I see so many people seem to mount wooden slats to the metal frame of the van and THEN attach their walls to those wooden slats. But if the slats are anchored by the metal frame, then could you just not attach the wall directly to the metal frame and save some space? And a step and some money and weight? Wouldn't the metal be more secure than the wood? I get making space for insulation, but the walls certainly are deep enough to start.
Mount walls straight to the metal frame?
- Thread starter tommymsw
- Start date
Help Support Van Living Forum:
Reasons why.
Less need to drill into steel. Wood is a lot easier to screw into for putting up paneling and cabinets.
No need to make the paneling line up just right with the ribs.
Stronger attachment for the cabinets in just the right place without worrying about where the ribs are.
More depth for insulation and for wiring behind the paneling.
It might seem like a waste of labor to put in those pieces of wood but in the overall time frame it saves a lot of labor time as drilling lots of fasteners into narrow steel ribs is very tedious work.
Less need to drill into steel. Wood is a lot easier to screw into for putting up paneling and cabinets.
No need to make the paneling line up just right with the ribs.
Stronger attachment for the cabinets in just the right place without worrying about where the ribs are.
More depth for insulation and for wiring behind the paneling.
It might seem like a waste of labor to put in those pieces of wood but in the overall time frame it saves a lot of labor time as drilling lots of fasteners into narrow steel ribs is very tedious work.
Last edited:
Thanks for the reply. If those are the only reasons, I am still inclined to do it (where it would work). The metal ribs have holes in them already where I could put a bolt through and into the cabinet. The van is empty so I can run my measurements around the metal frame. I understand I may need some wood frame somewhere, I just want to make sure there are no other reasons that I should not do that. I see people use bolts through the metal frame into the wood frame.
Tony's Dream
Well-known member
I have changed the design and layout of my van several times. As stated above, using the slats allows you to change things without drilling new holes each time. If you can anchor directly to the metal ribs without having to drill holes......go for it. Some people find it more appealing to see finished walls instead of bear metal walls. Its a personal choice.
If you can reach into that narrow gap to access those holes it should work. Of course you are likely to drop a few nuts in the process of putting in bolts
Oh, I am going to have walls. I feel like the walls especially would be easy to drill straight into the metal frames. As the walls are not structural, I feel like they do not need fastening at any regular intervals. I will have to play this all as I go and it may not work design-wise, I was just curious if there was any other reason NOT to. Especially in the shower (as I need all the inches I can get) I was thinking of just attaching the shower wall straight to the metal frames.
Tony's Dream
Well-known member
For, me....I have no walls....just bear metal. I converted a cargo van and I feel that walls would make it feel even smaller. I also get concerned with moister collecting behind the walls and I don't see anyone using vaper barriers??
BelgianPup
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2019
- Messages
- 521
- Reaction score
- 244
I have thought about attaching walls to the metal frames, but I hit a MENTAL barrier: When you lay the panel over the metal frames, how do you drill the holes in the panel exactly over the holes in the frame???
Me two. But we seem to be in the distinct minority!
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2011
- Messages
- 1,105
- Reaction score
- 125
I am been binge watching build videos and saw a reference to a method involving (wait for it) lipstick. Sadly, I did not see that segment and have not yet found my way back through the rabbit maze. (I have the same concern.)
dreamrunnerjt
Well-known member
Maybe you could use chalk. Or a colorful clay.
bullfrog !
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2021
- Messages
- 584
- Reaction score
- 648
One of the main concerns you are not considering is adding wooden slats isolates the interior panels fasteners from the metal ribs preventing a lot of direct heat transfer.
quilting22
Active member
LOL !!! when l read lipstick....l say if it works go for it. I just bought 2023 Ram Promaster 1500 and to my surprise and delight it had some kind of chalking on metal ribs and other areas to mitigate rattle noses. Works well.
Spaceman Spiff
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2014
- Messages
- 2,650
- Reaction score
- 636
Dowel Pin Center Transfer Plugs, a.k.a. Blind Hole Spotters
Two small tools that make the job much easier. They can be purchased on Amazon, I used them a great many times in the 15 years when I was building planes at Boeing.
You can use strap hole finders to pickup the existing holes in the metal ribs when putting up paneling.
Use cleco clamps and pliers to hold the panel in perfect alignment while drilling more holes.
Dowel pins also have their place such as transferring hole location onto a thicker object.
You can use strap hole finders to pickup the existing holes in the metal ribs when putting up paneling.
Use cleco clamps and pliers to hold the panel in perfect alignment while drilling more holes.
Dowel pins also have their place such as transferring hole location onto a thicker object.
Last edited:
Similar threads
