RAT - My First

Topic: RAT - My First (Read 1821 times) previous topic - next topic

RAT - My First

September 06, 2016, 11:57:16 pm

Guess we've been lucky, up to now. I've read the horror stories here about rats and the damage they can do, but in 3 years of owning our coach, never had a problem. We live in the desert, and I always assumed the local rats just lived in ground burrows. 35 years in our house, and never had a rat in either the house or the garage, so you can see why I became complacent...

My original project for today was to get the annual safety inspection done. Went out to check the coach to be sure it was ready - no light bulbs out or anything that would cause a problem. Opened the engine compartment hatch to look the engine over, and got a shock: a big nasty rat nest had been constructed on the horizontal shelf right below the air cleaner housing. I was just working around the engine last week, so this invader had set up housekeeping in only 4 or 5 days! The nest was built of sticks, leaves, engine bay insulation, and (of all the weird things) dried up dog poop. I didn't see Mrs. Rat, so figured she was off doing her thing. I got out my trusty Tomcat snap trap and set it up next to the nest - figured I would see if she came back that night.

Then I decided to check all the storage bays for invasion. The house batteries (right next to the engine) had both been visited - lots of droppings. The wet bay was clean at both ends - no droppings. I keep the shore power cord hole plugged up with a block of styrofoam, which probably kept her out. The big central storage bay was totally clean. However, not the case in the forward storage bay. Found another nest there made entirely of shredded cardboard. She had disassembled a couple cardboard boxes for nest material. I discovered the point of entry into the front storage bay was through the vent in the floor of the adjacent propane/fuel tank compartment. I could see the little rat footprints leading from the vent up onto the propane tank, then up the wall, and through the central conduit passage into the next bay.

About this time the DW comes out to see what I'm doing, so I take her back to the engine compartment to show her the first nest. The trap I set 30 minutes earlier is GONE! I look on the ground below the engine, and there is Mrs. (very dead) Rat with her head in my trap. She must have been hiding somewhere in the engine compartment all the time! Guess she couldn't resist the smell of peanut butter. Too bad...

Since I was hopeful that there was only one rat, I decided to go ahead and clean out the nests. Pulled all the stuff off the shelf under the air filter housing, then went around and opened the air cleaner access hatch to get what I couldn't reach from the engine hatch. Something told me to check the air cleaner, and I am GLAD that I did. We have some pear trees in our back yard that are loaded with fruit, and lots of pears laying on the ground. The rabbits and birds eat them, and I have no problem with those critters. But I guess Mrs. Rat also fancied rotten pear, because she had filled up about 1/3 of the air cleaner with pears, plus a bunch of other trash and nesting material. I am SO glad I decided to check, because it would NOT have been good to start the engine and run it with the air cleaner full of all that junk!

So, the damage report so far: air cleaner ruined, but I needed a fresh one anyway, so no big deal. So far, I have found 4 places where wires have been chewed. In the engine compartment she chewed the trailer light harness and a wire on the isolator panel. In the storage bay she totally severed the power wire to the air step solenoid and the power wire to the aux air compressor. Back at the engine she was also chewing on the rubber hose that provides control signal to the turbo waste gate, and on the engine bay insulation. I will probably find more damage when I get under the coach tomorrow to look around, but I think I'm lucky that I discovered the problem when I did.

Form now on, whenever the coach is parked anywhere, I will have traps set up in the engine compartment. I'm not going to ever let my guard down again. Take it from me, If you think you are safe or immune to rat damage, you are just kidding yourself.

PS: I was going to include a photo of the deceased rodent, but thought it might offend the animal lovers on our Forum.

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #1 – September 07, 2016, 12:21:06 am

WOW that was one busy Beaver umm err I mean Rat!!!

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #2 – September 07, 2016, 12:32:46 am

One visitor did it for us, too. Cotton balls and peppermint oil extract are now staples, in our coach.

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #3 – September 07, 2016, 12:43:56 am

Sorry y'all got critter damage like that. Our PO had a rodent bait box in the fuel area and I asked him about it. I replenished each year. Knock Walnut.

Should one be in the engine well, as well?

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #4 – September 07, 2016, 12:44:47 am

I just caught 3 field mice in 3 days. I think they are looking for a ride to Tucson for the winter.

see ya
ken

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #5 – September 07, 2016, 12:50:07 am

How did she access the inside of the air filter.

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #6 – September 07, 2016, 12:51:53 am

How did the rat get on the downstream side of the air cleaner?

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #7 – September 07, 2016, 01:39:59 am

I too was visited by the miniscule furry things. I was camped at the Boy Scout Camp outside San Diego for a month and everything was fine until I noticed droppings on the counter. Went into full mouse pursuit and broke out my traps I bought but thought I'd never use. Found a nest in my top counter drawer, where they started to chew my toilet paper, inside the vacuum compartment, in the water heater compartment, and inside the same forward bay. That week I removed from this world 8 mice, and began the effort to close off all available avenues. I used steel wool and peppermint together for smaller openings.

I'm mouse free, but found more places they had been. I too found nuts in my air cleaner and immediately changed the filter before leaving California. No wire or hose nibbling noticed then or since. I thought it was a fluke that they hid in the air cleaner, but now see it must be a favorite. Time to get some non-air restricting wire as added protection.

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #8 – September 07, 2016, 07:53:52 am

Quote from: Old Knucklehead – September 07, 2016, 12:43:56 am

Should one be in the engine well, as well?

Based on my experience, I would say a definite "YES". One rat can do a LOT of damage to your engine compartment - if it "eats" the right wire, could completely disable your coach. Right now my air step, aux pump, and trailer lights are out of service until I repair the damaged wires.

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #9 – September 07, 2016, 08:07:47 am

Quote from: craneman – September 07, 2016, 12:50:07 am

How did she access the inside of the air filter.

If you look at the top right photo in my post, the air filter housing is supported by a steel bracket welded to a horizontal shelf. The rat nest was built on the shelf, under the housing and all around the bracket. The open end of the air filter is protected by a flat fiberglass "rain cover", which is mounted to the stud on the bracket that goes across the end of the filter. The cover is positioned a couple inches above the filter end. The rat got into the inside of the filter the same way air does as it is sucked through the filter into the engine. Fortunately, the inside of the air filter is lined with metal mesh - otherwise the rat probably would have chewed through the paper element and built her nest up inside my turbo!

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #10 – September 07, 2016, 08:18:45 am

Quote from: Balcanthez – September 07, 2016, 01:39:59 am

Time to get some non-air restricting wire as added protection.

I went to town yesterday and bought a half dozen more Tomcat snap traps. Put 4 traps in the engine bay, and 2 in the front storage bay. If there are any more rats hiding in my coach, I want to eliminate them. I also bought a sheet of expanded metal mesh. I plan to cover the ventilation hole in the fuel bay floor with open mesh. It will still let fumes escape, but will stop the entry of rats and/or mice. I am thinking about using the same material to protect the open end of the air cleaner, but need to figure the best way to implement.

I checked the inside of our coach very carefully, and don't see any sign of intrusion. As Paul says, "Knock walnut".

Everbilt 24 in. x 1/2 in. x 12 in. Plain Expanded Metal Sheet-801417 - The...

Tomcat Secure-Kill Rat Trap-0360810 - The Home Depot

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #11 – September 07, 2016, 09:12:31 am

Chuck, I have a rat trap on our back deck, behind the garage. I set it using peanut butter with black oil sunflower seeds pressed into the PB. Mice still manage to clean off the trigger plate without tripping the trap. So, trapping and blockage might not, and I do mean MIGHT NOT, deter invasion. These critters manage to find ways of getting in we never think of.
We cut aluminum pop (barley pop or soda) cans in half, crosswise, then cut tabs parallel to the can axis--about six tabs, then put about six cotton balls in the bottom, pour about a dozen drops of peppermint oil on the cotton, then bend the tabs to hold the cotton in place. I punch a hole in the bottom of the can and run either a piece of wire or a cable tie thru the can(s) so they can be hung in various places. I have four of these deterrents hung all around the engine compartment and one in the dump control compartment. Zero intrusions so far.
When storing the coach for the winter I will put these cans all over inside the coach and replenish the peppermint before leaving. Turns out the red squirrel population in the building where we store the coach had problems with red squirrels, so bad that they chewed up almost everything on the landlord's coach. Ours? Nothing!! Landlord let me put my deterrents in & around his new coach and has not had ANY problems since!

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #12 – September 07, 2016, 09:19:31 am

Quote from: nitehawk – September 07, 2016, 09:12:31 am

We cut aluminum pop (barley pop or soda) cans in half, crosswise, then cut tabs parallel to the can axis--about six tabs, then put about six cotton balls in the bottom, pour about a dozen drops of peppermint oil on the cotton, then bend the tabs to hold the cotton in place. I punch a hole in the bottom of the can and run either a piece of wire or a cable tie thru the can(s) so they can be hung in various places. I have four of these deterrents hung all around the engine compartment and one in the dump control compartment. Zero intrusions so far.

I'm having a hard time visualizing your device. Do you have any photos? I'm willing to try anything to avoid a repeat of this incident.

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #13 – September 07, 2016, 09:42:22 am

Hopefully these pics will explain. Wire or cable tie not shown.
Last picture is bottom of can. I had punched several holes in this one, but not installed in coach yet.
I sometimes forget where I have these deterrents hanging and am pleasantly surprised when I run across one in my compartments. I do replenish the peppermint then & there.

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #14 – September 07, 2016, 11:49:11 am

Timely subject for me as we have bought some property (RV Lot) about 45 mins away from house to have some short get aways etc and this will be first time I have needed to think about it. One of the neighbours there uses a rope light around the base of his coach and said that since he has done it in 3 yrs NO infestation, before that he had major problems. I read about the Peppermint thing before but wonder if anyone has good luck on the light ropes as well. We looked at a FT GV in Tucson a couple of years ago thinking of buying to fix up and the owner living there in Desert had rope lights all around as said he no longer gets critters etc.
Any thoughts?
JohnH

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #15 – September 07, 2016, 11:54:15 am

Quote

rope lights all around

This is a great subject. Reminds me of tires and dumping procedures. Lots of passion. We live in Tucson. I can say that rope lights definitely work for pack rats. If we leave a vehicle for several days without using them the little rascals move right in. I had to rewire my old 67 pickup twice because of them.
jor

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #16 – September 07, 2016, 12:00:38 pm

We use a three tiered approach with pretty good success: ultrasonic, Fresh Cab scent packets, electronic traps.

Electric Traps:
I been using the electronic traps by Victor in the engine bay area. They have them for both mice and rats.

The traps have been clean kills and not messy, always kill (I've never had to finish the job), and nothing has escaped with the bait. The electronic traps use batteries to charge a capacitor. The rodents are electrocuted when they step on two metal plates inside the trap.

Ultrasonic:
The ultrasonic units are Aspectek brand "Yard Sentinal" ultrasonic devices that I place under/around the coach (available through Amazon). These can be powered either by 120 volt AC, or battery. You can set the frequency range to the desired wildlife from large ones (deer, etc.) to rodents.

Aspectek Yard Sentinel Ultrasonic Outdoor Pest & Animal Repellent - Aspectek

Scent packets:
Fresh Cab scent packets are all natural packets filled with cedar shavings, oils, etc. We put these packets throughout the coach interior, in external bays, and also engine compartment.

We find the three tiered approach works rather well, but in the end rodents are all individual and what one doesn't like another will love.

If they ignore the ultra sonic stuff, and aren't bothered by the Fresh Cab, the electronic traps become the final line.

Chris
98 U-320 36'

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #17 – September 07, 2016, 12:36:52 pm

I have posted this before ... I use old spice bottles that have perforated lids for dispensing the spice, herb or seasoned salt. Stuff the cotton balls inside and then dose liv=berally with peppermint. they are easily placed all ove the coach and easily refreshed with oil. No issues since we began using it, and your coach smells minty fresh!!

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #18 – September 07, 2016, 01:53:32 pm

This summer some friends that moved to Yuma, AZ told me how they bought the solar powered LED lights that slip on the 4x4 fence posts and slide them under their car so the pack rats don't chew the wiring. Added pull strings so the lights can be removed easily. The "push-stick" has a cup hook end so the lights can be positioned easily.
Working well so far, I was told.
I do have a LED string around three sides of my coach engine compartment and a color-changing string of LED lights on the passenger side of the coach that runs from front wheel well to rear wheel well.
Never had a problem yet, but once. We were camped (on grass) over by Shawano, WI and no lights on or laid out. When we went to pull out a mouse came running down a rear tire. It left.

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #19 – September 08, 2016, 06:30:41 pm

Crawled under the coach yesterday - found one more nest location, on top of the engine cooling fan shroud. That is a REALLY hard place to get to - I tried from the top hanging over the edge of the bed base, and from the ground reaching up. Finally managed to reach the area and clean out all the trash, but it was a strain. I also looked everywhere I could see, trying to spot more damaged wires. Just found one - the little cur chewed right through the cable going from our Magnum inverter/charger to the battery temp sensor. The cable has 4 TINY little wires inside - I don't know if I will be able to splice them back together - haven't tried yet. I ordered a new temp sensor with 15' cable in case I can't fix it - they are only $30 so no big deal.

In the front storage compartment, I have repaired my air step power lead, and the aux compressor power lead. Couldn't find any more damage in that area. I installed my "Anti-RAT" metal screen over the ventilation opening in the floor of the fuel tank compartment. This should prevent any future rodent entry through that hole. I recommend every owner take this precaution - it could save you a lot of grief.

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #20 – September 08, 2016, 08:04:03 pm

Looks good Chuck! Have been told that if a rat/mouse can get their head through a space, their whole body will follow!

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #21 – September 08, 2016, 09:12:21 pm

Seems not necessary to add this, but.....about a year or so ago taking off from what Carol and, or Barry wrote....I got some small plastic containers *1 inch x 1.5 inch", put in six cotton balls. Drill holes in the container lid to let odor/fumes escape. Then soak the cotton balls with pure peppermint oil from Amazon. Our vents in the propane bay are covered with wire mesh.

Place two or three treated containers in all bays, three in the engine bay.

Put LED light under the engine and rope light under the front below the entry of the wiring trace.

Have not seen any evidence of mice or squirrels since we did this.

Prior to that, mice or squirrel did about $1500 damage to wiring in Jeep (parked in a car port). So if we leave the Jeep for a while, we treat it too. Jeep dealer said they had five others similarly damaged during same time as us, it was a very wet period when flooded areas seemed to drive the mice to seek higher ground (uh, cars).

I do also put out some spring traps around, just to see if any activity.

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #22 – September 12, 2016, 11:37:55 pm

UPS dropped off my new air filter today. While I've been waiting for it, I modified my air filter housing lid to prevent rat entry. Used some more of the expanded metal to put a "cage" around the open end of the lid. One less thing to worry about.

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #23 – September 12, 2016, 11:46:59 pm

Chuck, my comment would be I maybe would have used the mesh on the end too instead of the "cap" Better/more breathing.
JohnH

ps, on my comments earlier I have now got our coach parked on our RV Property away from house and to keep the critters away I have rope lights around and a ultrasonic unit my neighbour gave me sitting under the coach pointing right thru lengthwise. They are both on a timer for dark. I also put a motion flood light in engine bay and peppermint in all bays and engine area. I closed the front access hose tray up top with a rolled mesh and cloth with more Peppermint on it. Hopefully all this will say "please do not come to this coach"
John

Re: RAT - My First

Reply #24 – September 13, 2016, 12:04:35 am

Quote from: John Haygarth – September 12, 2016, 11:46:59 pm

Chuck, my comment would be I maybe would have used the mesh on the end too instead of the "cap" Better/more breathing.

I assume the fiberglass "cap" is to keep water (rain, road splash, truck wash, etc.) from entering the open end of the filter. Without it, the only thing protecting the paper filter would be the slats on the access door. I don't know if this setup on my air filter is original stock, or added by one of the prior owners. When we get to "Q" in Jan. I am going to take the opportunity to look at other GV's. There are several things on my coach that I want to compare to other examples.

If I get any indication that the metal mesh is restricting air flow, or impacting performance, I could always drill some holes in the fiberglass cover to compensate. Truthfully, though, I don't think the mesh will be a problem. In my younger days, I owned hotrods with 500+ cubic inch engines that turned a lot higher RPM's than our Cummins, and breathed through a lot smaller air cleaner openings. They ran just fine.

OR, I could drill holes in the "neck" of the lid that the mesh is now covering. Basically, I would open up all the holes in the half of the mesh that is now blocked. This would almost double the area of open mesh through which the air is drawn. I like that idea! I will try it out when I have some free time.

Thanks for the mental "prod", John!

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