Winterizing

[Bubber]

Tell what you do for winterizing your camping trailer to keep the mice and other destructive critters away.

The guy I bought it from said to use softener sheet in the sleeping area to keep mice away. It just got me to thinking and you know how dangerous that can be.

 

 

I have asked BunkHouse but I have not received an answer yet.

So I thought I would ask all you experts for your advise and secrets to winterizing.

 

Bubber

[EXECTIVE]

in my motorhome the dryer sheets work great.....the stronger the smell the better

[bongobobny]

Howe about mothballs?? What keeps red squirrels away, other than a .22...

[Nemo]

Some folks have success with dryer sheets, but the mice here just ignored them for me.

 

Here's a simple positive solution. Buy some good quality "Peppermint Oil" from a health food store. Put a few drops on cotton balls and place them around. Not only is this environmentally safe, but the smell is great. No guarantee, but worth a try.

 

As rodents do not like the scent of peppermint, once they smell it, they leave and never return. Owen.

[Flyinfool]

Howe about mothballs?? What keeps red squirrels away, other than a .22...

 

A .410.....

 

I have seen a camper mattress that was mouse eaten right next to the bag of mothballs. AND the mothballs will also keep you out.

I never had an issue with mice in my campers, but then my campers are always out in the open with no nearby cover or food sources, this seems to be a deterrent to making it a good home. The mice do like to have to cross open ground to get to food every day.

 

Now if you store the camper in the garage to keep predators out and also store bird seed or grass seed or any other food in that same garage, you have just created the perfect nesting area.

[Grolli]

I use original bounce dryer sheets, and mothballs in the camper. Steel wool anyplace that you can see light through once you pack it up. That's about it.

 

G

[stickhandle2]

I use original bounce dryer sheets, and mothballs in the camper. Steel wool anyplace that you can see light through once you pack it up. That's about it.

 

G

 

 

ditto what he said

[dacheedah]

hedge apples around the perimeter of the trailer is supposed to work

[kevin-vic-b.c.]

If you keep your RV plugged in..... I found some hi sonic unit that we plug in to an 120V outlet and we have not seen a mouse since.

[mabeline]

I heard Irish Spring soap is suppose to work also. It's not as strong of a smell as moth balls. I haven't tried it yet.

[Condor]

I heard Irish Spring soap is suppose to work also. It's not as strong of a smell as moth balls. I haven't tried it yet.

 

Ditto on that.... I use Irish spring and haven't seen a critter in the shower yet.....

[Yammer Dan]

Ditto on that.... I use Irish spring and haven't seen a critter in the shower yet.....

 

They ain't blind......

[Bubber]

Never did hear back from Bunkhouse.

I asked for how to winterize and about replacement parts. I was concerned about the stretchy cord that goes around the cover.

I have heard about the steel wool and hedge balls but never about the peppermint oil.

I think I will try a combination of the softener sheets and peppermint oil.

Thanks for all the good advice. To those who responded with humor I liked that too.

Bubber

[Prairiehammer]

Steve,

If it is feasible in your circumstances; put the trailer in a "moat". Seriously! Place a hog pan under the tongue stand and jack the tires off the ground and place a couple more hog pans under the stabilizer jack stands. Now, fill the pans with used motor oil. Make sure nothing is resting against the trailer that would allow the mice to climb aboard. If the tires are not off the ground far enough to discourage the critters from climbing onto the tire, place a pan under each jacked up tire and add just enough oil to those pans to stop the mice, but not enough that the oil is touching the tires.

Even if the mice climb into the pans, they will not be able to escape or climb out via the jacks because of the oil and will ultimately succumb.

Good luck!