FLEETWOOD RV CLASS A GAS 2020 OWNER’S MANUAL
77
• When the motorhome is stored outdoors, clear
the surrounding area of all rodent friendly hiding
places: shrubs, trees and clutter . Completely seal
the underside of the motorhome . Wire mesh will
work well to prevent points of entry, but beware
of blocking necessary air vents . Prior to operating
the motorhome after storage, remove all insect
and animal nests that may have developed around
vents, engine compartments, the exhaust pipe and
in the wheel wells .
• Seal cracks, crevices, and gaps around doors and
windows .
Rodents:
Rodents may chew through wires or build nests
in components of the motorhome . Signs of rodent
infestation include droppings, shredded material or
chewed furniture fabrics and vinyl . Rodents like to build
nests with wire insulation and are commonly attracted
to the outside coating of 120 Volt AC wiring more than
12 Volt DC wiring .
If signs of rodent infestation exist around the
motorhome, place traps or poisons in suspected areas .
Keep traps and poisons safely away from pets and
children . Cheese is not the best bait for a rodent trap .
Use peanut butter or chocolate in small amounts .
Place the bait on the trigger of the trap to induce the
rodent to climb onto the trigger to reach the bait .
Rodents do not limit invasion to unused vehicles .
Insects:
Eliminate insects when signs of infestation appear . If
the type of insect cannot be identified, purchase sticky
traps from the hardware store and place the tape where
the insects have been seen . Once a sample is caught,
seek assistance in identifying the insect to determine
what will be required to remove the infestation .
Regularly inspect the exterior of the motorhome for
signs of a budding wasp nest, and promptly destroy
small nests before they become too large .
Spiders can be in any structure . Immediately remove
spider webs . Some types of spiders like to nest on top of
the diesel tank and around the diesel hoses . Dispense of
spiders using a vacuum . Use care to capture the spider
and egg sacs . Throw the vacuum bag away in a sealed
bag .
Fruit flies invade the motorhome by attaching to fresh
fruits and vegetables . Determine what food items are
generating the flies and discard that item in an outdoor
trash receptacle . Fruit flies can be eliminated with a
homemade trap . Pour a few ounces of vinegar into a
cup and cover the cup with plastic wrap . Secure the
wrap with tape or a rubber band and poke a 1/4” hole
in the plastic . Place the trap in the area where fruit flies
are present .
Ants live in colonies . Only a fraction of the ant colony
will leave to seek food . Spraying pesticides will only
kill the ants that are away from the colony . The colony
must be destroyed to eliminate all ants . Keep ants away
from the sewer hose by spraying the hose ends with a
soap and water solution .
Fleas can be removed by properly treating pets with
a veterinarian approved treatment and by thoroughly
cleaning the motorhome . Vacuum vinyl areas and tile
floors to remove dust, flea larva and flea eggs . Follow by
thoroughly washing those areas with soap and water .
Carpets must be vacuumed and treated with a residual
flea control product labeled safe for indoor carpet and
furniture use . Perform the cleaning treatment daily for
three days to ensure that all fleas have encountered the
treatment .
Flying outdoor insects are attracted to bright light .
Yellow porch light covers on the motorhome work to
discourage insect invasion . During nighttime hours
insects will be attracted to docking lights or other
bright exterior lighting .
If the presence of moths is detected inside the motorhome,
usually by holes appearing in material, clean the affected
clothing and all other items stored in the same area . Follow
by completely cleaning the closet, dresser or storage area .
Seal cracks and treat the area with a product labeled safe
for indoor pest control .
Birds:
Even birds can be considered pests, particularly when
the motorhome is parked in the flight path of a flock . Bird
NOTE:
Although the back cap of the motorhome is well
sealed, rodents are capable of chewing through the
foam insulation and that area should be routinely
inspected .
Summary of Contents for Class A Gas 2020
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