I went to take an inventory of stuff in the 5er for our winter getaway next month; and as I pulled out that big power cord at the back (30 amp system) - it was bare! It seems mice think the outer rubber (?) casing is tasty? They chewed into the white and green wires in one place - just a half-inch or so. Must not be as tasty as the black cover.Poking around with a flashlight shows no signs of mice entering the interior; but they've been in the front compartments. I didn't see anything chewed. But I have to assume they've followed wiring runs from the front to the back; and I'm wondering what else they've chewed?? Ugh.It was parked behind our business all summer - there's a hayfield next door. I guess this is hardly a surprise :-( We found a nest in one of the white vinyl wheel covers - I was praying that's all the farther they had gone.So I guess my question is: do I buy a new cord and have my mechanic install it (he's fairly RV-literate); plug in and pray for the best? Or do I take it to an RV dealer and hope they actually trace the voltage along the lines to see if there are any shorts?In the meantime, I'm armed with gobs of mousetraps and peanut butter in case they're still hanging around....

Your insurance may cover any damage done by the mice. Contact your insurance agent to find out, especially if you find other wiring damage throughout.Personally, I'd like to have it checked before I ever slept a night with it plugged in. The fire danger would scare me if there were other bare wires.

If they did not chew too far into the cord you might be able to make it a shorter cord. If you want to replace it is not that difficult as there are only three wires. JMO

doxiemom11 wrote:Personally, I'd like to have it checked before I ever slept a night with it plugged in. The fire danger would scare me if there were other bare wires.Yeah - I'll be sleeping with one eye open and my nose "on guard" the first few nights. Will update the smoke detector (which probably should be done anyway since the old one is over 10 yrs old)

Since we'll be replacing the power cord, I think I want to switch over to a marine-type connector; and not have to fight that blasted cord, stuffing it back into its little hole (which I ironically referred to as a "mouse hole"). We're in Michigan - that cord turns into "steel cable" when it's cold.

BTPO1 wrote:If they did not chew too far into the cord you might be able to make it a shorter cord. If you want to replace it is not that difficult as there are only three wires. JMOI *might* have 8' left unchewed?? They've been busy.....

Mice ate the power cord...#@%#!!! | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

Bigdog
Explorer
Nov 28, 2014
Do the marine cord bit and you'll never regret it.I got tired of jamming my fingers in that little hole when putting the cord away on my '99 Wilderness TT and changed it. Then the first thing I did after bringing my '05 Cougar 304BHS home was to change that one out too. It really makes a lot of difference when setting up and taring down.
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Nov 28, 2014
I just ordered an endoscopy scope: flexible, lighted 3' cable with a camera at the end. Colonoscopies, anyone!?? I figure for the price of the scope (and the small holes I can drill in the bottom cover) - it will save me this much $$ if I don't have to have the entire underbody removed by a dealer.
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Nov 28, 2014
Water-Bug wrote:

Power cords usually terminate right at the entry point to the RV. The reason is that it is cheaper that way. Interior wire is cheaper than exterior power cord. RV manufacturers do anything to save a penny. A hole is cheaper than a connector too.

I am SOOO praying that you're right! Because regular wire doesn't seem to be so tasty? As they chewed through the black outer rubber, they'd hit the colored wire insulation and then stop. Where I see copper, it's only little 1/4" bits, like they stopped and said "bleagh"....LOL!
Water-Bug
Explorer II
Nov 28, 2014
Deb and Ed M wrote:
rhagfo wrote:
Two things I never jury rig, electricity and gas!
If it can be shortened great if it is chewed over its full length then replace it!

I agree! As I pulled it out, the first half is chewed and the second half (presumably under the first half) wasn't. But I'm not going to rest easy until I see the entirety of the cord, and that means tearing apart the paneled box on the interior to see how the cord ends and that it's not chewed.

My bro-in-law mentioned something that is now my worst fear: that the cord enters the 5er at the rear streetside corner; then continues under the floor to the main electrical panel, which in my case, is under the oven about 12' diagonally. Our 5er has a corrugated-plastic bottom cover - I can't see the cord without cutting into that cover. I can almost guarantee that mice have been in that "crawl space" since there are openings around the sewer pipes where mice could get in.

The good news, I guess, is that I didn't catch any mice in the 4 traps I set out yesterday. I don't think I brought any mice inside our building where the 5er is now parked. Unless they prefer electrical-cord insulation over peanut butter....

Power cords usually terminate right at the entry point to the RV. The reason is that it is cheaper that way. Interior wire is cheaper than exterior power cord. RV manufacturers do anything to save a penny. A hole is cheaper than a connector too.
Happy_Prospecto
Explorer
Nov 28, 2014
After mice got in my trailer I tried to find all the open spaces they could enter and sealed them up and I started using "Cab Fresh" and "Peppermint Oil" on some cotton balls put in places that they might access. From what I have read they mice don't care for the smell.

If the mice were in there for a while I would get a good inspection done of your rig, they can do a lot of damage and your trip could be ruined "after" you get to your destination.
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Nov 28, 2014
rhagfo wrote:
Two things I never jury rig, electricity and gas!
If it can be shortened great if it is chewed over its full length then replace it!

I agree! As I pulled it out, the first half is chewed and the second half (presumably under the first half) wasn't. But I'm not going to rest easy until I see the entirety of the cord, and that means tearing apart the paneled box on the interior to see how the cord ends and that it's not chewed.

My bro-in-law mentioned something that is now my worst fear: that the cord enters the 5er at the rear streetside corner; then continues under the floor to the main electrical panel, which in my case, is under the oven about 12' diagonally. Our 5er has a corrugated-plastic bottom cover - I can't see the cord without cutting into that cover. I can almost guarantee that mice have been in that "crawl space" since there are openings around the sewer pipes where mice could get in.

The good news, I guess, is that I didn't catch any mice in the 4 traps I set out yesterday. I don't think I brought any mice inside our building where the 5er is now parked. Unless they prefer electrical-cord insulation over peanut butter....
rhagfo
Explorer III
Nov 28, 2014
Two things I never jury rig, electricity and gas!
If it can be shortened great if it is chewed over its full length then replace it!
kaydeejay
Explorer
Nov 28, 2014
Duplicate - deleted
kaydeejay
Explorer
Nov 28, 2014
BTPO1 wrote:
If they did not chew too far into the cord you might be able to make it a shorter cord. If you want to replace it is not that difficult as there are only three wires. JMO
Had the same thing happen - mice/chipmunks/squirrels chewed off the insulation where the cord enters the trailer. I cut off the damaged section and rewired to the power panel. Lost about 3 feet.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Nov 27, 2014
Since it is only the white and green I know what I would do but.. i can not advise you to do likewise.

What I can suggest is a plug and socket, Get one of each and shorten the cord at the point of damage, Use the rest of it as an extension cord.