Storage, bugs, critters & unwanted guests

[UltimateSVT]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum. My wife & I just purchased this 2016 Dutchmen/Coleman 274BH. I always knew we had ample space to store it on the side of the house but after just 2 days at home, I'm already starting to notice 2 frogs crawling up the sides of the camper onto the roof & one jumping underneath the camper as well.

I live in Lehigh Acres, FL. This city is fairly new & there are tons of vacant lots with overgrowth. As you can clearly see in the picture that's the case with the empty lot next door to my home.

What ideas can you guys give me? Frogs don't bother me in general but they love to crawl into tight spaces & I foresee a HUGE issue in the next few weeks.

Any help/ideas are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[UltimateSVT]

Thanks everyone. I've purchased the screen mesh for the back of the fridge. Now it's just a matter of figuring out how to deter them safely since I do have 2 dogs.

Thanks.

[luvmydogs]

I think you can do all this for frogs and keep them out of every crack and crevice, but wasps may be different. Our roof vents have screened covers, plus the screen inside the rv and I dont know how but I've still seen a few flys get under the outside vent. Creatures is one thing, bugs is another. We also stuffed pepperment soaked cotton balls around the door which doesnt seal the best and threw moth balls around where the rv touches the ground (wheels and jacks) but I think taping up like the heater vent outside and putting screen under the panel that comes off outside which is the back of the fridge worked great, and we put steel wool in any of the plumbing gaps just like I do in the house. Lived in Orlando area 25 years, I'm sure its a challenge in Florida to keep a sitting rv creature free, but where there's a will there's a way.

[Johno02]

When parked at home with the MH connected to shore power, we plug some of the ultrasonic bug and mouse repellers into several outlets inside. Don't have any idea whether they work or not, but we haven't had any mice that we know of, but apparently they don't work for spiders.. Have had a few of those.

[UltimateSVT]

luvmydogs wrote:
When we winterized here I didnt want mice getting in anywhere, including the places your concerned about. We stuck screen in these areas like the frig,propane (guessing you dont need heat like we do) and everything else the protruded we wrapped with screen. Went all winter in the woods and not one rodent. Dont see why it wouldt work for frogs.

That's exactly what I may do. My main concern is frogs & wasps. I'm going to Home Depot tomorrow.

[luvmydogs]

Forgot to say I even taped over the little holes in each end of the bumper where the septic hose is. Didnt even want anything nesting in there.

[luvmydogs]

When we winterized here I didnt want mice getting in anywhere, including the places your concerned about. We stuck screen in these areas like the frig,propane (guessing you dont need heat like we do) and everything else the protruded we wrapped with screen. Went all winter in the woods and not one rodent. Dont see why it wouldt work for frogs.

[UltimateSVT]

luvmydogs wrote:
I lived in Fla. for 25 years and agree, if you dont like bugs and critters, get out of the state. I apologize though, I dont understand why frogs are a problem with an rv. Do you not want them sitting on the outside of the rv? If your RV is all closed and sealed up, how would a frog get in? They are not like mice who can crawl and sqeeze into anything, or like some bugs. Can frogs really get into an rv?

If you read my post, I state that I don't mind the critters when it comes to my house. I live in a very wooded area & that's part of life here. In fact I moved here to get away from the big city. I'm not worried about frogs getting into the rv but I'm worried they may crawl into small exterior areas like the refrigerator vent, the heater vent, etc... & create a short circuit since I do have my rv connected 24/7. I run the a/c about 7 hours daily to keep the interior nice n' cool.

[Johno02]

get some of these. They will eat anything except the alligators.

[luvmydogs]

I lived in Fla. for 25 years and agree, if you dont like bugs and critters, get out of the state. I apologize though, I dont understand why frogs are a problem with an rv. Do you not want them sitting on the outside of the rv? If your RV is all closed and sealed up, how would a frog get in? They are not like mice who can crawl and sqeeze into anything, or like some bugs. Can frogs really get into an rv?

[CavemanCharlie]

Johno02 wrote:
Don't worry about the frogs, just watch out for the alligators! Now those are serious!! frogs don't bite, alligators do! Then there are the lovebugs!

That's what I was thinking too.

[Johno02]

Don't worry about the frogs, just watch out for the alligators! Now those are serious!! frogs don't bite, alligators do! Then there are the lovebugs!

[Heiny57]

I lived in Fl for 10 years and can say, if you don't want critters and bugs around you, move out of FL. Frogs are good to have around. Sounds like you are talking about tree frogs, they go everywhere.

[UltimateSVT]

Here's another pic of the spot where I have the trailer parked while not in use.

[UltimateSVT]

FDAER wrote:
If you don't have pets try putting moth balls under/around the perimeter of your trailer. I do this in Oregon when I store the TT for the winter and never had a critter of any type inside. I would be worried about the frogs establishing a new home in your TT and attracting snakes inside. :E

Unfortunately I do have 2 dogs that are all over my back yard. I use mothballs around the perimeter fence of my entire property to keep snakes away but I definitely need to do something about the camper trailer. I'm very worried. 😞

Another very important issue is if they make their way into any electrical components, they can cause a short & end up causing a fire. Critters can be a BIG headache.