Hooked Up

Finding places to hang stuff in RV is a never-ending battle. Fortunately, the Internet is awash in specialized hooks that can be placed freely inside and out — and the plethora of mounting options makes the process even easier.

Having a place to hang stuff is an age-old dilemma among RV owners. That’s why we continually look for products and interesting methods for managing stuff — especially when the cabinets and drawers start to fill up. For me, I’ve made a passion of finding hooks that can be installed easily without major modifications. There are all kinds of hooks on the market and Amazon is a perfect resource for locating those with magnets, double-face tape, screws or other ways that have been dreamed up by creative inventors.

I love hooks mounted by the entry door for my keys, remotes for patio lights, badge lanyards and even a garage door opener for those who return to a stationary home. I even placed a stick-on hook below the key holder to hang a paper calendar. This makes it convenient to double-check for any appointments when heading out the door. Call me old-fashioned, but the calendar deal works — and doesn’t require battery recharging.

This generic hook, attached to the walls with self-adhesive tape, was planted next to the bed to keep reading glasses within easy reach. Hooks also work well for placing regular eyeglasses — and even remotes — within easy reach of the theater seating (not shown) for use while watching TV.

Okay, maybe I’m a little bit lazy too. I prefer not to hang up my daily-wear items like sweatshirts and jackets in the closet, which involves going up the inside stairs constantly and through the bedroom to find something to wear. For example, I installed a small coat rack at the top of the entryway so I can put one foot on the steps, grab my sweatshirt and go out the door. Other places where hooks came in handy were next to the theater seating for storing eyeglasses or even a TV remote that’s been rigged with a loop to hang on the hook. I also have a couple hooks next to the bed for holding reading glasses (the most misplaced items in my fifth wheel before the hooks fixed that problem). Really, the sky’s the limit when finding uses for utility hooks.

Naturally, after I got started placing hooks on the inside, I moved to the outside storage compartment (which doubles as a workshop). Here, I store everything for travel, including tools and multiple items that need to be hung up for quick access; I hate digging through plastic boxes to find what I need for working on my fifth wheel.

Having hand towels near the galley island-counter sink comes in handy when washing fruit or dishes. This one uses a Deliton Adhesive Hook. The matte-black, stainless-steel hook — designed for towels or coats with a holding power of up to 3.5 pounds — contrasts nicely against the light gray-color island.

There’s always wasted space in a medicine cabinet. The use of hooks allows commonly used items to be readily available without rummaging through the other stored necessities.

Stick-on hooks work so well these days that it’s worth the extra money for the convenience of not having to drill holes in the wall — especially when trying to figure out “perfect” locations. Several of the hooks that I’ve used in my workshop area have decent weight ratings, like the ones I found on Amazon with a transparent base that are touted to hold 22 pounds, which is typically way more than I need; so far, none have come loose while on the road.

These hooks can be found by searching “JelKen Wall Hooks 12 pack Heavy Duty 22 lb (Max) Self Adhesive Hooks” and sell for only $4.49. They are designed to stick to smooth surfaces like tile, glass, metal and wood, but I’ve also used them on lightly textured interior walls with great success. Of course, preparation is the key, and cleaning with alcohol will assure a strong bond. After almost a year of service, the stick-on hook in the shower, for example, has not shown any signs of coming loose despite the moisture and steam.

Organizing the outside compartment to double as a workshop was made possible by the generous use of stick-on hooks. Tools, supplies and commonly used items were secured by JelKen hooks with a large transparent base. None of the hooks separated from the aluminum rafters while on the road.

Command Brand hooks, made by 3M, provide hanging power in various weight categories. This one is rated for 5 pounds. These hooks are great for those who have not decided on a permanent location because they have strong adhesive that can be removed without damaging the wall surface.

The convenience of having a couple of hooks on the side of the kitchen island where the sink resides has proven invaluable. I wash a lot of vegetables and fruit, so it’s nice to have the towel nearby without dripping water across the floor. A good choice for this purpose: the “Deliton Adhesive Hooks 4-pack Towel/Coat Hooks” found on Amazon for $9.99. I like their black matte finish and the stainless-steel foundation makes them capable of holding 3.5 pounds. The adhesion is strong and there’s even an inclined version to handle smartphones and tablets.

At the end of the day, it’s all about convenience — and the plethora of hooks on the market are instrumental in satisfying that desire.