Critters...

[Glenn the fifth]

Pulled the 5er out from under it's winter resting area to start getting it ready for the season today. Cleaned the roof, washed the trailer, checked tires and lug nuts, flushed the water lines and drains...all the normal stuff. I was walking back to the trailer from my shop and I watched a squirrel go up on the tire run across the axle and disappear. He/she has found a way into the area between the corrugated underbelly and the floor of the trailer. I went underneath and I could hear it up there moving around above the spare tire. I hit on the underside few times and it took off into the woods leaving me to wonder what he/she is doing up there and how long it has been there. I took off some of the easier bolts and pulled a small section of the underbelly down so I could look in there. Although I may have to do it, it looks like a lot of work to get a big section down because I would have to drop the spare and get the underbelly from behind some of the siding material. I would like to cover/plug all the holes that lead into that area, but that seems pretty difficult because even the slide operator "rails" go from outside into that area and you really can't put much around them without restricting their movement. Any thoughts or ideas from anyone? I know squirrels can do a lot of damage pretty quick and I am assuming there is a lot of wiring and other things in the void between the floor and the underbelly. -Glenn

[DarMar]

WE've been there and done that on our previous 2007 model. Since that time purchased a couple boxes of steel wool and now once the slides are in or out we stuff the area around those slide rams with the steel wool. We also used a can of great stuff expanding foam to plug any other holes around incoming or exiting water lines/drains etc.

[DQDick]

Hopefully it's not like the mice we discovered this winter. Got the adults and then had to trap the babies for days.

[Bigboomer]

quote:Originally posted by DarMar

WE've been there and done that on our previous 2007 model. Since that time purchased a couple boxes of steel wool and now once the slides are in or out we stuff the area around those slide rams with the steel wool. We also used a can of great stuff expanding foam to plug any other holes around incoming or exiting water lines/drains etc.

Darwin,

Be careful with the steel wool as it is very flammable. I have seen video of this stuff catching fire just from a D sized battery. We do use the expanding foam. Unfortunately these little buggers still find ways to get in....

[DarMar]

quote:Originally posted by Bigboomer

Darwin,

Be careful with the steel wool as it is very flammable. I have seen video of this stuff catching fire just from a D sized battery. We do use the expanding foam. Unfortunately these little buggers still find ways to get in....

Thanks for the tip, we did not even consider that. Another words, when not in use keep it in the box and away from any type of battery or electrical device.

[Glenn the fifth]

Thanks all, I have decided that I am going to pull as much of the "underbelly" down as I can to inspect for damage and/or a nest. I will then cover/plug as many of the holes into that area that I safely can. I have also ordered two battery powered ultrasonic "rodent repellers". The reveiws on these things are mixed, but other than sitting out there in a lawn chair with a pellet gun (sorry if that offends anyone) it appears to be my only option of keeping them away from the trailer.

[richfaa]

In our 06 3400 we foamed all the holes we could find .Check inside the camper were the pipes come through the floor. Lots of holes there. We only had one mouse in the camper in the 7 years we had the 06 3400.