Musty or moldy odor in storage compartment

[KJJ]

Only a few months old (to me, may have been on lot a while) my 2016 Passport ML238 has an odor in the back storage compartment, as the thread title says not sewer smell but a mold smell. Have not found water in the compartment after storms, and I pulled the panel in the back of the compartment off and found no water or evidence of leaks there - where the hot water heater is located. The black and grey tanks run under this compartment, but again I haven't seen any evidence of moisture on the floor/walls/ceiling of the compartment, nor on the carpeted raised section over the wheel well. Have never seen any leaks in my driveway while using the RV there either.

Any ideas or suggestions are welcome!

KJ

[Tbos]

Since you haven't seen any water or sign of it, I'd clean it out and wipe it down real well with some disinfectant wipes. Let it dry real well. You could put some cab fresh in there, it smells like cedar, to help it smell better. I think sometimes just the fact these areas spend long periods without an exchange of air can make them smell musty. Hope you are able to get it figured out.

[KJJ]

Hit it with some Lysol disinfectant spray a couple weeks ago and wiped it as I went. That did the job for about a week or so but the smell gradually returned.

KJ

[KGin]

KJJ,
We have noticed a musty smell in our rear storage compartment also. I emptied the rug and chairs out of the compartment thinking they were the source since our previous trip was a wet one and maybe the gear wasn't totally dry. Now I am not so sure. Have you found the source of solution to the odor?

[Wantoride]

What I've found in my 23rb is if I don't lock the storage doors to draw them tight against the rubber seal a little water will get in when it rains. It's either that or condensation because I have seen damp spots under plastic storage bins in the past.

[slow]

Originally Posted by Wantoride

What I've found in my 23rb is if I don't lock the storage doors to draw them tight against the rubber seal a little water will get in when it rains. It's either that or condensation because I have seen damp spots under plastic storage bins in the past.

You most likely have a cargo door hinge that leaks. Hard to find but common. Also easy to fix with sealant:



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[KGin]

Thanks I'll check the sealant around the hinge.

[slow]

Originally Posted by KGin

Thanks I'll check the sealant around the hinge.

You will not find any applied from the factory. Clean it up with alcohol, let dry and then apply a bead of sealant. I used marine grade silicone because that is what I had and after three seasons, I have had no problems.

[Campy]

I found water laying in the belly skin of my Cougar. It gets in there while traveling in the rain and lays in the saggy middle actually making the sag worse. I drilled small drain holes and added more support screws. But water laying in there undetected could cause a fowl smell.

[CaptnJohn]

The landing gear / auto-level legs come up through my front storage. Water can get in there traveling on wet roads. Sealed with Gorilla Tape.