Mice in older airstreams? - Page 2

dmreilly10000 · 10-17-2002, 08:25 AM

A farmer once told me that there is a type of solid bar type mouse/rat poison farmers put in their equipment like tractors so the rodents won't eat the insulation off the wires.

Has anyone heard of this? I guess it would be a "mouse snack bar"

He told me you could get it at the farmer's co-op. This sounds like it would be good for an Airstream.

I stored my 1953 Overlander for the last 2 years in a barn on some of my wife's family's land. I recently towed it back up to the house and was just about to plug it in when I decided to open the rear hatch and have a look. The rats/mice had chewed about 1 foot of insulation off of the romex leaving only the bare wires.

Storing it down there was a BIG mistake. It was an incredible mess inside. Luckily, since it is in the process of being restored, there was no carpet or upholstery to get ruined. Some Mr. Clean with some bleach took care of the mess.

I digress. Does anyone know anything about the "mouse snack bar" for farm equipment?

**Pick** · 10-17-2002, 09:11 AM

I put moth balls in the back bumper compartment, and sticky traps in key locations inside the trailer. The cabinet next to the toilet, under the sinks, and in the food storage area. Make sure you check them ever few days or so. Mice have chewed insulation on the wires going to the power jack on the OUTSIDE of the trailer. Maybe they are crawling in through the square tube the tounqe is made of?

I just ordered the XTS-800 Ozone Generator from Mold-Kill.com. I'll let everyone know how it works, after I get it. The way their website reads it should drive the mice out, or at least give them a good headache!!

dmreilly10000 · 10-17-2002, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pick
I just ordered the XTS-800 Ozone Generator from Mold-Kill.com. I'll let everyone know how it works, after I get it. The way their website reads it should drive the mice out, or at least give them a good headache!!

I usually open up all cabinets and so that the ozone gets everywhere. I also turn on a small fan to keep the air moving around so that the ozone will saturate everything. Close up the trailer and leave it for a few days for maximum deodorizing, over night for just a "touchup".

I don't know about driving the mice out, though.

68 Overlander · 10-17-2002, 02:14 PM

This EPA report on the use of ozone generators is interesting. It mainly relates to direct contact with ozone but also mentions how they work, or don't work depending on what chemical you are trying to kill.
Randy

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html

dmreilly10000 · 10-17-2002, 02:34 PM

I never hang around when this thing is running. Like I have said before, these things should NOT be used in occupied spaces.

They seem to do a good job on organic smells (sewage, skunk, mold, etc.) but don't work well on paint smells, gasoline, diesel and other "man-made chemical" smells.

You should air out the ozone in a trailer before entering it for more than a few minutes. Even though they put out a "clean" smell in your house, they shouldn't be used when people or pets are around.

I told everyone these things have a bad reputation but only because the sellers were making false health claims for something that is potentially dangerous.

In my case, it does a good job at getting the musty smell out of my Airstream.

Jabba · 10-21-2002, 05:23 AM

Well, I just got back from a weekend 1200 mile roundtrip to see the biggest mouse hotel I've ever seen! I've never seen so much evidence from mice in my life! The owners had painstakingly covered every opening to keep them out, even did the bucket with the ramp to peanut butter trick, but to no avail. Very Depressing, as the skin was beautiful on this unit. I'm just not up to the repairs and delousing that would be required.

The search for my Overlander continues.....sigh.

airstreamcaravel · 10-21-2002, 05:50 PM

Jabba,

Look at this link .... maybe YOUR Overlander??

http://www.vintagecampers.com/units.html

DMC

Jabba · 10-22-2002, 10:14 AM

Hey, Thanks for the encouragement, we looked at it online yesterday, it has possibilities...after this weekend's debacle. It kinda took the wind out of the sails. We've been re-analyzing what we want. Decided we want something that's basically usable with only minor repairs needed. The one you mentioned may work.

Thanks,

Jason

silver kat · 01-24-2003, 01:26 AM

To dmreilly 10000..

About those "mouse snack bars" you were asking about..
I got some from our landlord for use in the house. They are
1.5 inch red rectangles with a hole in the middle (so you can
string 'em on a wire and hang them under your house.etc.)
When the mice finish eating one, the next one drops down
like an automatic feeder. That's how alot of the rice farmers
around here use them.

I did see something similar at Home Depot, but they were
green. Maybe the red ones are more potent? My landlord
did say that they were made with peanut butter and ???
but that they also had embalming fluid in them so you
don't have to deal with the smell . Hmmmmm.
It's been working.. and in the Airstreams too!

George Jr. · 09-02-2003, 01:28 PM

Pick,

Did you receive and use your ozone generator?

Thanks,

**Pick** · 09-02-2003, 02:12 PM

George, yes, I have, and love it. Use it in the A/S to keep things fresh. I have noticed that I have not had any rodents since I have been using it. I also keep a box of moth balls in the rear bumper compartment.

Pam · 09-02-2003, 04:44 PM

We own a '98 Cutter and just purchased a '68 Tradewind for our son. We are restoring it as a family project with him. Some of the advice we have heard and where we are going to start is with the belly pan and replacing the floor. We may use an ozone generator for a one time use. I understand that the ozone generator can cause damage to plastics, like plastic laminate countertops, etc.

Once the odor is gone we want to keep the critters out. A friend with a vintage trailer recommended purchasing a plug in "ultrasonic" something or other (hmmm, not a technical term). They leave theirs plugged into the unit to keep the mice out. (My sister has one in her beach house and it works well). We can leave the trailer plugged into the house power so it won't pull from the battery.

That's where we'll start. We'll see where we end up.

**Pick** · 09-02-2003, 05:07 PM

Pam, I use the ozone generator several times a month and have not seen any evidence of damage. Another item used to keep rodents out is "Bounce" dryer sheets. Just place them around the openings of the coach.

**flyfshr** · 09-02-2003, 05:23 PM

As Pick mentioned, I use "Bounce" dryer sheets. I keep them in the drawers under the beds, under the galley cabinet, under the dinette and in the bathroom cabinet. I bought a couple of boxes and put the individual sheets in regular #10 business envelopes that are left open. I also put some in the outside storage compartment. Since doing this early last spring, I have not seen any evidence of rodents at all, plus they smell nice. Once the smell is gone, I plan on buying more.

I also stuff one or two in my vest pocket when I'm out fishing and hiking. Mosquitoes think the same of Bounce as do the mice. I don't know what they make this stuff out of because you couldn't ask for better pest protection.

FF