Rat-Proofing equipment - any tips ?

[Catweazle]

I have recently had rat damage to my van, the buggers have twice eaten the cables to the rear ABS sensors which are £92 each.

 

I wasn't totally convinced that it was rat damage the first time, I thought it might have been cut by an incompetent thief looking for the diesel line, but this morning I have found the ABS cables chewed into many pieces an inch or so long.

 

I'm not going to replace them just for them to be eaten again so is there something I can put on them to repel the rats ?

 

This hasn't happened before last week, the van is parked in the same place it has been for three years but the council recently cleared the yard of all dumped old pallets and rubbish and I guess that what with the snow the rats are getting a bit desperate.

[Doug Blease]

A ring of rat traps surrounding the van!

 

In all honesty, rats will eat through concrete to get at food when they are desperate.

[niftysteve]

what about that stainless steel braide you can get for hoses im sure that can be got in small diameter

or depending how long the wires are maybe get one of those flexi tap connectors from BQ and thread wire through it

Edited December 24, 2009 by niftysteve

[s.varty]

i do know that in days gone by the local ratcatchers used to soak their clothes in peppermint, apparently rats do not like the smell.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Dont leave food in the van, or food wrappers, and get a cat!

[Alex Reid]

just put some rat glue traps under the van where they are getting in will soon ctach the buggers!

[Andy Collins]

Peppermint oil on rags around the motor, in the boot, under bonnet in footwells if you're parking up for any period of time. Also heard somewhere that mothballs work too.l

[RobRainford]

get one of these:

[skyhuck]

When my mog was in for some work, they found a decomposing rat and a nest in behind the heater filter, it had chewed through the side light wire, I guess 24volts was just too much for it to handle, LOL!!!

[combined tree services]

When my mog was in for some work, they found a decomposing rat and a nest in behind the heater filter, it had chewed through the side light wire, I guess 24volts was just too much for it to handle, LOL!!!

 

ha ha funny as fook