Curious about government trailers

[kleece]

I have been watching CNN talking about all the FEMA trailers and how they have formaldehyde problems blah blah.
They never say anything about travel trailers in general having this problem. But in the clips that they show you see Sandpipers and Rockwoods so I know that they didn't have special "cheap" ones made just for the Katrina victims.
I know there are a bunch of "full timers" in TT's- what do they do to protect themselves? We have MaxxVents and we air the camper out all the time, I'm just wondering if anyone had any info about it and if there are some campers that have more problems than others?
They said on CNN that it is worse in the summer than winter but obviously we all use them in the summer- the more dangerous time. Just something to think about.
Thanks for anyone that might be able to provide any links to information!
Krystal

[powerboatr]

IMO where the big G screwed up, was that a good deal of the folks in trailers that had no idea how to read or had any common sense. and some litigator took advantage and preyed on folks fears to start lawsuits.
formaldehyde will vent out very easy
on new coaches its recommended that you let it air for several days to vent the gasses out
and if its stored in the hot air to open it up a week or so befre long term occupation.

ours took about 2 weeks to get to the point the gass didnt make your eyes water. now if we are gone several weeks and its all closed up it takes about 10 minutes to vent any RV smells, which are mostly wood smells.

whats really funny about the katrina or other disaster trailers is they are usually put in aeras of high humidity and high temps so one would use their airconditioners almost 24 hrs a day , this alone would have vented out most of the formaldehyde gas, there fore eliminating the risk to exsposure.
the relief trailers are made on the same lines and usually dont have waste tanks, but everything else is the same.
and..... fema even went around and vented these trailers for weeks before moving folks in, and they also provide free replacement LP as the tanks were used, among other things , free electricity.... yada yada
anywho, TT and fivers and Class A and all other rvs are full of items that contain formaldehyde, thats why there is a big statement in the owners manual to vent the rv.

[Radio]

Originally Posted by kleece

But in the clips that they show you see Sandpipers and Rockwoods so I know that they didn't have special "cheap" ones made just for the Katrina victims.

Actually, that's exactly the case. FEMA contracts with RV makers to build emergency shelters. You can tell a contract trailer because they have no decals, carpet or awnings. (To make them cheaper) Very plain looking. Also, many have no holding tanks and many have standard household refrigerators and stoves. It's these that have the problem. Materials used in RVs must pass outgassing standards. However, due to the sudden demand and sortage of construction materials, esp. plywood type materials, a waiver was granted to use materials that did not meet these standards.

But also, in order to meet emergency demands, government buyers grabbed up every travel trailer they could find off ordinary dealer lots. That's what you saw in the clips. There is likely nothing wrong with these trailers, except for the abuse doled out by the people that lived in them.

[NDJollyMon]

I've owned 3 brand new RV trailers.
All three smelled like that, and had to be ventillated for some time.
I've been in FEMA trailers. Some were made for the Govt, some not. When they need them bad enough, they do buy them of dealer lots.

[RJW]

goes too everyone wants to blame their problems on someone, ooh ya been staying in a govt provided tt and ya have a respratory issue, musta been caused by the trailer given by the govt and the govt didn't tell you to open the windows for a while, therefor lets sue the govt for more money,

thats what ya get for trying to help someone who has no concept personal responsibility.

[j2detroit]

Yes indeed the people who inhabited them for the most part more than likly were to worried about where their next freebe was coming from or how they can avoid taking any responsability for getting themselvs and their failys back on their feet Its way to easy to coplain and SUE sombody Yes mistakes were mostlikly made by the know all fema people But so what else is new It took us 3or 4 weeks to get ours aired out good We would leave the roof vent cracked open during the week when we were not there and it would still be a little storng when we first got there on thursday nites and opened up for the week end But this to passed and all is well We love our Cherokee and having it set up at our site is great Looking forword to getting going