Can I hang cabinets and shelves?

Francesca Knowles wrote:

westend wrote:
Vent hood cabinet framing and installation:

In what, if you don't mind my asking?

'71 Starcraft Wanderstar 220S, wood framed.

I know several people that bought them but the ones they bought were regular TT’s…

I have met several people that retrofitted them for travel trailer use and have had little in the way of problems with them… I run into a guy that converted one into a MH that I am sure travels at highway speeds…

westend wrote:
Vent hood cabinet framing and installation:

In what, if you don't mind my asking?

Vent hood cabinet framing and installation:




Face frame attached:


Cabinet completed with Official TMA door:

My parents have a FEMA trailer. They are pretty much set up for FHU sites only. My brother and I did most of the work to set it up with tanks, an RV toilet, an awning, etc. In their case it is a very well built trailer that was never used when they got it. Keep in mind there are 3 different manufacturers that made them and the later it was made, the more rushed I would think it would be. So the quality of some may be different than others, I am sure.

That being said, should you be able to find the studs, there would be no problems with hanging cabinets or shelves. But I would imagine that you can find a used decent trailer needing only maintenance work equipped similar to what you are looking for in the general price range you have as well. That was a whole lot of work to convert it!

I had a positive opinion of FEMA trailers for a long time. That is until I spoke with my friend who is a train engineer and was one who helped move them via train. He said that they had to reduce the speed limit on the trains to 50 mph because they kept ripping the siding off the trailers traveling faster than 55.

Couple that with the many reports rubber roof membranes being cut short, and the testimony of workers at the plants who built them.... They are just not built soundly enough to meet normal TT use.

They are literally park trailers of the most cheapest sense.

Ymmv... That's my .02...

The only person I have known that added any overhead cabinets built the wall out with a backer board attached to the wall and the cabinets attached to the backer board and ceiling joist…

That’s the same way I have known a few to solidly hang wall mounted TV’s to look good without removing the wall covering to add bracing…

Regardless of it being a blank slate, and as a former cabinet-maker and kitchen installer, I can tell you it's very difficult to find the studs, either aluminum, steel or wood, in most RVs. And the cheaper the RV, the worst it is. You'll have to use a combination of screws and mollies, and hope the walls are strong enough to carry the weight you locate in the cabinets. Good luck with that.

Any RV that is built with wood construction, i.e. wood studs is easy to retrofit. To install cabinets, you'll need a nailing strip or two in the back of the cabinet. If you look at most wall hung RV cabinets, you'll find the uppers are usually fastened into the ceiling joists, as well. Screws and glue are a better alternative to a common nail.

As has been posted, the FEMA trailers are not set up for camping and a good bit of retrofit is necessary to make one suitable for anything but full hookup camping.

The problem you will find in hanging cabinets in a trailer not so equipped is finding studs that will support the cabinets. When manufactured, trailers are usually reinforced where cabinets will be hung. You will just be hoping there is enough strength in the walls to support a cabinet and its content. I'd shy away from any trailer that doesn't generally have what you want you in the way of cabinets...