How Do You Install Wall Anchors In Your RV?
Hanging things on the walls of your RV is a great way to make the most of your space. It’s also a fantastic way to make the RV feel like home. Besides all that, in some cases, hanging things up is necessary in order to make your rig a functional one.
Unfortunately, hanging something on an RV wall can also be a bit difficult and even a little bit nerve-wracking. After all, RV walls aren’t very thick or sturdy. Fortunately, there are ways around this problem. RV wall anchors are one great solution.
In this article, we will discuss various ways to hang things on your RV walls, including how to install RV wall anchors.
Hanging lightweight items
If the thing you need to hang is lightweight, your best bet is probably to use a Scotch Command Strip or Command Hook. These are excellent because they simply stick to the wall, meaning they don’t require any screws or drilling. They can also be removed without any trouble and don’t leave behind a sticky residue, nor do they pull the paper off the wall in the process.
Scotch Command Hooks and Strips come in a variety of sizes and even a few different colors. Be sure to check the weight rating of the product you buy to ensure it will hold the item you plan to hang.
Drilling into a stud
Sadly, Scotch Command Hooks and Strips won’t hold everything. If the thing you need to hang is very heavy, you will almost certainly need to turn to drilling holes in the wall. As mentioned above, RV walls are not very strong, so drilling directly into the wall is not the best idea.
One way to get around this problem is to drill into a stud. A stud is a piece of the frame that is behind the RV walls. Unfortunately, these can be few and far between in an RV. Sometimes they are also quite narrow. Other times, the RV might have a metal frame rather than a wooden one, making it extra difficult to drill into a stud.
We recommend finding out if your RV frame is metal or wood before diving into this project. If it is wood, use a stud finder to try to find a stud where you’d like to hang the item. If a stud is found, you can screw into the frame using a screw that will go into the stud, but not all the way through the outside of the rig. Once this is done, you can rest easy knowing your RV wall anchor is probably pretty sturdy.
Adding plywood backing
Sometimes you might find yourself needing to screw into something like the base of your RV bed or the side of a cabinet. The thing is, the wood used to make these beds and cabinets is often very, very thin and flimsy. Therefore, screwing into it simply won’t be effective or hold anything for any length of time.
In this case, we recommend rigging RV wall anchors by adding a piece of plywood on the back of the wall you’re screwing into. You can hold the wood in place with a bit of wood glue (ideally with drying time accounted for). You can also skip that step and use your hand to hold it in place while screwing through both the thin paneling and the added bit of wood. This will ensure the job is much more secure and keep it in place for years (and miles) to come.
Hollow RV wall anchors
If you need to hang something a bit heavier and can neither find a stud nearby nor add plywood backing, you’ll have to turn to hollow door and drywall anchors. Also known as “pop toggles,” these anchors work by extending two wings out to the sides as they are screwed into place. In doing so, they hug the wall. Pop rivets are similar and are also a good choice.
All of these bits of hardware can be found in most hardware stores. They are awesome because they can securely fasten most things to a hollow wall. They work very nicely with RV walls and will hold up even if you move often.
For your RV, you will want drywall anchors that are rated for ⅛-inch drywall. This is because the luan or paneling that makes up most RV walls is a mere ⅛ inch thick.
Additionally, it’s important to use a short screw, as there is often only a small amount of space between the interior wall and the outside wall of the RV. A ⅝-inch screw should do the job nicely.
When using RV wall anchors such as these, it is important to keep in mind the fact that they won’t hold an unlimited amount of weight. The packaging that your anchors come in should tell you exactly how much they are rated to hold. Stick to this weight rating, as hanging anything heavier will almost certainly result in that item falling. It could even leave you with a big hole in your wall to repair and a mess to clean up.
Another thing to note? Hollow RV wall anchors are meant to be permanent. Once they’re in place, it’s very difficult and sometimes even impossible to remove them without damaging the wall.
Get tips from other RVers
There you have it: a few different options for RV wall anchors and hanging things securely on your RV wall. Now you can hang your clocks, decor, storage solutions, and more without worry of it falling down or messing up the wall.
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