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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 2,151
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How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
I inherited a truck that has been sitting since at least 2008. I knew when I got it that mice had been in there as there was a lot of nesting material. But it was cold and so I assumed they were gone. Brought it home 100 miles and parked it on the trailer in my lower yard. It sat 2 weeks and last Saturday I decided to clean it out. Wearing gloves and a mask, I open both doors and took a leaf blower from the drivers side and blew as much as I could out. I folded down the seat and that is when I saw the rat. The body is at least 6-8" long. It is the size of a small rabbit or big kitten. I took the leaf blower and blew at him hoping he would go out the open door. He did not, he went up the passenger side pillar post inside. So I cleaned out the fluff behind the seat. I went and bought a box of 3 mouse poisons. Saturday night I took the top off so it just had a block of green poison exposed. Sunday morning the entire box was gone. Saturday night same thing-top off box, place behind seat, Monday morning it was gone. Monday night I put the last one out but left the top on. Tuesday morning it was gone too. Tuesday afternoon I took the leaf blower and blew out the cab again. I saw the rat go under the dash behind the glove box. I removed the seat and found that is where he has been living. I did find the 3 boxes of poison and he did nibble pretty good on 1 block. I put all the poison back in the middle of the floor. It is raining a lot here and my yard is a pond now. So:
1-How do you get rid of a large rat? My dad says carbon monoxide from a lawnmower. Maybe antifreeze? What if he climbs up on top of the headliner and dies? I had my 20-gauge yesterday but he didn't get out of the cab. 2-I am concerned about Hantavirus or similar. This rodent has been in there a long time. How can I get this truck clean enough to drive again? Lysol everything? 3-what if he decides to come to the house now that I have removed his nest under the seat? My wife is very afraid. The trailer is probably 40' from the back door. Its a pond now so I can't get down there to move the trailer without tearing up the lawn badly. Help! Thanks
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'83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project |
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#2 |
Mr. Cheyenne
![]() Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Kyle, Texas
Posts: 1,688
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
Dear lord man, that is some story. I am pretty sure my Ex-Wife would have set the truck on fire while I wasn't looking!
Good luck!
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Richard '72 Chevy C10 Cheyenne *Super WHT/MED BRONZE/WHT SBC 350 | TH350 | LWB | AC | Buddy Seats Upgrades: Tilt | Front Sway Bar | Radio | Sliding Window | Bed Spare w/Lock Bed Rails | Full LEDs | Courtesy Lights | Tachometer | Glovebox Lock & Light | Head Light Relays | *Upgraded Fully Super Trim |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Sedalia Mo.
Posts: 1,131
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
The poison should work since it's been eaten, but I'd throw a rat trap (not mouse trap) in there with some bait on it. Peanut butter works well for mice...rat's too, I'd bet!
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He who is without oil shall throw the first rod. Compressions 8.7:1 1972 C10 1976 C10 (parts truck) 1985 K20 |
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#4 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 11,157
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
I would try trapping it so it doesn't end up dieing inside the heater box or some other hard to access location.
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#5 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Gods country East,Tn
Posts: 8,545
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
That's his truck now and I'll bet there's a lot more than one ! it's been infested for so long already I don't think I would have even brought that home . They've probably been chewing on every wire and there's no doubt the dash is full of rat treasures , Give it a few days and you'll know if the rat poison worked on some of them it will really start smelling bad , The poison works by making them hemorrhage internally and they will seek out water . I'd tow that away from your house asap ! Buy a BIG snake !
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#6 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 2,151
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
Quote:
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'83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 2,151
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
As much nesting material as there is the heater box will have to come out.
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'83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project |
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#8 |
All about them K’s
![]() Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Land of Entrapment
Posts: 6,392
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
Deer mice carry haunta, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about there. At least that’s what they say in the yearly trainings we have on it at work; we have had several cases in my thru the years.
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Gouverneur NY
Posts: 28
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
Set a five gallon pale of water on floorboard.Put a can with peanut butter on it.Drill hole through can suspend with a rod....
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#10 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 2,151
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
Quote:
I have had a suggestion to use an ozone generator in there. I am going to try that if it is not raining this afternoon.
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'83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project |
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#11 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: Merritt Island, FL
Posts: 55
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
My wife would have adopted him and called him Clive. We had pet rats for years. They really hate the smells of onions, so if you slice open a couple and leave the doors open, they'll probably vacate.
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#12 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Podunk, Texas
Posts: 748
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
.22 rat shot. https://www.shtfblog.com/snake-shot-...hooters-guide/
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 335
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
Hanta is spread through breathing in contaminated material (usually poo). If you are concerned about disease, it is best to use dust control, use a vacuum, and at least an N95 mask and wash your hands and clothes immediately (being practical here, it's not Outbreak and it's not a known contaminated crawlspace). Think of it like asbestos. You have to breathe it in or eat it for it to be hazardous. For cleaning, I'd do 10% bleach solution and a lot of water to rinse. Then I'd use dish soap to clean up the dirt and oil. Be sure to rinse the bleach really well. It can accelerate the rust as it's a salt solution.
As far as getting the rat, he's mostly trapped in the truck until he runs out of food. Just use sticky traps where you see that he's running past and a few rat traps with peanut butter and leave the door shut and wait. It always works. No need to go commando and end up hurting yourself, a pet, or the truck. The more you disturb, the more likely he dies hiding in the roof. |
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#14 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: TX
Posts: 1,572
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
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#15 |
Senior Member
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Location: Murray, Kentucky
Posts: 3,483
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
Maybe one of those ultrsonic devices would chase him away? Never tried one so can't say for sure.
Good luck, Rg
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#16 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: sparks, nevada
Posts: 1,881
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
Divorce her
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#17 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Simi, CA
Posts: 495
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
There are actually four types of mice/rats that can carry hantavirus. I wouldn't chance it. Besides who wants to breathe airborne rat poo. Simple Green Pro3 + is what I use to disinfect prior to clean up. I prefer the smell of the SG over bleach and it's not corrosive. You can pick up a gallon of the concentrate at Home Depot for $15. Spray it and let it soak for a bit. The key is to keep everything saturated so you don't breath the dust.
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#18 | |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Motor City
Posts: 9,200
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
Quote:
The mice pooped on them, I assume in a show of defiance. K
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#19 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: May 2013
Location: Coppell, Texas
Posts: 176
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
Exhaust fumes or ozone generator will kill it, but you still risk it dying in a place you can't get to. I think the sticky traps with some bait in the middle of it would work. That glue is a pain to get out, but some paint thinner or goo-gone should break it down. That's the way I would go. Maybe put the sticky trap inside a box laying on its side to contain the mess when it starts trying to roll around and get out.
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 2,151
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
I think I am going to go make a 5-gal bucket trap half full of water. It should contain and kill so no chance of getting to the roof and decaying. If that does not work, then ozone machine tomorrow night.
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'83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project |
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#21 |
Senior Member
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Location: Harrison, Arkansas
Posts: 9,815
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
I have used the five gallon bucket method and it works well.
I would use a small live trap in the truck. Don't poison them. They will always crawl somewhere you can't see to die. I had one die in a truck once, and the smell lasts forever.
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 519
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
I've had good luck with these, baited with peanut butter. By the way, in my experience, it's rarely "rat" it's "rats." You can nail 3 or 4 before they get trap smart. If the peanut butter doesn't get it, and since he seems to like trucks, maybe you could use an old Ford F-100 as bait.
![]() https://www.amazon.com/Victor-rat-Tr...12727082&psc=1
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Carlos MN
Posts: 2,052
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
I would put like 20 big sticky traps in the cab so he can't move any where with out getting stuck. Get a good 3M mask like the body guys wear. I would power wash the interior and engine compartment after you get the rats/mouse nests out. I'm betting the cowl vents are completely filled with rat/mouse nests.
Junk the seat covers. I'm sure they are covered in rodent piss. |
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#24 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: TN.
Posts: 8,158
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
Quote:
Link Below RinneTraps - Flip N Slide Bucket Lid Mouse Trap |Humane or Lethal| |Trap Door Style| |Multi Catch |Auto Reset| |Indoor Outdoor| |No See Kill| |5 Gallon Bucket Compatible| Made in USA (1) Link: https://www.amazon.com/RinneTraps-Bu.../dp/B08SL6KJ29
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#25 |
Senior Member
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Location: Edmonton Alberta
Posts: 1,344
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Re: How to get rid of a rat in new-to-me truck
Have you tried reasoning with him? Sounds like the interior has to come out anyway, so any method that makes it rat-free is as good as any other.
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