Mouse proofing

[rh44mag]

I just bought a 1995 rockwood this weekend.  I noticed about 1/2 of the popups I looked at had mouse damage.  When I store my pu this winter what is the best way to mouse proof it?

[diane]

I use fabric softener sheets (the more fragrent the better). I,m on my 4th pop-up and no damage yet. My first year with a pop-up I did use moth balls and it did work, But I had to leave it open for 2 weeks to get rid of the smell. :yikes:

[tlhdoc]

The best thing to do is to seal up any holes the mice can come in through.  If you have 2 people and a good flashlight look for the holes at night.  Have one person under the PU shine the light all over the floor.  The second person is in the PU and seals the cracks up where ever they see light.  Use brass wool for the larger holes.  Remove any food, soap, etc. that the mice will be attracted to.  Do not put poison in the PU, the mice will have to go into the PU to get the poison.

[Ted]

I use fabric softener sheets (the more fragrent the better). I,m on my 4th pop-up and no damage yet. My first year with a pop-up I did use moth balls and it did work, But I had to leave it open for 2 weeks to get rid of the smell. :yikes:

I have been given the same advice, use fragrant fabric sofetener.  I don't think I will have much of an opportunity to test it out thoroughly, I don't plan to leave the PU idle for more than 2 months at a time, but I will use it when it is idle, just in case.

[mike4947]

Moth balls, fabric sheets, don't work. We even had a mouse nest with a momma and 6 baby mice very comfy in a nest in a drawer made out of dryer sheets.

The best preventative is to causlk up the trailer. of they can't get in you've solved the problem. In 15 years with several hundred trailers in the extended camping family since we all started sealing up the bottoms of the RV's we haven't had a rodent or insect invasion.
Two people a flashlight and a caulking gun, and a 1/2 hour.
We still throw a few dry sheets around in the fall when closing up, but for the better smell whe  we open up in the spring rahter than and rodent deterant.

[hoppy]

I also agree to plug up all the holes under the trailer to prevent access in there.

 The only real solution is keeping them out of the PU in the first place, not making the inside of the PU unpleasent to them during their stay. In the dead of winter, the fabric sheets and moth balls may seem not quite as bad to the mice as freezing to death outside. Pesky little varmants.... wanting to survive.

 Plug up all the holes!

[rh44mag]

thanks for all the input, I appreciate the help.

[wgee]

This has been a helpful subject.  Can anyone comment on some of the more popular places in a PU that mice like to sneak in?  Wheel wells, etc...?

[hoppy]

The best way is to get under the PU, and check for any holes through the floor.

 But the major places will be at any fresh water, gray water, and propane lines.

[mike4947]

That's why I suggested the flashlight. One person inside the trailer with the flashlight shining it everywhere including inside the cupboards and under the dinette seats will show the person under the trailer with the caulking gun where to caulk. Caulk till you don't see any light and you've mouse proofed the trailer.