Mouse Proof Your RV - We could not believe where they were getting in

[@OurCrazyRV]

A note, we mentioned using steel wool, but it would work 100 times better to use copper wool. It won't rust on you. Thank you to everyone who brought this to my attention :)

[@kgd6147]

We have also screwed down Hardware cloth over the preventative, steel wool or copper.

[@steveo4141]

Supposed to use stainless steel wool ...not plain steel wool otherwise yes it will rust pretty much instantly

[@p.schaafsma3954]

It's sad how the manufacturers leave these huge holes in the trailer. What I did with my old Coachmen Travel Trailer was; I crawled underneath the trailer and found all of the entry holes cut for plumbing and gas then I stuffed them with stainless steel wool and expanding foam. Keep in mind that regular steel wool can rust. By attacking the problem from the outside, this prevented them from entering the trailer at all. In your case, the mice can still get into the substructure but I hope that they don't.

[@OurCrazyRV]

Very true. We had a suggestion to use copper wool which doesn’t rust. Our substructure is just a coroplast board, but there doesn’t appear to be any noticeable holes so I think they were sneaking around the side somewhere. I don’t think they are going to hang around unless they can find a food source and we have not heard them anymore.

[@carpinosmetalworks]

​@OurCrazyRV just be careful copper and metal in contact can cause electrolysis and rot the metal

[@kevinm3873]

I had mice under my kitchen cabinet also. I had to remove my electrical panel and found a giant hole that the manufacture made to run one water line and a power cable. I also had to take my bathroom wall apart to seal around the air vent for the gray tank. These company's should care about sealing these hole when they make the trail. It would be a lot easier before they build everything on top of the holes they make in the floor!

[@OurCrazyRV]

There is definitely more holes than we were expecting and you can bet those mice will find them when given the chance.

[@MontanaWelldigger]

Then you have a sealed them in underbelly where the mice will be limited to. Thats where all the wires and pipes are. I hope they don't start eating them. It would be better to plug the exterior of the camper bottom not letting them in in the first place.

[@OurCrazyRV]

+xxlxpman The first goal was to keep them out of the main area as it was the most unsanitary. We didn’t cover the sealing of the underbelly in this video.

[@tomclose6643]

NO SHIT SHERLOCK seal underbelly spray mouse free on under carriage they dont like that stuff on there feet triple check under belly for holes i put sonic alarm thing inside side compartment as well i win! do not cover camper either

[@limegreen192]

The last 2 campers I bought had huge holes under the shower pan. I have used plywood, foam and steel wool to close the gaps.

[@OurCrazyRV]

That is another place we would never think to look.

[@chentem7952]

My new travel trailer i just purchased had huge holes in every cabinet that had plumbing or electrical in it. I noticed the rodent problem after storing it for a month before my first camping trip an I noticed rat droppings. I sealed everything up minus underneath my shower since i have minimal access

[@TheOffroadCamper]

Another place where pets can commonly get in is through refrigerator and heater exterior vents often times there are no mesh behind those and they can squeeze through the fins in the vents. Something else often gets overlooked is external storage compartments being left open, it only takes one time for a pest to get in.

[@janloftness]

It’s true about urine trails creating mouse “super-highways”. The scent will attract mice from all over. We had mouse droppings on our back cement steps they kept reappearing no matter how much I washed and rinsed the area. For some reason I decided to spray it with Simple Green and did not rinse it. The droppings stopped appearing. I think that must have killed the scent or the hormones in the urine that attracts them. So, just washing the urine off will not erase the scent. Our pest service guy told us about the urine trails. So, I think Simple Green might be the way to go for cleaning the urine off and deterring more mice from joining the party. And maybe they hate the Simple Green smell too. I don’t mind it myself.

[@OurCrazyRV]

I have never used Simple Green, but it sounds like you are a big fan :) Someday we will have to try it out. Thanks for watching.

[@kgd6147]

@@OurCrazyRVbleach water is recommended for mouse trails.

[@OurCrazyRV]

@@kgd6147 Yes that would definitely help with mouse trails.

[@russell5637]

Unbelievable what a huge hole. Great video great delivery will look for more

[@OurCrazyRV]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@industrialathlete6096]

Steel wool and spray insulation!!! Great idea!

[@OurCrazyRV]

Glad you like it!

[@mikenimmick3920]

I currently have a 34' 5th wheel. From my years of having trailers I have come to the conclusion that every manufacturer builds these things like complete shit. There are holes for pests everywhere. They don't even attempt to make these pest proof. It's like they built a 35 foot mouse house and we get the pleasure of living in it.

[@OurCrazyRV]

Yes we think that keeping nice out should be at the top of their list.

[@pouncepounce7417]

I am trained in capentry and what i see in RV is "I give a fuck how it is build". It is not building cheap, it is not building lightweight, it is plain and simple not putting a minute of thought into how to build it proper.

[@mikedunn7795]

@@OurCrazyRV Wonder if someone has sued a manufacturer over this?

[@donaldmulrooney942]

Thanks, first things I will do when we go back to the trailer next month.

[@OurCrazyRV]

+Donald Mulrooney Glad you found it helpful. Let us know if you find any secret doorways 😀

[@jefferyshall]

There are HUGE holes all over our RV. Under the sink where you showed yours, under bathroom sink too (same false wall and huge hole), under the shower pan are several one being THE largest of all of them and there is NO way to get in and cover/fill those. It's like 3ft x 3ft in size, but only 4" high. Electrical, water and heating ducts EVERYWWHERE.

[@OurCrazyRV]

What kind of RV do you guys have? That sounds like a big project to seal that all up.

[@WhatsMyGear]

Maybe try an aluminum mesh like this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6nIXqZtit56jbs I just want to help you keep mice out, I am making it my mission to help prevent mice from getting in anyone's RV!

[@tankscrittersandurbanhomes5579]

OMG 😲 that hole was massive. What were they thinking? I have no words for that nonsense.

[@OurCrazyRV]

Yes it was much larger than I expected. A raccoon would have no issue with getting in. :) Thanks for watching.

[@samuelcolt4315]

Thanks for the advice and demonstration.

[@hammer-r]

So it looks like this spray foam doesn’t really expand . Is this true? If so that’s good in controlling how much comes out. Tks.

[@pouncepounce7417]

it amazes me always how deliberate bad RV are constructed. I do not talk about cutting corners to produce cheaper, but to delibarate not using better options that would not increase price but mean more quality. When i build something for an customer i try to make it smart inside the budget i have, it is what makes work fun and not a chore.

[@OurCrazyRV]

+Pounce Pounce Agreed. Part of the reason we bought an older RV as well as the product quality seems to go down with newer RV’s but the price just goes up. Would you agree?

[@pouncepounce7417]

@@OurCrazyRV That is an complex topic. New materials and ways to build things come up all the time. With older stuff you know the weak spots and how to fix them, with new stuff it is an big easteregg. What i noticed is that components today decreased in quality a lot. I tend to fix more than replace, 20% failure is with new components not rare, quality control allows more to pass due to empty markets with that stupid "move all production to china, what could go wrong" approach. I am all for low prices, but that is saving pennies and loosing dollars. I want to know the home adress of the dude i buy something from. There needs to be competition in production between countries or we loose big time. With RV it is very much an question of the people building them, what team assembled your RV, if it managed to survive ten or twenty years you probably have an keeper (if maintained) with new ones again, easteregg, time will tell. My approach is to find one that is used but in good condition and then step by step modernize, given i am carpenter it is sticks and tin anyways for me, then i know what i do... Flat roofs and hope that caulking keeps it watertight is what i consider an very optimistic approach though, i rather sacrifice a few inches height near the walls where i rare stand anyways...and have an curved roof.. This is the other topic, as woodworker we are trained to build so water flows off outside the construction, rv producers hope sealing will get it through gurantee time...

[@1Savagevideos]

Bro thank you so much I'm just facing with this issue now and it's bullshit

[@OurCrazyRV]

You’re welcome. We hate mice as well. Hopefully you can find all the holes and keep those suckers out!

[@wadetyrell]

I have a 1977 Layton travel trailer, I didn’t realize the scent trails they leave. It’s really irritating when they start scratching and chewing stuff at 2 a.m. I crawled under the camper and didn’t see any point of entry, don’t know where they come in from. It really sucks when you try to get some sleep time. I did play some loud audio with a JBL speaker that seemed to stop the scratching temporarily. I don’t even leave scraps of food out, so I don’t know why they come in the trailer, except for shelter.

[@OurCrazyRV]

O my, I hate hearing mice, especially when trying to sleep. A friend of ours surrounded their camper with traps. A fort knox situation lol

[@cynthiarice7438]

Our tire is in under the bottom of the camper…under that was a huge hole too…we have filled everything visible, use electronic repellants, peppermint oil, steel wool at the corner of a slide, we have two full slides, I could for some reason see a strip of light after we had filled all visible holes, so lastly we dealt with this one, there still getting in somewhere…I’ve caught 8 this spring alone in sticky traps…I’m looking at this spray as well but need to find a dealer in Canada who carries it…we have a 33’ Jayco Jayflight 2011 model, bought it on clearance in 2013. Lots of nice space in it so obviously more room for mice🤬

[@OurCrazyRV]

Those mice are relentless. Thankfully we appeared to have found the hole they were coming in through. You might have to set an abnormal amount of traps and start to work backwards to where they appear to be entering. When we did this we opened up all our cupboards, along the floor so that we could see where they first entered. I was worried they were coming in behind the fridge and then moving along the cupboards and out.

[@joeycmore]

pro tip: use stainless steel pot scrubbers... they're cheap at the dollar store. Regular steel wool rusts and disintegrates quickly

[@OurCrazyRV]

100% agree. We realized this after the video. Also copper was suggested.

[@annej5699]

Another problem to look for which I'm sure many people will encounter sooner or later is the fact that there is no independent water cut off to the toilet or the sink or the tub and shower. If you have to service any of those you have to turn off the water to the entire RV. I had to change the flush valve on my toilet recently and discovered this. The builders also built the toilet so close to the wall that I almost didn't have room to get the screws out to get the flush valve replaced, even with the shortest and stubbiest screwdrivers I could find.

[@OurCrazyRV]

We have been adding shutoff valves throughout the RV to help with this issue.

[@Step-n-Wolf]

How about from underneath? Seems blocking holes from the top doesn't keep them out from between the floor and frame?

[@annej5699]

I got the bottom drawer off of my kitchen cabinets and found a huge oblong hole under there. Looking past it, under the stove over to the wall between the stove and the refrigerator, I find more huge holes cut into that wall. I'm sure there's more holes under the refrigerator where the propane heater is, and likely more holes under the shower/tub. I am very unimpressed with the builders, because under the bottom bunk and under the bench seats, where they know the RV owner will be looking on a regular basis, everything is buttoned up much tighter and neater and no mice get in there. I cannot access all of the holes to get them all covered and plugged. I'm sure there are holes I can't even see. Which means mice will be able to get into the walls and start climbing around in there. I am not a happy camper. I will be getting caulking and some spray foam and trying to seal up the entire perimeter of corrugated plastic that lines the bottom of my trailer on the outside. I'm not sure what else to do.

[@OurCrazyRV]

Other than pulling everything out and putting it back together again it is really hard to seal those holes. I was glad that the holes in our floor was easy to get to.

[@MrAvilajk]

Steel wool works great but I've used that pest foam and they sometimes chew through it. I wouldn't recommend that foam. I would use lavender and peppermint oil.

[@OurCrazyRV]

That’s a good idea. We also had the tip to use copper wool vs steel as it doesn’t rust. Happy travels :)

[@MrAvilajk]

@@OurCrazyRV that's a much better idea, copper. 👍🏻

[@paulmayfield4275]

Putting Irish Spring soap Pieces through The trailer and dryer sheets in your trailer or motor home helps a lot never I never had an issue with my with mice or rats

[@OurCrazyRV]

We have used bounce sheets before, but they were still getting in. I can see how they would not like Irish Spring soap, but have never tried it.

[@Goaskval]

Great tip on Irish spring and I’ve heard mint oil. I’ve got some old essential oils and I’m like the extra benefit of smell good.

[@cpfpv6410]

They will still get into the walls and urinate and defecate in the room and ceiling!!! You also need to address where they get in from outside. A mint oil spray on the tires and landing feet can be a big help to steer them away but needs frequent reapplication

[@OurCrazyRV]

+CP FPV thanks for the tips on mint oil and I agree with you that it doesn’t keep them out of the walls, but if you have a giant hole on the inside I think that is still worth sealing.

[@dannidaymitchell613]

You’re lucky, I somehow have rats in mine same sort of holes but they are in the ceiling now somehow. They haven’t made it into the living areas but I can hear them and it’s smelling funky. I’ve done all of the tricks and even professionals but nothing is helping. I blocked up everything a while back but they were inside when I did it. They got real loud then and busted out but still come back. I can’t take it anymore I’m going to plug it all up and attach a hose to my car and snuff em dead, move out for a few weeks till the smell goes away or just take a match to it. I’m new to this rv thing , no help just me and this was supposed to be my haven and save $$ now I don’t know what choice I have.

[@OurCrazyRV]

O wow, we have never had to deal with rats before. That is definitely not fun to deal with. I’m not even sure where you would have to start, would be best to lure them out somehow so you don’t have them left in there.

[@markb8954]

Did you get your rat issue sorted out? They must have found a great place with food….

[@cynthiarice7438]

First line of defence the manufacturer’s should close off those big gaping holes to prevent issues and show some responsible business practise! There expensive and should have best standards first and foremost for a quality product!

[@OurCrazyRV]

We agree 100%. We really like our rig and it is built pretty solid compared to some units we look at now, but to up that quality control it should be mouse proof from the manufacturer.

[@tiredtrucker4life]

You're absolutely right!! The manufacturers just seem to slap these things together as quickly as possible. High time they took some pride in their product for a change.

[@boondockduane]

Use Coarse 1:43 Bronze Wool not Steel Wool. Bronze does not rust and break down like the steel wool Bronze wool and Eternabond! Use Grandpa Gus’s pouch’s and sprays

[@gereshomeE]

Well done! ☺

[@OurCrazyRV]

Thank you, I hope it was helpful.

[@alleycat1387]

Great video and thanks for showing us how to do it! We got the same materials you did. Does it really work and have you had any problems with them since?

[@OurCrazyRV]

Every year we would catch about 6 mice. This year we have had none. We believe it was all that big hole under the sink. Once that was sealed they have not been able to get in :)

[@alleycat1387]

@@OurCrazyRV Thanks so much! Appreciate your advice and help. There's not many videos that actually talk about how to use Great Stuff for RV's.

[@OurCrazyRV]

@@alleycat1387 Our pleasure, if there are any other topics you would like to see please let us know.

[@alleycat1387]

@@OurCrazyRV @Our Crazy RV Hey guys, we sealed up the holes and gaps in the underbelly of RV and it works great! New mice aren't able to get in. The only thing I should have mentioned is a week or 2 before I sealed them up, mice were getting in and we caught only one female mouse with a glue trap. Filled all the holes and love that you covered the "false" walls because we discovered where they were really hiding. Do you guys have any tips on how to capture/get rid of them when they are already in the RV and after we sealed it up?

[@OurCrazyRV]

@@alleycat1387 We not a fan of adding in poisons and have found the best option is the old fashioned snap traps.

[@gdt5430]

They will chew their way in if they want in bad enough. Usually they are more interested in the underbelly because of the insulation to nest in during cold weather. The thing is to kill them before they get to the underbelly. If they get that far they will chew their way in the rest of the way to get to any food or anything they smell they could eat. Unless you have a fully metal sealed underbelly good luck keeping them out. My 5er has so many large gaps due to the all the hydraulics I'd need a pumper truck to close all the gaps. I don't even try, I just have bait stations all around my RV.

[@OurCrazyRV]

One of our friends does that. He takes his war on mice pretty seriously and has many permitter stations. Thankfully our fix of the hole stopped them from getting in and then a year later the addition of a couple of cats where we have stored has knocked down the population where we are parked. What type of RV do you have?

[@markb8954]

Bait stations also draw mice/rats to an area for food. Best to move those away from your camper. Fumigate the RV, close holes & get rid of the WHY they are entering. Food? Nesting?

[@briandonahue2736]

Copper or stainless steel mesh. Steel wool will rust. Works great BTW.

[@Godhiger]

I block all the way but they have a way to come to my oven at night. Please do have any idea how to get rid of them? Thanks

[@OurCrazyRV]

+IN GOD WE TRUST It depends on your RV setup. It would be work but I would follow your oven down and trace back all the lines. If possible you could pull the oven out. Most likely they are in your oven insulation and that’s the last thing you want to cook with.

[@marycole6844]

Thanks for the tip about the mice

[@OurCrazyRV]

You’re welcome. I hope it helped you.

[@coolroy105]

Did all that and still found droppings everywhere. My solution was i got 3 cats and they were my gaurds for the house and rv.

[@hozerdude]

plug hole with COURSE 000 version of steal pads

[@jonlandon1]

There are places in the underbelly you will never be able to reach especially when they put the vinyl layer on the bottom of the fifth wheel, you would need to pull all the vinyl plastic or whatever the stuff is they use completely off to be able to see where they are getting in not logical.

[@ralphb.3802]

I have been proactive in keeping mice out. But I was never an advocate of plugging holes, because it's an exercise in futility. I don't think it's possible to plug every hole and mice can get in through the tinniest spaces. Mice will find a way to get in. I choose to keep the place uninviting for them. When storing the trailer, I keep it clean and I don't store any type of food they could get into. I use spray that is suppose to keep them away, bags of mouse deterrent and dryer sheets all over the place. I purchased a strobe light that is also suppose to keep them away. So far this has kept them away. I'm not saying any of this works, but we have had no mice. Keeping rodents and bugs out is any on going war. You win some battles and loose some.

[@OurCrazyRV]

+Ralph B. Absolutely 🤗 We just found that we had a highway into our RV and fixing that greatly reduced their access points.

[@kgd6147]

Good, but Bounce does not help here.

[@AdolfoBravato]

I want a video of how they are getting in

[@OurCrazyRV]

That would be great, unfortunately we don't have any footage before blocking them out.

[@johnr5545]

Nice job god bless

[@gregpaszt4671]

Rvs are made very sloppy.The manufacturees shiuld be ashamed they build such crap.

[@OurCrazyRV]

+Greg Paszt they are definitely not built as well as they could be, some manufacturers do a better job than others.

[@rudyromano2402]

One needs to find out where they are coming in from the outside and close up those areas there .closing the ones inside they will just find another area to pop in once inside .But filling the holes they get in from the outside ,this is key to ending your problem .The mice will just leave .They wont find another way to get in .The fact you plugged there entry spooks them 😮so they leave .

[@OurCrazyRV]

+@rudyromano2402 I agree that you should also do what you can to keep them out of the bottom. This video was not about that. This video was about the big hole under our sink and since plugging that hole we have had no more mice. Just our experience this far, safe travels.

[@eggsuperfly]

Some types of expanding foam can attack PEX

[@OurCrazyRV]

That is good to know. Do you know which kinds?

[@eggsuperfly]

@@OurCrazyRV No, when I re piped my house I called the manufacturer to ask what could come in contact with it. They were weirdly specific about the brand of PEX. I did some Google searches and found a safe caulk. If I remember latex was a no no. Been several years.

[@OurCrazyRV]

That is good to know. We have had no issue to date but will keep an eye on it.

[@bergmanst]

Shore power cord they walk up inside the cord and enter the RV.

[@kellieledoux6856]

Gonna make MacKenzie watch!

[@OurCrazyRV]

That’s a great idea 😁

[@marcusaponte1287]

I sure would like the manufacturers to do this during the "build." It would make sense to secure the RV as its being made than to try to do it later.

[@OurCrazyRV]

+Marcus Aponte Absolutely. I think the whole bottom should be sealed on the outside.

[@markb8954]

Unfortunately, the manufacturers/builders are not the end users.

[@michaelohara2161]

Don’t work so hard. Spray your rv with castor oil and water mix( mole be gone). The mice will stay away for 3 months. Moles leave your yard for the same amount of time.

[@steemdup]

No more mice! But what about hamsters? 😆

[@OurCrazyRV]

+steemdup 🤪 Hamsters are way more shifty and require additional steps to keep under control ;)

[@RespectorRevenge]

That should be a lawsuit or at least a new regulation whole family raccoons could’ve came through

[@OurCrazyRV]

It was a pretty big hole. I agree they could do a better job of sealing that up and that should be the industry standard.

[@Marigold-m2]

Mice can get in through very tiny cracks, like the size of an eraser at the end of a pencil or maybe less. You are lucky you didn't have weasels too. You did just seal the mice into the underbelly of your RV, where they can breed & bring in food from the outside. Eventually they will chew through most things to where the living space & food (smells) are. RV's were never built to be made for boon docking & being out in the forest. Even only staying in a RV Park, with all food stuff stored in glass or metal containers, would be a challenge to keep mice out in those circumstances. Even this city girl knows this. Good luck to you.

[@jifchosehismother]

Bad to use steel wool as it corrodes/rusts. Use copper wool. Fix the advice given.

[@OurCrazyRV]

100% agree, we do have a pinned comment about this, but will see if we can make an adjustment to the video to help share that point. Thanks for watching.

[@Rottingboards]

You should go under the RV to eliminate them coming into the bottom.

[@OurCrazyRV]

We would love to do that, however the bottom has a corrugated plastic insert that I fear will break apart if we try to remove it. We have sealed the holes under there, however they still seem to find their way in. Since we found this large hole and sealed it we have had no more mice.

[@Rottingboards]

@@OurCrazyRV The are tough varmints!

[@bernardstevens3613]

GREAT TIPS! Have you tried "Irish Spring" bar soap? We've used it for years, with no trouble! Praise the Lord! We just throw it in the box anywhere you suspect mice. Thanks for sharing!

[@OurCrazyRV]

We have heard about Irish Spring, but never tried it. We were just so surprised about the big hole in our rig :)

[@bernardstevens3613]

@@OurCrazyRV - I'm right along with you! The quality of these rigs that we spend our hard earned cash for is VERY LACKING! I can't believe the DOT doesn't do something about the terrible tires, and suspension systems on these rigs! Thanks for your channel - keep posting, and I'll keep watching!

[@OurCrazyRV]

@@bernardstevens3613 We agree :) We have been contemplating upgrading our suspension, but I think our next step is adding solar.

[@OurCrazyRV]

@@bernardstevens3613 And thanks for watching. We have more content planned, just waiting for the temps to lighten up a bit.

[@kevinm3873]

I watched a guy on You tube that specializes in mouse traps and mouse related item to prevent mice from infesting your space. He tried Irish Spring and the mice just chewed on it. It doesn't work. You can check it out at "Mouse trap Monday"

[@davidslivinski7690]

I found a hole in my motorhome that was Hidden just like yours From the factory No wonder we have mice problems

[@OurCrazyRV]

+David Slivinski Glad you found it. Hard to keep them out with such a big hole 😒

[@KmfyjnxdgcbCh]

Lee James Jones Betty Wilson Sarah

[@createa.googleaccount713]

Great Video! TOO BAD You show the 'pest block" can for a Second while mowing it about, when we are TRYING to LEARN what it is that you are "Teaching ", please Consider your Viewers!!!

[@OurCrazyRV]

Apologies. I will remember that for the future. It is in the description below if you need it.

[@Reddog1255]

You should seal from the out side

[@OurCrazyRV]

+Red Berry I agree. You should seal both outside and inside, the purpose of this video was to show the large holes that are in some RVs.