I have a 1984 F350 farm truck with a manual transmission that doesn't get used often. The problem is mice will chew through the floor shifter boot and make a mess with the interior. Has anyone found anything to put under the boot that is flexible enough and keep mice from chewing through. Also is there something to use to get rid of the smell after a thorough cleaning. Any suggestions for this would be appreciated.
- Thread starter Ga Rick
- Start date
old
Well-known Member
- Location
- Camdenton Missouri
Mothballs in and under the hood/cab. Or of course a cat or two that likes to sleep in the cab
kcm.MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- NW Minnesota
You could try sandwiching some mothballs in between the underside of the boot and some sort of mesh netting.
As for getting rid of the smell, as you have already cleaned, I would go back with a STRONG orange Gojo solution (love how that stuff smells!) or some other citrus cleaner. When that's dry, sprinkle around some baking soda or some of that carpet fresh stuff. I never use that carpet powder "on" carpet, but comes in handy for other things.
As for getting rid of the smell, as you have already cleaned, I would go back with a STRONG orange Gojo solution (love how that stuff smells!) or some other citrus cleaner. When that's dry, sprinkle around some baking soda or some of that carpet fresh stuff. I never use that carpet powder "on" carpet, but comes in handy for other things.
Russ from MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Bemidji MN
I put mothballs in our boat in the winter, it seems to work. One winter I tried dryer sheets, SWMBO said they smell better,
the mice ate holes in an expensive net!
the mice ate holes in an expensive net!
redforlife
Well-known Member
Get some poison put out. Both under and inside cab of truck. Perhaps even under the hood. I
hate the little bags of poison with the little pellets and I don't use it. Mice and rats
eat very little of it and are more likely to just carry it back to their nest and use it
for nest material. I seen a metal pipe one time that was packed plum full inside with
bagged poison. The mice had packed it full, instead of eating it. So, I always use the nail
down poison. Just nail it down to a 2 foot 2x4. Or any board that is big enough they can't
carry the board and all off. Then they will eat the poison because they can't carry it off.
And that kind of poison will not only kill mice, but also rats. And you need to change
brands every time you buy more. If you don't, the mice and rats will build up an immune to
the poison over time, and it will no longer kill them anymore.
You probly better off to eliminate the mice and rats, rather than try to prevent them from
getting into the cab. Even if you prevent them from getting into the cab, they likely will
still be getting into engine compartment and chewin off wires and what not in there. Then
you will really have some problems.
hate the little bags of poison with the little pellets and I don't use it. Mice and rats
eat very little of it and are more likely to just carry it back to their nest and use it
for nest material. I seen a metal pipe one time that was packed plum full inside with
bagged poison. The mice had packed it full, instead of eating it. So, I always use the nail
down poison. Just nail it down to a 2 foot 2x4. Or any board that is big enough they can't
carry the board and all off. Then they will eat the poison because they can't carry it off.
And that kind of poison will not only kill mice, but also rats. And you need to change
brands every time you buy more. If you don't, the mice and rats will build up an immune to
the poison over time, and it will no longer kill them anymore.
You probly better off to eliminate the mice and rats, rather than try to prevent them from
getting into the cab. Even if you prevent them from getting into the cab, they likely will
still be getting into engine compartment and chewin off wires and what not in there. Then
you will really have some problems.
kcm.MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- NW Minnesota
We've tried the poison. MANY times. The rodents around here eat it like candy, but don't seem to die.....other than from old age.
Our cat? Nope, only if she wants a snack. Otherwise, she'll let the blame mice crawl on top of her!
Mothballs works to keep them away, although it doesn't smell very good. Still, better than chewed wiring and such.
Our cat? Nope, only if she wants a snack. Otherwise, she'll let the blame mice crawl on top of her!
Mothballs works to keep them away, although it doesn't smell very good. Still, better than chewed wiring and such.
Determined
Well-known Member
Have had to deal with the mouse smell a couple of times.
Like everyone else you clean and clean and the smell still lingers.
Problem is the moisture remaining in the carpet, insulation, cloth etc.
Get it crispy dry and the smell will be gone.
In a camper, crank the furnace and let it run all day.
Crack a window or roof vent so the humidity can escape.
In a vehicle put a couple of hair dryers inside, leave a window open a bit and let them run.
A fan to move the air around speeds things up but still expect it to take all day or longer if it is cold or overly humid.
Like everyone else you clean and clean and the smell still lingers.
Problem is the moisture remaining in the carpet, insulation, cloth etc.
Get it crispy dry and the smell will be gone.
In a camper, crank the furnace and let it run all day.
Crack a window or roof vent so the humidity can escape.
In a vehicle put a couple of hair dryers inside, leave a window open a bit and let them run.
A fan to move the air around speeds things up but still expect it to take all day or longer if it is cold or overly humid.
rusty6
Well-known Member
- Location
- East central Sask.
Exactly right. You need to attack the source and that is to reduce (or eliminate) the mouse population on your property. I have those blue blocks of poison in pretty well every building on the farm and it sure helps keep the mice numbers down.
There is a type of spray foam in a can that is supposed to be rodent proof so I would spray some of that into any place that looks like an entry point for mice.
Thankfully this truck doesn't have carpet, just a rubber mat. I will be heading to town for supplies
this afternoon. I'll pick up some poison, mothballs and cleaner. I much rather smell mothballs than
mouse urine. Thank you for the replies! If anyone has any other suggestions I open to all the
advise I can get!
this afternoon. I'll pick up some poison, mothballs and cleaner. I much rather smell mothballs than
mouse urine. Thank you for the replies! If anyone has any other suggestions I open to all the
advise I can get!
rustyfarmall
Well-known Member
I use Ramik and Havoc. At first it seems like it is not effective, but then I start finding dead mice, and realize that the poison IS getting them, but for everyone that dies, there are 2 or 3 more that move in. The poison needs to be available at all times, year around. I slip those chunks onto a wire and tie it off. That way I can see when it is about gone and replace it. If you see one mouse or rat, you've got at least 10.
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
How much clearance between the top of the transmission and the floor?
You could stuff some hardware cloth or screen wire around the shifter, below the boot, seal it in place with Pest-block expanding foam.
But then they might come in somewhere else more destructive...
You could stuff some hardware cloth or screen wire around the shifter, below the boot, seal it in place with Pest-block expanding foam.
But then they might come in somewhere else more destructive...
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
Rats or mice were eating the wire harness and hoses on my sister-in-laws Massey. I bagged up some moth balls in panty hose, tied them around under the hood, threw moth balls around the open shed where it stays. So far they have stayed away, that was about 3 months ago.
How much clearance between the top of the transmission and the floor?
You could stuff some hardware cloth or screen wire around the shifter, below the boot, seal it in place with Pest-block expanding foam.
But then they might come in somewhere else more destructive...
How much clearance between the top of the transmission and the floor?
You could stuff some hardware cloth or screen wire around the shifter, below the boot, seal it in place with Pest-block expanding foam.
But then they might come in somewhere else more destructive...
BarnyardEngineering
Well-known Member
- Location
- Rochester, NY
I wouldn't put the bait/poison in or near the truck. It attracts the mice. They eat it because they think it's food, and they find it because they smell it. You want to bait them AWAY from the truck.
I put the tomcat pellets around the inside perimeter of my barn, away from the truck, camper, and tractors. Having the food around the perimeter tends to discourage them from venturing further in.
I put the tomcat pellets around the inside perimeter of my barn, away from the truck, camper, and tractors. Having the food around the perimeter tends to discourage them from venturing further in.
notjustair
Well-known Member
I've never found anything that works once they
move in. I use my old straight trucks enough
anymore that it keeps them out. Wash that thing
inside with bleach and a garden hose. Then park it
where the cats can get to it. When you drive it don't
park it back in the same spot.
move in. I use my old straight trucks enough
anymore that it keeps them out. Wash that thing
inside with bleach and a garden hose. Then park it
where the cats can get to it. When you drive it don't
park it back in the same spot.
David Snipes
Member
Pine tar soap is great for removing odors.
gordy from Iowa
Member
Have found the bait boxes that hold a dozen or more cubes of bait on a wire work well. Put a couple of boxes outside and a couple inside. Mice feel sucure in the box and will consume a lot of bait. Hopefully they won't make it to your truck. Works well here anyway. The boxes are not cheap, but the mice love 'em.
gf in S.IL
Member
I agree about the Cab Fresh working pretty well. I've tried peppermint oil, Irish Spring soap (they ate it!), and moth balls with only limited effect.
For the smell, if you know an undertaker, see if you can get a cup of embalming fluid from them. Put the fluid in a pie pan in the cab and close it up for
at least 24 hours (more is better). Take out the pan, air out the cab for a day. Most likely all of the smell will be gone. Found this out from an auto
mechanic who said the dealership where he worked used this procedure when they traded in a car that had been smoked in. I used it on a car that had a milk
carton leak into the car's carpet in July. It worked on that.
For the smell, if you know an undertaker, see if you can get a cup of embalming fluid from them. Put the fluid in a pie pan in the cab and close it up for
at least 24 hours (more is better). Take out the pan, air out the cab for a day. Most likely all of the smell will be gone. Found this out from an auto
mechanic who said the dealership where he worked used this procedure when they traded in a car that had been smoked in. I used it on a car that had a milk
carton leak into the car's carpet in July. It worked on that.
Paul from MI
Well-known Member
My brother had success with Clorox sprayed all around under the hood of his Subaru. No more mouse chewing the wiring. I have had success with moth balls in my grain drill--no more problems.
Old weldor
Member
I live on an acreage and I have classic cars. I have had good luck with Irish Spring bath soap. I also keep plenty of poison out. I use a mouse
and rat poison called Just One Bite. I have also used Cab Fresh,it has a strong pine scent. Use the original scent Irish spring.
and rat poison called Just One Bite. I have also used Cab Fresh,it has a strong pine scent. Use the original scent Irish spring.
tractorhead
Member
I brought a new Chevy truck and with in a week I had mice. I parked it in the same spot every day. I found out that mice and rats have no bladder to hold urine, therfor they dribble a trail where ever they go. Others will follow that trail. I started moving my truck to a different parking spot every day, that stopped the problem.
Dan Richardson
Member
CAT!
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