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

[dstephns]

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.

That was a beautiful truck. Heartbreaking!
Dave

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[LostWoods]

Had my back window busted out of my Focus when I was about 20. Covered it in vinyl that tore driving to my girlfriend's house and in the 4 hours I was there, a cat came in and pissed all over a nearly brand new back seat. Literally ripped it out and threw the entire seat away a month later because nothing could get that stink out.

I get that tops off is Jeep culture but I would not be leaving my $40k+ daily driver that way for long given my prior experience.

 

[OldButStillJeeping]

I guess I've been lucky, had Jeeps with tops on and off for decades. Never once had an animal problem other than bird poop landing inside the car.
Killed a cat once on start up because it was sleeping near the radiator fan, but that was on a non convertible pick up.
I think it has a lot to do with where you live. Almost a regional thing.
I'm in So Cal and have lived in the city, and in desert, and on the mountain near Arrowhead. Never a had a problem.

Back east the squirrels and rodents might be smarter. Stupid reigns here in ÇA. But in this case it's an advantage.

 

[FrankFrqnkFrank]

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.

 

[redrider]

Our niece came over with her then new boy toy. He was a car salesman driving a new, off the lot vehicle and he left the windows down. We had a cat. The niece cautioned him a couple of times so he goes out after the eye roll and powers up the windows with the cat inside. Several hours later they go out and open the door. The cat bolts as cats do. The rear seat, seat back and package tray were shredded. Never heard from him again.

 

[am1978]

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

You should be worried about cat piss.

 

[Knightindullarmor]

I had good luck with past TJ Wranglers. Other than bird poop (which I have already got in my <2 week old JT, lol), I often went days at a time with top off, doors off, or both with no animal issue.

Now, bugs are another story. When the carpet gets wet & top goes back up (like if you put top up after it starts to rain), flies lay eggs on/under the factory carpet & you have a maggot hatchery between the metal floor & carpet underside. I have been meaning to pull my factory carpet for this reason alone.

 

[Gladijave]

We have no garage and are surrounded by woods, so the tiny, infuriating field mice that live here always get in our cars. And our lawn mowers. (Don’t ask me how I learned to check all around under the mower before turning it on, in case there is a mouse nest near the blades.)

It usually kicks off when the weather gets cold, and they are looking for a warm place. I was actually wondering if leaving the top off would be better, because it seems they love our Grand Cherokee for how cozy it is. I wish I knew of a way to keep them out. Our first year with the Grand Cherokee, they got under the drivers seat and ripped out some of the power seat wiring.

One bonus though, is they attract some of the coolest birds I’ve ever seen! Love sitting outside and seeing hawks and other birds of prey cruising above me!

 

[red/green hawk]

You don't even need to take the doors snd top off. They will climb up into your engine compartment and chew on the wires.

 

[brianinca]

My YJ is naked May-November. Too many other targets for critters in my part of CA. Have seen cats spray tires, but that's not a Jeep thing.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

That was a beautiful truck. Heartbreaking!
Dave

Thanks for the kind words, Dave.

Yes, I was thrilled to get it. Bought for my 55th birthday because the Administration had not yet guaranteed loans for GM so it was questionable if they would go bankrupt. Got an absolute steal on it new.

Only the 2nd new vehicle I'd ever owned.

 

[texanjeeper]

I've had vehicles that had to be fixed because a squirrel or maybe a rat bit on a wire they could get to underneath. And the worst part is, when they determine that it was a critter, that's not covered under any of your warranties so you have to get it fixed on your own dime.

 

[staitleman]

I got this thing, a bit of a pain to put on by yourself but it give you at least a little confidence.

 

[The Welsh Griffin]

Bird poop is acidic and eats into materials

 

[SpeedNeed]

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.

I love it! We should all start the “Jeep Knock”! Everyone just adopts a routine of a few sharp raps on the hood before getting in, no matter where you are. Critter evacuation alert!

in a few months malls across America will echo with the sound of Bronco owners cluelessly pounding on their hoods….

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