Closing Down Rodent Highway!

[ranger-jake]

I just did this modification 3 days ago.

I agree working space is very limited.

You may also want to do the rear vents behind the back seat. I've had rodents enter there on a camping trip in northern Vancouver Island. I haven't done that myself, but I will be doing it soon.

Here's my after pic for the cabin air intake vents. I used standard aluminum screen from Home Depot and butyl tape, which I had on hand for RV repairs.

Thanks for the warning. ?

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[VAMike]

I purchased a Wix replacement as it was available and cheaper by 2 bucks.

either you're getting a really great price on the motorcraft or a really crappy price on third party; I'd expect to pay $10, $15 at the most while the motorcraft is about $30 from ford, maybe $20 at amazon (for what may well be the same generic in a fake motorcraft box).

 

[ranger-jake]

either you're getting a really great price on the motorcraft or a really crappy price on third party; I'd expect to pay $10, $15 at the most while the motorcraft is about $30 from ford, maybe $20 at amazon (for what may well be the same generic in a fake motorcraft box).

So I walked into O'Reilly's to buy the Wix cab filter the day I was cleaning up the mice mess. The Motorcraft variant was on back-order. But I could have saved money and went with the Microguard which was $15. Probably wouldn't have made much difference really... so anyways, I probably spent more than I could have

 

[EJH]

ugh. I need to get around to doing this. had a rodent get into my truck during a camping trip last summer.

Hey Nate, do the two flat vents behind the back seat also. That is where I have gotten mice in the cab camping. Thankfully the camping mice seem to dine and dash, without taking up residency. They do leave quite the mess though.

I haven't found a good write up on accessing these rear vents for a crew cab, only for the super cab. I can reach up under the liner and feel the vents. The crew cabs have a lot of cloth liner and plastic trim behind the back seats. The super cabs have the vent directly exposed when the rear seat backs are removed. When I get around to screening the rear vents, I'll post my learnings.

 

[ranger-jake]

Hey Nate, do the two flat vents behind the back seat also. That is where I have gotten mice in the cab camping. Thankfully the camping mice seem to dine and dash, without taking up residency. They do leave quite the mess though.

I haven't found a good write up on access these rear vents for a crew cab, only for the super cab. The crew cabs have a lot of cloth liner and plastic trim behind the back seats. The super cabs have the vent directly exposed when the rear seat backs are removed. When I get around to screening the rear vents, I'll post my learnings.

It's strange that the design of this vehicle has been around for years in other parts of the world such as Thailand and Australia and yet only until recently were there write-ups in dealing with repelling rodents. I've thought at least the Aussies dealt with something like this on their Rangers.

I tell you what- if you write up a fix for the crew-cab rear vents I'll make one for the super cab ?

 

[VAMike]

It's strange that the design of this vehicle has been around for years in other parts of the world such as Thailand and Australia and yet only until recently were there write-ups in dealing with repelling rodents. I've thought at least the Aussies dealt with something like this on their Rangers.

who knows how similar the HVAC system is, ford made all kinds of changes when they brought it over here. hell, the aussies may have even had a grate that ford NA decided to get rid of to save a penny per truck.

 

[NotBudule]

Even if you keep them out of
the cab , don't they just chew up the wiring in the engine bay ? Keeping them the hell away from the whole truck should be the objective , do those "ultrasonic rodent thingys " work I wonder ?? Or strong scent of some kind? I have electronic mousetraps I used when I had an issue in the house, caught 7 in one day... ( 4 were babies and almost felt bad )....

 

[Buckbull]

My buddy claims peppermint extract sprayed in the engine bay works. I bought a botttle from Amazon but haven't sprayed it yet. And like many of you, mice got into the cab and chewed up a bunch of napkins.

 

[subquark]

Even if you keep them out of
the cab , don't they just chew up the wiring in the engine bay ? Keeping them the hell away from the whole truck should be the objective , do those "ultrasonic rodent thingys " work I wonder ?? Or strong scent of some kind? I have electronic mousetraps I used when I had an issue in the house, caught 7 in one day... ( 4 were babies and almost felt bad )....

I use all kinds of spray - peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, and cayenne extract. I buy the sprays and then fortify them with pure extracts. They still like to nibble on my battery blanket.

They chewed through my battery tender wiring but no other wires yet. I also place those rodent-repellent pouches all over in the truck and the engine bay.

And, mostly in the summer, I leave to hood open on nice days and then frequently use an air gun to blow around the engine bay and under the engine cover. I've had acorn shells around my battery. =(

I don't think the sonic things work, not from all the reading I've done about them.

Not sure these sprays do much, but Soupie sure smells minty fresh when I go for a drive! =)

 

[EJH]

I use all kinds of spray - peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, and cayenne extract. I buy the sprays and then fortify them with pure extracts. They still like to nibble on my battery blanket.

They chewed through my battery tender wiring but no other wires yet. I also place those rodent-repellent pouches all over in the truck and the engine bay.

And, mostly in the summer, I leave to hood open on nice days and then frequently use an air gun to blow around the engine bay and under the engine cover. I've had acorn shells around my battery. =(

I don't think the sonic things work, not from all the reading I've done about them.

Not sure these sprays do much, but Soupie sure smells minty fresh when I go for a drive! =)

We have the same arsenal, lol.

 

[rang19ca]

I did have a problem once with mice/rats. I blocked off the firewall intake with a mesh screen and I put peppermint drops and dryer sheets around my battery and drops near the firewall. I haven't seen any return of the little varmints yet. Fingers crossed.

 

[Joeiconic]

I just did this modification 3 days ago.

I agree working space is very limited.

You may also want to do the rear vents behind the back seat. I've had rodents enter there on a camping trip in northern Vancouver Island. I haven't done that myself, but I will be doing it soon.

Here's my after pic for the cabin air intake vents. I used standard aluminum screen from Home Depot and butyl tape, which I had on hand for RV repairs.

Unfortunately, the tape is a weak link. Mice will eat right through it.

 

[EJH]

Unfortunately, the tape is a weak link. Mice will eat right through it.

How would you attached metal screen material? Others have used HVAC ducting tape, which I am not sure will stand up to moisture like butyl tape.

Short of using metal rivets or screws, I am not sure how one can attach metal screen without some kind of tape. The butyl tape I use is pretty solid stuff. It is used to seal the roofs of RVs.

 

[Joeiconic]

How would you attached metal screen material? Others have used HVAC ducting tape, which I am not sure will stand up to moisture like butyl tape.

Short of using metal rivets or screws, I am not sure how one can attach metal screen without some kind of tape. The butyl tape I use is pretty solid stuff. It is used to seal the roofs of RVs.

I‘m well familiar with butyl tape. I used many rolls of it to attach vapor barrier to the concrete walls of my crawl space when I enclosed it. Great stuff, but no contest for a mouse.

Maybe something like this butyl tape with metal mesh built into it. I don’t know how hard it may be to work with.

https://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com/animal/WRAT00X.html

 

[Beach]

My anti rodent kit....With my stray dog deterance in the background. lol!

Yep, mine took care of the whole neighborhood for years. But I didn't take her camping or anywhere else that might be infested, how about smell or other deterrents? Maybe rat-rap music?

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