Rodents coming in through engine compartment.....

[Trish558]

2016 Jayco Alante A Class
Do all motorhomes have this problem?????? What more can we do????

PROBLEM: When camping in the woods and at home, we have had chipmunks and rats access the inside of our motorhome through the engine compartment, coming out under the dash, usually on the driver’s side. We have caught the critters with traps and electronic zappers. There is a hole somewhere and they are getting in through the engine compartment.

In October of 2018, an RV repair shop supposedly fixed the problem for us. They removed the dash and sprayed foam in any openings. Within a year of that, while camping in the woods, and also at home, we had rodents enter the rig. Three weeks ago, we went camping in Big Bear. While in the woods we caught one chipmunk inside on the driver’s side. On second night after returning home, we caught one rat on the driver’s side.

Preventative Steps We Have Taken……

*** 3 Blinking Strobe Lights, set on a timer, shining under the rig and into the engine compartment every night.

*** 4 Electronic, battery operated gadgets that blink and emit a high frequency sound. 2 in the engine compartment and 2 more inside under the dash area.

*** An additional electronic device placed under the rig which emits a high frequency sound.

*** Cotton Balls soaked with peppermint oil placed all around the rig under the dash and inside engine compartment.

*** Fresh Cab placed all around the rig under the dash and inside engine compartment.

[atsrmf]

Get a cat.

[H___E]

I do not know if this will work but the thought came to me when reading the previous post.
Has anyone tried pepper spray?

I have electronic devices in the engine and generator compartment and so far no mice.

[down_home]

Rat Terrier or other dog, is better than cats. Probably have to have them on a leash staked close to the motor home. Camping long term,...I'm not sure how many panels it would take, but a small fence to keep the terrier(s) in around the coach. Stopping up the holes is necessary. They may have got some of the holes but not all of them.

[BigRabbitMan]

Just had to have the wiring in our Nissan Exttera repaired today. Asked mechanic how to prevent. He said to spay a dilute mix of water and tobasco hot sauce inside the engine compartment. Mice and rats lick their feet and it will send them away. Don’t b know if it will do anything for the chipmunks.

[ReneeG]

You might also want to try Mouse Free. This was recommended to us by the tent camper canvas company when we called them for patching material due to mice getting in. Not cheap, but you treat your rig twice a year and it's completely safe. Great support from the company too. Well, we sprayed it all under our popup so time will tell if it was worth it.

[Bruce_Brown]

One issue with spray foam is you'd need to use the rodent resistant stuff. They actually like the other stuff - ummm, tasty!

[rgatijnet1]

When it is dark, shine a bright light either inside or outside of the coach and go to the other side and you should be able to see any light, which would indicate a hole in the dash. As mentioned some wire mesh embedded within the foam may help.
During the oil embargo many companies started using soy based products for wire insulation. Rodents find wiring in the new vehicles delicious. :B

[garyemunson]

https://www.thedrive.com/news/20878/rodents-are-feasting-on-newer-cars-soy-based-wiring-insulation

[rhagfo]

We host at a great site with a terrible mouse problem. We placed an LED rope light string around the perimeter of our 5th wheel. Then noticed that they were chewing up the battery blankets in our TV, got another set and wrapped a length around the engine compartment and that seemed to solve the problem.

[Trish558]

Thanks for the responses so far. We are certain the opening is between the engine and cab. We just don't know where. We have used sticky traps in the past, but became weary of them when we had a chipmunk flopping around under the dash with one attached to his rear end. (Didn't want one to die where he couldn't be found.) One year we literally built a barricade with our firewood under the dash to keep them out. Each day my husband would peek inside to check and reset the traps. (Miserable vacation!!!)

Over the years, we have had a tent, pop-up trailer, hybrid trailer, and a regular trailer. We never had any problems. Never....... Now we have a beautiful motorhome and I'm afraid to go camping.

Any other suggestions? We live in Southern California. Are there any experts out there you would recommend?

[MountainAir05]

Something in your rig is attracting them. Many years back we have friends with this issue and it was the coating on the wires. Turn out it was made out of some plant stuff. They are no longer here so can't ask them. Add sticky traps to your list. Try spraying the peppermint oil in the engine compartment if not flammable but keep of wires and hose. I have tied a bag full of cotton balls soak in different thing. Some they took the bag others they eat a hole or did not mess with them. Sorry too long ago to remember them all. The peppermint was for sure one they did not mess with.

[opnspaces]

Unfortunately the only thing that is going to work is to have the holes resealed. The last shop should have embedded wire mesh into the spray foam. Without the wire mesh the rodents can just chew through again.

You might be able to find a person who will spend time crawling around under the rig looking for the holes and patch from the outside.