Eco-friendly RV's & Trailers - Looking for reviews
Marie said
05:36 PM Mar 24, 2009
Hello,
My name is France-Marie. I am a new-comer. My husband and I are considering becoming full-timers. I have made a lot of research on-line and this website has been the most informative and well organized site I have read. Thank you for your generous information.
We went to a RV dealer near home and visited a dozen of them and learned about the A, B, C classes and many other details. Upon returning home, I felt sick. I am a physician, so I knew that my symptoms were those of chemical toxicity. It took me over 2 days and specific treatment to feel better. I made some research on-line and found out that many people who live in RV's & trailers suffer from these symptoms and get worse with time.
But I did not want to renounce to my dream. So I looked for an eco-friendly RV with no V.O.C., no formaldehyde, no toxic glues, carpet, plywood etc... After a lot of research, I found a website : www.goevergreenrv.com It is a "green" trailer manufactured by the people of Pilgrim.
Not only this trailer is presented as chemical free, it is also mold free because its specific fabrication. See their website for details. Having an auto-immune disease, I am very sensitive to chemicals and extremely allergic to mold. Mold seems to be a problem with older RV's.
I would like to know if anybody among this community has seen this trailer or bought one, is living in one, or could give me their opinion on it. Or may be knows about a different one of the same kind. I read that it is possible to buy a used one and make the inside yourself. We do not want to do that. We want to purchase one already done.
Thank you
Ann and Steve said
07:23 PM Mar 25, 2009
Hello Marie:
I went to the Pilgrim website and did a once-over of their travel trailers. I notice that their largest unit is 31' and, personally, would find that floorplan somewhat cramped for a full timing lifestyle. I don't know if any of the other Dreamers have ever experienced this unit so let's see if there are any more posts.
On the subject of toxic compounds in the trailers, I'd like to hear more on your research, what symptoms a full-timer should watch for, and what complications might arise. Then, as other Dreamers post their experiences, we might discern a trend and help us in selecting units or how to make adjustments to those we alredy own to make them "healthy."
dgorila1 said
07:57 PM Mar 25, 2009
Marie,
You may want to consider having a trailer or coach custom built for you. You can research materials and specify what materials of construction they need to use that won't be toxic to you. You can also have added features like HEPA filtered air systems, upgraded water filtration, wood or tile floors and other such features that will make your life more comfortable/healthy. A properly built custom unit will also be much "tighter" to prevent air leaks so the filtered air stays clean. Just one idea. Check out the following site for some ideas and sources of custom builders:
http://truckhome.com/eve
Good luck.
Luvglass said
08:11 PM Mar 25, 2009
I believe the problems with toxic outgassing are symptomatic of the cheaper RV's and are not experienced with the more expensive brands made for full timing. I would suggest you identify some brands that you are interested in and contact the technical department of the manufacturers directly for information on the material used on their units.
I would not ask the dealers, as they cannot be either trusted, nor believed. There are literally tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people living full time in RV's and if this were a common problem, the discussion boards would be on fire with complaints, and that is not so.
Good luck,
Dixie said
08:35 PM Mar 25, 2009
Marie,
We have been looking for a fifth wheel for the last year. We went to the Hershey show last summer and did not smell anything unusual or had any symptoms after looking at hundreds of rvs in warm weather. The only time I have smelt and been effected by toxins in an rv was a few years ago when I visited an Atlanta motorhome dealership in July that sold Monaco motorhomes and the smell was unbearable and my eyes burned.
We are going to buy a fifth wheel. I have respiratory problems so this is important to me too. The fifth wheel that I have found to have the lest toxin issue was a New Horizons.
They will build the fifth wheel exactly like you want it. No carpet etc. They will even make custom cabinets out of bamboo is you want to go greener. You may want to check them out since you have issues with the bigger production makers. Remember you get what you pay for.
Mel
Marie said
09:18 PM Mar 25, 2009
Thanks to all!
Yes, the custom built 5th would probably be the solution. May be the units we visited had been sprayed with formaldehyde as they do with new cars.
I found a blog on ROTI with full-timers and vacationers, a long list of them, detailing their symptoms and their health problems due to chemical exposure in their RV's and trailers.
To answer the questions about what to look for in terms of material & symtoms as well:
The material to watch for are essentially formaldehyde in the plywood, the glues and the fabric, the carpet, the V.O.C. in practically everything plastic, especially from China, the finish, fire-retardant products and the linoleum. So the best would be nothing imported from China, natural fabrics, natural wood, bamboo is a good idea, they also now have accacia tree wood now on the market, quiclky renewable and grown in America. It is cheaper than carpet and looks terrific.
Regarding the symptoms to watch for, I would say headaches, burning eyes, runny nose, joint pain, insomnia, brain fogginess, chest tightness, palpitations, nervous disorders, anxiety, panic attacks, uncontrollable short temper ( formaldehyde & VOC attack directly the nervous system, the lungs and also the liver) skin rash, respiratory problems, diarrhea. Those are the most common ones.
These symptoms may not appear severe at first, but it is good to keep in mind that they are just the apparent signs that something inside is going wrong. And the chemical toxicity is cumulative, until it becomes carcinogenic. Some people are not bothered by the off-gassing, or may not be aware of it, but it does not mean that their body is not getting slowly poisoned. They may never have headaches or burning eyes, but one day they discover they have cancer.
So, not to scare anyone here, but recent medical research points out that we have been too negligent for too long when it comes to protect ourselves from chemical exposure, and that too many people pay the price with ugly diseases or some kind of dysfunctionality
I am not practicing anymore but I did work with hundreds of patients both in Europe & the US who have been exposed to chemicals that destroyed their health, not occupational only, sometimes just after moving in a new home, and it is very sad to see that. So I hope this little note can help.
Good Health to all.
Judy said
08:27 AM Mar 26, 2009
I find it very hard to be able to escape all those medical symtoms you addressed. Most of us have those symtoms from prescribed meds nowadays and find it very hard to think you will escape them when full-timing. No matter what you will find out there it will be very expensive to have a RV constructed and will it ever be free from all the problems you are having. Remember you will be traveling around the country where you will be exposed to all areas....JMO southwestjudy
Ann and Steve said
04:23 PM Mar 26, 2009
Marie:
Your list of medical conditions to watch for is welcomed and thanks for highlighting this situation. Since I intend to make my unit weather tight, that also means that gases won't be able to escape. (A problem similar to radon in well-built houses in the South). Now that you've made us "aware," I'll do more research into my future home-on-wheels.
Gonnabee as soon as the condo sells. Anybody want to buy a summer home in Northeast Ohio? It's really nice! Low maintenance landscaping, high ceilings and low floors! Come on d-o-w-w-w-n. (Er, no, that might be "up". Why do we go down South and up North? Hm-m-m.)
Chandra said
10:24 AM Jun 2, 2009
I have a question for Marie, what did you use to get rid of your symtpoms due to toxicity? I also have chemical sensitivities and get these reactions when I'm around any chemical. I travel a lot and get exposed to toxins. I'd like to detox. I was thinking of renting an RV (for now and maybe buy later). I'm wondering, does anyone know how long it takes for everything to offgas, so the chemical fumes are all gone? I've heard months for formaldehyde. But, looked into latex paint which takes 3 years. Long time for that one. Thanx for any info.
crackedjar said
11:39 PM Nov 22, 2013
I know this is an old thread, but I hope that this will help anyone looking for an eco-friendly rig in the future. In 2009, we bought a new Evergreen Ever-Lite 31BHS. My husband drove from Alabama to Kentucky to get one with the layout we wanted. We had looked at lots of other trailers, but I got headaches from being in them. I am very sensitive, so I did notice a little bit of something in the trailer, but we ran a small air purifier when we were in it, and I had no problems. I loved the trailer, but we traded it a couple of months ago for a motor home. Our new motor home is a Seneca, and it doesn't bother me either, but it had several things go wrong with it and I wish we had never bought it. I want my Evergreen back! For those wanting something larger, Evergreen now makes fifth-wheels, which is what we should have bought.
cindygowest said
12:48 PM May 14, 2016
So curious to know what Marie decided to buy!
I went into several ever-greens and could not tolerate the odors in some of the areas of the trailers or the fifth wheels.
Terry and Jo said
04:10 PM May 21, 2016
This is one of the dangers of posting on an old forum thread. This one dates back to 2009, and who knows what is still true and relevant after 7 years? As for Marie, she only posted twice in that 7 years and both times were on this thread, so there is no way to know what she purchased, if she purchased anything at all. Only the 2 posts in 7 years, so I presume she "dropped out" on the idea.
If one has new questions brought up by reading old posts (see the posting date in the box to the left under the avatar and username), then one should start an entirely new thread with one's own questions instead of reviving an old one.
My name is France-Marie. I am a new-comer. My husband and I are considering becoming full-timers. I have made a lot of research on-line and this website has been the most informative and well organized site I have read. Thank you for your generous information.
We went to a RV dealer near home and visited a dozen of them and learned about the A, B, C classes and many other details. Upon returning home, I felt sick. I am a physician, so I knew that my symptoms were those of chemical toxicity. It took me over 2 days and specific treatment to feel better. I made some research on-line and found out that many people who live in RV's & trailers suffer from these symptoms and get worse with time.
But I did not want to renounce to my dream. So I looked for an eco-friendly RV with no V.O.C., no formaldehyde, no toxic glues, carpet, plywood etc... After a lot of research, I found a website : www.goevergreenrv.com It is a "green" trailer manufactured by the people of Pilgrim.
Not only this trailer is presented as chemical free, it is also mold free because its specific fabrication. See their website for details. Having an auto-immune disease, I am very sensitive to chemicals and extremely allergic to mold. Mold seems to be a problem with older RV's.
I would like to know if anybody among this community has seen this trailer or bought one, is living in one, or could give me their opinion on it. Or may be knows about a different one of the same kind. I read that it is possible to buy a used one and make the inside yourself. We do not want to do that. We want to purchase one already done.
Thank you
I went to the Pilgrim website and did a once-over of their travel trailers. I notice that their largest unit is 31' and, personally, would find that floorplan somewhat cramped for a full timing lifestyle. I don't know if any of the other Dreamers have ever experienced this unit so let's see if there are any more posts.
On the subject of toxic compounds in the trailers, I'd like to hear more on your research, what symptoms a full-timer should watch for, and what complications might arise. Then, as other Dreamers post their experiences, we might discern a trend and help us in selecting units or how to make adjustments to those we alredy own to make them "healthy."
Yes, the custom built 5th would probably be the solution. May be the units we visited had been sprayed with formaldehyde as they do with new cars.
I found a blog on ROTI with full-timers and vacationers, a long list of them, detailing their symptoms and their health problems due to chemical exposure in their RV's and trailers.
To answer the questions about what to look for in terms of material & symtoms as well:
The material to watch for are essentially formaldehyde in the plywood, the glues and the fabric, the carpet, the V.O.C. in practically everything plastic, especially from China, the finish, fire-retardant products and the linoleum. So the best would be nothing imported from China, natural fabrics, natural wood, bamboo is a good idea, they also now have accacia tree wood now on the market, quiclky renewable and grown in America. It is cheaper than carpet and looks terrific.
Regarding the symptoms to watch for, I would say headaches, burning eyes, runny nose, joint pain, insomnia, brain fogginess, chest tightness, palpitations, nervous disorders, anxiety, panic attacks, uncontrollable short temper ( formaldehyde & VOC attack directly the nervous system, the lungs and also the liver) skin rash, respiratory problems, diarrhea. Those are the most common ones.
These symptoms may not appear severe at first, but it is good to keep in mind that they are just the apparent signs that something inside is going wrong. And the chemical toxicity is cumulative, until it becomes carcinogenic. Some people are not bothered by the off-gassing, or may not be aware of it, but it does not mean that their body is not getting slowly poisoned. They may never have headaches or burning eyes, but one day they discover they have cancer.
So, not to scare anyone here, but recent medical research points out that we have been too negligent for too long when it comes to protect ourselves from chemical exposure, and that too many people pay the price with ugly diseases or some kind of dysfunctionality
I am not practicing anymore but I did work with hundreds of patients both in Europe & the US who have been exposed to chemicals that destroyed their health, not occupational only, sometimes just after moving in a new home, and it is very sad to see that. So I hope this little note can help.
Good Health to all.
southwestjudy
Your list of medical conditions to watch for is welcomed and thanks for highlighting this situation. Since I intend to make my unit weather tight, that also means that gases won't be able to escape. (A problem similar to radon in well-built houses in the South). Now that you've made us "aware," I'll do more research into my future home-on-wheels.
Gonnabee as soon as the condo sells. Anybody want to buy a summer home in Northeast Ohio? It's really nice! Low maintenance landscaping, high ceilings and low floors! Come on d-o-w-w-w-n. (Er, no, that might be "up". Why do we go down South and up North? Hm-m-m.)
I went into several ever-greens and could not tolerate the odors in some of the areas of the trailers or the fifth wheels.
This is one of the dangers of posting on an old forum thread. This one dates back to 2009, and who knows what is still true and relevant after 7 years? As for Marie, she only posted twice in that 7 years and both times were on this thread, so there is no way to know what she purchased, if she purchased anything at all. Only the 2 posts in 7 years, so I presume she "dropped out" on the idea.
If one has new questions brought up by reading old posts (see the posting date in the box to the left under the avatar and username), then one should start an entirely new thread with one's own questions instead of reviving an old one.
Terry