How To Keep Varmints Away

Tips For Keeping Rodents Out of Your RV

It's that time of the year again, the leaves are turning colors, kids are going dorsum to school, and a large percentage of RVers have taken their last RV trip for the year and getting prepare to put the rig downwardly for a nap. Fifty-fifty if you lot alive beneath the "Mason Dixon" line you lot will nigh likely winterize your rig past either blowing all the water out of the lines and tanks or use RV antifreeze merely in instance. There are several articles and videos on our site relating to this topic…TIP: Don't forget the water heater, ice maker, and exterior shower!

Rodent Proofing Your RV

The first step in rodent-proofing your rig is to fill all the gaps and access ports that rodents tin can get into your rig. Information technology's reported that a mouse can jump at least 12" and clasp through a pigsty the size of a dime or less. If yous look underneath your RV, you will probably detect several entry points such as water line drains, storage compartments, and other spots that need to exist sealed.

Another important item to consider is how to go along rodents out of your rig while it'due south sitting in storage such as mice, rats, squirrels, raccoons, and other "Varmints" that tin can use your rig as a 4 Star hotel and trash it ameliorate than the best rock ring.

Cover Your RV

Last winter a local RV owner covered his trailer with a customized comprehend, wheel covers, properly leveled it, and let it sit for the winter in the back part of his acreage. This spring he pulled off the cover, plugged the unit in, and when the air conditioner kicked in it was Christmas in May! Squirrels had chewed through the seams around the air conditioner unit and made a domicile in the insulation behind the condenser curl surrounding the fan which is usually called the "Squirrel Cage"…how ironic!

They chewed up the beaded insulation so bad it snowed within the unit and too chewed through near of the wiring. I am non sure what mice and other rodents like near wiring, just it seems to be a delicacy. We were able to replace the insulation and rewire the unit which was less expensive than installing a new unit, however, he will accept the same challenge this winter if he intends to get out the unit at the aforementioned spot surrounded by copse with squirrels.

At that place are several squirrel repellant products on the market, some are pepper-based, others are mint based. These are supposedly proficient repellants for mice and rats as well. Virtually of the spray products we have used work for a brusque flow of time as the mint or spice dissipates quickly and needs to be reapplied frequently. Some of the granular production last longer, yet, do not cover as much area needed. We are going to try a combination of spray-on repellent on the entire roof and granular product effectually the seams on the roof. From past feel, we accept plant that if nosotros tin deter the rodent initially for a few weeks, they will seek other opportunities for food and shelter. Also, we advised our owner to park the rig far enough away from the big Oak Copse then the squirrels can't hands leap on the roof! We'll permit you know what happens adjacent leap.

Rodent Baits

There are several products on the market that are rat and mouse killers with the nigh common brand existence the granular grade that you simply open the box and the rodents eat the product and dice. I remember a telephone call from an possessor many years agone, as an Owner Relations Representative at Winnebago, request how to continue mice from getting within the rig and destroying the wiring. I advised this type of product and he stated that the mice just get within and throw it all over the place and make a mess! He was storing his rig inside a huge building that also stored corn. Probably not the best place to store a unit equally I would imagine the product was working, however, the mice outnumbered the pellets 100 to ane.

Rodent Bait

1 outcome with this type of product is non only the fact information technology kills the rodents which many people practice not care for, but it is poisonous substance and can also be eaten past other animals and especially pets. In that location are some other alternatives such as the pouches that are less "open" for animals.

Rodent Bait Pouches

In that location are several bait products on the market place that have the allurement enclosed with a small opening so pets and even children cannot become to the poison. These are less effective and more expensive as yous would demand several of these effectually an RV.

Rodent Trap

An alternative to bait is the electronic products on the market. We've all seen the commercials with the "sonic wave" or some type of electronic vibration type signal that repels rodents, all the same from my experience, these do not piece of work well, plus most need 120-volt power which is not always available where yous are storing your unit. There are some that operate on AA batteries that state it will kill over 100 mice, but information technology needs to be emptied every fourth dimension!

Rodent Repellant

Electronic Mousetrap

Deterrent Products

So instead of trying to kill the rodents, allow'due south look at ways of driving them away, all of them. For years, my folks stored their RV filled with mothballs as the horrible odor seemed to not only work on moths but mice too. I do acknowledge, they did not have a single mouse in the unit, even so, it took the entire summer to go rid of the smell. Plus they stored the unit of measurement in an exterior storage facility with several dozen other units so I don't know for sure there were whatsoever mice in that location in the get-go identify.

The owners of the 2000 Winnebago Dauntless we have worked on for the past several years put dryer sheets in every compartment and all throughout the within which smells much better than the mothballs! I wish I had gotten some photos, they were all over the place. Within drawers, under the bed, in the shower, everywhere. They claimed they worked well only I've heard from owners that they do not and nosotros too constitute several signs of mouse droppings during our shoots.

Mint Based Products

Mice and other rodents can not tolerate the smell of certain mints and will steer clear of anything coated with the essential oils of mint products. Yous can spray the essential oil all around your rig and I've talked with owners that soak cotton balls with essential oils and put them in the same places they use to use mothballs. Unfortunately, this works for a short amount of time every bit the oil dissipates and is only good for a couple of weeks. If used outside, it fades faster and any rain ruins the consequence immediately.

Mint Based Products

Several years agone nosotros had an event with spiders in our home and called a company that guaranteed "no spiders" for at to the lowest degree 3 months! The service technician that did the awarding informed me that the base of operations product is the same used by numerous companies, the surreptitious is keeping information technology strong and keeping it from washing away! They used a silicone-based production mixed with the deterrent which kept it from existence washed away in the pelting! It also helped keep the base product stronger and guess what…it worked!

A few years agone I ran into a product chosen Mouse Free which seems to have captured the same formula of combining the essential oil with a substance that volition hold longer to the awarding. They would non requite me the actual ingredients and their MSDS sheet is like all the others which state essential oils and a proprietary substance, even so, they exercise seem to have a good product. I have talked with several owners at my seminars that have used the production and have had bully success. It is a picayune more expensive and the application more than labor-intensive, just if y'all have rodent issues, it's worth it.

Rodent Proofing Your RV

The first step, which should probably exist at the get-go of this blog is to fill all the gaps and access ports that rodents can get into your rig. Information technology'southward reported that a mouse can leap at least 12" and squeeze through a hole the size of a dime or less. If you wait underneath your RV, you will probably detect several entry points such as water line drains, storage compartments, and other spots that demand to be sealed.

About the author: Dave Solberg: Managing Editor, RV Repair Order

For the final 25 years, Dave has conducted RV maintenance and safety seminars, developed dealer and owner training programs, written RV safety and handyman articles, authored an RV handbook reference guide, and logged over 100,000 miles on the road in an RV.

RV Repair Gild is your go-to online resources for enthusiasts who desire quality RV maintenance, repair and upgrade information – a community where passionate RVers tin can come up together to assemble knowledge and share their experiences.