Wall Hangers That Work

Self-drilling drywall anchors provide a secure foundation when fasteners in an RV have pulled out of a wall

By Bob Livingston / Photos by Bill Gehr

riving screws into RV paneling or a cabinet structure for the first time seems to present few issues. For the most part they will hold tight — but remove and replace the screw a few times (or add some weight) and the wood turns to sawdust as the hole becomes stripped and enlarged.

Window shades are especially vulnerable after multiple tugs on the material to pull them down — and forget about hanging heavy stuff on hooks. There are a few remedies that have been tired for years, such as stuffing a toothpick into the hole and re-setting the screw so the threads get a bite. This works, but not always, especially if the screw is holding something that sees heavy usage or is under tension. Of course, you can always use glue, but that’s not the best way to go unless you want the screw to be permanent.

A trick we found years ago is to use a self-drilling drywall anchor.

Drywall anchors are commonly found in hardware and home improvement stores. They come in various sizes and rated holding power.

These anchors are self-drilling, so it’s not necessary to make a pilot hole. They can be easily set by using a screw gun with a Phillips bit.

Once the anchors are seated into the wall, the screws that hold the hook in place have a solid foundation and will not back out. Just tighten them down and you’re all set.

Drywall anchors are available in metal or plastic and, although they are designed to be driven into drywall (which is rather soft), they work amazingly well in paneling or soft wood. These anchors have a cutting “bit” at the end, which first makes a hole so that the spiral threads will work their way in until tight against the surface. To use, simply drive the anchors using a Phillips bit in a screw gun. It only takes a few seconds to seat the anchors.

It’s important that you use the right size anchor for the job, based on the screw size and weight-holding capability. Also, you’ll have to determine the thickness of the wall to make sure the anchor won’t penetrate an exterior panel. Anchors are available in various lengths.

Once you seat the anchor, the provided screw can be driven into the center. Doing so expands the anchor, providing enough grip for holding brackets, hooks, hinges or anything else up to the rated capacity. We usually get the ones that are rated for 50 pounds, which is more than enough to support projects in an RV. A metal version works best if it’s being driven into a stud. A box of six anchors sells for only a few bucks and is available in any hardware or home improvement store and, of course, online.

We found these anchors to be a valuable asset when hanging hooks on the fabric-covered divider walls in a fifth wheel storage compartment. While hook-and-loop fasteners will sometimes adhere to the fabric, the result is not normally long term. Anchors provide a much more solid base for screwing in hooks for holding cables, hoses and cords against the storage divider wall; using screws alone eventually will work their way loose.

Keep a box of these anchors on hand; you never know when you’ll need to fix a stripped screw hole.

Stick ‘Em Up

We spent most of our lives in Southern California, so securing loose items on shelves or bookcases to prevent damage during an earthquake was part of the lifestyle in the Golden State. It wasn’t a question of “if” but “when” an earthquake would strike — and we went through a few strong ones. RVs aren’t much different — they’re akin to “rolling” earthquakes — so keeping items in place while on the road is always a priority. Rather than removing all décor items before leaving the RV park, we’ve found Quake Hold Museum Putty allows you to keep them in place while bouncing around on the road.

Affixed with museum putty, this soundbar has been in place for more than five years — and more than 50,000 miles — without budging off its shelf.

Tear off a piece of Quake Hold and roll the putty into a ball. Apply the ball(s) to the base of the item you want to secure and push it down, squeezing out the excess, which can be trimmed.

Earthquake putty is commonly used to hold loose items, like flower vases, securely on shelves, but we’ve discovered a number of other uses over the years. For one, we mounted a sound bar on the shelf below the TV with this putty — and it’s been there for more than five years and 50,000 miles and hasn’t budged one iota. We’ve also hung pictures and other items on the wall, and unless the wall is subjected to intense heat for long periods of time, the earthquake putty holds well. There are limitations, though: You can’t hang heavy items on the wall; heavier items fare better when placed on the shelf where gravity will not play a role.

Quake Hold is available for a variety of purposes, but we’ve been using the Museum Putty grade for as long as we can remember. The putty feels like the stuff kids play with and is non-toxic. To use, simply tear off a small amount of putty and roll it into a ball. Strategically place the ball(s) on the item you want to hold and press down until the putty squishes out. Trim the putty, and you’re done. The putty will never dry and can be removed easily from the surface when desired. After a while you’ll find dozens of uses for this stuff and chuck the glue and screws. Quake Hold (quakehold.com) is available online and at just about any hardware store, and sells for $4 for a 2.64-ounce package. Amazingly, the putty lasts a surprisingly long time.

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