So every summer between June 1st and end of August I have a huge ant battle where I live. House was blasted into granite and backfilled with yards upon yards of bank run gravel. Seems to be a perfect locale for ants. Finally figured out my house solution but can't seem to keep them out of the camper. They seem to get in via the light in the cabinet next to the head (Lance vertical cabinet with slideout shelves. Never figured out where on the roof they enter from but I constantly have to deal with them in that cabinet. Good traps have kept the population low but they've got to be in the roof as I always have flakes of white (styrofoam insulation???) in that cabinet meaning they're still active between that light and the roof somewhere. I've tried fogging the entire camper, spraying up into that hole and keeping the deadliest traps I can find. I even put ant powder around jacks which is what keeps them out of my house but I think they must drop in from trees and there's trees everywhere on my property, mostly pines.

Terro liquid mixed with honey. Place a few nickle sized blobs on pieces of foil and put them in the camper. If you go back in the camper the next day you will find literally thousands of the little buggars crawling around. You must resist the temptation to suck them up with a shop vac. They carry the poison back to the nest and in a few days you will find just a few dead ones. I had 3 infestations in my old TT and this worked like a charm each time.Good Luck,Mike

Agree with the Terro liquid w/ honey!

Couple of ideas;Don't park the camper under trees.Throw some of the ant killer down the stink pipe...we had this problem in our last camper.Also; ants probably mean moisture. Start poking around for wet wood.Good luck, Bill

billtex wrote:Couple of ideas;Don't park the camper under trees.Throw some of the ant killer down the stink pipe...we had this problem in our last camper.Also; ants probably mean moisture. Start poking around for wet wood.Good luck, BillThis is very good advice.I tried the Terro around my home and had to resort to something more potent. I got Amdro ant bait granules and sprinkled them around the foundation. Now this stuff is poisonous to children/pets. You could sprinkle it on the roof or put it in some type of covered container to keep it from scattering.

billtex wrote:Couple of ideas;Don't park the camper under trees.Throw some of the ant killer down the stink pipe...we had this problem in our last camper.Also; ants probably mean moisture. Start poking around for wet wood.Good luck, BillWish I had that option. My property is only 1/3 of an acre with a slope that drops 50' over that! I had to build a 4' retaining wall off the side of my driveway and fill it with crushed stone to simply have a safe place to unload the camper as the rest of the property and driveway are sloped far too much to take it off safely, I know I tried once and almost destroyed the camper and truck along with possibly hurting or killing myself. The only place I could build the wall is in front and it has tree cover from neighbors trees. I wanted to put soft carport over it but the town won't let me due to being in front of the house, lucky they let me park it there at all.

Ants in roof, tried everything need ideas | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

time2roll
Nomad
Aug 01, 2015
Terro is sugar syrup with about 5% borax.
portscanner
Explorer
Aug 01, 2015
Raften wrote:
Question, what is Terro? With the dry conditions in NorCal ants swarm to any moisture source. A fresh dog turd is soon covered with them.

Terro for inside

Terro for outside
Royals_Fan
Explorer
Aug 01, 2015
Terro, for sure! you have to kill the the queen....takes a few days just be patient it works!
Raften
Explorer
Aug 01, 2015
Question, what is Terro? With the dry conditions in NorCal ants swarm to any moisture source. A fresh dog turd is soon covered with them.
ClassicB
Explorer
Aug 01, 2015
I've had similar experience with ants. My solution was to get out the liquid ant spray (I can't recall the name) and in the beginning of May I spray the camper jack (feet) a few times a week though out the summer. No problems. Also, like someone said, keep the camper away from the low hanging branches.
zcookiemonstar
Explorer
Aug 01, 2015
Start wish a good washing of everything on the outside of the camper. Ants leave a scent trail that other ants will follow. Wash down your driveway too and the truck.
MKish
Explorer II
Jul 31, 2015
You'll be more equipped to handle the ants if you figure out what species they are. County/state agricultural extension offices can help with that and offer suggestions. Some ants won't touch particular baits due to their dietary preferences.

(Meanwhile I just learned that I might get a campsite where someone has sprinkled pesticides. Pesticides aren't only toxic to ants so it's a good idea to use them when there is actually a problem, like in OP's camper!)
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Jul 31, 2015
once had a problem with carpenter ants they were coming in the fridge vent from alimb hanging in a tree
GENECOP
Explorer II
Jul 31, 2015
Also get up on the roof, seal every hole crack and crevice you see.
portscanner
Explorer
Jul 31, 2015
Another vote for Terro - but also do a very close inspection for leaks and soft spots. I picked up a nest in my 5er after I got a roof leak.