Forum Discussion

Diamondair's avatar
Diamondair
Explorer
Mar 07, 2018

Mounting Items

Good Evening

I have a 2015 Jayco Jayflight TT and was fishing for some feedback on mounting items. This is our first travel trailer and 3 years owning it.

I have been nervous on mounting items with screws and been using command strips for everything. Most of everything is holding well but I was to add a mounted paper towel holder. This is a metal holder that has a type of spring load to it.

Now we all know those things take a beating from being pulled and yanked. I am looking to mount to the underside of my cabinet. The under side is hollow sounding. Not a solid piece of wood, which I think could be that way for some type of serviceability. I do not think the command strip will last long at all. A screw in m opinion would last but not that long just note enough material to grab on too.
So I ran across using pop rivets in my search on mounting something like this.

I am curious what everyone is doing to mounting things like this and other things. Possibly looking to mount a medicine cabinet in the RR exterior wall as well. Not sure what I could do there or if the rivets would work.

Does anyone have any recommendations on this?
  • hussbuss's avatar
    hussbuss
    Explorer
    Mar 07, 2018
    Use well nuts. Drill mounting hole, insert rubber encased nut. As you tighten the screw the rubber expands. I have used these in blind, hollow walls in my trailer for years. Available at any hardware store.
  • rbpru's avatar
    rbpru
    Explorer II
    Mar 07, 2018
    My command strips started pulling the wall paper off the wall. All I had on it were rain coats and jackets. So I just drove a small nail through the command strip.

    I had the same thing happen with a small mirror, the wall paper started to pucker under the little command strip, so I push it back and used a small brad nail on that one.

    I have concluded the wall paper glue they used creeps when under pressure.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Mar 07, 2018
    You could probably through-bolt the towel holder into the bottom of the cabinet. I would use a fastener with a thin head so that cabinet items could be removed and added easily.

    FWIW, I have one of those Command Strips, Extra Strength that I use for hanging a framed picture. It hasn't budged in 6 years. I think the Extra Strength Command strips are used for mirrors and towel bars, etc.
  • GrandpaKip's avatar
    GrandpaKip
    Explorer II
    Mar 07, 2018
    I have always used SS screws snugged up to hold all kinds of lightweight stuff on the camper walls. The trick is to not spin the screw past the tight stage.
    Our paper towel holder is also screwed into the bottom 5mm plywood layer of a wall cabinet. No problem after 2 or so years.
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Mar 07, 2018
    If the wall or space behind the intended screw is hallow, then a Molly bolt mount is probably your best bet.

    If the wall is styrofoam filled, there's Molly's won't work, neither will expanding bolts, as the styrofoam won't allow the expansion. In that case, glue another board on the surface and use regular screws to hold it in place, or a nail gun with finishing nails. After the glue sets up, then you can mount anything to the additional thickness of wood with a normal wood screw.

    If attaching anything to an outside wall, make absolutely sure the screw you are using is shorter than the thickness of your wall.

    Attaching a cabinet to the wall, you really need to hit the studs. Although with enough glue (like original Liquid Nails) with a few nail gun finishing nails to hold it in place, will also do the trick pretty well. Just make sure the nails are long enough to go through the cabinet back and the paneling on the wall, but not so long it penetrates the outside wall of the camper.
  • GrandpaKip's avatar
    GrandpaKip
    Explorer II
    Mar 08, 2018
    I would not try to glue anything to the paneling in a camper. It may stick at first and it may stick forever. Murphy says that either the glue will fail or will end up peeling a section of vinyl/paper covering off the wall, leaving a patch of bare luaun.
  • seekingsummits's avatar
    seekingsummits
    Explorer
    Apr 20, 2018
    Im looking at the same idea. Im looking to mount this to
    Tv mount to my exterior. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B071XDW3LD
    Its only going to have a 32in tv and just when we are oarked obviously. Suggestions for best mounting method?
    Thanks
    Adam
  • seekingsummits's avatar
    seekingsummits
    Explorer
    Apr 20, 2018
    Just for some extra info my 2017 outback 325bh has the fiberglass exterior vs the corregated metal panels if that matters.
  • ADK_Camper's avatar
    ADK_Camper
    Explorer
    Apr 20, 2018
    I have a towel dispenser attached to the bottom of a cabinet. As you described, the cabinet has a hollow bottom. I used Molly bolts to attach it. Buy Molly bolts designed for thin seufaces. Because the cabinet bottom is hollow, the back side of the Molly bolts will be hidden inside, and they will be strong enough to hold the dispenser for the life of your camper.

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