How did you attach the holders to the bays? Regular screws and I assume caulk, or something special? I wondered if there were any issues with putting screws into the bays so they would hold.
To all,
Thank you so much for your nice comments. It's very much appreciated. I would not say I'm "OCD", (lol), I just like to be organized for my own satisfaction. My garage is similar although, it's not done yet. Looking into a compartment and seeing the "WD-40" or, "Delo" Oil for my engine as examples, simply allows me to do just about any task as smoothly and efficiently as I can so that I may get on with my camping and or fun time.
Let me first say this, in my life of being a DIY type, I've met many folks (guys) that are "DEATHLY" afraid of drilling holes in bodies, compartments, etc because of "damage" to the original components, or "ruining" the integrity of said components etc. Well, my thoughts are "Hog wash". IT'S METAL!!!! It doesn't care about having holes drilled in it.
I certainly don't mean to be sarcastic but folks, it's your motorhome, make it as you want it, not the next guy. Let him/her worry about it when HE/SHE buys it. Now, some of you have the "know how" and some don't to take on the "Outfitting" of your rig/compartments. You have to know your capabilities. It's not hard folks. At least for me it's not.
As I told one member in a PM, you simply determine:
1. What you want to carry
2. Will it be mounted or held in place
3. How will it be mounted
4. Determine clearance for removal and re-intall of any article/tool/piece of equipment so as to not damage it, or your hands or arms while removal and install is taking place
5. Determine priority of each item to be mounted, i.e. closer ones to the opening of a compartment will be items used regularly and lesser used items might be towards the rear.
6. Determine available space for all items you'd like to "Hang" or install on a particular wall. i.e. shovel, rake, pruners, fishing poles, "Stick pie sticks" (poles with burnt tips at bottom of one compartment)
7. Determine if an item needs securing in a mounting bracket or clip, or, can simply be laid in some holders and will not fall out.
So that's most of the parameters that I consider before starting each compartment. Folks, there's lots of walls and even ceilings in the compartments of these rigs. And, 99.999% of the time, you can drill into them without fear of damaging anything behind them. BUT, and this is a rather large BUT, do try and determine if and what is behind any wall before you get your trusty drill out and start boring holes. (drip drip drip).
As you can see, by doing some creative thinking, a little mechanical thought processing, and some forethought, you can set up your rigs and still have tons of room for later on. That does not mean you have to load up and carry your complete garage with you, it simply means that what you do carry has its place and you can go right to it, each and every time. If you need glue 'cause you just broke something or a camping neighbor needs some, you know exactly where it is and go right to the compartment/local and retrieve it and, when you or your neighbor is done with it, it goes right back to it's place for the next time. And so goes for all the rest of your items you've taken the time to create a permanent place for.
Now, as for drilling and screwing. Some investigation is to be done, as stated above. Many of these compartment walls are actually double walled with a tiny bit of foam insulation in between them. I found this out on the back wall of the compartments of the slide out on our '99 Bounder. The walls were made of aluminum so they drilled quite easily. But, in putting a screw with a washer and nut on the back side, it had tendency to "crush" the two walls together.
On what's known as a "Blind" wall, or one that you know has clearance behind it but there's no access to it for a washer and nut, I use what's called a "riv-nut" or, "Nut-sert". It's a simple mechanism. It's just like a rivet only, the mechanism is a bit larger than a rivet and, after it's installed, you have a set of machine threads embedded in the wall you're working on so, you can attach the bracket you're want to hang, in a much stronger fastening system than just sheet metal screws. I never use those.
Well, without dragging this on, I hope I've answered some of the questions. To me, it's fun. And, even when I'm home, and I need something in the motorhome that I've not got in the house or garage, I can go right to it, use it and put it back without digging, searching, tearing whole compartments apart, removing boxes and boxes etc. for a 5-10 minute job.
Yes, there are still some things that cannot be mounted or hung, like rope, tape (masking,electrical etc.) and more. But, I keep in just two small boxes, all the items that I MAY need at some point in time. And they are tucked in the back of my slider tray compartment but, I know exactly what's in them.
You simply choose what's important to you if you want to take on something like this and, have the place, tools, and know how to do it.
Hint: take any compartment that you want to organize, and get a piece of cardboard the same size as the back wall and lay it on a work bench. Then, lay all the tools, components, whatever you want to hang/mount on that wall, and lay them on that cardboard. See if it all fits in the arrangement you want it to. Move it around, adjust, change, alter, eliminate, add, and see if you like it. Determine, what kind of fasteners, what kind of mounts/clips/holders and GO TO IT.
Scott
Scott and Karla SDFD RETIRED
2004 Itasca Horizon, 36GD Slate Blue 330 CAT
2011 White Honda CRV EX-L,4WD w/NAV Toad 2008 Caliente Red LVL II GL 1800 Goldwing KI60ND
Like Scott I like my stuff to be somewhat organized. I use milk crates to keep the smaller items in order and they stack well making good use of space. Cords and cable lines are stacked in neat piles.
Fuzzy and Mary
1994 Pace Arrow 33
1928 Model A
1953 Ford Club Coupe
1963 1/2 Falcon Ranchero Original factory V8 4 spd
1963 Fairlane SportsCoupe
1965 Honda SuperHawk
Notice the field Scott retired from! He is used to everything having an assigned spot and the item is always in that spot unless being used or serviced! LOL
Son was fireman in the USAF, now a 911 dispatcher trying to get back into the fire department in civilian life. I heard many a story while he was a cadet with our local department and in the USAF on memorizing where all those locations were and on different trucks.
Ray, Cheryl, Cory & of course Miss Molly the four-legged child
Great Job. We would get along just fine. I like everything in its palce, and a place for everything also.
We use a lot of Clear Plastic Bins with Lids, for almost all of our smaller items. Each is labled, so we know what is in each one, no looking for anything. Our larger items, all have their own places also. Most are Securied Down, so they don't move around.
Even most of our stuff inside the Motorhome in the Over-Head Cabinets are in Smaller Clear Plastic Bins also. We realy like to be organized also. We never have any trouble finding anything in our Motorhome.
Using Plastic Bins, makes the most use out of storage places for us.
It may not be for everyone, but it sure does make life a lot simpler, not having to look for things.
Works for our needs anyways. Good Luck. Happy Travels. Dan & Jill
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