How to fit custom coat hooks in your caravan

Caravan manufacturers often don’t seem to fit much in the way of coat hooks these days, but in a way this is a good thing, because you can then add your own choice of hooks, exactly where you want them.

It is perhaps tempting to buy domestic coat hooks for your caravan at the local DIY shop, but these are likely to be quite bulky and not in keeping with the van’s fittings.

My own preference is stainless steel fender eyes, which I buy from marine chandlers, such as Gael Force Marine Equipment (www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk). These cost only £1.53 each and they are a robust, well-finished stainless steel hook.

You will need appropriate stainless countersunk screws of a suitable length for the thickness of your fixing places. Try the screws in the hooks and, if necessary, use a large-diameter drill to widen the countersunk recess in the hook until the screws fit flush.

Start by working your way right around the caravan, putting small insulating tape ‘flags’ where you think that the hooks could potentially go, until you are happy with your choices.

Wide masking tape is useful for marking out the hook screw hole positions and has the added advantage of preventing the drill skating over the surface.

Make some small pilot holes in the woodwork to improve screw grip, but do be careful if you are drilling a hard, brittle material, such as Perspex or Formica, which require good clearance holes through their thickness to avoid the risk of cracking, then some pilot holes in the substrate.

1 Stainless steel fender eyes are neat and strong

2 Begin the task by planning out your hook positions using insulating tape ‘flags’, before you fix any hooks

3 Check the hooks do not obstruct cupboard doors

4 Position masking tape to plot hole positions and protect surfaces

5 You might also need to enlarge countersunk recess before fitting retaining screws

6 The hooks will carry lots of weight

After more great DIY inspiration? Then head to our Back to Basics: DIY & Maintenance category, where you’ll find some brilliant projects and ideas to try out.

Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of practicalcaravan.com, provides the information in this article in good faith and makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement in determining the appropriateness of the advice to their circumstances. Individuals should take appropriate safety precautions and be aware of the risk of electrocution when dealing with electrical products. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future nor its employees or agents shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information. You should check that any van warranty will not be affected before proceeding with DIY projects.