I purchased a Jayco travel trailer (model 29BHS) from Mt. Pleasant RV in May of 2005. We noticed an irritation in lungs and skin in June when temperature was in the 80's. I contacted Jayco and was told that it was formaldehyde and that it was required to be used in all new construction materials. We were also was told that if the camper was heated up with the furnace to 90 degrees or greater for two hours and then vented that problem would be taken care of.
I heated the travel trailer to 90 plus degrees 6 times and vented for two to three days between with no noticeable improvement. I contacted Mt. Pleasant RV in August 2005 and was told this was a common problem and that only solution was to vent camper 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Vented camper the rest of August and all of September and then closed it up for the winter. In April of 2006 I was contacted by Mt. Pleasant RV and told that Jayco acknowledged that there was a six-month period of campers manufactured that had above normal amounts of formaldehyde and was now recommending that I put a pan of ammonia in the travel trailer for two days and then vent to remove formaldehyde smell.
I did this two times with no noticeable improvement. I contacted Jayco via e-mail on April 24 2006 to see if there was any other solution to make the travel trailer usable and was told that this is a natural occurring problem with building products and to seek a remedy online and that the best cures are to ventilate and use a dehumidifier. After contacting them again via email and detailing the steps I had already taken I was told that they could provide me with a "Max air vent" that would allow me to ventilate the trailer 24/7.
I, however, do not consider this a solution since I will not be able to use either the furnace or air conditioning unit that I bought with the trailer if I have to vent it constantly. I have consulted with other travel trailer manufacturers and been told that although formaldehyde is required to be used in building products some Jayco campers have a much higher level than normal. I purchased this travel trailer with the expectation of being able to use it and I currently cannot. I believe I have made an honest attempt to work with Jayco on this problem that was obviously known by the manufacturer but never pointed out to me before I made the purchase and now I am stuck with a travel trailer that I cannot use.
Stephen Keeley, Claire, MI, stephenkeeley@hotmail.com
About ToxicTrailers.com
