As we prepared for retirement, we bought our forever 5th wheel toy hauler trailer. Since we plan to spend a lot of time traveling, we wanted to make it feel like home. Despite owning several travel trailers and a motorhome over the years, we had never hung anything on the interior walls. It took us over 45 years to hang something—anything—on our RV’s interior walls. It wasn’t due to a lack of framed family photos or a dislike for clocks, wall art, or mirrors. So, what held me back? Fear. I didn’t want to damage our RV. I needed tips for hanging items on RV walls.
Horror Stories
I’ve heard horror stories from fellow RVers about mirrors falling off walls and shattering. While I don’t believe in seven years of bad luck, why take the chance? Plus, I’d heard of mounting techniques that left wallpaper ripped or torn beyond repair. Yikes! Did I really need to know the time that badly? So, I put off mounting our wall clock.
Taking the Plunge
But finally, I had enough! I did some research and decided to tackle the challenge. Yes, I finally mounted some things on our RV’s walls!
Techniques for Hanging Items
I’ve found four different techniques for safely attaching things to RV walls. Check them out and transform your RV by adding color, memories, reflections, and more to your decor.
Note: Use caution when using these techniques, as your results may differ from mine. Try the technique on an unobtrusive place first to make sure it will not damage your rig’s walls and will work as you intended.
Expansion Screws
Expansion screws are reliable for mounting items such as small shelves, racks, or decorative pieces. Be cautious about the size and weight of what you’re hanging and consider the additional weight the shelf or rack will bear once it’s securely mounted. I prefer butterfly expansion screws or other expanding wall anchors since most RV wallboard or paneling is quite thin.
Command Strips
Command strips have revolutionized the way we hang things on walls. These adhesive strips provide a strong hold while being completely removable without damaging the surface. Command strips come in various sizes and weight capacities, making them suitable for everything from framed pictures to organizational baskets. I used these to mount our wall clock. The Command strips make it easy to take the clock down when necessary (e.g., changing time zones, Daylight Savings Time changes) and put it right back up afterward.
Gummed Hooks
Another adhesive-based solution that offers convenience and ease of use is gummed hooks. Stick them to your RV walls and hang items like keys, baseball caps, kitchen utensils, and more. Keep in mind that the adhesive strength may vary, so choose hooks based on the weight of the items you intend to hang.
Museum Putty
Also known as earthquake putty, Museum Putty is a quirky but effective option for securing lightweight items like posters or flyers to the wall. It’s a soft, moldable adhesive that is removable, reusable, and leaves no trace behind.
Additional Tips
– Reduce the weight of framed items by replacing the glass with clear, lightweight acrylic.
– On travel days, remove kitchen utensils from gummed hooks to prevent them from swinging and potentially flying off due to rough road vibrations.
– Unsure of an item’s weight? Use a kitchen food scale to determine which Command hook strength to use. (Anything over 10 pounds is not going on the wall.)
– RV wall space is limited, so choose your favorite items to display. You can always switch them out with the seasons or whenever you like. I frequently change our wall decor to keep things fresh.
Do you hang items on your RV walls? What method do you use? Share your tips and experiences in the comments below.
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