Keep Mickey MOUSE out

[LarryB]

Howdy my wandering friends. We have a 07 Monaco Diplomat. The last time we went dry camping in in the mountains, Mickey hitched a ride home w us. Does anyone know of any known entry holes that I can fill w steel wool n foam. All ur help will b appreciated. Stay safe my friends. 

[JDCrow]

First, copper wool, doesn’t rust.

Second, living in a 5th wheel fulltime and having the Dip for camping, most of my mouse issues are from the water hose, power cord, and sewer hose. 
 

I have plungers with holes cut in the center for the water and power. I’m currently using a roof vent Jack cut out for the sewer, but looking for ways to upgrade it as I type. 
 

One of the areas that seemed to be entry on my Dip was the power conduit. It ran up the back and came in behind the TV in the Bedroom. 
 

Wait till you get a Pack Rat

Edited August 28, 2021 by JDCrow

[JDCrow]

Here’s the copper wool. And here is where they got in prior to our purchase. I used steel screen, Screwed in. 

And, if you use the Rodent foam, please wear a respirator. I didn’t and suffered with a massive headache and difficulties breathing. It’s bad stuff

My wife has a saying, I can visit Mickey’s house anytime I want, but he and his relatives can never visit ours 

I can also tell you how these get into a modern 5th wheel LOL

Edited August 28, 2021 by JDCrow

[LarryB]

I’ve heard of the jaws of life that the firemen use, but u r showing the

JAWS OF DEATH on Mickey. 
Where is this location, please
Thx for the rapid response. 

[JDCrow]

On a Rack/pinion slide, the hydraulic cylinder goes through the frame. There is no way the manufactures can seal it off because they cannot damage the cylinder, so the hole is like 3” diameter in the Frame for a 1/2-3/4” rod.

Currently I use a rubber gasket cut to go around the cylinder rod, followed by an ascusion plate, that is held to the from by welding magnets. I’m trying so I improve on this method as well. The Pack Rats are masters at getting into places. And the love to eat the soy insulation on wires. 
 

I’ve had to rewire the jacks, genset, radio etc on my folks toy hauler after they go hunting in the fall. The pack rats are the worst  

[Art Perrone]

MOTH BALLS!   I hear people telling me it doesn't work, but in 47 years of motor homing in 7 different coaches and staying in hundreds of varying locations including storing my coach in a horse barn with horses being fed daily while the coach is sitting idle, I have only had perhaps 4 mice enter and found 4 locations that I missed.  I agree that the service bay is the most common entry location for them to enter given the demons just walk up the cable, water hose or drain hose so I make the holes as small as possible as shown by JDCrow then use the convenient bag of moth balls that come in the box and cover any holes remaining so that they are repulsed before they try to enter.  They follow their nose looking for a place to eat or nest.  I usually put a couple of bags in the engine compartment, the generator compartment, on top of the fuel tank and alongside of the fresh, black and grey water tanks, and alongside the battery bank.  I find the smell doesn't get into the living area of todays coaches the way it did in my 1970 Banner or 1976 Kings Highway or 1985 Travel Craft so I don't need to remove all the moth balls when I hit the road.  But even in those old motor homes, I seldom had issue with rodents except when I found a location that I missed.

Whatever you do, DO NOT USE POISEN!  If they do get in and eat the poison, they will likely die inside the coach and the smell may never disappear even if you find all the dead bodies. 

I have always had antique or classic cars and use the same method when storing them.  It works for them although the camphor smell takes some time to dissipate in the car and sometimes I am putting the car back into storage without completely clearing the smell.  I find it not bad and definitely better than rodent smell.  I have never heard of any bad health effects from breathing the smell.  My relatives used to have winter and summer rugs for their houses and stored the rugs with moth balls every season and I grew up smelling the camphor with no ill effects.  I am 78 years old and all of my family, parents, grandparents, siblings and aunts and uncles lived to ripe old ages with no ill effects from smelling camphor. 

I hope this helps

Happy Motoring,

Art Perrone

[Guest Ray Davis]

Ouch,  bet that'll give you a head ache.    Is he still alive?  Is that the pack rat you spoke of?

[JDCrow]

11 minutes ago, Ray Davis said:

Ouch,  bet that'll give you a head ache.    Is he still alive?  Is that the pack rat you spoke of?

No, not bouncing back from this trap. this is a TomCat trap. Same as for mice, only extra large for the Rats.

Pack Rats while kinda cute, are super destructive here on all vehicles. When out in certain areas hiking/camping you have to leave the hood open at night, otherwise you may not get your rig started the next day. Like I mentioned, they shred wiring, fast. And do they stink. They pee all over their nest “mitten” to make it concrete hard. 
 

At least we are not here, yet.

https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/marmots.htm

https://www.accuweather.com/en/travel/national-park-tells-hikers-wrap-cars-marmots/935941

 

Edited August 28, 2021 by JDCrow

[Chuck B 2004 Windsor]

The best way to keep micky mouse out is to travel with a couple of cats.  Chuck B 2004 Windsor

[Gary M]

I found where Mickey was getting in where the step cover recedes back into the box.

[JDCrow]

6 minutes ago, Gary M said:

I found where Mickey was getting in where the step cover recedes back into the box.

Pics! I need to see. 

[Guest Ray Davis]

Do they make tarps big enough for a 40 footer?

Maybe an RV cover bottoms up.

Edited August 28, 2021 by Ray Davis

[Dennis H]

For the water and electrical hoses, I simply use a rag. Cheap easy solution. Wet the rag and wrap it around the hose and place it in the compartment. When the rag dries, it fills all the gaps. Mouse traps are cheap and efficient. I paid $1.97 for four at Home Depot the other day.....Dennis