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swages01's avatar
swages01
Explorer
Oct 15, 2017

Installing door holders on outside storage

I am adding some T-style door holders for my outside storage compartments. (These are not replacements; these are new.) I am concerned that when I pre-drill the holes, I may hit plumbing, wiring or other critical items in the walls of the RV. What would be the best way to avoid this and how to determine the right length of screws I should use? This is for a Class C 2009 Winnebago Outlook. Thank you!
  • The Winnebago web site has diagrams of all plumbing and electrical installations. Also the skin is not very thick, a screw with 1/4" penetration should be fine. Problem would be if you hit a steel sub frame. Magnetic stud finder should work. Check the Winn site, lots of info.
  • Get an electronic stud finder, they measure density. Maybe you can find a stud that is in an area that will work to hold the screws.

    Dusty
  • All my storage doors have magnets that hold them open. They work really nice - not too strong.
    You can get them in black or white: Linky
  • Check you entrance door to find our how think your walls are. The ourside is basically pressboard, with a foam block inside. So your only holding area is the thickness of the outside panel, about 1/8 inch or so. Screws shorter than the thickness of the entire wall. Most RVs do not have any wiring or plumbing built into the walls like houses do. The walls are generally prebuilt laminated panels, with all the wiring inside the coach. Some wiring may be in the channel where the walls and roof are joined.