Community Forums

Jetsmania · 01-13-2007, 05:54 PM

Hi! Well we can't blame Newmar for this one. We have noticed a few ants in our front bathroom walking across the sink. Any ideas on how to rid them (we have 2 Minature Schnauzers) and where did they come from?? Is this just a problem in Newmar High Line Units??

Paul

Jetsmania · 01-13-2007, 05:54 PM

Hi! Well we can't blame Newmar for this one. We have noticed a few ants in our front bathroom walking across the sink. Any ideas on how to rid them (we have 2 Minature Schnauzers) and where did they come from?? Is this just a problem in Newmar High Line Units??

Paul

"007" · 01-13-2007, 06:12 PM

If they are RED be careful because they bite and sting. Check around MH may be a ant hill near coach.

Spray or place ant power around tires.

It must be nice to enjoy all the ants and bugs in that warm weather country, oh yes wait for the June bugs.

Jetsmania · 01-13-2007, 06:17 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">If they are RED be careful </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hi! Thanks for the advise. They are small black ones. paul

Lug_Nut · 01-14-2007, 02:30 AM

Paul, you were right the first time, this is not Newmar's fault. Ants may come in a MH via the electric cord or hose, usually at a camp site. A Prevost early this year had them gain access via the mud flap. Aired down the mud flap was in the expansion crack in the concrete. The ant hills in the area had just been de-anted. The ants headed for higher ground. Unfortunitely these were fire ants, the biting type.
I spray around my rig if I'm staying awhile in the south.

Peter

GaryKD · 01-14-2007, 02:54 AM

Hi Paul,
Like Peter said, check all contacts with the ground. Spray, spray and spray all the hoses, around tires, rear mud flap, anything that is touching the ground. Buy the spray by the gallon. Consider making this check a part of your daily walk around.

Check inside your water/waste utility compartment. Ants are looking for easy water. We have had only one ant attack, my daily walk around caught it quick. With spray and bait traps in the outside water compartment they have not reappeared.

JavaJelly · 01-14-2007, 02:58 AM

Haven't done it myself but, my in-laws who are long time campers, say putting powdered Comet around tires, cord, flap etc. will work in a pinch.

RustyJC · 01-14-2007, 04:11 AM

Another home remedy that's proven successful is borax (as in 20 Mule Team Borax in the laundry products section at the grocery store). It can be used as a powder or dissolved in clear Karo syrup (heat the syrup and add borax until no more will dissolve) and painted onto surfaces where the ants are moving or entering/leaving. The sugar draws the ants and the borax kills them.

I wouldn't use it where kids or pets could get into it, however.

Rusty

Lug_Nut · 01-14-2007, 04:53 AM

It could be worse. The same Prevost that I mentioned that had fire ants visit this year, had a diffent guest last year. Some how a black snake got in the coach last year. It stayed a while as it hid in the dash vents. The guys wife wasn't too pleased.

Peter

jeeprubi · 01-14-2007, 08:21 PM

You got to be on the alert to all kinds of critters that can get into these coaches.

Had a friend in Yuma AZ last year with a KSCA and they had a swarm of bees to take up residence in one of the storage compartments. They had to call a local beekeeper to come get them.

"007" · 01-15-2007, 08:14 AM

Heres an old one how about a mouse getting macerated in the fan of your furnace.

Than to clean out burnt flesh and bone after being cooked on the burner.

cwg · 01-15-2007, 12:04 PM

I found out the first year in Florida that the unwelcome guests were known as "sugar ants" if of the black variety. So I undertook to wage war against them as well as all of my neighbors did.

I did all of the aforementioned remedies that you have read, but the most effective one was that of putting the powder deterrents around the jacks and the pads upon which they rested.

Newmar still uses the large openings for utility access (sewer hose) so it is necessary to stuff something to prevent the ants or other critters from coming up the hose or cords.