Fiat Ducato Swift Bolero Motorhome Condensation

Condensation forms when warm air meets a cold surface. The air inside the MH is warmer than that outside, even when parked. The warmer air hits the cold windscreen and condensation forms where they meet - on the inside.

However, the manufacturers of the external screens do not recommend their use on stored vans. I don't know why.

Hi, I've only had my MH since May but bought a silver screen cover. When I use the cab blinds while we are away the windscreen has condensation in the morning, when I use the silver screen the windscreen is completely dry.

I just use the cab blinds between trips and never had condensation although not experienced the winter months yet.

Ignore me, my brain is a tad waterlogged this evening, and not functioning fully!

Linked with temperature difference the cause is more to do with an imbalance between the moisture content of the air inside and outside the van. Cold dry air will not cause the symptoms described, nor will slightly warmer dry air like may happen inside the van on sunny days. If, in storage without any heating on, you suffer from condensation then question where that water originates and is collecting and thus compounding the problem. It might be in the ambient air but It might also be accumulating in the fabric of the van itself. Removal of moisture absorbing materials like bedding, mattresses, clothing and curtains etc can help. Then ensure there is a really good airflow throughout the van for the outside. Leaving cupboards empty, their doors open, beds raised and internal doors open can also help considerably.

As a newbie MHomer, how are the external screens affixed? Whilst I don't doubt that external screens are more efficient, does anyone have any thoughts on the internal insulation type screens?

External silver screens have an 'envelope' with velcro to go over the corner of the cab door inside. The around the windscreen, having lifted the wipers first, and same on other cab door. Wing mirrors folded over and windscreen wipers hold the windscreen part down. Ours has the opening drop down front, we don't have a privacy screen (didn't know about them when we found ourselves on an online trading site) and may add if we were buying new. We're in our second in 11 years of it always being in place unless we are driving. 

You can reverse the fixing to put it inside should you wish. We never have, nor would I see why 😉.

The internal screens we've seen on site , but never used, have suction caps to attach them, marks for a start 😲 and I've never seen them condensation free.

We keep ours on in storage, saves pulling the curtains - we have older style and not blinds in the cab. We keep blinds closed too 😲😲. I know others say nay but it works for us. It's in storage with loads of others - no one can nosey in, sun can't fade it and temperature never ridiculously hot or cold as far as we are able to tell in 11 years.

I use a silver-screen but never when just parked up inbetween trips. In fact I'm sure I read somewhere that they advise you not to do this for some reason. Thinking about it doing this would stop a lot of sunlight warming the cab and moving the air around inside so you could be adding to your problem long-term.

I would try and sort the problem out in other ways. Do you leave the cab vents open for a little airflow? Have you got water ingress somewhere in the cab you're not aware of? 

Hi I am new to Motorhome's and here, was just wondering where can I get an external, silver screen and which ones do you recommend, hopefully under £!50.  Thank you. 

Buy the best you can afford Taylormade or Silverscreen, not sure on current prices, generally about the same.. If you can have one with a privacy screen when it is opened ( thats the front pulled down to let in light). There's even one that covers the air vents, but you can close those. Try that well known online auction site. External is best, see my earlier post , 1st on this thread. 

We bought a cheap generic external screen off e-bay for about £60 as  I thought Taylor made and silver screens rather expensive.. I had to fix some extra cords and eyelets to get them to fit better... They are ok and a third of the price, we only use them October to March, the rest of the year we don't need them as we have internal blinds.