Pest Guard
Mice, squirrels, lizards, and other small animals often enter a motorhome by climbing up the electrical cord. They can be deterred with a shield. Start with two pieces of metal flashing, each 5 inches by 8 inches. On one corner, bolt or rivet the pieces together so they overlap about a half inch. On the other end, use tin snips to cut a tab into the metal. Midway between the tab and rivet, cut a hole using tin snips or a hole saw. The hole should be 1 1/8 inch in diameter for a 50-amp cord or 5/8 inch in diameter for a 30-amp cord. Close the metal pieces around the electrical cord and secure them in place with the tab. Electrical tape can be wrapped around the cable to protect it from the sharp metal.
Bill Hendrix, F761s
Erie, Colorado
Cupboard Sliding Rack
The cupboard under the sink in our Type A motorhome was almost useless in terms of accessibility. An idea came to us in a hardware store when we spotted a wire rack that slides on runners. We bought it after determining that the rack would fit the cupboard space.
To install it, I first removed the cupboard door. I also removed the back of the cupboard for more depth and gained 5 inches of space. I measured the cupboard frame height and depth so I would know the dimensions required for the rack’s base. For the base, I cut pieces of wood to the needed size. Once I verified that there was adequate clearance for the rack to slide out from the cupboard, I used screws to attach the wood base to the rack, and the base to the floor, making sure the sliders were aligned properly. Then I reinstalled the cupboard door.
John Parsons, F429753
Powell River, British Columbia