Shelf in Bedroom Closet Broke

[NC Roamer]

While loading the Greyhawk for a trip, I noticed that the bottom shelf in the bedroom corner closet had broken away from its supports. The only thing holding the shelf up were staples shot into the underside of the support rail around the perimeter of the triangular closet. After six years of bouncing down highways, the staples simply pulled out.

The other shelves in that corner unit sit atop theIr perimeter rails, so the staples will not pull loose. Why they shot the staples from underneath that bottom shelf is a mystery.

The partial circle on the right side of the shelf is the exterior speaker cutout. If I remove the speaker, I can push the shelf back into position and run screws into the underside from outside the RV.

So check the bottom shelves in your cabinets.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by NC Roamer

The other shelves in that corner unit sit atop theIr perimeter rails, so the staples will not pull loose. Why they shot the staples from underneath that bottom shelf is a mystery.

They are all pre-assembled (rails attached) before being placed in the rig. That was the only way to put the screws in the rails. No access from below.

[Rnightengale]

Ours did the same thing, the bottom isn't really strong enough so I had to put a shelf on top of the rail

[RetiredOne]

I had a similar thing happen to my sink cabinet, just a few staples fired in to support the base. They didn't hold.

When you take that speaker out, can you slide blocks of wood through the hole that you can wedge under the shelf to hold it up?

[RichCarter]

Mounting this shelf from the underside with staples is pretty stupid. What were they thinking? If you put it back that way, put some glue on it, e.g. Liquid Nails.

[NC Roamer]

Originally Posted by RichCarter

If you put it back that way, put some glue on it, e.g. Liquid Nails.

Will definitely glue and screw it.

Originally Posted by RetiredOne

When you take that speaker out, can you slide blocks of wood through the hole that you can wedge under the shelf to hold it up?

I think so. I’ll reinforce it as much as physically possible.

[NC Roamer]

As suspected, removing the external speaker provided adequate access to the area beneath the bottom shelf. I inserted several wooden supports around the perimeter of the shelf and screwed down into them from the bottom compartment. Seems very solid now.

The pic through the speaker hole shows the wimpy staples that pulled out. Probably the weakest possible fastener they could have used in this instance.

It’s always nice when something breaks that I can fix myself.

[ALJO]

Easy fix! Remove the rails where it is fasten too and pull shelf up with a coat-hanger.
You should beable to remove the whole shelf. Fasten the rail with glue and screws and re-install. Just follow the route of innovation.

[RogerR]

I would go along the bottom of the shelf area and screw & glue some blocks to the walls. Then the weight of the shelf will rest on the blocks and the trim will just be trim and not weight carrying. If the shelf bowed down then you could even add cross bracing across the whole width of the shelf while you are in there.