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Old 07-20-2019, 01:06 PM   #1
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Rodents!,,

Wife took the motorhome camping. ( girls weekend out) when she pulled out, I found this. It was up front on passenger side. She said the only thing she has noticed was the dash light ABS, was staying on. I have killed over 60 chipmunks this year. I’m at my wits end. Click image for larger version

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Old 07-20-2019, 03:35 PM   #2
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I’ve had several different RV store and hardware store employees tell me to use Bounce dryer sheets and/or the green Irish Spring soap. The rodents supposedly really don’t like the smell and it keeps them away. I tried to purchase poison to put around the RV and was told not to do that because the rodent will eat the poison and die in your RV and then you have a bigger problem. I have my RV parked in a rural area this summer and I am trying the Bounce and Irish Spring, after 6 weeks - So far, so good.
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Old 07-20-2019, 04:21 PM   #3
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Seimans(sp) makes a unit that blasts ultrasonic noise.
It's about the size of a pack of cigarettes, black with a rocker switch on top. Mine is foam taped to the top of my batteries. Some people can hear it, some can't. You sure won't hear it over the 75db of a running e450.
Look it up on amazon, pay $12 bucks and don't rely on some of the cedar shavings and other stories.
I did a perfunctory perusal through Amazon and Google and didn't see my model. I didn't look hard enough to tell you if they updated the housing... So... No link

The cedar shavings is particularly disturbing crock of crap because it's exactly what you buy for bedding if you have a pet rodent.

(the reason they eat some wires and not others? Some, not all, have soy based plastic insulation. In my area they seem to focus on those wires.)

That's hot glue on the positive terminal. An experiment.
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Old 07-20-2019, 05:02 PM   #4
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I have tried all the chemicals, sprays, dryer sheets, bars of soap, etc. The only thing I have found that works is the urine of a carnivorous predator.
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Old 07-20-2019, 05:39 PM   #5
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Shake Away 5006258 Fox Urine Granules, 5-Pound https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005VZYCQM..._ql1mDbNP5DXK4

Careful you might attract a fox or two...
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Old 07-20-2019, 05:41 PM   #6
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Shake Away 5006158 Deer Repellent Granules, 5-Pound https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005VZYCLW..._qf1mDbYNKNXHM

Careful you might attract a fox or two...
I didn't know deer were rodents..
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Old 07-20-2019, 05:45 PM   #7
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Oops the wrong link. This works, but I’ve also had a fox show up looking for a friend.
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Old 07-20-2019, 07:11 PM   #8
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The urine I use does not cost anything and it seems to keep them away.
I usually throw it under the engine area. I had better add; under the engine area on the ground.
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Old 07-20-2019, 07:17 PM   #9
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While the noise machines might have some value, there have been few studies on their usefulness.

One study: In a study testing the effectiveness of an ultrasonic device on rats and mice (Greaves and Rowe 1969), it was found that they had a mild aversion to the sound. However, this dislike diminished over time, especially after a reliable food source was discovered near the sonic device. Even after the food source was removed, the rats and mice continued to explore the room with ultrasonic sound, expressing habituation to the sound.

I heard the urine story before. Unfortunately, it would drive my wife away and I would have to sell my RV.
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Old 07-20-2019, 07:19 PM   #10
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I heard the urine story before. Unfortunately, it would drive my wife away and I would have to sell my RV.
So your wife is a Cougar? (carnivorous predator)
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Old 07-20-2019, 07:39 PM   #11
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Closer to a Fox.
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Old 07-20-2019, 07:45 PM   #12
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We've had good luck with cotton balls soaked with peppermint oil...
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Old 07-20-2019, 08:44 PM   #13
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We've had good luck with cotton balls soaked with peppermint oil...
This guy did a test that seems to confirm that peppermint oil works: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...N8ZFOD4xbU2nov
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Old 07-22-2019, 12:02 PM   #14
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Well the wife got home and I was able to access the damage. The rodent chewed threw the ABS wire leading to the brakes. It’s a multi strand wire so it looks like Ford will have to fix it.
I have tried most every deterrent. I have pictures of mice chewing on an Irish Spring soap bar. I normally keep a bunch of cotton pads soaked in peppermint oil scattered around the engine compartment. We got back from a trip the first of July and I knew the wife was taking it the 17th so I didn’t do the pads.
If manufacturers are using soy based wiring sheathing. ( they deny it’s causing a problem) Why isn’t there a wrap we can use that rodents hate?
Our first motorhome was a 1986 American. I parked it next to our pole barn, much more sheltered than our present spot and I never had a problem. I may have to consider a storage lot.
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Old 07-22-2019, 07:11 PM   #15
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Herb packs and herbal chipmunk repellent are the only two things I have ever found that work

Peppermint oil to some degree
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Old 07-22-2019, 07:49 PM   #16
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Can you get yourself a Security Patrol?

http://www.thorforums.com/forums/att...1&d=1563824975
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Old 07-22-2019, 08:23 PM   #17
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"Fresh Cab" sold at Tractor Supply works great. That and moth balls scattered round the ground under the coach...no issues with any creatures. Lots of moths with high pitched voices...but no critters!
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Old 07-22-2019, 09:06 PM   #18
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Can you get yourself a Security Patrol?



http://www.thorforums.com/forums/att...1&d=1563824975


When our 5 kids with their cats and dogs lived here, we never had any rodent problems. I’d have a dozen cats if we were here to feed them. Our coach goes south for six months. It sits in our driveway for the other six, with a few outings during the summer. We are only here about a month.
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Old 07-22-2019, 09:56 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ducksface View Post
Seimans(sp) makes a unit that blasts ultrasonic noise.
It's about the size of a pack of cigarettes, black with a rocker switch on top. Mine is foam taped to the top of my batteries. Some people can hear it, some can't. You sure won't hear it over the 75db of a running e450.
Look it up on amazon, pay $12 bucks and don't rely on some of the cedar shavings and other stories.
I did a perfunctory perusal through Amazon and Google and didn't see my model. I didn't look hard enough to tell you if they updated the housing... So... No link

The cedar shavings is particularly disturbing crock of crap because it's exactly what you buy for bedding if you have a pet rodent.

(the reason they eat some wires and not others? Some, not all, have soy based plastic insulation. In my area they seem to focus on those wires.)

That's hot glue on the positive terminal. An experiment.
That looks like an AGM or Gel battery. Hot Glue cocoon? From what I understand the terminals should not corrode as bad (or at all) compared to a Lead Acid battery.

I did spray my AGM with the Red Stuff since I had a can of it... but I dont think I needed anything.
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Old 07-22-2019, 10:10 PM   #20
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[QUOTE=Long & Winding road;194317]That looks like an AGM or Gel battery. Hot Glue cocoon? From what I understand the terminals should not corrode as bad (or at all) compared to a Lead Acid battery.

I did spray my AGM with the Red Stuff since I had a can of it... but I don

It's an optima red top in my blazer.
The hot glue was an experiment because I had just purchased my ryobi battery hot glue gun and was going a bit nuts with it.
I highly highly recommend that cordless hot glue gun.
My corded ones didn't get used twice a year, the cordless gets used twice a week.

We use the ryobi tire inflator with the automatic cutoff, the ryobi flashlight and the ryobi three gallon vacuum, a 12v charger and a 120v charger in the 24.1.
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