Welcome to the seventh entry in June’s Mini Mod Contest. One Mini Mod will be published in every Email Alert in June. At the end of the month, we’ll hold a reader vote to determine June’s winner. Click here for information about the 2022 Mod Contest, including how to enter.
David Sponable, Plattsburgh, New York
Den Dry Mattress Underlay
1990 Chevy R-3500
1995 Lance Lite 195
I have read that under-mattress condensation and mold/mildew problems occur when camping in cold weather. My 1995 Lance Squire Lite 195 is in great shape and I will be traveling often after I retire from teaching in June. The weather is unpredictable, so I could end up camping in cold weather and don’t want any mold issues.
I installed the Den Dry Mattress Underlay between the mattress and floor of the cabover (pictured above under mattress). First, I ordered the queen-sized package on Amazon and followed the included directions to cut it to the correct size (60-inches) with household scissors.
Then, I removed the mattress from the cabover. I put the two Den Dry pieces on the cabover floor with the fabric side up as instructed. There is a flap of fabric that extends from one piece over the other. I used duct tape to hold the two pieces together.
Sixty inches is a few inches wider than the mattress, so I let the Den Dry curve up the front wall of the cabover. I think that this will allow air to flow under the mattress and up the front wall. This way the blankets on that side won’t block the airflow.
I reinstalled the mattress and put the bedding back on. You can see the edge of the Den Dry in the pictures. It looks like it should work well and allow the air to move through the air passages and prevent any mold growth.
I haven’t camped since I installed the Den Dry, but people in the Lance Owner’s Association (of which I am a Lifetime Member) have rated it very highly. Also, 84-percent of reviews on Amazon are five stars. The product is sold by a small business in the USA and is made in the USA.
For materials, I used 5-feet of duct tape ($4.95 from Dollar General), household scissors, and the Den Dry Mattress Underlay for a queen bed ($120 on Amazon).
It took me one hour to complete this modification and cost me $124.95. In my opinion, the skill level of this modification is easy except for removing and reinstalling the mattress. Ha ha.
Disclaimer: The modifications above are submitted by Truck Camper Magazine readers. It is your responsibility to make sure that any do-it-yourself modification project you undertake is safe, effective, and legal for your situation.
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