Where can I drill?

steve eboe · 09-13-2011, 05:34 AM

We have had our Passport 189 for a month now and love it. Now we would like to add a few things, like a paper towel holder in the kitchen area, a towel ring in the bathroom, etc. I'm hesitant to start drilling holes in our brand new camper. Are there some general guidelines about where it's safe to drill on interior and exterior walls. (what length screws I can use, where the studs are located, etc.)?
The bathroom wall where I'd like to install a towel ring is an interior wall that already has the bathroom light switch, AC electrical outlet, water pump switch, hot-water switches and the panel that displays the holding tank and battery levels. Am I safe drilling a couple of holes in that wall without hitting something?
The paper towel dispenser would be located on an exterior wall behind the stove top and to the left of a window.
Is it possible to mount this kind of stuff with adhesive and avoid drilling entirely? Any advice is appreciated.
Steve

Jim W · 09-13-2011, 06:06 AM

Hi, welcome to the forum first.

I mounted a towel bar and bathroom towel ring in the camper, some time ago. I used wall anchors to support the towel ring. They were 1/2" long, drill a pilot hole first. I placed a piece of tape on the drill, 1/2" up from the drill point. The wall is a thin piece of plywood about a 1/8" to 3/16" thick.

For the towel bar, I used a piece of 3/4" plywood cut to fit under the wall cabinet in the bathroom. I had a recessed space about 1" deep under the cabinet, so the plywood is not visible. I would recommend the same type of treatment for the paper towel holder. This will see more loading from pulling on the paper towels than the towel ring. This will also see side forces from pulling and would pull the wall anchors out of the wall. If this is not an option than a free standing paper towel holder might be another way to go. That is what we use in the kitchen.
Jim W.

Festus2 · 09-13-2011, 07:13 AM

If you have the counter space in the kitchen for a free-standing paper towel holder, I would go that route rather than having to drill holes in a wall to mount it.
You can get a pretty good idea of where the exterior studs are located by taking a look at the exterior walls on a clear, cool(cold) morning. If you look at the fiberglass walls at the correct angle, you should see a "stud line". This "line" is formed by the differing temperatures between the aluminium studs and the other materials in the outside walls. The aluminium gets colder than the rest and shows up as a "stud line" on the fiberglass surface. When it warms up, the lines disappear.
In the bathroom, you should be able to choose one or two walls without wires in them or ........... mount the towel ring on your door??

SteveC7010 · 09-13-2011, 07:48 AM

While it may not be quite right for a paper towel holder, check out the 3M Command series of hooks and wall hangers.

We use them extensively in our trailer, and when it was time to trade in the last one, they all came off the walls with no indication that they had ever been there.

Their larger wall hooks worked just fine for terry robes and other heavy clothing items.

LarryL · 09-13-2011, 02:05 PM

Hi Steve did you use the 3M Command hooks in the bathroom for hand towels
or bath towels?

SteveC7010 · 09-13-2011, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarryL

Hi Steve did you use the 3M Command hooks in the bathroom for hand towels or bath towels?

Both. Their larger hooks use two large adhesive strips. I hung my winter coat off one in the bedroom in the fall and early spring.

slewis95407 · 09-14-2011, 04:31 AM

We use the medium metal command hooks and they are great for towels. I also hang my jeans from a large hook in the bedroom at night. Medium hooks will support up to 3# and large 5#

LarryL · 09-14-2011, 07:02 AM

HI Scott did you put the hooks to the left of the shower by the sink?
I want to hang two hand towel there,didn't know if the steam would be
a problem.
An isn't the 326MKS a great trailer

SteveC7010 · 09-14-2011, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarryL

HI Scott did you put the hooks to the left of the shower by the sink?
I want to hang two hand towel there,didn't know if the steam would be
a problem.
An isn't the 326MKS a great trailer

We never had a problem with the regular 3M white adhesive strips, but I noticed that they now offer water resistant ones. They are pale green instead of white, and the only ones I found on the rack at Target were the large ones. They may offer them in the smaller sizes, but there were a bunch of empty spaces on the rack.

If you can find the green water resistant strips, they'd probably put your mind at ease about water and/or steam in the bathroom.

Yeah, we loved it when we saw it, too. (326MKS)

slewis95407 · 09-15-2011, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarryL

HI Scott did you put the hooks to the left of the shower by the sink?
I want to hang two hand towel there,didn't know if the steam would be
a problem.
An isn't the 326MKS a great trailer

LarryL

I did place the hooks between the sink and the shower. No problem with steam. I do use the vent fan while taking a shower. I recently replaced the bathroom vent with a vortex fan (camping world). Now the mirror doesn't fog up.

We love our 326MKS, been living in it for a year now. I think it has the largest kitchen and bathroom in a fifth wheel.

LarryL · 09-15-2011, 09:41 AM

Thanks Scott and Steve I think the 3M Command better idea then drilling
holes in the bathroom walls with all the moisture in that room going to
the trailer today to put them on.
well Steve eboe I hope this talk about the 3Mcommand strips helps.

Valover · 09-15-2011, 10:08 AM

We have found that tension shower curtain rods make great towel bars. Between those and the 3m hooks, there is no need to drill holes. Also, we found a stainless steel paper towel holder that fits over the top of a cupboard or drawer in the kitchen. Have had no problems with any of those things for the past 3 years.

WaitingToRetire · 09-19-2011, 08:09 AM

Here's what we used. http://www.amazon.com/Camco-57111-RV.../dp/B000EDOTCS

I mounted it under-the-cabinet with screws (not that big a deal since it's underneath). And it has the added advantage of being able to be slid off and placed on the table during meals. Simple, and works great. We have fairly low cabinets above our sink, so sometimes it can get in the way, but I just slide it off and place it where I ain't, problem solved.

If that link doesn't work, google search for "Camco Paper Towel Holder" and several sites should come up.

Chad

steve eboe · 09-19-2011, 10:58 AM

Thanks, everyone. You've all given me some good ideas.
steve eboe

WaitingToRetire · 09-19-2011, 01:53 PM

OK, so I posted about the paper towel holder above. Then I got to thinking about the rest of your questions.

I have drilled and used the plastic wall anchors for a few items. One in particular: I mounted a shelf / hanging point for small items, nothing heavy. I used the plastic anchors, and I gotta say, I have zero confidence in these things on the thin walls the RV industry uses. I am pretty much just waiting for this thing to come crashing down. I just don't see how these anchors can get a "bite" on the 3/16" (or less) wall thickness. So, we'll see how it goes.

As others have said, I use the 3M strips/hooks. Work great so far. Attached are a few pics. I even attached them on the outside to hang the thermometer on (and forgot to stow the thermometer on one trip - 40 miles driven and it was still there when we stopped to get drinks!)

I'm not afraid to go drilling on the walls if I have to, but with the 3m strips, there's only a few reasons to do so these days.

volvosweetie · 09-20-2011, 09:53 AM

I like to use the 3M Picture hanging strips they are used for heavy items, I hung a wooden picture frame with glass with them and it has held, I also cut the to to go on then edge things I use enough to give the perimeter and good hold. That would be an option for you paper towel holder. Good luck.

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