Design Flaw - wiring/plastics/attract rodents!

[Ccasey]

Its come to my attention that the soy based wire coatings this industry insists on using unnaturally attracts rodents. Ive read this, ive met with two RV service people and local Ford Service and was told this to my face. My newish 2014 Leprechaun would not accelerate. I limped into the Ford dealer -as it had only 7K miles i had no idea what it could be. Service showed me knawed wires to the speed controller
Thst cost me $270. RV is parked on hard gravel driveway along my house. Its open.
I followed advice, put dryer sheets everywhere. Bought a fence to put around RV. Blocked what i could off. This week i open the hood to put on battery trickle charger. Sitting on top of the battery is a rabbit. He has eaten the large red plastic cover over the positive battery terminal. He has chewed through yellow and gray wires inside a black plastic flexible protector tube that goes to a long metal tube. He has eaten about 2" more of the plastic protector tube off the wiring, and some of the wires. I see other area where they have bit.
So it is clear to me the materials used to manufacture the wire coatings, plastic, rubber lines and covers attract rodents. It is not natural for a rabbit to squeeze and climb up and through considerable machinery with close spaces to seek this unnnatural snack. Its not part of a natural rabbit diet. There is no salt or other material on this almost new Coachman RV. It is clearly the materials used in manufacture. What in the world can i do? This seems unfair to me as i paid so much for the new RV and only used it a few times There is no storage here available. These new repairs on top of the past repairs, new cost of fencing, reppelents etc. is really bothering me. Help.

[ov845]

I'm sorry to hear about your RV, just like antifreeze is unnatural to drink it smells good for animals to drink it. You can't go wrong with mint oil to repel mice but a rabbit you might consider getting a couple of fake owls and place them near the RV. Get the ones that the head moves in a breeze. We use owls to keep critters away from our garden.


Happy Camping!

2012 Ram 1500 Crew Cab
Engine 5.7L Gear 3.92
Airlift 1000
2015 2809W WindJammer
Husky Centerline WDH

[daveclark]

At first I thought that's crazy but googling says sure enuff...

I've never had the problem *knock on wood* but Honda seems to be a big target and sells a tape to wrap wires with. Also there are some sprays you coudl try like Product Info | Rodent Defense

Good luck!

[Bama Rambler]

That's not a new thing. I remember about 50 years ago I was working with my Dad and we went to one place to build a house and the people had the all the farm equipment covered with tin sheeting, we had a step side pickup that had exposed rear light wiring. They told us that we should cover up the wires because the animals loved to eat the insulation off the wiring. He showed us a tractor that had all the insulation eaten off the cables by cows of all things.

They said that all sorts of animals like the insulation even though they had plenty of other food to eat. It was very strange to me. So it's not really a new thing.

You apparently live in an area where the little animals are plentiful.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Bama Rambler

They said that all sorts of animals like the insulation even though they had plenty of other food to eat. It was very strange to me. So it's not really a new thing.

That's a good point/story- it doesn't help the OP, but we had to buy a new grill after the raccoons wouldn't stop eating through the propane lines on my original one. Aluminum foil slowed them down for a while, but they ultimately ate through it. I had to buy one where the tanks and lines were enclosed in cabinets.

[Blackhat6mike]

I had to pay $1,100 to replace the electronic fuel injection wiring harness on my 1984 Special Anniversary Addition 300 ZX Turbo as rats had built a nest under the intake manifold and chewed up ALL the wiring. This was in Tucson and the rats are vicious. Even though the car was in a garage, we started leaving the hood open at night so they wouldn't have a place to hide.
They had chewed a hole through the plywood siding to get into the garage. I caught 2 in a trap loaded with peanut butter.
GOOD LUCK!!

[AquaMan]

We have a indoor/outdoor cat that is a hunting machine! Haven't had an issue with mice for a couple years now. He leaves me a trophy on the door step every morning. I think he considers it his price of admission for coming inside.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[DreiHunde]

Originally Posted by Bama Rambler

That's not a new thing. I remember about 50 years ago I was working with my Dad and we went to one place to build a house and the people had the all the farm equipment covered with tin sheeting, we had a step side pickup that had exposed rear light wiring. They told us that we should cover up the wires because the animals loved to eat the insulation off the wiring. He showed us a tractor that had all the insulation eaten off the cables by cows of all things.

They said that all sorts of animals like the insulation even though they had plenty of other food to eat. It was very strange to me. So it's not really a new thing.

You apparently live in an area where the little animals are plentiful.

Yep. nothing new and just another "Battle of the bugs" we must fight!

[CarolinaGirl]

I am fairly new to camping and so this is only my second winter of keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for no critters when opening up the camper. But just like you, no storage available unless I want to pay $1500. We live out in the country where critters are a plenty. We park our RV out in the side yard and just have to hope for the best. So last year I did a two pronged approach.
1. I use the Fresh Cab bags all throughout the inside and also in the outdoor compartments.
2. I soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and place those every few feet (both inside and in the outside compartments) as well. I place the cotton balls on small squares of aluminum foil, so the oil doesn't damage anything.
3. On the ground, around every tire or support jack, I sprinkled the peppermint oil. I did not get the oil on any of the equipment, due to fear of damage. The oil strictly went on the ground. But anywhere, any part of my camper touched the ground, I put a good bit of peppermint oil.

I don't know if those tricks worked, or I just had dumb luck. But I can tell you, no critters dead inside and no chewed wires anywhere. This year, I've got a brand new 5th wheel sitting in the side yard. I've got all crossable body parts crossed, that I will get the same results as last year.

I know that your case is different with a motorhome and so there are a lot more wires easily accessible to critters. But a bottle of peppermint oil and couple of boxes of Fresh Cab is a lot less expensive than having to repair wires. It certainly wouldn't hurt to try.

Best of luck to you!

Regards,
Sandra
Currently snowed in, located in CT, but dreaming of an early spring!

[Cato]

Fuel lines on Honda CRV must be tasty too! have replaced them 2x…..
since cat died.
I use Irish Spring soap to keep deer from Hostas….

use mint for mice but not replacement for the cat

[mike.t]

Design flaw? Critters have been chewing through wire and rubber for over a 100 years.

[Filterman]

Originally Posted by Ccasey

Its come to my attention that the soy based wire coatings this industry insists on using unnaturally attracts rodents. Ive read this, ive met with two RV service people and local Ford Service and was told this to my face. My newish 2014 Leprechaun would not accelerate. I limped into the Ford dealer -as it had only 7K miles i had no idea what it could be. Service showed me knawed wires to the speed controller
Thst cost me $270. RV is parked on hard gravel driveway along my house. Its open.
I followed advice, put dryer sheets everywhere. Bought a fence to put around RV. Blocked what i could off. This week i open the hood to put on battery trickle charger. Sitting on top of the battery is a rabbit. He has eaten the large red plastic cover over the positive battery terminal. He has chewed through yellow and gray wires inside a black plastic flexible protector tube that goes to a long metal tube. He has eaten about 2" more of the plastic protector tube off the wiring, and some of the wires. I see other area where they have bit.
So it is clear to me the materials used to manufacture the wire coatings, plastic, rubber lines and covers attract rodents. It is not natural for a rabbit to squeeze and climb up and through considerable machinery with close spaces to seek this unnnatural snack. Its not part of a natural rabbit diet. There is no salt or other material on this almost new Coachman RV. It is clearly the materials used in manufacture. What in the world can i do? This seems unfair to me as i paid so much for the new RV and only used it a few times There is no storage here available. These new repairs on top of the past repairs, new cost of fencing, reppelents etc. is really bothering me. Help.

My son recently had an issue with a few warning lights showing up on the dash. When he phoned the repair center , the chap said, I'm going to order (a particular) harness, because I'm sure the rats have gotten to it. Sure enough, teeth marks all along the accessible places. He put on an after market harness that he said they don't like so much!

[Karter]

I have a string of flashing Christmas lights on the ground around the base of RV on a dusk to dawn timer. Completely solved my rodent problem! Looks odd at night but who cares?

[john.tucson]

Go to ACE hardware an ask for ROPEL spray and spray down any exposed wiring...

[Myrle]

My niece had all the wiring ate up in car it was squirrels. I didn't know all this insulation on wires was bio degradable till this happened. Cost her something like 600-700 $ to replace them.

[reddiver]

Warfarin works good too. I put the little packets around the rv. I know they are eating it because I have to replace them from time to time. Never had a rodent get into my unit.

[DDC]

I had this on a 2006 Silverado, they ate the wiring under the fuse unit under the hood the truck was only 8 months old I repaired the wiring and the dealer replaced the speedo head that had shorted out because of this, fortunately they replaced it under warranty.

[RoyalFrog2]

Our previous RV was a Crossroads Cruiser TT and squirrels did so much damage we filed insurance claim. $1700. Fortunately DH was not within hearing range when I found the two cabinets full of walnuts. We had RV parked on cement pad so ins. co paid (minus deductible). When time to buy new RV. first thing hubby did was crawl underneath to see what kind of access the critters would have. Our Rockwood 8315BSS has a solid underlayment instead of that Tyvek type stuff but we are still very vigilant about the animals. We use "Animal B-gone" spray and other things but I will add the peppermint extract and possible Christmas lights to our arsenal. We live in the country surrounded by forest with rabbit, squirrels, raccoons, mice, oppossum, deer,turkeys, owls. Mixed blessing.

[johng4706]

When I lived in Honolulu, the rats loved to eat the plastic coating on the early Romex cables. Every once in awhile the lights would flicker and then stop. Rat was electrocuted with chomping down on a 120 volt line. I was told that Romex changed the plastic covering and added something the critters didn't like eating.

[satdog01]

X2 on squirrels and wiring, in winter they crawl under hood while engine is warm. Let the dog run about till engine cools off. I spent $300 on wiring replacement on DW vehicle, neighbor was near $1000, had to have vehicle towed, cut through starter cable. Am on the use of an owl as well, not sure about squirrels, no issues with elephants as of yet! Trying the Bounce in the tt, seems to be working after sealing several holes under bath cabinets FR missed. Not sure why one of three holes had foam, the others did not. Tt seems fresh, nice as am heading to LA in a coup,e of days. Last resort is the need for some gumbo meat, squirrel not bad!