Ants in my pants......and storage box

[HABBERDABBER]

A couple of years ago I built a front storage box with left over boat building materials I had, and a long, cold, Covid winter to supply the time. The interior and exterior are epoxy coated for durability and construction. Pic attached.

A few weeks ago, before leaving for a 2 week sojourn, I was topping off the batteries with water and a couple of black ants got on my arm. I dismissed them as just rogue ants. Returning, I was removing some gear and saw tons of ants in the box bottom. Tons. Larvae eggs and the big old black ants abounded. They got in thru an air vent (for the battery Hydrogen) and set up house. Several hours of vacuuming, air compressor blowing in corners got them out. Maybe a quarts worth of ants.
No damage to the box, it is plastic coated with epoxy, they just nested in there. I off site store the rig in a lot, next to a county park. Woodsy nearby, so plenty of ants around there.
Live and learn, and clean, clean, clean. No ant food was in the box, just batteries and trailer running gear.
Remedies of screen over the vent, some extra lid seal gasketing and ant traps should fix this.

[Reid Larsen]

Beautiful storage box, by the way!

[hugh]

Originally Posted by Reid Larsen

Beautiful storage box, by the way!

No kidding. That storage box is amazing!

[Gingerdog]

I believe dry peppermint leaves work.

[Mike G]

You could build and sell those as a sideline business part time, if you wanted to. Wow. Looks nicer than OEM.

[Chasing Trials]

I bought my PreRunner used, & found it had ants! Not a lot, but in the cab & saw on the hood? Guessing in the vents under windshield too. (there is a problem vent on them). I just kept putting out that Terro stuff, when I wasn't using it. Not those big carpenter ants, yours sound like! Thanks for the warning! Beautiful box!!!!

[HABBERDABBER]

Originally Posted by Mike G

You could build and sell those as a sideline business part time, if you wanted to. Wow. Looks nicer than OEM.

Yes,..........BUT......I'm retired.
Save me from my opportunities!

[Ron in BC]

Yes, and as I learned, doing something that you love doing for money is the fastest way to not love it anymore.

Ron

[Mike G]

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

Yes,..........BUT......I'm retired.
Save me from my opportunities!

Here's a wild idea, if you enjoy crafting these things: make one or two and raffle them off (among Escape owners or soon-to-be owners), donating the proceeds to your favorite charity. Quit when you get tired of making them.



But hey, I get it. Retirement is about being relaxed, footloose and fancy-free. I aspire to this as well!

[HABBERDABBER]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Yes, and as I learned, doing something that you love doing for money is the fastest way to not love it anymore.

Ron

I've built some furniture for acquaintances over the years and found it neither profitable or enjoyable. One-offs are not profitable. Just doing the job, and I was working full time then anyways. Tinkering is more enjoyable to my psyche. A little of this, some of that, and something new to learn suits me well. Production of product is just that.....get it out the door.

I'm more of an amateur
from Latin amare "to love, be in love with; find pleasure in"