Motor home wall construction

[Car-los]

Hi, have a 2013 Redhawk. Want to start hanging stuff on the walls. Outside walls seem solid- I understand they sandwich material and then vacuum it together? So can one just put screws right into them(like to hold the thingies that hold the container doors open).The inner walls I know are made of light wall panel and need spreaders to hold things.Are the studs in inner walls steel or wood?
Any one have info on this stuff would much appreciate your comments.

[TX_Arvee]

I would advise against putting screws into the side walls, or only after considerable planning and investigation of what's there.
Jayco will send you the drawing(s) for any particular wall you may want to fasten something to. My Greyhawk drawings showed both aluminum and wood inside the walls, depending on where and what is around that area. The TV area, for example, has aluminum bracing and plywood.

I am very cautious and tend to look towards 3M Command strips when at all possible. The trick to the 3M command strips is to ensure you use alcohol to clean the surface.

Interior walls could have anything behind them. They are also purpose built, so dont think like traditional framing. Each wall or cabinet piece is engineered to save weight. think 1x1, 1x2 framework skinned with 1/8 paneling. Jayco can also supply drawings for each cabinet or interior wall.

[mwebber78]

Good advice right there.

Exterior walls are only 1.5 -2" thick depending on what Jayco you own, so driving a screw through a wall is always a risk. Interior walls are usually hollow with minimal to no framing but do have wire and plumbing runs, so watch that too. A good stud finder will detect both interior and exterior wall framing. To the point above (for example) the cabinets in most Jayco models that are on an exterior wall are screwed into electro galvanized sheet metal, not a stud. They lay the sheet stock in the layers during lamination.

[cb1000rider]

Definitely no penetrations into the walls... It's not like a house where you caulk them up and paint over them.

[The Hawk]

I only use sticky back velcro. Does not damage the wall and looks new when you go to sell it.
Jim

[rcase13]

I second the command strips for the inside. I have a Redhawk as well and most of the doors on the outside do not have holders to keep the doors open. It's annoying to say the least! There is no problem installing the door holders just make sure you seal it up good. My question is do we use silicone or Dicor to seal them up? I have some of the holders but I am waiting until I find out for sure which sealant to use. Until I find out I will continue to have my son or wife hold the doors open for me! They do a good job and best of all they don't leak!

[TX_Arvee]

Jayco sent me additional door holders. However, they warned that they do not put them on doors that have slide outs above them. If you were to hold the door open and operate the slide, you may damage the door. A little silicone caulk and the supplied screws will do the trick. But you need to ensure where you are mounding it. I have yet to put it on, I have been using a suction cup from HArbor freight and a small spring clamp to hold them open. That works great and doesnt mess anything up.

[mwebber78]

I'd use a small section of butyl tape under the holder, just like the factory does.

[RoyBraddy]

I would mount a larger 3/4-inch board up first using MOLLY BOLTS or drilling into the edges where inside wall supports might possible be. Then you can drill into the wood section to mount your heavy item using regular wood screws..

Something like this


The purpose of adding the large wood section first is to spread out the weight so that the mounts won't pull the screws out from the thin walls. You can paint the added large wood section to match your room decor...

I thought this smaller board that is just wide enough to fit the TV MOUNT was a good idea as well. As long as you can tie the back board into some strong is all you need to do...


Some of the TV areas have a solid wall behind the this panel and usualy have a sticker like this on the outside showing where the beefed up wall is located.


just my thoughts
Roy Ken

[Car-los]

Thank you all for your advice-it was all very valuable. I think it saved my butt.