Keep mice out of your RV by sealing entry points with steel wool and caulk, removing food sources, storing on concrete surfaces, using peppermint oil or commercial repellents, and setting traps. Mice can fit through dime-sized holes and cause thousands in wiring damage. Professional pest coverage through specialized RV insurance protects against costly repairs, with some policies covering rodent damage under comprehensive coverage.
Nobody wants to wake up to scratching sounds in the walls or discover chewed wires when you're ready to hit the road. We've all heard the horror stories—$4,000 in wiring damage from a week in storage, or finding a family of mice has turned your favorite camping chair into their winter condo.
The good news? With the right prevention strategy, you can keep your rig mouse-free year-round. Whether you're a weekend warrior storing your trailer in the driveway or a full-timer who needs rock-solid protection, we'll walk you through everything from sealing entry points to understanding your insurance options.
Detect mice early by looking for droppings in drawers and cabinets, chew marks on food packaging, musky odors, scratching sounds at night, and small holes in bedding or upholstery.
The sooner you catch an infestation, the less damage you'll face. Mice are nocturnal, so you'll often hear them before you see them—that telltale scratching and scurrying in the walls around bedtime.
Check these common spots during your regular RV inspections:
According to RV Lifestyle experts, mice reproduce quickly, so early detection and swift action prevent small problems from becoming major infestations.
Mice enter RVs through gaps as small as a dime around vents, plumbing penetrations, slideout seals, wheel wells, and wherever utilities enter the frame—if a pencil fits, a mouse can squeeze through.
Understanding entry points is crucial because mice have collapsible rib cages. If their head fits, their entire body follows. Here are the most common access routes:
Utility Penetrations: Where water lines, electrical, or gas lines enter the RV frame Vent Openings: Furnace, refrigerator, and bathroom vents without proper screening Slideout Areas: Gaps in seals where slideouts meet the main body Wheel Wells and Undercarriage: Around stabilizer jacks, axles, and suspension components Drain Connections: Poorly sealed areas where gray and black tank drains exit Shore Power Cords: Mice can follow permanently attached power cords inside
One Forest River Forums user discovered their main entry point was around rear stabilizer jacks, giving mice direct access to water heater compartments and throughout the RV via utility raceways.
Seal mouse entry points using steel wool for small holes (mice can't chew through it), expanding foam for larger gaps, silicone caulk for cracks, and metal mesh over vents and openings.
The secret weapon in mouse-proofing is steel wool—specifically the kind used for stripping wood, not kitchen cleaning (avoid soap-treated varieties). Do It Yourself RV confirms that mice cannot chew through steel wool, making it your best defense.
Step-by-Step Sealing Process:
For slideout areas, pay special attention to corners and joints where seals may have gaps. Use automotive weatherstripping or specialized RV sealants rated for outdoor use.
Store your RV on concrete or paved surfaces away from fields and tall grass, in covered storage when possible, and avoid parking near wood piles, grain storage, or areas with known rodent activity.
Your storage location makes a huge difference in mouse pressure. KOA's prevention experts recommend choosing storage locations strategically to reduce attraction factors.
Best Storage Practices:
Worst Storage Locations:
If you must store outdoors, consider RV skirting to create additional barriers underneath your rig.
Effective RV mouse repellents include peppermint oil on cotton balls, commercial products like Fresh Cab pouches, Irish Spring soap bars, and ultrasonic devices, though no repellent offers 100% protection without proper sealing.
Repellents work best as part of a comprehensive strategy, not standalone solutions. RV Lifestyle's Mike Wendland reports success with various approaches, though results vary by location and mouse population pressure.
Natural Repellent Options:
Commercial Products:
Application Tips: Repellents need regular refreshing and work best in enclosed spaces. They're most effective for prevention rather than removing existing infestations.
Eliminate mouse attractions by storing all food in airtight glass or metal containers, removing everything edible during storage, cleaning up crumbs immediately, and avoiding leaving pet food accessible.
Food is the primary reason mice risk entering your RV. Even tiny crumbs can sustain a mouse family for weeks. Victor Pest Control emphasizes that comprehensive food removal is essential for prevention.
Complete Food Removal Checklist:
For Active Use: When using your RV regularly, store food in airtight containers made of glass or thick plastic. Metal containers work even better since mice can chew through most plastics given enough time.
Post-Trip Cleaning: After each camping trip, do a thorough cleanup before storing. Even forgotten crackers under a dinette cushion can attract mice during off-season storage.
Use snap traps with peanut butter bait for active infestations, humane live traps for relocation, or sealed kill traps like Victor Kill Vault for mess-free disposal—place along walls where mice travel.
If prevention fails and mice get inside, quick action prevents extensive damage. Do It Yourself RV recommends addressing infestations immediately rather than hoping they'll leave on their own.
Trap Types and Placement:
Strategic Placement: Set traps along walls where mice naturally travel, near suspected entry points, and in areas where you've found droppings. Check traps daily and reset immediately after catches.
Bait Selection: Peanut butter works better than cheese—it's aromatic and difficult for mice to steal without triggering the trap. Small amounts prevent mice from getting a free meal.
RV insurance coverage for rodent damage varies significantly—comprehensive policies may cover wiring and structural damage, while specialized pest coverage specifically protects against rodent-related repairs that standard policies often exclude.
Understanding your coverage before you need it saves major headaches. One Forest River Forums member faced $4,000 in wiring damage but got $3,000 covered by Progressive after proving proper RV maintenance.
Standard Coverage Limitations: Most basic RV insurance policies don't automatically cover rodent damage, considering it "preventable maintenance." However, comprehensive coverage may include:
Specialized Pest Coverage: Roamly offers dedicated pest coverage at affordable rates, specifically designed for RV owners who understand that preventing pests isn't always possible despite best efforts.
Coverage Factors:
Mouse-proofing strategies vary by RV type—travel trailers need slideout seal attention, motorhomes require engine compartment sealing, and fifth wheels need careful inspection around landing gear and utility connections.
Different RV configurations create unique vulnerabilities that require targeted approaches.
Travel Trailers and Fifth Wheels:
Motorhomes (Class A, B, C):
Pop-up and Hybrid Campers:
Van Conversions and DIY Builds: These present unique challenges since aftermarket modifications may create unintended entry points around custom installations.
Ready to protect your investment? Get a fast, free RV insurance quote that actually covers the real-world risks you face, including pest damage that traditional carriers often exclude. Because nothing ruins a camping trip like discovering your "weekend getaway" turned into someone else's winter home.
About Prevention and Coverage: This guide incorporates expert advice from RV industry professionals and insurance specialists. Insurance coverage varies by policy and provider—always review your specific coverage details and consider specialized pest protection for comprehensive peace of mind.
Insurance terms, coverage, and discounts vary by jurisdiction; consult a licensed agent for specific coverage details.
Roamly Insurance Group, LLC ("Roamly") is a licensed general agent for affiliated and non-affiliated insurance companies. Roamly is licensed as an agency in all states in which products are offered. Availability and qualification for coverage, terms, rates, and discounts may vary by jurisdiction. We do not in any way imply that the materials on the site or products are available in jurisdictions in which we are not licensed to do business or that we are soliciting business in any such jurisdiction. Coverage under your insurance policy is subject to the terms and conditions of that policy and is ultimately the decision of the buyer.
Policies provided by Roamly are underwritten by Spinnaker Insurance Company, Progressive Insurance Company, Safeco Insurance, Foremost Insurance Company, National General Insurance, Allstate Insurance Company, Mobilitas Insurance Company, Lyndon Southern Insurance Company and others.