Controlling frost forming on race car in enclosed trailer.

I was over at the trailer today, and was shocked to see the frost on EVERYTHING! The trailer is insulated. I understand the moisture/temp drop issue. If I tighten up the air leaks, (generator door), won't that just trap more moisture? I have a solar panel. I was thinking of a 12 volt bulb or piezo fan. Any ideas?

My guess is you closed it up when it was warmer and more humid out so the trapped moisture has frosted up on the cold surfaces.

You should had left the trailer cracked open till the temperature/humidity dropped, then sealed it up there would have been "less" frost but likely still some.

Insulation is just that, its not a heater! In MN I doubt anything short of an actual heater will do any good with the winters you get. A 12v bulb ain't gonna do squat !!

Yes, you're right on all three accounts. At least I fogged the heck out of it. Next year, I'll add a max air vent cover, and leave the inside cover cracked. That would allow some cross flow from the generator door vent.

Since you say you have a solar panel I'm guessing its hooked up to a 12 volt battery. I would try a 12 volt oscillating fan to keep the air moving some. worth the try and I'm glad you fogged the engine.

A bail of hay spread out on the floor

I don't know if people typically use them on trailers but sailboat people seem to use solar powered fans like these:

http://www.defender.com/category.jsp?path=-1|6880|2290139&id=2290144

He wants to keep his car dry, not build a manger !!

If you have a dry day or two or three I'd crack the door now. Colder the better. That will help get the moisture out even when frozen.

Just put in a 1500w heater...

Seal it up and put a dessacant in there, a 5 gallon bucket of salt in the corner (not dumped every where) a very dry hay bail can absorb moisture.

You could heat it till it thaws and dries with an electric heater then open the doors and blow out the moist warm air and let it fill with cold dry air and seal it back up. Don't use a propane heater as a by-product of combustion is water.

Really? I actually have trouble finding mine in all the "frost"....




Oooh, there it is....

I was gunna aSK WHAT FROST WAS BUT THE I SAW YOUR PIC,S.

When I lived in Michigan I never had that problem. I always left my roof vents opened a couple inches. Let's the air circulate.

The added bonus of running a heater is in the spring when you open the trailer to the warm, moist outside air, the car won't be so cold as to have condensation form on it ... y'know, like a cold beer on a warm day !!!

What about a dehumidifier? Or one of those portable electric heater/units? Obviously not on the floor where fuel/oil fumes could ignite. Maybe plug it in every few days. Humidity will attack everything - tools, etc - in the trailer.

No power available where it's at. I'm going with opening up the roof vent. That trainer snow picture looks like May in Minnesota. 😄

put it inside! DUH!!!

20'X20'. No extra room. It's good that I don't smoke, there isn't room for a pack. 😳

Open the vent, mom used to dry clothes when it was below zero, freeze dried. Always heard it's a " dry cold" up there. Cold should suck the moisture out. What is the humidity outside right now?

Now that's funny. I laughed out loud and got caught at work on Moparts. No laughing allowed on this job.
MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone

If you didn't try it, don't knock it.

The hay absorbs the humidity no frost build up on car.

Has no sense of humor !!!

Run a cord out and put a lightbulb on a small sheet of aluminum under the car.

Thanks for the ideas. Since it's cold storage, with no power source, I'm going to crack the vent. It's on an acreage lot, with critters, so I hesitate to add bedding material, but I have to say, our central Canadian members winters make Minnesota winters look like trainer material. If I lived there, and could saunter out there a few times a week, I'd try the straw, salt and have some 110v bulbs going. Truth be known, it's probably always been there, I just wasn't able to access the trailer to look.

You got that right, its only 11 degrees here today.

Oh, that's Celsius ... in Fahrenheit its 52 !!!

I usually put 3-4 of these out and refill them with the big economical refill bag as needed, I usually keep the car in the garage but when out there I noticed it does keep the condensation off the car which it did get in the past especially on the aluminum parts. BTW, I know you don't have power but when I put a drop light down by the motor to keep from freezing when going racing the next day I see my thermometer in the trailer up 8-10*.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DampRid-10-5-oz-Fresh-Scent-Refillable-Moisture-Absorber-FG01FS/203908838

BTW, if you do use Danp Rid keep it sealed up tight, my 24' Pace has no roof vents and I like it that way.