Here I am

Rats got me!!!

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Capacity of 06" 3500 wheels

RV/5th Wheel Class III Hitch

Kirwin

TDR MEMBER
Well I just don't know where to begin. We used our Holiday Rambler travel trailer for the last time in 2006 during the week of Thanksgiving. Parked it the Sunday after Thanksgiving at our house on its concrete extension of our driveway. Went out to it a few times this winter to get things but never spent and significant time in it until I went out to turn up the furnace to sleep in it on Friday the 26th of January. When I got out there, my power monitor display was dark. So I started looking to see what was up with that. I pulled off the cover that has the wiring and the back side of the fuse panel inside and I had some mouse chewing on the wires. :eek: I start looking further and they have chewed off the 2 inch furnace duct where it penetrates the floor into the underbelly, most of the styrofoam from the water heater and there's pink fiberglass insulation all over under the kitchen cabinets. Its not looking good. I put some water in the fresh water tank and start cleaning up all the feces and urine under the cabinets and then I hear running water under the trailer :--) So I drop the underbelly and the little B_____ have chewed through the forward gray water tank in several places, the 1 1/2" rubber pipe couplings are practically completely gone including the black ABS pipe under them and there are chewed areas on most everything that is plastic located in the underbelly with the exception of the wiring. Well I called it a day and said maybe it will look better in the morning. No such luck. In the morning I discovered that they had chewed through a corner of the ceiling and had made it into the roof area and into the A/C ducts in the ceiling! Time to call the insurance company. They had a nest in the underbelly right beside that 2" furnace duct. I'm sure they liked it since the furnace was keeping the trailer about 50 F this winter! They also had a nest that they were building in the A/C duct over the kitchen. So far I've caught 3 huge rats, not mice, RATS. It's looking very grimm. I'm not sure how they got in as of yet. I did find one hole that Holiday used to pull wires into the side wall from under the front fiberglass cap that I guess they could have used to get under the cap. It is clear that once they got in they were using the A/C and furnace ducts to get from one area to another. Holiday Rambler factory service is the only place that I've found so far that would fix it if the insurance company decides I have to repair it. I'm sure glad that its covered at least. The best thing that can happen now, I think, is for the insurance to total it. Then I can order a new trailer. By the way they ate a box of Scooby Snacks for the dog that we accidentally left in the trailer. Oh and a bottle of Guldens Spicy Brown Mustard that was brand new, never opened that was in there too. Any suggestions on repairing vice replacing would be appreciated. How would you repair the ceiling? Ken Irwin HRRVC 87310
 
See if you can take it to the place that you bought it from to get the estimate for the insurance adjuster. Let them know that if it is totaled out that you will be buying your next trailer from them. You will really want to point out everything that is wrong with it and pull as much wiring and junk out of it as possible so it looks as messy as possible. I would not clean up another piece of rat junk either.



Our trailer was totaled out from a tornadoe in Myrtle Beach several years ago and fortunately I got a really good deal on it when I bought it so I was not lopsided with the payments.
 
Sorry about your mis-hap. They got in my backyard ate my car wire harness and I declared war. I won but the car harness was $450.



Rat Zapper

for future reference, these things work well. I have the full blown system that can call me when a trap has tripped and tells me which one. Yes, they DO make a better mouse trap.



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Mice got in mine once, they didn't do any damage but droppings everywhere. Damn i hate them. we cleaned everything with lysol. Now I never store any food, not evened canned in the trailer and put atleast three cartons of decon. no problems since. Good luck with yours. robert
 
Pulled mine out last year and found droppings and papertowels chewed up so I started cleaning and as I was under the cabinet they had pulled a plastic bag into a hole when i pulled it out along came a 6 foot snakeskin:--) Well guess he got the mice but I tore the whole camper apart looking for him before the wife would get back in it.
 
Kirwin:



As I read through your sad story I began thinking "factory. " Near the conclusion you addressed that possibility. You didn't mention the year of your HR but I'm assuming it is a fairly new one. In my opinion, the HR factory in IN would be the ONLY repair facility I would even consider taking it to for such major repairs. Even the best of dealers would probably not be able to satisfy you and there is probably additional damage that you have not been able to discover yet that will be revealed once repairs begin. I would hate to be the dealer that writes an estimate on it because of the additional damage that is probably currently hidden and the unpleasant conflicts that will arise when he has to repeatedly contact the owner and insurance company for additional repairs.



My recommendation would be to take it back to the factory for a careful inspection and repair estimate with the understanding that additional damage will probably be found after work begins, if repair is authorized. You will ultimately be compensated for the travel expense and estimate as part of the insurance settlement. If you are unable/unwilling to take time off from work to tow it to IN contact one of the transport companies and have it towed to the factory. Make sure you hire one of the legitimate, licensed, insured companies not someone's brother-in-law with a duallly pickup. Transportation will cost some money too but you'll be compensated by your insuror.



My guess is unless the trailer is a high dollar new unit it is a total loss. The factory would be most qualified to put a reasonably accurate price tag on the cost of repairs to help determine whether it is a total.



Good luck. I'm sure it will turn out okay eventually if you have a good insurance company.



Harvey
 
I put 4 large boxes of moth balls in my 5th wheel every fall when I put it up for winter in my back yard.....

Just went out and checked, after reading this... ... whew, everything looks OK.
 
Crash&Burn said:
I put 4 large boxes of moth balls in my 5th wheel every fall when I put it up for winter in my back yard.....

Just went out and checked, after reading this... ... whew, everything looks OK.



no kidding! I'm lacing up my boots right now!



is there anything that will scare them off or drive them out?
 
I had mice get in a different trailer many years ago.

A tip in Trailer Life said to use the moth balls.

I've used them ever since, in both my boat and camper..... knock on wood, no problems since.

TBS, in spring it does take a couple of days too air out... .
 
I am headed out to the barn to check on mine. I have bait set out in various places. I also set out fabric softener sheets (cheap & highly perfumed ones) and my friend cut up pieces of Irish Spring soap and scattered that around his boat which is in the barn also. Oh, and 2 cats patrol the area too :D So far, so good.
 
Insurance Co

I'm with USAA and my trailer is a $43K 2003 Presidential. KBB shows about $24K as a value. USAA says it must be estimated over $18K to be totaled. The HR factor service center says $5K to remove the roof and $2K to remove the front cap to inspect for damage, then the repair costs start. I'm waiting on USAA to decide which way they will go and then look at my options. Thanks for all you kind support. Ken Irwin
 
Kirwin,



I have USAA, too! They will take care of you. I would really put the pressure on them, once they take the roof off it will never be the same again.
 
Kirwin:



I've been a USAA member for 30 years and hold them in extremely high regard but . . . when you're talking serious money like you are here there is only one person on the planet who is going to look out for your personal interests as well as you will.



Several years ago I had a late model triple axle Airstream that was parked on my back yard pad during an unfortunate surprise hail storm one evening. The A/S received light hail damage to virtually every panel. USAA sent out a local fool contract insurance adjuster (not an employee) who was grossly overweight and apparently lazy as well. He didn't even bring out a ladder. I would never have hired him for any reason. USAA had probably never met the guy and probably didn't know much about his work or work ethic (until I discussed them with USAA which is another story). He gave me an estimate by the seat of his pants that even I could determine missed a significant number of panels and much of the damage. I looked it over and my alarm bells went off.



I hooked up the trailer and pulled it up to Oklahoma City, a 400 or so mile journey, to an independent shop that specialized in Airstream repairs. The owner is also the technician and had worked on Airstreams since, I believe, 1964. He is a good honest guy who does quality work but not cheap work. I paid him something like $200 to write a complete and accurate estimate (no coaching on my part, just an accurate estimate) and faxed it to USAA. The accurate estimate was thousands of dollars higher than the first. USAA got a little concerned and sent their own adjuster in the OKC area out to inspect it. We had some "discussions. " Ultimately I was paid on the higher and accurate estimate and opted to retain the trailer by allowing USAA to deduct salvage value and accepting the difference.



I left the Airstream at the OKC A/S repair facility to sell on consignment. It took several months but eventually they found a buyer who was happy to pay approximate low NADA retail for it. It was a very clean, nice trailer and the hail damage was very light. I was happy, the new owner was happy, and the A/S service shop was paid for the estimate and a commission on the sale.



I still respect and use USAA but don't accept the word of their adjusters as gospel.



Harvey
 
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USAA's decision

Well the insurance co has decided to total the trailer. They have offered me just over $28K for it. No discussion of salvage value but a local hunting club wants to buy it for storage and to serve as a kitchen for those impromptu meals they make. I think it's a fair offer. I am out the money I paid for the new gray water tank that I had bought before I knew the extent of the damage, but I have spent less than $400. 00 so far repairing the trailer so I think that the offer is fair. NADA value is around $24K without options. Now to get my inverter, transfer switch, generator set up, and all my non factory options out of it. Ken Irwin
 
Ken,



None of my business, of course. but if you've got a prospect I recommend you ask USAA for the salvage value and if that will work for you with what your prospect will pay, let USAA subtract salvage value and accept the difference then sell it.



I don't remember the details now but I kept the title clear. I did not turn it over to USAA so that it could become a salvage title. I was able to sell it with a clean title.



Harvey
 
Just a heads up on upcoming possible insurance changes. My insurer indicated in my renewal that if the rv is unoccupied for more than two weeks and there is rodent or inside plumbing water damage it will not be covered. Be careful and read your policy.
 
Glad to hear that USAA took care of you. Since it is a total, take anything out of it that you want or might want for your next trailer. They don't care! I took the fantastic fans out of mine, the jacks, and the radio.
 
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