Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Fogging Windshield (Read 655 times) previous topic - next topic

Fogging Windshield

We left Mazatlán Saturday morning, and are now just outside of Cleveland. We usually take our time, traveling to and from Maine to Mexico, sightseeing and visiting friends and relatives. Due to the virus, we are making a bee line to Maine.
When I push the coach like this, around six hours a day, I remind myself what a well built, quality coach we bought. We are the fourth owners. Almost twenty years old, and I wouldn't trade it for a new one.
The problem is.....I HATE the dash air controls, and the crap window vents. Yesterday, we hit a downpour, and within minutes, the windshield was all fog. The setting for "defrost" isn't easily identified. I never know whether to run cold air or hot. Thankfully, Amy was able to wipe my window, and I rigged a cloth on a stick , while driving, so I could see my mirrors again. Of course, the rear camera was all blurry.
Don' t tell me I should have pulled off. It just wasn't an option, at the time.
So.....those with similar year units, do you have similar situations? Is there a better approach, when this happens again....and it will??
I'm all ears
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT

Re: Fogging Windshield

Reply #1 –
I put a small floor fan on the dash to keep it clear.  Along with the dash vents running on high, dash a/c on, heat on, it helps.  But I've had to pull over a few times to wipe the windshield off.
But it's not just FT's.  Most other motorhomes have the same problem.  You get lots of humidity inside and the windshield is so large that when you hit the right temperature delta > fog happens.
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell

Re: Fogging Windshield

Reply #2 –
Im guessing as I have never had the issue.. I guess you need to drive you coach for this to happen but I digress lol..

Maybe some rainX on the inside would help?

I would try it just to see but again I wouldnt know

Re: Fogging Windshield

Reply #3 –
First you need to apply defrost vent heat to dry the air, and punch the air conditioner button to on.
Towel along the bottom of the windshield to catch the moisture.
And a hand squeegee.
In the winter time a windshield scraper.
Fans help.
And above all, focus on driving.

Where in Maine are you heading?
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: Fogging Windshield

Reply #4 –
I'm thinkin' a couple of fans would help. I have two mounted high and I know several guys here have mounted fans right on the dash.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Fogging Windshield

Reply #5 –
Cabover big windshield trucks we never went without extra fans.. Many of the truck manufacturers mounted them factory.. Same as a coach, to much glass for a typical defrost to handle .
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Fogging Windshield

Reply #6 –
I'll try the fan
We live just outside of Belfast Maine, close to Acadia NP
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT

Re: Fogging Windshield

Reply #7 –
In addition to the above it helps to crack a window and open a roof vent/fan to exhaust the humid air in the coach.

Re: Fogging Windshield

Reply #8 –
Make sure you are on outside air. I found that tilting the defroster forward and then and the inside vent to the outside helps.
Turn the heat up and if your air conditioner will work, it will dry out the air. Dash fans really help.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Fogging Windshield

Reply #9 –
Several times we had the defrost on high, the roof airs cranked cold  to remove moisture, and Rhonda trying to keep the windshield wiped clear enough to find a place to pull over.  Putting all the roof airs on high blower with the temp turned down removes a lot of moisture.  One time we got caught in a snow storm in Illinois and the wipers were freezing up on top of that.  Thought we would never find a place to pull over.
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: Fogging Windshield

Reply #10 –
Quote from: GleamB –
I'll try the fan
We live just outside of Belfast Maine, close to Acadia NP

Our Grand Villa has a built in overhead windshield fan that is quieter than the chrome fans our previous home had and over the road truck drivers use.  And it works just as well.

Windshield fans have a long history.  There were engine vacuum powered and electric windshield fans before there were cab heaters in automobiles.

Having lived for so long next door in Manchester, NH.  And having attended services at the UU Church in Portsmouth, the one regret is that I never made time to attend a performance at the the Kotchmar organ in Portland.

*The Kotzschmar Organ, is a pipe organ located at Merrill Auditorium in the City Hall of Portland, Maine.  One of the few civic pipe organs in the US.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: Fogging Windshield

Reply #11 –
I love pipe organ music.  Many of our church's have them but unfortunately very few have anyone left who knows how to play them let alone get them working properly.
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell

Re: Fogging Windshield

Reply #12 –
Quote
Our Grand Villa has a built in overhead windshield fan

This is a Grand Villa feature I miss. Wish Foretravel had included it in the buses We used that overhead fan all the time. Very powerful.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320
 

Re: Fogging Windshield

Reply #13 –
Our newly installed fans!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus