Mouse / Rodent proofing stage one.

Step 10:repeat step 4

 

$30 Loraffe Under Hood Animal Repeller Rodent Repellent Ultrasonic Rat Deterrent LED Strobe Lights Keep Mice Away from Car Pest Control for 12V 24V Automobile Truck RV, Rodent Defense Vehicle Protection

https://www.amazon.com/Loraffe-Repe...=1&keywords=rodent+tape&qid=1595498400&sr=8-4

 

Looks like a really good product, unfortunately it says "Currently unavailable. We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock." And the price isn't listed. Hopefully it will be in stock again, or it's available elsewhere, or a similar product is available, I haven't checked. It says dogs can hear the sound waves - I wonder how my dog would react to it? I'd get one for each of our vehicles and my travel trailer.

 

Angveirt Under Hood Rodent Repeller Battery Operated Rodent Repellent Ultrasonic Mice Repellent for Cars Mouse Deterrent for Vehicle Garage Basement Attic Warehouse

$22 Angveirt Under Hood Rodent Repeller Battery Operated Rodent Repellent Ultrasonic Mice Repellent for Cars Mouse Deterrent for Garage Humane Mouse Trap Substitute

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YBX6XY2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1ixgFb01PGNCN
this one actually got better reviews.
Edit: I just saw it was battery operated. Bummer

 

Angveirt Under Hood Rodent Repeller LED Strobe Lights for Cars Repellent Keep Rodent Away from Your Car Engine Under Hood Animal Repeller for 12V 24V Vehicle, Grey https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L969YY2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BkxgFb8WF54WH
here’s another one...

 

It's not just trucks and cars - rodents also have a nasty habit of chewing on trailer wiring harnesses, too. I had to redo the harness on one utility trailer about 3-4 times before I got rid of it.

 

Thanks for the write up and to all those that submitted scary pictures. I'll be doing something soon...

 

I've seen a lot of RV'ers on Youtube mention that they like using http://www.antiratpro.com/ to keep the rodents from chewing the wires on their vehicles while they're out camping...i haven't used it personally, so do your research first, but i hear that it's really good stuff. it's got capsaicin in it, which is the stuff that makes hot peppers hot. might not keep them from trying to nest, but hopefully at least they won't chew your wires all to crap.

i've also heard that if you keep some lights on around/underneath the engine bay (you can buy some battery-powered/rechargeable/solar ones to keep it all lit up), that will help deter them from trying to get in there.

also, you could do like a lot of restaurants & storage places do, buy some fake owls and plant them all around your vehicles or whatever else you don't want them to get into. it's not a guarantee that this will keep them away, but at least rodents will be wary before they try to get past them to get into your vehicle. if you've ever seen a fake owl on top of a building and wondered why it was there, well, now you know.

 

Did you do anything to block rodent access to these wires after you fixed it up?

 

Good job!

 

I had similar issues on a car once and just used aluminum screen. Wrap it around the open wires and just squeeze it on tight, you could always use a ziptie or two to hold it on but the friction seemed to work fine.

 

OMG I have to do this Mod ASAP!! I found out I have a rodent infestation today when I got into my truck. The bag of chips I had inside was empty. So now I have to do some searching and see where this pest is. I put some TomCat traps inside my truck so hopefully that catches whomever is in the truck and then I can do this mod to try and eliminate them. So glad I was shown this to prevent any damage to my truck.

 

Old thread I know but thought I would share my way of doing it no drill.

Basically I did everything exactly as OP posted, but rather than drill holes, I used 3M Double sided mounting tape. Basically the same thing many body shops use to attached exterior badges. Very strong stuff and the wire mesh embeds itself into the foam tape. Wiped all surfaces down with alcohol first.

We`ll see how it holds up in the long run, but I'm not to concerned, stuff has never failed me with badging.

Now I just have to hope the mounting tape wasn`t made in some environmental friendly way using things that attract mice! That would be my luck.

 

Awesome thread! I’m glad 2muchfun pointed me in this direction. I’m starting to have an infestation problem and need to remedy it quick!

 

Hi All. I blocked off the intake opening with steel mesh (under the windshield on the passenger side) and mice are still getting into the cab. Any ideas on where else they are entering ? Thanks in advance for any info/insight.
(I have a 2018 Tundra Crewmax)

 

There's another vent hole on the D/S behind the wiper motor that sometimes gets missed

 

Tilly,
Thank you for the info/photo. Super helpful.

 

Thanks for this. Super helpful. I've had issues with expensive mice damage and harness chewing. Seems some car companies also use environmentally safe plastic harness protectors made from soy or whatever. Super tasty for mice and rats. Also doesn't help when your neighbor has a bunch of fruit trees that they never pick or clean up and creates a haven for rodents. Between helping the elderly couple clean up their trees and occasionally feeding the local cats, it helped.

 

What do you guys think? Rodent?


I couldn't see any droppings or hair.

 

Yep, looks like you've been infiltrated.

 

I used steelstik on mine and it worked pretty good. I tried to drill but the angles pissed me off quick lol

 

Looks like a comfy mouse size bed.

 

Thanks OP and others. Some gutter mesh and jb weld will be my approach. The mice have moved in and won't leave peacefully, so its time to evict. I asked my dealer if this was possible because a different one had done it to our 4runner. Said no way on a Tundra. Thankfully you folks exist.

 

So I have a stupid question...

I see lots of discussion about mice/squirrel damage both here and on the RV owners forum I'm on.

I know there's exceptions to every rule, but is this problem mostly an issue for those who live in rural, country, open space areas and not so much in the concrete jungle?

I'm a city boy, yes there are mice here but I'd assume they can just go dig in a trash can or cat food dish if they're hungry, and I don't recall ever hearing about anyone having rodents eat their car.

 

For us it really takes off in fall as they want to nest, but can hit at any time of year really. I live surrounded by forrest and we've always had a problem. I also store my vehicles outside, not sure if that makes a difference.

 

I live in the burbs very similar to your pic & a mouse or squirrel or neighbor's dog chewed through the ignition cable on my car a handful of years ago.

 

It definitely seems to be more prevalent in less-populated areas, and/or areas with lots of woods and other natural, undeveloped land nearby.

some of the RV channels i watch on youtube have had tons of issues when they go boondock out in the Southwest, like on BLM land out in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, etc.

i could also see it becoming an issue if you camp in state/national parks a lot as well, since there's lots of areas for them to hide until they decide they want to upgrade to new, more modern digs...the heat from the engine draws them in for warmth, and once they're there...."ooh, look! soy wires, don't mind if i do!"

 

Oooff... Guess maybe I have to start putting some Peppermint oil soaked cotton balls in strategic spots.

My wife rubs Peppermint oil on her neck sometimes when it's sore, and I can't stand the smell of that shit.

90% of our camping is boondocking in the southwest on BLM or NF land, mostly desert but the occasional forest thrown in.

What about those ultrasonic repellent devices I've seen, do they work?

 

I've heard of locking one's wife in the trunk for an attitude adjustment but don't think she'd fit under the hood.

 

@SD Surfer - I have used peppermint (and rosemary and eucalyptus) and still had problems so I would not rely on that. Since I started using an ultrasonic unit several months ago, I have had no issues (so far). I believe I have been dealing with mice most recently, as the rat traps I had behind my front wheels (which worked for the squirrels a couple of years ago) had the peanut butter attractant eaten but were unsprung.