Ideas to Prevent Rodents from Eating Trailer Wiring

Updated 12/30/2024 | Published 08/21/2014

Question:

Critters have eaten the wires to my tandem axle brakes on my flatbed. The wires were run thru a small hole in each end of the axle and they chewed the wires at both points where the wire enters and exits the axle. How can I prevent the wires being chewed. They also chewed all the connections on all rear taillites and marker lites. I have the lites wired but not sure I want to try and fish wire thru the axle just to have them chew off each end. Any ideas on wire in axle and how to get the critters to stop eating my wires. thanks

asked by: Woody H

Helpful Expert Reply:

I did some searching around on the internet and came up with a few interesting tips to prevent rodents from eating vehicle/trailer wiring. Here is what I found:

Noise will keep the rodent's away. So a portable radio would work for this.
Flashing lights, so like a strobe light or any other type of blinking light.
Putting a garden gnome near the trailer.
Spraying the wires with capsaicin.
I normally don't recommend this, but getting a cat might keep them away.
Mouse traps.

For fish wiring the wiring through the axle a long, flexible rod would work great for this. Depending on how smooth the inside of the axle is and how stiff the wire is you might be able to just feed it through.

expert reply by: Jameson C

Sebago G.

12/28/2024

I rewired my 30' tandom boat trailer 2 times. 1 st time I suspected a short in the harness that melted the wire insulation through out the entire trailer. The 2nd time I found mouse nests inside the trailer and through out. So what am I doing now? 3rd eating I just repaired the wires. Now I did some research and supposably mice hate mint smell and taste. So I bought a home Depot a gallon of peppermint. It comes in it's own gallon sprayer. I sprayed the heck out of the trailer when I put it away this season. I've been back 2 times to respray and recommended spray every 30-60 days. I just sprayed 1st time since Columbus Day so 60 days ish and saw no signs of mice. Wishish me luck.