Keeping mice out

[Getahobby]

Where is the most common place for mice to enter a 28ft '03 Classic? What have you done to seal things up tight?
thanks,
Dave

[SteveH]

I've found they get in where the rear slide out storage compartment is, and there's not much you can do to keep them from coming in in that area.

However, I've been successful with some ultrasonic pest repellers by Black & Decker that I bought at Tractor Supply. I keep one plugged in on each end of the trailer, but to work, the trailer must be hooked up to shore power in storage.

The only other thing that I've found is a piece of pecan works best on a trap.

[dznf0g]

I used sealer for small openings here and there...you just have to hunt them down. I used STAINLESS steel pot scrubbers in the frame ends. Haven't figured out what to do for the rear drawer track holes. These allow the drawer tracks to recess into the belly area. This leaves access for mice to the belly...and thus the interior through multiple pluming (etc.) access holes in the floor.

So far, Knock on wood, the Illinois mice have been too stupid to find these 2 holes and I haven't had a single mouse in the 2 years I've had my AS. (jinx)

[Ridgerunner3]

I have been using Fresh Cab rodent repellent. I place it down in the areas that open to the belly pan (under the sinks and under the closet in my AS). It smells like pine needles. I have had one mouse enter the trailer at a campground since I have been using Fresh Cab. The mouse disappeared within two days. It appears the Fresh Cab ran him off. Local farmers swear by the stuff. I was disappointed when I had the one mouse enter the trailer but he did not hang around long.

My Safari came from the factory equipped with a large number of potential entry holes for mice.

[SafariSS]

I would like to add where the propane lines go into the underbelly even as well as the areas by the sewer/tanks. Myself and others have had entry by the fresh water tank penetrations to the subfloor.

I keep mine baited now during storage.

[dznf0g]

I too, bait during storage. I use a "Tin Cat" brand trap. I place bags of poison in the drawer and other areas which are inaccessable to other critters. But, so far, no takers in 2 years.

A couple of other things that help me, I think. I am parked on a friends farmstead on a retired concrete pig lot. We have lots of hawks and I think the mice don't like to be in the open traveling to and from the AS. Also I am parked right next to a barn where an excellent barn cat and mouser lives.

[SteveH]

I'm not in the least adverse to using poisons to kill the varmits, but I don't want them to die in the trailer where they will stink to the extreem.

One thing I read that I have not tried is to chop up uncooked pinto beans and sprinkle that liberally around the trailer. The mice love it, eat it, and then swell up and die, hopefully outside of the trailer.

[Florida 55]

We store our trailer in a warehouse which has enough small openings around the perimeter to allow mice inside the building so I suspect the trailer is vulnerable to mouse intrusion.

To repel rodents we use the plug in electric devices we purchased at Lowes. We use 3 plug ins, one in the rear by the dinette, one in the kitchen and one in the front bedroom. We also remove all food from the trailer and do not leave paper products (toilet paper, paper towels) that can be used to build nests. Given that we replaced the factory converter with a three stage converter we are comfortable with leaving the trailer plugged in while in storage.

We've owned the trailer a year and so far have not had issues. I hope to crawl under the trailer and seal visible openings soon.

My ears are sensitive enough that I can hear a faint high pitched sound in the background. Therefore we remove the plugs ins when we are using the trailer.

[dkottum]

The sensitive-nosed little devils come in looking for food, and if they find it, make themselves a home. The greatest deterrent may be to starve them, leave no food, bar soap (also food), candles in the trailer when stored. Super-clean the food prep/storage areas before storing.

doug k

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by SteveH

I'm not in the least adverse to using poisons to kill the varmits, but I don't want them to die in the trailer where they will stink to the extreem.

One thing I read that I have not tried is to chop up uncooked pinto beans and sprinkle that liberally around the trailer. The mice love it, eat it, and then swell up and die, hopefully outside of the trailer.

Steve, Most of the time...and I say most of the time, the mice who are poisoned seek water (an effect of the hemmorage producing poison) and if there are no water sources in the trailer, they will leave and drink and die outside.

I did have one exception to this rule in my SOB, (I used to get mice in it every year almost).

The one that did remain and died, seem to mummify and didn't smell.

[idroba]

Here is a link to a thread and photos showing the mouse entry points in many Airstreams and Argosy's. These are huge, gross holes left by the factory in the floor.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f44/...les-93401.html

[not so young]

How are the newer Airstreams for being mouse proof? My old 1982 31 Excella has a few bumps and bruises on the underside and I am having problems with mice inside when stored. Other than that the old trailer still works good.