RE: Stopping Ants?

[Joe Gleason]

 
We are camping in Florida... Pounded by 3 days of rain - the Ants of come marching! - By the millions - Trails go in and out like a band a parade!
 
 We ve cleaned and recleaned?  
 
 What s a good fix for my little friends?
 
 I hate using poison drops, As that will have substantial impact... Just want them to out!

[Ab Diver]

 Joe Gleason
House, or pop-up?
 
 In the house: Grant ant stakes, if you can stand to watch them grab a bite and take it back to the nest. Yeah, it gets kinda creepy for a day or so watching the swarm grow and grow as they pass the word, but in the end, the whole nest is dead.
 
 For the pop-up: spray Raid around the leaf spring/axle connection or both sides of the torsion axle bracket, the stabilizing jacks just above the ground, the tongue jack just above the ground, and a portion of the gray water drain line. This keeps the ants from climbing onto the pop-up, and means you won t spray poison all over the campsite.
 
 Probably other ways work just as well. Let s hear  em folks- I m always ready to learn a new trick.

[tlhdoc]

 Joe Gleason
I never tried it but a friend says this works.  Sprinkle powder around your trailer.  Any fine powder will do.  The ants will not cross it.  Also check your site before you set up and make sure you are not setting up on a nest of ants.

[JemJen24]

 Joe Gleason
Salt.  Salt is a toxin for ants and they die when walking on it.
 
 Baby powder (as stated in a previous post) also works.  They simply won t cross it.
 
 J.

[RamblingWreck]

 Joe Gleason
Boric Acid (sometimes used as an eye wash) works on roaches.  Might work on ants as well.  Wouldn t be toxic to you and your family.
 
 Good luck!

[dee106]

 Joe Gleason
we got hit with ants, we use now the ant traps (combat) were all the openings are, plus the rock salt around the tires but not touching them.  we also flush our drain (grey water with ammonia  to cut any odors or grease that could draw insects or animals to the unit.  we also use baking soda in the drains and the fridge, and leave two open in the trailer at all times to keep ordors away.

[tlhdoc]

 dee106

 

ORIGINAL:  dee106
 
 we got hit with ants, we use now the ant traps (combat) were all the openings are, plus the rock salt around the tires but not touching them.  we also flush our drain (grey water with ammonia  to cut any odors or grease that could draw insects or animals to the unit.  we also use baking soda in the drains and the fridge, and leave two open in the trailer at all times to keep ordors away.
 

 Does that mean you trailer doesn t smell like a camper?[8D]
 

[Joe Gleason]

 Joe Gleason
Thanks for the sugestions!
 
 I asked the Ranger... They gave me a can of Zen Kill asked I spray it only around  points of contact on ground... that did the trick...
 
 Then my neighbor stopped by the next day - said he just moved and so did the ants! He did same thing and it worked...
 
 I liked the powder and salt ideas.. .Less toxic for little ones... However, with all the rain we are getting need something with a lasting effect?
 
 Happy to report we are ant free... I d have to say we had over 100,000 little guys on the rig - never EVER seen anything like it! - Like a scene of a movie!

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

 Joe Gleason
For temporary use try using a cleanser like Comet or Ajax w/bleach and sprinkle it around every part of the trailer that touchs the ground:  wheels, jacks, tongue wheel, chains, power cord, hose, etc.   A little dab ll do ya and the little critters won t cross thru the stuff, I guess it burns their little feet.  It s non-toxic and won t poison the ground.  In my driveway I use a powder type ant killer, I m not as concerned about ruining my own soil with ant poison.
 
 Dave

[Civil_War_Buff]

 popuptimes

 

ORIGINAL:  popuptimes
 
 For temporary use try using a cleanser like Comet or Ajax w/bleach and sprinkle it around every part of the trailer that touchs the ground:  wheels, jacks, tongue wheel, chains, power cord, hose, etc.   A little dab ll do ya and the little critters won t cross thru the stuff, I guess it burns their little feet.  It s non-toxic and won t poison the ground.  In my driveway I use a powder type ant killer, I m not as concerned about ruining my own soil with ant poison.
 
 Dave
 

 
 Thanks for the " vote"  Dave. I have used this method for a few years and it does work great!! I was labeled an " environmental terrorist"  on the old board when I mentioned this, and I had to go into an explanataion that the tow vehilcle used to get the PU to the campground is/was far more environmentally hazardous than a sprinkle of ajax!!  
 
 Happy Campin  <><

[mike4947]

 Joe Gleason
While powders and sprays do work, how come nobody has thought to mention sealing up the bottom of the PU? If you think that your s is sealed from the factory crawl under while someone inside the PU shines a flashlight around and in all the cupboards. Every one of those little lights you see is a highway for insects and the larger opening around your pipes and wires are rodent  doorways to a nice quiet winter home.

[tlhdoc]

 Joe Gleason
Bugs don t always come in through the floor.  We had ants once and they came in through the top of the door were there was a small crack.

[cb]

 Joe Gleason
The only place we ve been bothered by ants was at the beach.  Others camped around us had used powdered cleansers (Comet, Ajax, etc.) around each of the wheels.  So we acted like we knew what we were doing, and did the same.  Guess what:  NO MORE ANTS.  That was way too easy!!  Guess we ll try it again if and when there is another occasion!

[Joe Gleason]

 Joe Gleason
The Ants.... What a battle..Some Days we where ahead some behind..
 
 It seemed every lilttle thing that touched...become a full hwy for the little guys
 
 Tires, jackes, Tounnge... Onlyl half the battle...
 
 Hoses,  Electrical...
 Canopy poles..
 Tie down  Lines...
 Branch  on  camper
 Clothes line  -  Leading to  canapy
 Surf board leaned up  against camper  ...
 Bikes  against poles under bunk
 Umbrella..
 Toung Chains...  
 Boom outside door...  
 
  Just when you  thought you ve  checked  everything - you ll  find 3 more you hadn t even thought off...  thanks for all the sugestsions... Thought I d pass on what else we learned...
 
 What a lesson... Hope this helps those in your time of need.

[griffsmom]

 Joe Gleason
FWIW, we also use the Comet method, but I m awfully glad to hear that it s not as environmentally toxic as I worried it might be.  I hated feeling guilty about using it, but I hated ants in my camper worse.  Now I can sprinkle away with a lighter conscience.  Thanks!