Lake Lanier's shoreline, the wooded storage lots along GA-400 and the farms around Dawsonville and Milton are beautiful places to keep a motorhome. They're also full of mice. When fall nights cool off, rodents look for somewhere warm and quiet, and a parked coach with a dozen basement bays is exactly that.
A few droppings in a drawer is unpleasant. Chewed wiring in a multiplex coach is expensive. Here's how they get in and how to keep them out.
Why mice are such a problem in modern coaches
Luxury motorhomes are full of wiring: chassis harnesses, slide and leveling controls, multiplex networks, inverter cables and data lines for screens and cameras. Some wire insulation is attractive to rodents, and they chew constantly to keep their teeth worn down. One chewed wire can cause a fault that shows up somewhere completely different, like a slide that won't move or a panel that shows random errors. That's why rodent damage often turns into a diagnostic job before it becomes a repair.
They also nest in insulation, inside furnace and hydronic heater compartments, behind refrigerators and in engine bays, and they leave contamination behind.
How they get in
- Gaps around plumbing and wiring where lines pass through the floor or into the basement
- Slide-out openings where the bottom seal doesn't fully close against the frame
- Generator and engine compartments, which connect to other spaces in many coaches
- Holes behind basement bay walls left from factory or aftermarket installs
- Open doors and bays during long loading days at the campground
A mouse can fit through a surprisingly small opening, so assume any visible gap is big enough.
How to keep them out
Seal the entry points
Crawl under the coach with a good flashlight in daylight, and look up from inside each basement bay at night with the lights off outside. Wherever you see light, there's a gap. Close small gaps with copper or stainless mesh and a sealant suited to the area. Avoid plain expanding foam in spots mice can reach, since they chew through it easily.
Take away the reasons to stay
- Remove all food, including pet food, sealed snacks and pantry items, before storage.
- Clean crumbs from the kitchen, under cushions and in the driver's area.
- Keep cardboard and paper out of storage bays; it becomes nesting material.
Make the coach less inviting
- Keep the area around the coach clear of tall grass and debris if you can.
- Some owners use strong scents or electronic deterrents. Results vary, so treat them as extras, not the plan.
- Traps placed inside bays and checked on each visit tell you quickly if something is getting in.
Check regularly
On every storage visit, open the bays, look for droppings and chewed material, and run the systems. Early signs are easy to deal with. A season of unnoticed nesting is not.
Signs mice have already moved in
- Droppings in drawers, bays or behind the refrigerator
- Shredded insulation, paper or fabric
- A musty smell when you open the coach
- New electrical problems after storage: dead circuits, slide or leveling faults, dashboard warnings
- Scratching sounds at night in the walls or ceiling
If you find damage, clean carefully with gloves and a mask, and have the wiring checked before the next trip. Electrical faults from chewed wires can get worse once the coach starts moving and vibrating. Our electrical service and preventive care visits include looking for exactly this.
RV Action Express helps coach owners around Lake Lanier, Cumming and North Atlanta track down rodent damage and the problems it causes. Call (866) 292-6838 or request service.
Questions about this topic
They're a popular tip, but there's little reason to rely on them. Sealing gaps and removing food work much better. Scented products can be a small extra at most.
Yes. They can chew the wiring and control lines for slides and leveling systems, and they nest in the slide boxes and under the slide floor. A slide that suddenly stops working after storage is worth checking for rodent damage.
Use gloves and a mask, wet the area with a disinfectant first, and avoid sweeping or vacuuming dry droppings, which can stir up particles. For heavy contamination, consider a professional cleaner.
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