Can You Use Wall Anchors In RV Walls? (Best RV Wall Anchors)
The walls are very thin. To save on weight and space, RV makers do not put very thick walls in most of their RV and trailer models. When you want your RV to look like home, this can create a problem if you want to hang pictures of your grandchildren or favorite moments on those walls.
It is possible to use wall anchors in your RV to hang your item sup. However, standard masonry wall anchors may not be the best option. You may have to go to nylon toggle designs to get a secure hold and not have your pictures drop at the first bump in the road.
To learn more about this project, just continue to read our article. It contains the best information on this topic so you know what you should do when it comes time to hang those favored pictures or awards, etc.
Wall Anchors In RVs
How do You Attach Things To The Wall in an RV?
Fortunately, you do have a few solid options that will work in your RV no matter how thick those walls are. What is unfortunate is that you may not know where all the wires and pipes are and you may hit something and create a big problem for yourself.
Here is a list of options you have available to use:
1. Screws or nails- these only work if you know where your studs are. They won’t hold very well if you try to use them on the thin plywood and foam backing in normal RV walls.
2. Museum putty- sold under the name Quakehold, this is a non-toxic, easy-to-remove putty that holds anything even during an earthquake. It is best for lightweight objects and it is reusable.
3. Wall hooks- these products come with an adhesive back and are rated to hold different weights. You just need to buy the kind that is reputable and works at the weight limit you need.
4. Hollow wall anchors- these go by a variety of names. All you need to do is to create a small hole, slip the nylon end through then screw the anchor till it provides a solid hold.
5. Velcro- this will work on some items but not all of them. This product is very easy to use and you do not have to use a lot to get a firm hold.
6. Plywood backing- there is enough space behind the wall paneling to add this little feature. It allows you to put a screw or nail in the wall instead of using any of the other options.
This method is more work intensive and takes the most time.
Can you Use Wall Anchors in RV Walls?
Yes, you can and you can try the drywall or masonry anchors to see if they will work. It is possible that they will be under the right conditions. These anchors are the long cylinder type that needs a hole drilled and then placed inside the hole.
The better option would be to use hollow RV wall anchors or pop toggles. These little items work by extending ‘wings’ that hug the wall as you tighten the screw. When done right, they do provide a very secure hold.
The drawback of using anchors of any type is that you may not know what is behind the wall. It would not be good or even fun to cut a wire or anything else that is hidden behind the paneling.
You would have to do some investigation to make sure it is safe to work on that portion of the wall. If in the right place, it may be best to stick to the studs to hang most of your items.
Studs are the most secure support to use even if the stud in an RV is only 2 by 2 inches in size.
Is It OK To Screw Into RV Walls?
Yes and no. It depends on where you are placing that screw. If you do as we suggested in the last section, then it is okay to screw into a stud. That is the go-to strategy in your traditional home and it is always the best option no matter what structure you are in.
It is not okay if you are going to place that screw somewhere in the middle of the wood panel that makes up your wall. The luan plywood that is used for the wall is usually only 1/8 of an inch thick and the foam insulation behind it is not strong enough to hold a screw.
If you try this option, you should find that the screw will not hold anything. Even a very short screw may not have much luck in providing your treasured item with enough solid hold to keep it from falling.
Then, as we said earlier, you do not know what is behind that wall. Before you start putting screws in, you would need to find out exactly what is back there and where it is. Some components, like wires have long routes so you may run into the same wire a foot or more in any direction you go to place that screw.
In other words, it is a bit tricky to put a screw in an RV wall. Proceed with the utmost caution.
What Kind Of Anchors To Use in RV Walls?
In this section, you will find a list of different types of anchors on the market today. Most if not all are very good hardware to use but not all of them are practical for RV use.
The list is here to show you what options you have and some may work if you are in a permanent location.
1. Sleeve anchor- mostly for masonry and concrete. They are usually made from metal and need a thick wall to work correctly. These anchors can be used to attach metal doors to masonry or other walls.
2. Adhesive anchor- this is a versatile product that works with different surfaces. They are best for high-traffic areas and work best on masonry. The epoxy base does well under home renovation or construction projects.
3. Spring anchor- these hold other springs and hold them very securely. This product is not that expensive and in a permanent RV home situation, they may come in handy for different projects.
4. Winged plastic anchors- perfect for RV walls. They are not that long and should not harm anything behind those walls. However, you do need to drill a pilot hole to have them work right. Good for medium to light duty.
5. Toggle anchor- also perfect for RV walls, this product is for heavy-duty tasks like holding furniture to an RV wall.
6. Threaded drywall anchor- does not need a pilot hole drilled into the wall. They are for medium duty and are easy to install. If you drill a pilot hole in the wood panel, these may work just as well as other anchors.
7. Plastic hollow wall plug- like the toggle anchor mentioned earlier, these anchors are made of plastic and work in the same way. Just watch the length of the screw and be careful as you drive that screw inside.
8. Hollow wall anchors- this option has sides that flair out and hold to the interior of the wall material. They do not hold to the back of the paneling but they work well under medium-duty requirements.
Check your local hardware or big box store to see if they have other designs that will work on your RV walls. All of these should be relatively inexpensive to buy.
Best RV Wall Anchors
The best RV wall anchors are going to be the winged plastic anchors, the threaded plastic drywall anchors, the toggle anchors, the plastic hollow wall plug, and the hollow wall anchors.
When you do not live in your RV in a permanent setting, these would be the best options you have available. Of course, the one you use will depend a lot on the wall surface material.
Pick the one that will be the most compatible with the material your wall is made from. Also, using the stud is the ultimate best way to secure your items to the wall. If you can use them, nothing beats this option.
Use a stud finder to help you find their location and then make the decision if that is a good spot to hang your pictures, etc.
Hollow Wall Anchors For RV
Not a bad choice as most RV walls are hollow as the hollow doors inside your unit. The wood wall paneling is not that thick and if you have foam insulation behind it, it is not strong enough to handle any weight you put on that anchor.
Plus, the anchor will not have anything to grab onto if you are relying on that foam to help hold your project. What is nice about this anchor option is the expanding sides.
Those sides move out as you screw the anchor in place and provide a firm hold to the middle of the plywood, regardless of how thick that wood is. They should stay in place throughout your trip even if you go down some very rough roads.
RV Blind Wall Anchors
You will find a large selection of these anchors at Amazon. When you go to that marketplace, you will see that these anchors are merely holding up the blind with a few screws.
What is good about this design is that the screws that are included with the anchors are very small. They should not penetrate very far into the wall and retain a very strong grip on the wood.
That is if the wall is made of real wood and not MDF or other wood options. If you do not like those screws or designs, you can always use one of the anchors listed above to hold the blinds in place.
In this case, you may not have a lot of options at your disposal and have the above anchors ready just in case those little screws do not hold very well.
RV Exterior Wall Anchors
Working with exterior walls can be tricky as well. You have an exterior skin plus whatever material is behind that skin holding it in place. If it is plywood, then you may have better luck with screws than anchors.
But you do have the same anchors mentioned above, in most cases, that would work on the outside. Other options would be alligator anchors, pop toggles made from polypropylene, metal butterfly toggles, and more.
If you are working on the outside, then make sure you have good sealant on hand to keep the moisture out.
Tips For Anchoring Screws In an RV Wall
1. The best tip that can be given is to use the anchor that is made for the wall surface and is rated for the weight of the item you want it to hold. Go a little higher in the weight rating to be sure it will hold.
2. Make sure to investigate for items behind your walls before you start drilling or using a screwdriver. You want to miss those items.
3. Plastic-winged anchors can hold more weight than you realize.
4. Threaded drywall anchors can be removed and reused if you want to relocate the picture, etc. This cannot be said for all wall anchors. Just make sure to have filler to plug the hole when you pull this anchor out.
5. Use corrosion-resistant anchors whenever possible.
Some Addition Words
Hanging items on your RV walls is the same as hanging them on your traditional home walls. The only difference is the wall material in your RV is not as thick or as strong as the material in your traditional home.
Choosing the right anchor is essential and if none of the above work for you, then go to adhesive-backed hooks, Velcro, or similar products and protect your walls as well as the components behind them.
