Mice vs Travel trailer winter covers

[Rogerjs]

I was thinking about a winter cover for our 2015 Coachman Catalina 333 RETS. The one thing that comes to mind is mice love the dark. I am worried that covering up the trailer with a winter cover would welcome mice because of the light being shut out over the winter.

[JayArras]

It's still dark at night when mice are the most active. I don't think the cover will make one bit of difference.

[NJKris]

Agree with Jay. Plus, I've been in my camper with cover on, and plenty of light still shines through it, unless you get some thousand dollar cover made with sail material or something.

[rsdata]

buy a 200-300 sheet box of Bounce fabric softener sheets... be generous and put them all over... low, high and everywhere in-between... your camper should stay mouse-free and have a strong but somewhat pleasant odor in the spring

I doubt the mice will notice the cover one way or the other.

[The Evil Twin]

Leave a cat in there.
Just kidding. We are giving peppermint oil a go. Along with checking all over for possible points of entry for mice. I watched some video where they tried a number of home remedies to keep moce out. Dryer sheets failed miserably as did Irish Spring soap. Peppermint oil kept them away from the food.

[Nancyc7]

Peppermint oil worked for us. Lots of it.

[The Evil Twin]

Originally Posted by Nancyc7

Peppermint oil worked for us. Lots of it.

I bet. My wife asked why I bought 16 ounces of it. I said it is a start. From what I gather, the cotton balls have to be treated monthly.

[Flybob]

We have used Essential Oil of Peppermint Oil for 15 yrs and no mice despite them being in garage 2ft away. Put the cotton balls in an old ceramic mug or glass as the oil is corrosive. Only need 5-10 drops per mug. Be sure to use essential oil and not food grade oil. Refresh every 4-5 weeks. It also helps keep spiders out. Add a mug with oil to the basement as well.

[grumpyer]

anyone have any luck with the eletronic rodent repel? if so which ones are best?

[JayArras]

Whew boy, here we go again with the annual "how to repel mice" advice thread, 2019 edition. Do a forum search. Lots of theories out there. YMMV

[grumpyer]

All I know is I put "No mice allowed" signs on all 4 corners and never once had a mouse problem!

[Tomgky]

The only time I ever had a mouse problem is when I used the cover. They were able to climb the inside of the cover to get on the roof. They made nest on top of the screen under my vent cover over the bed, in the AC unit and the frig vent. The entire roof was covered with mice droppings all in just over a week. They used the insulation material from the inside of the cover for their nesting. I had to remove the cover.

[Stovebolt]

Tomgky.

Same with me, I put a cover on and mice were everywhere. I haven't used a cover since. I clean the roof in the spring and fall and I wash and wax the sides twice a year. Inside I put 0000 steel wool where ever there was a place they could come in and used foam with the wool.

[RandK-M]

Originally Posted by Stovebolt

Tomgky.

Same with me, I put a cover on and mice were everywhere. I haven't used a cover since. I clean the roof in the spring and fall and I wash and wax the sides twice a year. Inside I put 0000 steel wool where ever there was a place they could come in and used foam with the wool.

Add me to that list of covers and mice. In 25 years of everything from popups to travel trailers, the only time I ever had mice in the camper was the 3 years I used a cover. Those years I had nests under the cover on the bumper, roof, and one year, they somehow they got inside, maybe through the AC.
Ever since I just do a thorough inspection of the roof seals and go without the hassle of the cover.

Ray

[CGK]

We use covers over the winter, and we have used peppermint oil for many years - no problem so far, and we live in the country where field mice are numerous - TT is parked next to the garage. Have occasionally gotten mice in the garage, but not in the TT.

[SherriP61]

The only thing we have found to help keep mice out are urinal cakes... We have tried the Cabfresh. It didn't work. The urinal cakes do. When we bought our Tri-toon, the salesman suggested placing them around, sitting in lids, before we cover for the winter. It did the trick.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by SherriP61

The only thing we have found to help keep mice out are urinal cakes... We have tried the Cabfresh. It didn't work. The urinal cakes do. When we bought our Tri-toon, the salesman suggested placing them around, sitting in lids, before we cover for the winter. It did the trick.

That's a new one to me.

We have tried...
Glue traps
Cab Fresh
Irish Spring soap
Mothballs
Dryer Sheets
Rodent Away granules
Electronic pest devices
Peppermint oil
Spearmint oil
Coyote urine (outside)

The ONLY thing that has worked for us is good Victor traps with peanut butter.
You have to check them often but they will catch and kill mice.

[Iwritecode]

We specifically use Downey dryer sheets. I've heard a lot of people say Bounce but for us Downey works the best. Some friends of ours used a generic brand and they didn't work.

Last year the only evidence we had of mice were a couple of places where we forgot to put the dryer sheets.


Irish Spring soap doesn't work. They literally ate half the bar when use used it.

[benchdog]

I have found over the years the only way to keep mice out is close their entry doors. We purchased a new Grey Wolf this year, and I went through and checked for any possible entry points for mice, all looked good or so I thought.

I was doing a couple mods that required me to fish wires under the shower base, and I notice a large hole exposing the floor insulation. I said that looks like a problem I will need to look into later.

Well, later came sooner than expected. The next day my wife said I needed to clean up after my projects. I said I did, she no there is saw dust on the bathroom floor. So I pulled access covers set a couple sticky traps and in two days caught seven mice on them. Problem!

So I pull the shower out after checking the underside where my water lines come through at my grey tank by pulling a little insulation back and was able to look into the camper.

So I found 3 large openings (mice doors) that needed some attention. There were to 4 inch holes cut in the floor for water lines. One only had 2 half inch water lines going through it. A 12 inch by 13 in opening for the shower drain trap that didn't need to be there.

Three doors closed hopefully no more.

[twam911]

I have a classic car that is been totally restored. It goes into storage for the winter. Mice love electrical wiring! I also have a TT. It is in a private campgrounds year round. We put Irish Spring soap shavings in the car and in the TT. Never seen a mouse dropping in them. I was in TT today and nothing. It also smells Irish Spring Fresh!!!