Don't Forget The Inside Of Your RV To Prevent Collision Damage
Posted on: 9 October 2015
If you're about to start traveling in an RV, you've likely been practicing how to drive better so that you have a safe trip and don't get into accidents. But don't forget to take a good look at the inside of your RV, either. If you get into an accident or have to stop quickly to avoid one, the items inside the RV can fly everywhere, causing damage to cabinets, the floor, windows, and other parts of the RV's interior. Here are a few things you can do to batten down the hatches.
Cabinets and Bookcases
Install child-proof latches on each cabinet door. Don't use simple magnetic latches because a strong impact could force those open rather easily. You want latches that will catch and stop any door movement if the door suddenly opens.
For inside the cabinets, place sticky or grippy mats on each shelf. For shelves that are going to hold multiple items, like stacks of pots and pans, try to install baskets or roll-out drawers. These will hold the items in one place, but you'll also be able to add latches to stop the drawers from rolling out unexpectedly. Even if you install the childproof latches on the door, you want the extra protection on the drawers to prevent damage to the insides of the cabinet doors.
For bookcases, lash the cases to a wall if possible, or to some other non-moving part of the RV. Install doors on the bookcases if possible; once you do that, add childproof latches. If you can't install doors, wrap bungee cords or other restraints around each shelf to stop books from pouring out.
Refrigerator
Ensure that the refrigerator is properly installed so that it doesn't fall out of its space in the kitchen if you're in an accident. Add long hook-and-loop-closure strips to the outsides of the freezer and fridge sections to prevent the doors from opening if items inside fall against the door.
Add shelf bars to each shelf as well. These look like tension rods, often in connected pairs, that fit in front of the open areas of the shelves.
Lamps and Other Items
For lamps and other things that don't have a home inside a cabinet or drawer, use quake putty and quake-proof restraints. The putty sticks to the base of items like table lamps and helps anchor the items to a surface. For floor lamps and other items, there are special leashes that attach to wall brackets that you can use. The leashes wrap around the items and hold them up in the event of shaking.
If you'd like to find out about additional tactics for keeping the interior of your RV safe in the event of a collision, contact an RV collision repair center (like Chehalis Collision Center). They can give you more specific ways to keep your belongings from making a mess of your RV.
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