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Trish558's avatar
Trish558
Explorer
Jul 29, 2020

Rodents coming in through engine compartment.....

2016 Jayco Alante A Class
Do all motorhomes have this problem?????? What more can we do????

PROBLEM: When camping in the woods and at home, we have had chipmunks and rats access the inside of our motorhome through the engine compartment, coming out under the dash, usually on the driver’s side. We have caught the critters with traps and electronic zappers. There is a hole somewhere and they are getting in through the engine compartment.

In October of 2018, an RV repair shop supposedly fixed the problem for us. They removed the dash and sprayed foam in any openings. Within a year of that, while camping in the woods, and also at home, we had rodents enter the rig. Three weeks ago, we went camping in Big Bear. While in the woods we caught one chipmunk inside on the driver’s side. On second night after returning home, we caught one rat on the driver’s side.

Preventative Steps We Have Taken……

*** 3 Blinking Strobe Lights, set on a timer, shining under the rig and into the engine compartment every night.

*** 4 Electronic, battery operated gadgets that blink and emit a high frequency sound. 2 in the engine compartment and 2 more inside under the dash area.

*** An additional electronic device placed under the rig which emits a high frequency sound.

*** Cotton Balls soaked with peppermint oil placed all around the rig under the dash and inside engine compartment.

*** Fresh Cab placed all around the rig under the dash and inside engine compartment.
  • Something in your rig is attracting them. Many years back we have friends with this issue and it was the coating on the wires. Turn out it was made out of some plant stuff. They are no longer here so can't ask them. Add sticky traps to your list. Try spraying the peppermint oil in the engine compartment if not flammable but keep of wires and hose. I have tied a bag full of cotton balls soak in different thing. Some they took the bag others they eat a hole or did not mess with them. Sorry too long ago to remember them all. The peppermint was for sure one they did not mess with.
  • Unfortunately the only thing that is going to work is to have the holes resealed. The last shop should have embedded wire mesh into the spray foam. Without the wire mesh the rodents can just chew through again.

    You might be able to find a person who will spend time crawling around under the rig looking for the holes and patch from the outside.