Keeping out Mice and insects

[linda16]

We just got our Yuma and love it.  We're pulling it with a Subaru Outback V6 and it tows great. We camped for 10 days and now will not use it till fall.  We live in a wooded area which abounds with mice, chipmunks and other little creatures, including those charming roaches, euphemistically called Palmetto bugs.  What is the best way to block off entry and keep these critters out of the various openings - furnace vent, fridge vent and control panel and electrical plug door?  I know from home experience they love to visit and start families!  I thought of screening, but how can you attach it?  I'm afraid to use tape because of the paint. Also, it you use screening over the fridge vent and control door, would you have to remove it every time you used the fridge or would it still get enough ventilation? I appreciate any suggestions and personal experience you have with this.

[JPConnor]

We just got our Yuma and love it.  We're pulling it with a Subaru Outback V6 and it tows great. We camped for 10 days and now will not use it till fall.  We live in a wooded area which abounds with mice, chipmunks and other little creatures, including those charming roaches, euphemistically called Palmetto bugs.  What is the best way to block off entry and keep these critters out of the various openings - furnace vent, fridge vent and control panel and electrical plug door?  I know from home experience they love to visit and start families!  I thought of screening, but how can you attach it?  I'm afraid to use tape because of the paint. Also, it you use screening over the fridge vent and control door, would you have to remove it every time you used the fridge or would it still get enough ventilation? I appreciate any suggestions and personal experience you have with this.

I glued screen material on the inside of the fridge panel (outside) and that works fine. As for mice, try placing fabric softener dryer sheets in al your cabinets, believe me, it works, as for other critters, it would probably work on those too. Some people swear by stuffing steel wool  in all holes where wires/pipes ect. come throught the sides and bottom of the trailer.
Jim

[linda16]

I glued screen material on the inside of the fridge panel (outside) and that works fine. As for mice, try placing fabric softener dryer sheets in al your cabinets, believe me, it works, as for other critters, it would probably work on those too. Some people swear by stuffing steel wool  in all holes where wires/pipes ect. come throught the sides and bottom of the trailer.
Jim

Thanks, Jim.  Fleetwood tells you to cover those openings, but no suggestions how.  And today, shortly after this post, I went out to the driveway and there was a mouse sitting 5 feet from the camper.  I'm not squeamish about mice, but I've heard they can destroy a camper if they get in.
Linda

[SpeakEasy]

Attach whiskers and a long swishy tail. Paint yellow-green eyes on the front. Top it all off with a Cheshire grin.




-Speak

[tlhdoc]

Hi Linda, the best way to seal the camper is to have one person inside and one person outside of the trailer on the ground. One person shines a light all around in the cupboards and all around the camper and the other person uses a caulk gun and seals any holes or crevices. Bigger holes should be sealed with brass wool. Rodents can't chew threw it. Keep the trailer on a paved area if you can. If not make sure the grass and weeds are kept away from the camper. Remove anything that might attract pest to the camper (food, scented items, etc). As for covering the opening for the power cord and furnace I stuff brass wool in the hole. Good luck with the project.
 
PS: Squirrels and chipmunks like the smell of propane and will chew the rubber propane lines.

[wavery]

Boric acid is great for ridding yourself of roaches. Just put a little in each locker and in the fridge & hot-water lockers.

I lived in Hawaii for 6 years. That is the cockroach capital. I never had problems with them on my yacht because I used boric acid.

Roaches can't belch and they love to eat boric acid. They explode inside an the eggs die also.

http://alsnetbiz.com/homeimprovement/boricdirections.html

[linda16]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I called Fleetwood and they said block the holes because the "mice will destroy the canvas" but had no suggestions on how to do it.  Duh!  I assume brass wool is like steel wool but won't rust.  Where do you get that - is it a marine product?  This forum is great.  You can learn a lot reading the posts.  Happy Camping from a real newbie.  Linda

[el_vaquero]

I believe it's the scouring pads you can get at the grocery store in the cleaning aisle.  "Chore Boy" or any other brand should work.

[Campaholics]

If your local hardware store or home center dosen't have bronze wool, got to McMaster Carr (a big industrial supply company) www.mcmastercarr.com, catalog number 7364T72 for a package of medium.  McMaster Carr is not the best on price, but almost every maintenance and engineering office has a copy of their 2.5" thick catalog, and buys from them because it's all in stock.

Bob

[mike4947]

Brass wool is available in most larger paint departments and marine stores as well as rippin apart a few "chore boys".

But in about 95% of cases we haven't needed an extra help for the caulk to fill gaps/cracks/holes.
Remember to not use caulk labeled latex or acrylic. They are made for house caulking and with the addatives they use to make the caulk paintable also allows it to dry out over time. Not a problem on a house but on an RV in means cracking and falling out over time. Stick with RTC silicone caulk without addatives or polyurathane caulks.
 
Expanding spray foam can also be used but make sure you check the label. Most are designed for interior use and are made from open celled foam. A sponge is open celled foam and like a sponge those caulks will absorb moisture and the worst thing for wood or anythin for that matter is to stay wet over time. Look for a product albeled closed cell foam.

[campcook]

I turn every light on in the camper plus extra table lamps and climbed under the camper when it's dark and low and be-hold----(LET THERE BE LIGHT :yikes: ) and that is were the steel wool goes or caulking.

[wavery]

I turn every light on in the camper plus extra table lamps and climbed under the camper when it's dark and low and be-hold----(LET THERE BE LIGHT :yikes: ) and that is were the steel wool goes or caulking.

You could also fill it up with water and caulk wherever it leaks out.

JUST KIDDING :J

[SpeakEasy]

I actually used that technique once! It worked too. Oh, but that was a canoe.