Keeping mice out of water works.

[X-Treme]

Has anyone come up with a way to "seal off" the water works area when you have hookups? On my alpine, when hooked up to water, I have to remove 2 4" "caps" and have no way to close off that area while hooked up. I'm almost certain that I have had mice crawl up my water hose and into my rv this way. Any thoughts or ideas on how to seal up this 4" hole while having a hose run out thru the same hole.

[chuckster57]

I haven't ran into that issue, but IIRC mice don't care for steel wool. I would stuff the gaps with it, and then just put it back in the bag when you unhook. But then I could be all wet

[Movin' on]

My cougar has the same set up for the water hose. I have always used a bath towel, which I curl around the hose and stuff in the opening as tightly as possible. Doesn't sound like it would keep a mouse out, but we've never had a problem yet, even after being set-up for a few weeks at a time. When unhooking, if there is a little water spill, you have a towel right there to wipe up with.

[SkiSmuggs]

You could try rodent repellent like Fresh Cab in the compartment. I used it extensively around the fiver this winter and the only place that had rodent traces was the battery compartment which I had forgotten to treat.

[Pull Toy]

Spiders yes, but never a mouse or other critter. If your set-up is anything like mine, even if they get into the compartment, there's no where to go, or get into the camper, once the hatch is closed. (see pic)

One thing that I've found effective is stainless steel wool in crevasses, and Downey Dryer sheets in confined areas. When they stop smelling, replace them, or they'll make good bedding for the little devils!

[JRTJH]

You can make a "slide on" cover from two 3 lb coffee cans plastic lids. Just put them "back to back and glue/tape or Velcro them together. Cut a hole in the center for your hose and slit the cover so you can "thread it" into the hole in the convenience center. Once in place, it's rigid enough to keep most critters out and to remove it, just pull the Velcro apart or "unthread it" from the hole.

[hankaye]

X-Treme, Howdy;

Have you explored bulkhead fittings, ones that allow you to install the
cover and connect the hose to it on the outside and have another
hose/tube connected from the inside to the water works fittings???

hankaye

[X-Treme]

Originally Posted by Pull Toy

Spiders yes, but never a mouse or other critter. If your set-up is anything like mine, even if they get into the compartment, there's no where to go, or get into the camper, once the hatch is closed. (see pic)

One thing that I've found effective is stainless steel wool in crevasses, and Downey Dryer sheets in confined areas. When they stop smelling, replace them, or they'll make good bedding for the little devils!

If you think that a mouse can't get from the waterworks area into the basement area, you sir, are sorely mistaken. That "seal" on the divider is certainly not gonna stop any mouse.

[X-Treme]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

You can make a "slide on" cover from two 3 lb coffee cans plastic lids. Just put them "back to back and glue/tape or Velcro them together. Cut a hole in the center for your hose and slit the cover so you can "thread it" into the hole in the convenience center. Once in place, it's rigid enough to keep most critters out and to remove it, just pull the Velcro apart or "unthread it" from the hole.

This is kinda what I was thinking of doing. Just wondering if anyone had done anything else.

[X-Treme]

Originally Posted by hankaye

X-Treme, Howdy;

Have you explored bulkhead fittings, ones that allow you to install the
cover and connect the hose to it on the outside and have another
hose/tube connected from the inside to the water works fittings???

hankaye

Never did, but may be a great idea. I'll have to look into them and see how I could attach one to the cover(s).