Camper mouse

[saltyg]

I spent the better part of Saturday cleaning up from the mouse that got inside the camper. I was lucky to have found where he was getting in and out (a nice big hole in the floor where the wires come in from the frame) and such used a little bit of Great Suff foam to close the gap.
Does anyone feel there is a risk of having the camper more air tight, in that when the door gets slammed shut (as my kids normally do) would the air pressure inside push out any of the seals along the windows, etc? I don't think it would change too much as the hole/wire chase was well hidden under a bench seat and took quite a bit of tearing apart to find it.
I just don't want to create another problem by fixing this one.
BTW: It really smells clean inside now after six hours of cleaning with clorax (with bleach) cleaner!
BTW x 2: Some one had also told me that using dryer sheets to plug holes was a great way to deter mice in a camper. I tried that and all I got was a million little chewed up pieces of dryer sheets to vaccum up. So much for that....

 

[mclovin]

Use moth ballls it will stink but it will work i had the same problem that is what i did not one mouse since.

 

[booondocker]

There is NO substitute for climbing around on your belly/back and inspecting the underside of the trailer from the very edges to the corners and attachment points for closing holes for mice.

Not only do they leave droppings and urine odors but they chew wires for some reason and can do a bunch of harm.

So buy a small roll of heavy mesh screening and cover areas where they can chew and enter. Use spray foam in places that they can't stay without falling out while chewing and remember that all that aggravation is worth the end product which is to keep the little pests out of your recreational equipment.

And always remember that if there is a way in...they will find it no matter where it is or how long it will take to get in. They are persistent little pests for sure.

Also feeding the neighbors cat helps too....just don't make it obvious you are doiing it.

 

[jr37]

Boondocker gives good advice. I have used moth balls under the camper and a whole box of dryer sheets spread out inside the camper since we bought ours, and have not had any sign of a mouse yet. What works for one may not work for the next. But if there are no holes to begin with, there should be no problem.

 

[snoman357]

from what i understand Irish spring soap and or your average dryer sheet (bounce) works just as good if not better than moth balls without the bad smell.

 

[mjdeutsch]

you can also shove steal wool in holes, they won't chew through that

ditto on the moth balls, I just moved them from the camper to the sled trailer the other day, never any mice in either one, knock on wood, and I store both is a shed with feed and seed on a farm, on second thought maybe they are too fat to get in. LOL

 

[skeeter2010]

Our camper had mice a couple years ago. It took a good day to clean it up and anouther day to attempt to mouse proof it. I found several areas they came in floor and wall drain holes wiring holes and also where the tanks mount to the bottom of the camper for the black water and grey water. I didn't have any signs of mice but this years I have ahad a few turds but nothing like in the past.
The camper shop I go to laughed when I mentioned dryer sheets his responce was that they make good bedding for mice. His recommendation was to seal everything up and set traps and check them weekly.

 

[timbaahb]

Use moth ballls it will stink but it will work i had the same problem that is what i did not one mouse since.

We had a problem with mice and moles in our 5 year old house.
Better than mothballs is peppermint oil (unless you like the smell). I use the real stuff ($15 for a 4 oz bottle). I hear that the critters are either allergic to it or just don't like the smell.
Just dip a strip of cloth in it and hang a couple of pieces around the place.
I redo the process about once a month and haven't had one of the little buggers in a trap all winter. Used to get 2-3 a week.

 

[handiman]

Sorry, but I have to disagree completely with the moth ball theory. I purchased a camper that the previous owner had put in literally hundreds of moth balls. They had also put in mouse traps in an area that the had also dozens of moth balls strewn about.

We have caught several mice in the very area where these moth balls were. Since it was obvious the mothballs did nothing but make the camper reek, we removed them. Just before the snow flew I went through the trailer and plugged a couple spots I found where those buggers could get in.

After catching 3 more after I sealed it, I haven't caught any more since late October. I figured I had trapped those last 3 in the camper when I sealed it.

Now I'm just looking for a way to get that awful mothball smell out!!!

Good Luck!!!

 

[booondocker]

Sorry, but I have to disagree completely with the moth ball theory. I purchased a camper that the previous owner had put in literally hundreds of moth balls. They had also put in mouse traps in an area that the had also dozens of moth balls strewn about.

We have caught several mice in the very area where these moth balls were. Since it was obvious the mothballs did nothing but make the camper reek, we removed them. Just before the snow flew I went through the trailer and plugged a couple spots I found where those buggers could get in.

After catching 3 more after I sealed it, I haven't caught any more since late October. I figured I had trapped those last 3 in the camper when I sealed it.

Now I'm just looking for a way to get that awful mothball smell out!!!

Good Luck!!!

Looks like sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. I read someone on here had a mouse tear up the fabric sheets to make a nest in it and took them all over the place which just added to the cleanup. While I don't really mind the mothball stuff (reminds me of my grandma's closet) seems some like them and some find it just doesn't work.

Maybe you have to find out what model mouse you have???

Just remember...there is no free lunch here and might as well get down under and block those places before they can get in and create damage.

 

[indy_500]

you can also shove steal wool in holes, they won't chew through that

ditto on the moth balls, I just moved them from the camper to the sled trailer the other day, never any mice in either one, knock on wood, and I store both is a shed with feed and seed on a farm, on second thought maybe they are too fat to get in. LOL

x2 steel wool imo works best. gotta plug up dem holes so no micey's get in the sled shed!

 

[maddogg]

Saltyg,
Back to your question. Plugging the holes will net create an air presure problem. Plug away.

 

[polarfreek]

from what i understand Irish spring soap and or your average dryer sheet (bounce) works just as good if not better than moth balls without the bad smell.

X2 this works very well for us. We got this info from another camper last year. Ours has been mouse free since.

 

[frnash]

Camper mouse, car mouse … sled mouse?

I don't know about a "camper mouse", but I know you can get a road mouse. (See also: car mouse.) Do ya 'spose you can get a sled mouse too?

 

[mclovin]

We had a problem with mice and moles in our 5 year old house.
Better than mothballs is peppermint oil (unless you like the smell). I use the real stuff ($15 for a 4 oz bottle). I hear that the critters are either allergic to it or just don't like the smell.
Just dip a strip of cloth in it and hang a couple of pieces around the place.
I redo the process about once a month and haven't had one of the little buggers in a trap all winter. Used to get 2-3 a week.

Thanks for the tip i will try that this fall on our camper

 

[coldbear]

Pest Repellers..

We use a pair of Black @Decker eletronic pest repellers in our motorhome. We keep it plugged in year around so that helps. Those e-repellers drive out mice,cockroaches,spiders, and other unwanted pests. They are also safe around dogs and cats,mother-in-laws,etc.

 

[samc]

Fabric Softner Sheets also work great I have found. Since I've started using them, we have never had any further issues.