Any one come with a good way to keep the critters out of the bays under the coach? Looks like they are getting in through where the hoses run through the bulkheads. I thought about spray foam insulation, but that would be a problem when it comes time replace a wire or hose.
I am having very good luck with Fresh Cab® Natural Rodent Repellent. Some folks have real good luck with it and others don't. I think the key is following the directions "Scent last up to 90 days"!!! Then you replace it.
Smells good too! "Active ingredient: balsam fir needle essential oil; Inert ingredients: corn cob chips (plant cellulose fiber), essential oils of spanish rosemary, lavender, fir, clary sage, cedar wood, lemon, grapefruit, eucalyptus and patchouli". Makes a real nice air freshener in the coach too. I put it in places where we found mice droppings when we first got the coach. Places like under the bottom drawers or way in the back of the area below the sinks and in the basement compartments. Also the engine compartmentf. Some of those rodents love wiring harnesses!
Get Rid of Mice & Rats | Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent 2 (http://www.earth-kind.com/products/repellent/)
You can buy in smaller quanities at many hardware store such as True Value, Do it Best, and Ace, along with Tractor Supply. Also on line at Amazon. Just look at all the places at the bottom of their retailers page.
Previous threads with some suggestions
Keeping mice out of the utility bay (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=9830.msg44202#msg44202)
Keeping mice out of engine compartment (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=12925.msg69243#msg69243)
We have had good luck with the electronic repellers by Black and Decker. These are the larger size. The smaller ones don't seem to be as effective.
I have one in the engine compartment in the heater socket that I use if I'm going to be stationary for a more than a couple of weeks. I disconnect the engine heater and leave the lighted switch on the bed turned on. I put another in the plumbing bay near where the power cord comes out. I also use a home made critter stopper in the trap door. So far, only one mouse problem and that was because I left a bay door open for several days. He finally left on his own. I guess he didn't like the tune the B&D was playing. We also keep one under the couch and one under the refrigerator. We have never had one get in to the living area.
We have used the smaller less expensive electronic repellers in our S & B house and old coach but with less success.
We put stainless or copper wool, like steel wool but it won't rust, where the hoses come in and haven't had any trouble in 7 years
We'll be traveling with a cat. She won't be much help with critters in basement bays, but should get any that get into the living quarters. We'll see.
We use Peppermint Oil in our coach and our boats. A few drops on cotten balls placed in tin foil seem to work great. Get it at GNC or online. Have had no squatters since and makes the basement and coach smell great!
Dean
We also use peppermint oil. No problem with mice when I keep the cotton balls saturated. (I keep spray bottles loaded with mint oil in the basement compartments, and spray when I don't smell it strongly. If it's hot or windy, it doesn't last as long. I also use the plug-in ultrasonic noisemakers in basement compartments, and they really keep the mint oil thieves away :)) .