Will animals tear up the interior if I leave the top and doors off all night?

[FrankFrqnkFrank]

Will animals cause damage if i leave it open? I have no food or traces of food in the car. Most worried about raccoons and mice

Sponsored

 

[Wyofuy069]

Living far in the country I hear your concerns. This might help https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KN3QTWQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1. Spray your engine and all around your tires.

 

[Deleted member 30519]

They caused damage to my JL with all the doors on so I'd say don't do it unless you don't care.

 

[kevman65]

Doesn't matter if you never have a food product in your JT, could be a smell in the foam in the seats or something in the carpet.
Just because you don't smell it doesn't mean they don't. They will dig until they find it.

 

[Moonshineheadache]

Some squirrels took mine joyriding and they pooped on everything...I mean EVERYTHING! And they stole my Creedence tapes!!

 

[OregonTrail]

Some squirrels took mine joyriding and they pooped on everything...I mean EVERYTHING! And they stole my Creedence tapes!!

They got the Creedence tapes?!? Did Dude get his rug back from Mr. Lebowski?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Will animals cause damage if i leave it open? I have no food or traces of food in the car. Most worried about raccoons and mice

Around here, hell yes.
Raccoons have gotten into cars I'm parting - they find a small opening and make it bigger and they rip things to shreds and poop on everything. Squirrels will chew and cut wiring as will other things like CHIPMUNKS.
I don't care what you spray or try - sprays and repellents don't work on 'coons. They just don't.
I've got a bottle of the stuff I bought several years ago - and haven't used it since because it was a waste.
Mint oil generally works on mice and rats - but you have to keep up with it.

Around here mice even take dryer sheets and use them for NEST MATERIAL. I wish I had taken pictures of that in my camper years ago.
If I have to leave something open, it goes into the garage.
I try hard to make my wife NOT eat in our vehicles but that's a loosing battle - doesn't matter if you clean up and vacuum - they can smell where that french fry was sitting a week ago.

Here where I live, it's the raccoons - they even outsmart traps I set about 60% of the time.

I make sure all windows are up, and roof panels on IF a vehicle has to sit out here.

 

[TJDave]

I did once on my previous TJ Wrangler many years ago. Owned a house with a carport instead of a garage. The neighbor's friggin cat sprayed my seats. Nothing worse than cat pee. Took forever to get rid of the smell after hours of scrubbing and many treatments. "That's what cats do", she said. I wanted to follow my Rottweiler around, catch some of her pee, and toss it in the neighbor's car. But, I didn't.
We rented out the house, and bought another one with a garage.

 

[Tony F]

I had a neighbors cat piss in my old jku, wanted to burn it after. Never could fully get rid of the smell. Traded it for my new gladiator. what a contrast in smell with the new one ?

 

[NachoRuby]

My TJ almost never had doors or a roof. I don't remember anything ever getting in it. I stopped leaving it open though after I came out to the parking lot at my job and saw a snake slithering in front of it. It wasn't inside, but it was close enough. I hate snakes.

 

[Ohio JKU]

I've wondered this myself, I pull in the garage if it's all stripped down. However I see lots of jeeps parked all open, mostly older... but always wonder what happens...

 

[dstephns]

I think the general consensus here is that it is very possible that damage may be done. Many nocturnal animals are scavengers by nature and are naturally curious about things/objects that are out of the ordinary. They could be seeking safety, warmth, food, etc. If it was me I would lock it up tight if I know the threat exists and hope for the best. There are no guarantees though. I have
heard of porcupines chewing brake lines. I've never had this happen to me so I can't speak from experience but critters will be critters.
Dave

 

[Radio Guy]

I've had an animal in my old Tahoe when I left the window down overnight and although it didn't damage anything there was an odor and some hair left behind.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

2016 we went on vacation to New Zealand. I knew we'd be gone a few weeks so I pulled my purchased-new Chevy 3500HD LTZ crew dually 4x4 in the backyard, locked up tight. It never occurred to me that it was parked right next to my grape arbor that was full of Thompson grapes.

The day we got home my son-in-law asked if he could borrow the truck to pickup a child's bed in LA? Sure no problem. I'm jet lagged and went back to bed. He calls me later to tell me the truck is smoking from under the hood, I tell him to pull over and get the hell away from it.

BEFORE:

^^ The day I brought it home brand new. Only my 2nd ever new vehicle. Trust me when I tell you it looks exactly as good the day before the 2nd picture below.

My son-in-law said he saw a rat run out from under the truck when he gassed (diesel-ed?) it up. I assume the rat had nested twigs and leaves in the engine, then when the turbo piping got hot enough spontaneous combustion started. Truck was destroyed obviously. It was almost 8 years old and had only 49,000 miles on it.

AFTER:

I'd put over $1000 in 6 new tires on it about a month before the fire. The 4 rears were salvageable.

 

[5JeepsAz]

In cold weather a rural neighbor once advised I should knock on the hood before getting in the jeep so as not to blow up a cat. He actually said, "yep, ever body up here has blowed up a cat one time. They like the heat off the engine overnights." The worst were critters eating wires. Loved them some plastic wire sheathing.

Sponsored