Trucks at camp/trailhead

[falcon]

I have a couple questions for you mountain guys.

Last year we camped close to a cowboy cabin on the edge of a Nat'l forest. The cabin saw use from hunters and fishermen and the area next to it was used kinda like a trailhead.

The chipmunks were very brazen and the mice very adapt at penetrating into toppers and packs. Every few days if I was back in camp at midday, I would raise the hood and see if any wire chewing or nest building was going on. Any tricks to keep em out if you are packed in for a week?

Also, the morning we bugged out it took me about 25 minutes to get the diesel to turn over. It was probably 45-50 degrees and we were at 10,000 ft. but I thought the sensors would adjust the timing with the glow plug to get it started. Here at home, I just plug it in during winter months. It's a '97 F-350 with the 7.3. Do you all have any problems or is it just my flatlander truck?
Glynn

[Sawtooth]

falcon,

I have a '97 F250 with the same engine...a 7.3L Powerstroke. I have noticed that mine is a little harder to start than it used to be, but mine always starts. When it's real cold, forget it. I plug mine in too. Hard to do at a trailhead. Does yours smoke more upon starting in the cold than it did when it was new?

[anthracitic]

http://www.webastoshowroom.com/blueheat/thermo_truck-4.htm

[falcon]

Sawtooth, yeah just getting older, like its owner. White smoke is unburned fuel in a diesel.

anthracitic, I wondered if someone didn't make an aftermarket solution. I was thinking about a battery powered hair dryer that I could shoot into the air intake. Thanks for the link.
Glynn


Now, how about those rodents? Just live with em?

[Smokepole]

falcon:

"Any tricks to keep em out if you are packed in for a week?"

We haven't had as many problems with mice at the trailhead as with mice at our campsites. But the solution is the same--a few judiciously-placed, old-fashioned mousetraps baited with peanut butter.

I've told this story before, so the rest of you guys bear with me, but two years ago I was hunting with my muzzleloader and my buddy with his longbow. Just as I was finishing breakfast one morning, he pronounced "well, I'm finished." So I said "what, you're hitting the trail, wait up, I'll be right with you." And he said, "no, I'm finished hunting, a mouse chewed through my bowstring." Which was really disappointing for him, since he'd spent the previous evening between two bugling bulls. Turns out a few other mice chewed on his Moss tent, and one or two chewed on my tent too--for whatever reason that was a bad year for mice.

So this past year we packed in a few mousetraps and no more problems. My buddy brings a spare bowstring now, too.

[Kevin]

I haven't had truck issues, but I don't sleep well with mice crawling on my bag in the paratipi.

I got rid of the mice with a bag of chips. Just throw a small pile of the chips about 20 yds from your tent, and the mice will spend their time focusing on them, instead of anything else.

Since I started doing that, I've had zero mouse dances on my bag. Makes me happy, and my dog sleeps better, too.

[JasonB]

Mice, squirrels, and my 2 cats *usually* don't like peppermint oil(not sure about candy) so a few cotton balls soaked in it and placed where ever might work, but combo'ing it with traps would have to be a good idea as well.

[Smokepole]

So Kevin, if you give the mice your chips, what do you eat with the beer?

[Kevin]

I bring extras of both chips and beer. Never know when the Swedish bikini team might come by, in dire need of cold refreshment, chips and salsa.

[wyoelk]

Falcon, another idea for the truck is a can of go-go juice, starting fluid. I know that you are not supposed to use it, but at 10,000 feet and a truck that wont start, it works great. All of our diesels have a can in them just in case. Had to use it once three hours from home in 90 degree weather. Glowplug controller took the big dive... I know that Ford seriously frowns on the use of it but sometimes you got to do what you got to do...

[William Clunie]

Some folks around here put Moth Balls anywhere that you don't want squirrels, chipmunks, and mice nesting. Sometimes, during summer storage of the snowmobile, the little buggers would nest up in the muffler pipe or air filter and cause all sorts of trouble. After using the balls, I haven't had any trouble with them at all.
William Clunie

[falcon]

wyoelk, believe me, that morning we were wanting to get a jump on the trip home and I was wishing I had a can of ether. Might just do that.

William, my uncle said he didn't have any luck with Moth Balls in his shed and went to keeping his hood open on his truck in there. Not an option at the trailhead. But if they work for you, I will buy a bag and maybe put some peppermint oil in there too. Would tabasco sauce keep them out or would a bear tear your tires off getting after it?
Glynn

[Yolla Bolly]

Bears like Tobasco!!!!!!