HD can treat and kill mold and fungus that destroys wood. There’s also mold kill primer. Good luck sir

[@davidsradioroom9678]

Bummer. Hope you can fix it quickly.

[@CandEAdventures]

Come adventure with us in the desert! It's like the leaks don't exist if it's always dry 😂

[@Bobsmithabc]

Here we go again…😮

[@JonathanYentch]

😭

[@SilentWolfFarts]

😂

[@outcast1763]

Johnathan i know you are going to reseal the windows, you might want to consider removing the jack brackets and resealing them. my camper leaked around all 4 jacks luckyly i found it before i had any damage it was a brand new camper, fixed it myself im sure its a better fix than going back to the dealership

[@LowPriceEdition]

That's the joy of NL. I bought a 22' model and had the same issue. Water comes in the side and even made it to the basement. For me I figured it was the fridge side panel but I got rid of that camper and went with a Bigfoot. Bigfoot has a completely different design underneath.

[@AdventureswithJerrod]

Don’t let other comments Jonathan, this is your channel! You do you!

[@SquatchNomad]

Add some moisture paackets in the meantime. Its good to discover this now and get it done before the weather turns nice.

[@axlent123]

The best part of a community are the friends with wisdom and experience that can offer helpful advice..

[@RisingTideRyan]

if you own a old camper with a flat roof in PNW it's always a case of it leaking somewhere. I have owned at least 5 and they all leaked. The best is to store them under a roof cover like a shed or barn/garage when not using them not a tarp because they hold moisture. If those windows are single pane they will shed moisture and it will drip and spread every ware. Gas heat and cooking on top of that and its mold city. Buy a used camper = leak,mold and sa la vi.

[@horsetrader1991]

There NOT single pane.

[@drc1883]

learn how to spell guys

[@randyrowett7998]

Yikes! Mould is the enemy. Such a nice camper. It is good you caught it. It will be good to see the finished camper after the clean up.

[@JonathanYentch]

Certainly happy I caught it now before it turned into something major!

[@horsetrader1991]

Yes, it's GREAT you caught it. Condensation is really bad because they do so good in cold weather. Keep us posted please. Bill in GA. @@JonathanYentch

[@lorid6544]

@@JonathanYentch Time to find another garage without the dog barking! Keep the faith. I'll watch no matter what.

[@JonnyDIY]

Ahh! 😱 Bummer. Just pull all the windows and reseal and get back on road. Hell that things 25 years old, those windows were bound to leak by this point, no biggie. Just regular maintenance. Can test the windows first with hose to verify. Could be years or condensation though as well. Take your time diagnosing before tearing apart

[@AndrewKumler]

As a PNW inhabitant, I understand what you are going through. Unless you live here, its hard to understand just how wet and damp it really is. At least you are well experienced in mold abetment now :D You git this.

[@patriciafisher2838]

Oh no not again!

[@GermanicDottir]

Well, at least you discovered the issue before it got worse. I'm so glad the mold wasn't bad enough to make you sick. Best wishes. ✌

[@arthurv89]

Hey Jonathan, it looks like the wetness is coming from the condensation you get from using the buddy heater. A diesel heater should help with the condensation.

[@richardcliff3510]

In some ways it is good that it is still the rainy season. You will want to be really sure you have nailed the source of any leaks before you put everything back together. Nothing like a couple of good rainy weeks with the interior panels off to test the window and belly band resealing. A dry heat source (many options) to combat the condensation should also be top of your priority list.

[@hiaceadventurevan3929]

I say just don’t worry about it. With a camper like this, if you aren’t storing it inside you are always going to get moisture build up inside of it. You seem to take a lot of precautions for condensation during winter months but there will always be a small bit from winter camping

[@loriemarez]

You should get a class b van. I bought a used one and I love it. I had an older class c and it was just too big. Love how the class b is flexible.

[@CalvinRRC]

Other people have pointed it out but it's definitely from condensation. The only solution I found with my current van build (second vehicle build) was to treat the interior like you might a boat. Assume that everything in contact with the walls will get wet eventually because that's just the reality if you do enough winter camping. There will be condensation on the walls and ceiling, it will freeze, it will drip, build up over time, etc. A lot of times insulation is more trouble than it's worth. I didn't bother with it in my current build but I've heard some people have luck with spray foam. Good luck man. You're certainly due for it after having so many campers not work out for you.

[@TheLotroNerd]

I would recommend water proofing every window, and every hatch and door. If one has a problem the others are soon to go or already have gone as well. Its not as bad as you think it is!

[@sjackson99]

You should add some heating pads under or around those batteries before you install them. They will warm them up a lot faster and more efficiently than heating the whole inside of your camper. And maybe add some vents in that compartment (door and side}. If you ever camp in an extremely hot area you'll also want to keep them cool so having them on the inside will make that easier.

[@horsetrader1991]

Put a fan inside that compartment is what I would do.

[@horsetrader1991]

Thanks Jonathan, Keep us informed on your problem. Mold is a campers worse nightmare. Of course you know that. Our 2023 Northern Lite, really had a LOT of condensation. I mean a lot in 30 degree weather. We sold ours not because of mold but because of things my wife didn't like. We lost serious money. Personally I loved the camper. I didn't care for the steps but giving my health I think it will be hard for me to get into any truck camper. ( Long Story ) These campers are excellent for cold weather so it seems they would come with a built in dehumidifier . Again keep us posted. Bill in GA

[@suecbrn]

I am sorry to hear this sort of thing has cropped up again! What a pain! But, you've got a great attitude, and I for one will be happy when you can resume your travels. But, I am always ready for any video you put out. They are all interesting. Good luck with the repair, and I do think you made the right choice on upping the electric and using the truck to help power the batteries. And while it sucks to find the mold and dampness, it is far better to find it now vs. later!

[@nmtaper65]

I'd assume it's the condensation, not a leak.

[@GarrettLaPolt]

I was gonna say the same thing especially since I think he had updated/changed the heating unit

[@SheRoamsWild]

I'm having flashbacks 😭 So sorry you're in this position Jonathan.

[@funnyside6]

I'm glad you have the courage to take on these repairs. I would possibly be tearing my hair out and procrastinating (LOL). The boat builder comment makes a lot of sense and gives you some direction. Looking forward to seeing it completed.

[@georgejulien3286]

That window probably isn’t even leaking, it’s condensation on the inside of the window running down the inside. I have a camper in the PNW as well and it’s far too humid and damp to be heating with propane heat. It needs to be a dry heat source and a dehumidifier.

[@JoeMNPT]

You have to be kidding me. You’re doing this whole charade again?! 😂😂😂😂😂

[@mommaboy6218]

Another drama series with a new set of screw ups with the same cast of characters. 😂

[@Castorguy123]

​@mommaboy6218 here we go again going to screw Nother camper up.

[@sweetcup6694]

he doesn't have the skill set to repair this. He needs to dump or find someone who can hand hold him at least.

[@Castorguy123]

@sweetcup6694 yes anyone can destroy it takes a skill to rebuild it. He doesn't have it. After all, when you're used to saying, "Would you like fries with that order

[@kimchristopher6606]

I seriously think he runs out of new content...dude you just don't have the skills to repair your campers or doing your homework when your buying these old campers and no what to look for.....just more drama with you!!! I can't with you anymore.. Good luck in traveling across country for your next disappointment.

[@chownzi2461]

Glad you caught it sounds like you have a good plan to get it all fixed up

[@thedadmike]

Jonathan, so sorry to see your adventures curtailed by this. Good luck

[@jacquezghardy]

You got this JT! It could also be water building up in between the walls when it’s warm inside and cold outside.

[@juliemarkham4332]

I'm feeling de-ja-vue. Good luck!

[@johnbumstead8766]

Jonathan, I installed a DC to DC charger on my truck camper (Lance w/ Ram 3500). It Keeps my 2 lead acid batteries charged and I can use them to run the fridge instead of propane while driving. I don't use a ton of juice as all my lights are LED, and I only need to charge my phone and tablet. Be sure to install a battery monitor to show charging and usage. As far as the leak goes, it comes with the territory. I suspect your windows leak. Pull out the old sealant and use some good dicor to seal them up good. Best of luck.

[@1988944turbo]

I have 2010 Northern Lite Ten2 camper layout similar to yours. Bought it used in 2018 with what looked like some water leaking around dinette window. Windows were checked and revealed but after camping a few times in freezing weather I'm convinced the water is condensation from the window frames. The glass is double paned but the aluminum frame collects a amazing amount of water.Hope this helps you

[@Rudy_Dorame]

That mold could be why you’ve been feeling dizzy and nauseous

[@thobiaslysell4579]

Condensation. Especially where the cussins are. The same in my boat. Areas that don’t get warm and/or airflow get damp. Be sure to add more ventilstion and upgrade to disel heater instead of propane. And be sure to have good ventilation and heat even when camper sits still. There are solarpowered vents with small fans that run all the time. Put those in my boat and that made a huge difference. Kept the boat pretty much dry after that. Airflow i key. (Min my spelling, I’m from Sweden)

[@Saltydog961]

Yap, good ole Nortwest Winter,rain,rain & rain some more,good luck with repaiirs!!!

[@markl6171]

Bummer, dude. Do you think that mold may have contributed to your nausea? Glad you found it now. Anyway, good luck with fixing the issue. I hope you don’t get rid of the truck camper. Cheers, Jonathan.

[@joehollingshead3204]

You got this! Love the videos

[@antoniobaez6282]

A year round dry heat source running constantly with all cabinet doors open! Seal and reseal! OMG campers are such high maintenance.

[@kitaoden703]

No I'm glad you found the issue with mold now instead of later

[@stevew8513]

Once you're replaced all the bad paneling, keep some Damp Rid containers in your camper to cut down on condensation. That'll be nice and cheap, but you will have to replace them a lot. If you had solar you could always have a small dehumidifier running all the time, with a drainage hose running to the outside of the car (or down the sink).

[@SherryAnnOfTheWest]

THIS is definitely an "adventure video," just not the kind of adventure you wanted! Good luck, Johnathan. I hope this goes smoothly.

[@RoadArtAdventure]

When in your last video you included a shot of your thermostat that read 94%. Humidity I thought: uh oh….. here we go again… people running propane, wind up with walls and windows that drip with accumulated moisture. It also accumulates under your mattress; which is why I assume you went with the Foley system. Because that little bit of air circulation saves you from mold in your mattress and bedding. so I think it’s quite possible that most if not all of your mold issues are coming from the buildup of moisture inside your rig. Always always always run a dehumidifier.

[@urbannomadslife]

Use durabond roof tape to seal the roof. Water is probably getting in from the roof, all old RVs have this problem. Also the windows need to be resealed with silicone and rubber seals on those old rvs.

[@angiepritt]

My favorite camping gentleman YOUR the best ❤

[@kunfussed213]

That sucks! Glad you caught it before it got totally out of hand though. 😁

[@axlent123]

7:29. Reminds me of all those This Old House shows I used to watch… they are just about to remove some cabinet to do some new wiring, and just after they tear it out… punky rotten wood, termites, or a wasp nest…

[@schassis_eddi]

Water heater could be leaking

[@rosal6663]

Oh! I am so sorry 😞 that you have to go thru this again. God bless you. My prayers for you. Have patience.

[@vonrollveeg]

I noticed you have a heater which doesn't look like it vents combustion products to the outside. If so, this is pumping a large quantity of water vapor into the interior of your camper. This kind of problem is well known to create mold and rot problems.

[@moricey4776]

Well it’s a learning hobby, and it keeps you busy so we all need that. But all season is what you need. How about making that area unique with an all ready couch an extra there so you can always keep an eye on that area and a table you already have to put there. And a bigger window. You have a parts store near you? Find everything you need. Luck be with you. 👍🏻🫵🏻🇺🇸🍝🙏

[@JHBtheIV]

Slowly replace the rotten wood with plastic lumber, get rid if the soft insulation and replace it with foam and/or insulation board. Over time you won't have anything that holds moisture.

[@edwardmorris7625]

Well you have been down this road before . It not that bad . You found it early . I will tune in for more . Camping life is full of surprises.

[@charlieireland5422]

this is like Deja vu. it was going good for a while.

[@leonardcroft1467]

Good Luck with Your Rebuild Johnathon ..

[@edyoung6573]

Well Jonathan, another rebuild! No doubt it's coming from the windows! Pull them and seal them up! You got this! That Northern lite is worth it.

[@horsetrader1991]

Is it, I've seen a lot of these videos. Perhaps the clam shell isn't such a good design.

[@braaap690]

Bummer! Good luck!

[@MyWayThai]

good luck Jonathan with this project

[@brendabinczewski7624]

Oh my. I’m sorry to hear that you have mold. That sucks. You seem like a determined guy though. All you can do is work on it as you can. Your followers will be waiting. Maybe you could give us updates. Don’t breath to much of that in. Take care. Be safe

[@cumberlandquiltchic1]

I left a comment yesterday about my old house, propane and mold. I suspected this. Im sorry you’re dealing with it. It’s real! I have nobody to help me, at least you can do the work yourself. Thanks for the update. Stay well.

[@cumberlandquiltchic1]

So, the mold issues I have are from old single pane windows and condensation, then molding. I live in 750 sf and there’s not any ventilation in winter. Id say you’re up against the same thing. I live in smokies, which is a rainforest like where you are. I keep dehumidifiers going in house and outbuildings. Might have to keep a dehumidifier going in there. I knew when you mentioned about nausea etc… I said it’s gotta be propane or mold Or both. I’ve been there n still going through it. I can’t get anyone to come help me. I’ll likely sell and move on and let sone young couple deal with it. Not a big deal to people who are young. It’s a big deal to me being alone. Best wishes. Glad you found it!

[@valeriefrench9405]

I feel like it doesn’t necessarily have to leak in from a seam. It can build up wherever from condensation between the layers. Just recently learned that Clorox does nothing to kill mold. Only white vinegar does

[@PrplAngl]

Nooooooo not the mold !! Glad you know thou 👍 You'll get it ☺️

[@conradcoolerfiend]

just beacause there is water above the belly band, doesnt mean it couldnt be leaking from there still. water will wick upwards if the material above is dry. Although, i do think its more likely to be the window as the belly band design is a lot more protected.

[@ExpansiveReviews]

In your last video “winter night camping” you mentioned feeling nauseous. Maybe it was from the mold after all. Best of luck! Can’t wait to see the renovation :)

[@adriennedull332]

Oh no! I’m sorry to see this happening in this camper! Have you checked to see if there is moisture above the windows? Maybe the moisture is from all the condensation that is forming on the windows or bad seals on the windows and not from above? At least it would mean only replacing the lower part of the camper…

[@2manyhobbiezz]

It’s been a good run. Hope this one ends up differently from the last one(s)

[@dee-here-now]

Ohhh noooooo! Such a bummer, especially considering your bought this rig so you *wouldn't* have to deal with this. I love your project videos as much as your adventure ones, personally!

[@ScottHervieuxOutdoors]

Ouch. I lived on the coast of south Florida for a year. Due to the high humidity mold was a constant issue. We put those dampex buckets in the apartment. We were replacing them every week or two, but they were rated for a month. Even our cars smelt musty if we left the windows closed for more than a day. It was paradise, but the mold we could've done without. This is why, if I ever have the money for a camper, I am looking at composite or rust proof aluminum solid exterior, with no wood. Salt use in winter, in New England, eats our cars up here. I also want minimal to no wood inside. Something I can easily keep wiping down with bleach and vinegar. Unfortunately those usually come at a higher cost. Every used camper I looked at so far had mold or rot issues. After seeing what I've looked at... once my SUV goes; my next vehicle may be a pickup with a fiberglass shell. Keep it simple and easy. Although I need at least a 6 foot bed, with being 5'5" . Some of these newer trucks only have 4.5' or 5' beds.

[@samueljlarson]

Dc to Dc is smart! Did you learn that one from Foresty forest? I would guess the mold is from built up moisture from condensation never fully evaporating over the years.

[@LaurieNCooper]

Oh and keep in mind your placement of the batteries. I choose to have mine near my diesel heater. They never get cold that way. 👍👍

[@carlyntucker5280]

Yogi Berra, “Deja vu all over again”..

[@scottthejeepguy7499]

Good luck, you got this.

[@LivingLargeCamping]

Always an adventure owning a truck camper, excited to see the rebuild!

[@JonathanYentch]

Always keeps ya on your toes! 😅

[@bradmaher6119]

“I don’t want to damage these panels” 2 minutes later camper is gutted lol

[@tc2425]

Run a fan or 2 for the duration of your project and it should dry much .... Also we run a Ryobi 12/120 Volt continuously in our RV ...summer winter spring ...allways

[@LaurieNCooper]

At least you didn’t just throw a for sale sign on it like I believe many people would do. 👍 tare it all out man. Go camping with bare wall so you can find where it’s coming from. Thats what I would do anyway. It’s best to sell your old lithium and add another new one because they should be balanced properly before use. I did a top balance on my three where I fully charged all the batteries individually and then connected them in parallel and let them rest for a couple days so the cells have equal voltage. They will last much longer that way. Excellent choice going with the dc to dc charger but be sure to not draw more than half the amps of your alternator output as it will cause premature failure. I use a 200amp alternator with a 60amp dc charger. I use #2 awg (oxygen free wire). I love it… no worries about cleaning off solar panels.

[@OliverAllover-es9ro]

All I can say is, I'm feeling for you brother!!

[@jillianstevens3552]

I know there’s a lot of comments so sorry if this is a repeat, but in the PNW you HAVE to be proactive with moisture inside, regardless of whether this came from inside or out, always have at least Damp Rid or a dehumidifier inside when you’re not using the camper, but especially when you are. This will help prevent the possibility of mold like you have done with the mattress.

[@duanebolen543]

Its condenation from the cold on the outside an heat on the inside from your heater makes moisture

[@keithdubois8579]

Considering how old the camper is it's not surprising you have water damage. Thats the chance you take when you buy an old camper.

[@genespell4340]

What is life without a little problem once in a while. I agree with the person that said do all of the windows but you don't have to do them oal at the same time.

[@urbannomadslife]

The good ol tarp lol!

[@jenniferherrington]

Definitely through your windows! Maybe reseal them? I know nothing about remodeling, 😂 Dry it out with a good strong heater. I watched Elsa Rhea and Barron for a long time living in their Scamp. They always aired and dried out their camper many times a year.

[@barbkugler7568]

Move to a dry climate state like Arizona. It is a beautiful state and you would enjoy it.

[@grayeagleswolves]

Hey Johnathan I feel for you I'm in the same boat and will be replacing my camper in the fall

[@ginag1682]

Consider several Eva dry portable reusable dehumidifers to constantly try to decrease water in camper. Good luck.

[@from1978]

Condensation on the windows, gravity, and the lack of dry warmth in the PNW all lead to that moisture/ mold.

[@brandonnorris927]

Probably would help if you put in a good heavy duty dehumidifier in your rig because it seems all it does is rain and snows there .. double pain glass windows help alot they have for campers now seems like.