Bugs?

[TravlinOn]

Some of the CG's we visit have problems with various kinds of ants both on the ground and falling from trees onto the TM. I found that RAID Yard Guard sprayed as a mist over the top, sides, and tires stopped bugs until rains washed clean.

Suggestion: Spray Yard Guard outward through window screens as possible deterrent to may flies, no-see-um's, etc. Might work.

 

[tentcamper]

We have not had any bug issue in our first year with 25 nights out throughout OH, KY, TN, PA, About the same as with our pupups and TT's.

We have not added anything to stuff between the seals. I can see if the shells are not adjusted so the seals overlap, there would be an issue. Only seal that I think could be better in around the rear bunk, but it works ok. I just have to make sue the bunk seals is in the right place when I open it.

 

[HIKERZ]

I find that using dryer sheets (the fabric softener type) near cracks such as the Velcro joining areas deters mosquitos and smells nice

 

[rvcamping]

"about the gap that is needed when the unit is folded, does dirt and debree get lodged in the gap when towing down the road, be it paved or dirt? How about when towing in rain, does the tops inner walls get wet and dirty?"

I would also like to know this. What about the road water spray from the 60MPH wind blast going down the highway. Does it get up in that inner-wall. Thanks.

 

[tentcamper]

We have not had any of those issues. Along the bottom of the top shells, there are seals that meet up with the bottom of the lower part of camper. Some people say they have issues, but we have not. We have driven through some very hard rain storms at 60+ MPH.

I have heard that some people have had issues with dust when driving of dirt roads. We have only driven 20-30 miles on dirt/gravel roads and have not notice any exceptional amount of dust. The dust we had was about the same that we had with our popups and TT's.

The only time we had an issue with rain is when we forgot to fully close the bathroom window and drove through a rain storm and we had a wet wall and wet curtain.

 

[Icon-KEY]

Get a chameleon for this seven year old BUG thread...

 

[Padgett]

I've been through a few frog drowners where you can't drive 60 mph (more like 20 with flashers going) with no problem.

 

[Wingedryder]

Some of the CG's we visit have problems with various kinds of ants both on the ground and falling from trees onto the TM. I found that RAID Yard Guard sprayed as a mist over the top, sides, and tires stopped bugs until rains washed clean.

Suggestion: Spray Yard Guard outward through window screens as possible deterrent to may flies, no-see-um's, etc. Might work.

Thanks TravlinOn, will pack some Raid Yard Guard from now on. Am sure we may not have another incident of swarming mayflies, ants, or whatever, for a while, but will spray down the TM as a precaution. Like the idea of spraying out through window screens, as well!

 

[LoveToCamp-TMO]

Winged, where did you go? Sterling Res? Curious, as I have been to Jackson Res, and Bonnie, but only in November. No bug problem then. I am considering other locations NE, to take the grandsons to.

 

[moaboy]

Bummer or bugger!
Surprised we don't hear of this more often.

 

[Wingedryder]

Winged, where did you go? Sterling Res? Curious, as I have been to Jackson Res, and Bonnie, but only in November. No bug problem then. I am considering other locations NE, to take the grandsons to.

LoveToCamp, it was the first week of June at Jackson Lake SP near Wiggins. I think you're safe in November - Ha, I should have gone that time of year! Never experienced anything like it before at St. Vrain or Bonnie. Our campsite was near the water. Only a distant neighbor of 4 fishermen, who also broke camp early. Can never be too safe, I guess. Will be armed with Raid Yard Guard, peppermint oil, citronella, & a car vac from now on!

 

[foxhaven0]

The biggest problem we ever had with bugs was before we owned the TM. We went to Ochlockonee State Park in Sopchoppy, Florida in June in the Aliner.
The horseflies and skeeters 'bout ate us up! And the horseflies were big, around an inch or better in length, with green eyes. We had to leave after one night and have them sent us a refund. The ranger said that it was just that time of year. November was much nicer.
As to ants I have a problem here in the house occasionally and found the Max Attacks ant baits to work well for the fire ants but the teeny tiny black ants don't seem to go for it. At least they don't bite.

 

[Scubaroo]

We're camping in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with our new-to-us 2007 3124KB and the mosquitos are getting in. I think this area should be a testing ground for trailer manufacturers as the mosquitos are so thick and persistent.

So far, I've:

- used wet wipes all over the place to try to cover gaps (bed corners, top of the bed slides on each side on the rear bed, around the door flaps, anywhere there is a gap in the flaps or they meet a wall, etc)
- redone the door seals although discovered the foam might be too thick so going to redo them again with thinner foam
- toweled the bottom of the doors
- discovered gap between front and rear upper shells above stove -- inserted slice of pool noodle along with more wet wipes
- discovered gap between upper and lower shells on bathroom wall and across the "hall" behind the dresser -- more pool noodle slices and wet wipes
- realized rear storage area could see light during day from inside -- under bed slide on rear is open, used more pool noodle slices to try to seal rear bed slide
- went to front and tried to seal again on the edges -- for some reason, front bed slide has a seal that covers most of the gap while rear does not?

I'm using the wet wipes for the material -- the cloth stays together when wet (of course) so I find it better than paper towels.

So far, I'm not winning this war. I do see some gaps around the wheels and might try to use some sealant there (some already present). I also see the access panels to the outside behind the fridge/furnace are wide open but not sure if there is paths to the interior (perhaps behind the couch on 3124K?

I also found the window gaskets have shrunk and it might be a possible route for mosquitos but this is unproven -- just possibility. Another on is through the roof vents where the interior trim overlaps but doesn't have a solid seal. Admittedly, it's like a trap with the overlapping pieces so unlikely a route. But there seem to be a lot of potential routes and even with low probability, it seems like there might be enough...

Opening the door is a real problem but it's clear they are getting in via other methods. Tomorrow night, I'm getting out the deet and going outside in the dark (with all the lights on inside) to try to figure out what I'm missing...

 

[Scubaroo]

Yesterday, I took some window screen material and did a quick test cover of the two big external access panels/vents behind the fridge. I also put a small piece behind the plumbing/graywater vent (not sure if bugs can make it in that way but easy to do).

And... Success! Although the weather turned colder and the bugs might have been less active so I want to try a couple more nights. But it appears there is a good chance mosquitos can make it into the trailer via the access panels/vents on the exterior of the trailer where the fridge is located. Putting netting here probably adds more maintenance as one needs to regularly ensure there is no blockage of air flow. But I'm happy to pay that price if it means no more mosquitos!

If everything is still working great over the next couple of evenings, I'll post what I've done and what seems to have worked. I was getting frustrated as the tone in my last post might have made clear but I am really hopeful that it is possible to use the TrailManor in heavy mosquito areas.

 

[ThePair]

Yesterday, I took some window screen material and did a quick test cover of the two big external access panels/vents behind the fridge. I also put a small piece behind the plumbing/graywater vent (not sure if bugs can make it in that way but easy to do).

And... Success! Although the weather turned colder and the bugs might have been less active so I want to try a couple more nights. But it appears there is a good chance mosquitos can make it into the trailer via the access panels/vents on the exterior of the trailer where the fridge is located. Putting netting here probably adds more maintenance as one needs to regularly ensure there is no blockage of air flow. But I'm happy to pay that price if it means no more mosquitos!

If everything is still working great over the next couple of evenings, I'll post what I've done and what seems to have worked. I was getting frustrated as the tone in my last post might have made clear but I am really hopeful that it is possible to use the TrailManor in heavy mosquito areas.

Interesting. I say this because I'm fairly certain my fridge "cabinet" is fairly well sealed to the inside--I've never looked at it as a point of ingress to mosquitos. I'm going to need to keep an eye out if we ever suffer from the same!

Thanks for the information.

 

[Scubaroo]

I also sealed where the bed slides are. One front corner (note some old tape covering slight opening in the seal -- I didn't redo that yet after a move):



And the rear:



Note that the prior owners redid the curtains and then removed the inner bed slide ends/cover to put matching fabric on to them. I think that they left some gaps although perhaps TrailManor also leaves some gaps there -- it doesn't seem like a good seal. One day, I will take off both covers and try to use foam or whatever method seems appropriate to try to seal the inner part of the slides.