Mice issues in RV underbelly
Hello, new member. I sold my hybrid and bought a park model last Fall. I can't believe how naive I was when I bought it. Everything looked great inside but now I am finding out how badly it has (or is) infested with mice.
It's a Canterbury 2008. I realized a few weeks ago some openings underneath the RV and some as big as 4 inch wide where from the ground I can even see the bathroom vent. The RV has what seems like galvanized steel underbelly pan with insulation in it. I don't know how long it has been open like that maybe since 2008. There are 4 HVAC vents inside, removing them gave me a look inside the underbelly. There are debris brought in from outside and mice droppings everywhere throughout from front to back. I also found more droppings in a closet where the hot water tank is. Also a hole in the wall by the water heater maybe 1 feet from above ground. In that hole chewed up wires going to the water tank. Although we found very few droppings inside the RV, the inside is pristine condition, the condition of the underbelly and maybe walls is alarming.
I taped over the large holes with foil tape. Lots of layers. Then screwed 1/4 in hardware cloth over the taped up gaps with coarse steel wool wedge between the cloth and the underbelly. I set lots of traps in the camper but killed only mouse near the water heater. Last week end I set a dozen traps (mechanical and glue) in the underbelly to see if there are mice in there. After one night nothing but I will go back next week end to check in again. Probably every week end from now on.
I am tempted to cut sections of the metal underbelly to replace the insulation and check on the wiring. I know the pluming and HVAC run in the underbelly. How about the electric? Does it run in the underbelly too? I am worried they chewed more wires that I can't see. I am at loss of word and can't believe I didn't see that when I bought it. I wish I could attach pictures.
It's a Canterbury 2008. I realized a few weeks ago some openings underneath the RV and some as big as 4 inch wide where from the ground I can even see the bathroom vent. The RV has what seems like galvanized steel underbelly pan with insulation in it. I don't know how long it has been open like that maybe since 2008. There are 4 HVAC vents inside, removing them gave me a look inside the underbelly. There are debris brought in from outside and mice droppings everywhere throughout from front to back. I also found more droppings in a closet where the hot water tank is. Also a hole in the wall by the water heater maybe 1 feet from above ground. In that hole chewed up wires going to the water tank. Although we found very few droppings inside the RV, the inside is pristine condition, the condition of the underbelly and maybe walls is alarming.
I taped over the large holes with foil tape. Lots of layers. Then screwed 1/4 in hardware cloth over the taped up gaps with coarse steel wool wedge between the cloth and the underbelly. I set lots of traps in the camper but killed only mouse near the water heater. Last week end I set a dozen traps (mechanical and glue) in the underbelly to see if there are mice in there. After one night nothing but I will go back next week end to check in again. Probably every week end from now on.
I am tempted to cut sections of the metal underbelly to replace the insulation and check on the wiring. I know the pluming and HVAC run in the underbelly. How about the electric? Does it run in the underbelly too? I am worried they chewed more wires that I can't see. I am at loss of word and can't believe I didn't see that when I bought it. I wish I could attach pictures.
