The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Rodent barrier?

My 50 was in storage for over 20 years and the mice had found their into the headliner and I believe it was through the pillars - I think that is the right term for the columns at either end of the windshield which support the roof. In any case, when I started working on it again a new headliner was required but before I put it in, made some "barriers" from aluminum window screen and stuffed them into the pillars from the top. Now some years later, I find that the rodents had made their way past these and ruined the replacement headliner as well as making the truck really stink. This time, I made cones out 1/4" hardware cloth that were maybe 6-7" long and stuffed them into the pillars. But, I don't know if they are really blocking rodent access to the penthouse suite or not. I can't see in there and there are other bits of the body that may be in the way of the cone from forming to inside contours. Has anybody here made anything that keeps the rodents out?

Yes. It's called a cat. Works wonders at my house and garage.

I have a cat now but he is indoors only. I've lost to many to the various bigger and hungrier critters out there so no more outdoor cats.

I've heard that putting mothballs in the truck would keep rodents away. Have not tried it, as we don't have that many issues with rodents up here. But then you'd need to deal with the smell of mothballs.

I don't know of any deterrent that actually works. You have to kill them. Old fashioned spring bale traps are still the best. Those green poison baits work well, too.

There is some spray foam sealant that has poison in it. but now the smell is up there good, they will be back.
Poison blocks. dryer sheets work. I have steel taps, poison and a cat. I use a pepper spray outside but that's mostly for squirrels chewing
up fuel sensor lines on my 2018. $800 so far over the past 2 years. Soy based lubricants used on those hard lines with a shroud around them. GMC 2018 truck

I have found that Oil of Cloves and/or Oil of Peppermint works really well to keep mice from coming into our travel trailer via the power cord. Saturate a cotton ball with either one of those oils and put it under the seat or any place you want to--beside the gas tank or in the cab corners would work. On top of keeping the critters at bay, the truck don't smell half bad.

I know how they get in a task force.

Thanks for the replies.
I have tried moth balls and dryer sheets before and found that they don't work. That said, I did order some Grandpa Gus mouse repellant from Amazon which a neighbor has said that is working for him keeping the rodents from his gunsmithing workshop.

My question is about barriers in the pillars. My friendly local mechanic suggested the hardware cloth material as he has made them before but not for a Chevy like mine. As I write this I'm thinking a wire bore brush of the appropriate diameter might work best but I haven't searched for any yet. I was hoping someone here had made these before with success and could provide some pointers.

Not sure if it might work for you, but I've used these copper scouring pads to successfully block mice from getting into my cab in the cab corners where there might be some external entry points (aka rust holes). They are flexible enough to stuff into odd shaped openings and I find them an effective blocker against mice intrusion. Available most anywhere.

Now that makes sense and I had thought of them but the stainless ones.

yeah, I use the grandpas gus pouches and respray with this stuff..