Wiring damage from mice

[Rev]

We have a 2019 HC375FL. There is what I will refer to as a race for wiring on the wall built into the cabinets at the bar that separates the front living. There is a 110 outlet, the switches for the tank warmers, lights, the max air switch and the thermostat. It seems we have had a mouse chew the wires on the fan switch and thermostat for the front air. Does anyone know how to get into that area that doesn't require removing the entire cabinet?

Thanks for info.

[DutchmenSport]

I also have a 2019 375FL and it appears the way they did the wiring is slightly different than yours.

My thermostat for the furnace/AC and the ceiling fan is located near the kitchen sink on mine. But the 120 v outlet, the tank heaters, the electric plug, and light switches for the slide out and over head are located in the same location as yours.

Here's a photo of mine. The paneling on the side of the upright post (floor to ceiling) on the outside wall of the camper is buckling some in this photo, probably due to high humidity where I'm located right now. I need to get some finish nails and tack it back down flat.

But.... for your purposes, the timing is perfect. In the photo I stuck a slip of paper between the panel to show you, all you need to do to access the wires is remove this one piece of paneling. Use a flat head screw driver, or even a butter knife and wedge it under the panel and it will begin to pull right off.

Do it careful so you don't damage the paneling. Once you have it removed, pull the staples from the back side (straight through) so you won't scar up the front and have unsightly holes. Do your wire fix, and then re-insert with small finishing nails.

Here's the photo. The paper stuck in the wall shows how to remove it. Instead of paper, use a butter knife or a flat screw driver to begin wedging it out and loosing up the staples holding it on.

[Rev]

Thanks, I was able to get in pretty easy with no damage. I hope I can get rid of the vermin as easily. TY!

[DutchmenSport]

Originally Posted by Rev

... I hope I can get rid of the vermin as easily. TY!

A tip: Use mice glue strips or spring traps. The last thing you want to do is put out poison and then have one die in your underbelly in the back side of your cabinets where you do not have access to.

Set out several. I've had mice a couple times. They seem to always like that cabinet too in my camper, there and under the kitchen sink for some reason. We keep pots, pans, and lids under there, and mouse droppings in them is simply very, very sickening to see. I've found that if I catch one mouse this way, there are usually 6 or 7 more following. So, if you catch the first one, keep putting out more glue strips. You don't even need bait on them, just lay them out in those cabinets on the floor. The will walk over them and get caught.


The bottom of my camper is sealed up pretty good after I closed up all the holes and gaps. So, where did mine come from? The garden hose when I had it up the "mouse hole" in the bottom of the convenience center, hooked up to city water. They came in that way.

I no longer keep that hose attached. I never did keep water turned on at the spigot, but I did keep the hose attached. I run water from my fresh water tank. So, once I realized how they were getting in, I started disconnecting the garden hose again from the camper. I've not had any more mice since.

Good luck.

[drjjj]

Don't underestimate what mice and rats can do. We have a 2007 3400RL and several years ago our RV repair guys noticed on a pre-trip checkup that rats had eaten through our hydraulic lines in the underbelly that could have caused the slides not working on our trip. With all due respect, we keep poison inside and in all of the underbelly compartments along with water sources (the poison kills them quicker if they can drink water after feeding n the bait). In all the years we have only had one rat die in the compartment and never in the underbelly. They decompose quickly so unless you are a full timer IMHO it's a good tradeoff. Just make sure if you have pets that you do not allow any access, as many of the newer rat/mice poisons have not antidote.