Forum Discussion

riven1950's avatar
riven1950
Explorer
Mar 21, 2014

What is inside those walls?

I need to mount something on the interior of an outside wall of my Aerolite 718fd. Not very heavy, just a shelf, maybe 5lbs or so. Will be holding electronics so no sticky tape kind of crap, it needs to stay up.

Wondering if the wall is filled with foam or whatever. I know the interior walls are open like a mobile home, fabric covered paneling. Have some butterfly toggle hangers that will work if it is open but I am thinking there would be foam in the outside walls.

Anyone know? Will post on Aerolite forum also.

Thanks

19 Replies

  • westend...any idea what the spacing is on the studs ( 12, 16, 24, random )?
  • You could also use Oscar rivets, a special type of pop rivet that expands behind the wall finish. Very good holding power and can go into an exterior wall as they are only 1" long. Oscar rivets
  • If you have a shelf with a skirt or ledger, you could attach the shelf by fastening into the studs of the trailer with a sheet-metal screw.
  • Have you considered 3M VHB tape? Expensive, but it is holding many solar panels on the roof, mine included. Various widths are available. I have also used it on lighter-weight applications, and it works very well. Nothing has fallen off.

    On the flip side, if you use Z-brackets to mount your shelves, you could put two screws in the wall for each bracket. More support that way. Or, get the hook-and-plate mounts (I have a pair holding up a cabinet on the inside of my trailer). Each mount has 4 screws. That gives a mostly-down force on the mounting brackets, so they are stable.

    Just my thoughts.
  • riven1950 wrote:
    Wondering if the wall is filled with foam or whatever. I know the interior walls are open like a mobile home, fabric covered paneling. Have some butterfly toggle hangers that will work if it is open but I am thinking there would be foam in the outside walls.

    Styrofoam-filled is most likely and file my RVS I prefer these, 1" long.

  • I mounted a shelf next to my bed using a fold down mechanism. My wall was just the wallboard, maybe 1/4" thick. I used the toggle anchor bolt, which I think you're describing, just long enough to make sure it caught. There was at least several inches of hollow space between bedroom and bathroom walls, both of which are internal.
  • Mine has foam in the exterior walls. I suspect yours does too.