6 Best Wall Mounted Paper Towel Holders For RV Kitchens Nomads Swear By

You hit an unexpected pothole, and in the rearview mirror, you see it—a white streamer of paper towels unspooling all over your galley floor. This isn’t just a minor mess; it’s a classic rite of passage for new RVers that highlights a fundamental truth of mobile living. In a home that moves, every single object needs to be secured, and the humble paper towel holder is no exception.

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Why a Secure Paper Towel Holder Is a Must in an RV

Life on the road is a life of constant vibration. Every mile, every bump, every turn sends subtle (and not-so-subtle) forces through your rig. A standard, free-spinning paper towel holder from a stationary home becomes an agent of chaos in this environment. It will reliably unravel your entire roll, leaving a mess to clean up at your next stop.

A proper RV paper towel holder isn’t a luxury; it’s a piece of essential gear designed to solve this specific problem. These holders use tension, ratchets, or clever engineering to keep the roll in place, allowing you to tear off a single sheet without the rest following. It’s a small detail that eliminates a major, recurring annoyance.

Think about your kitchen workflow. You’re often working with one hand, bracing yourself while the rig is parked on an uneven site or grabbing a towel quickly to wipe up a spill. A holder that lets you rip a sheet off with a single, sharp tug is a game-changer. It’s about efficiency and reducing friction in a space where every movement counts.

Kamenstein Perfect Tear: The No-Unravel Ratchet

The Kamenstein holder is an old-school classic in the RV community for one simple reason: its patented ratchet system. As you pull a sheet, the holder clicks, dispensing just what you need. When you stop pulling, it locks in place. This mechanism is the single best defense against road-induced unraveling.

The design is brilliantly simple and purely mechanical. There are no springs to wear out or delicate parts to break. The ratcheting sound is oddly satisfying, a little confirmation that your gear is doing its job. It provides just enough resistance to tear a sheet easily with one hand, but it’s not so tight that it’s a struggle.

Installation is straightforward with screws, and its robust build means it can handle the torque of a one-handed tear for years. While it may not be the most stylish option on the market, its function is nearly flawless for life in motion. If your top priority is preventing the dreaded paper towel streamer, the Kamenstein is a battle-tested solution.

OXO Good Grips: One-Handed Tear Engineering

OXO brings its signature ergonomic intelligence to the paper towel problem. The Good Grips Steady-Mount holder uses a different method to achieve a similar result: a spring-loaded tension arm. This arm gently presses against the roll, providing just enough friction to prevent free-spinning while allowing for a smooth pull.

This design is particularly brilliant for one-handed use. The arm holds the roll steady so you can get a clean tear without needing your other hand to secure it. It’s an elegant piece of engineering that feels incredibly smooth in practice, especially compared to the click-click-click of a ratchet system.

The holder is designed to accommodate any size of paper towel roll, from a fresh jumbo roll to the last few sheets on the cardboard tube. The arm simply adjusts its pressure accordingly. For those who prioritize a smooth, quiet operation and flawless one-handed tears over the absolute lockdown of a ratchet, the OXO is a top-tier choice.

Simplehuman Holder: Sleek Stainless Steel Design

Simplehuman’s approach is all about premium materials and refined engineering. Their wall-mounted holder features a die-cast metal bracket and a beefy stainless steel rod. But the magic is in the specially shaped "tension ring" at the base, which provides gentle, consistent friction on the roll.

This isn’t a ratchet or a spring arm; it’s a precisely engineered amount of resistance that allows you to pull off a single sheet with a firm tug. It feels incredibly solid. The weight and quality of the materials mean it won’t flex or wobble, even when you’re yanking on it in a hurry. The stainless steel construction also means it will never rust, a crucial feature in an RV where humidity can fluctuate dramatically.

This is the "buy it once, cry once" option. It’s more expensive than others, but its durability and performance are undeniable. If you’re building a rig with high-end finishes and want a paper towel holder that matches that quality, the Simplehuman delivers both a flawless function and a sleek, modern aesthetic.

KES Adhesive Holder: The Best No-Drill Option

Drilling into RV walls can be intimidating. You’re often dealing with thin luan panels, and you never know what wiring or plumbing might be hiding just behind the surface. The KES Adhesive Holder completely bypasses this problem by using a powerful, oversized 3M adhesive pad for mounting.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t your average sticky tape. This is industrial-grade adhesive designed for a strong, semi-permanent bond. When installed correctly—on a clean, smooth, non-porous surface—it creates an incredibly secure mount that can easily handle the weight and pull-force of a paper towel roll. It’s perfect for fiberglass, metal, or smooth cabinetry.

The holder itself is a simple, L-shaped piece of stainless steel, available in various finishes. It’s minimalist and effective. The key tradeoff is that it’s not ideal for textured or wallpapered surfaces, and removal requires some care. But for anyone who wants a secure holder without putting a single hole in their rig, this is the smartest choice on the market.

Spectrum Diversified: Minimalist Under-Cabinet Fit

Sometimes the best solution is the simplest one. The Spectrum Diversified holder is essentially a single piece of steel, cleverly bent to hold a paper towel roll. It has no moving parts, no springs, and no ratchets. It mounts under a cabinet with a couple of screws, taking up virtually no visual space.

Its genius lies in its simplicity. The ends of the holder are slightly pinched, creating a natural friction that keeps the roll from spinning wildly on bumpy roads. It’s not as foolproof as a ratchet system, but it’s a massive improvement over a basic dowel holder and is often more than enough for paved-road travel.

This holder is perfect for those who want an unobtrusive, set-it-and-forget-it solution. Its open-ended design also makes changing rolls incredibly fast—you just slide the old one off and the new one on. For a clean, minimalist look and dead-simple functionality, especially in tight under-cabinet spaces, the Spectrum is a fantastic and affordable option.

mDesign Metal Holder: A Versatile, Budget Pick

The mDesign holder is the jack-of-all-trades in this lineup. It’s a simple metal bar with a mounting plate, and its strength is its incredible versatility. You can mount it vertically on the side of a cabinet, horizontally on a wall, or tucked up under a cupboard. This flexibility allows you to fit it into whatever awkward, unused space your RV layout provides.

This is a budget-friendly choice, and with that comes a tradeoff: it has no built-in tension system. It’s a simple spindle. However, you can create your own tension by slightly squeezing the metal arms inward before mounting, which will add friction to the roll. It’s a simple DIY hack that makes this budget pick far more viable for RV life.

Because of its low price and simple design, it’s a great option for secondary locations, like in an outdoor kitchen or a storage bay for quick cleanups. It’s a basic, reliable workhorse that gets the job done without any frills. If you need a holder that can adapt to a weird space or you’re outfitting your rig on a tight budget, the mDesign is a solid, practical choice.

Choosing Your Holder: Tension, Mount, and Material

Selecting the right holder comes down to balancing three key factors against your specific needs and your rig’s construction. Don’t just buy the most popular one; think through how you’ll use it and where it will live.

First, consider the tension system. This is the most critical feature for preventing unraveling.

• Ratchet (Kamenstein): The most secure option for rough roads and serious off-grid travel. The clicking can be a pro or a con, depending on your preference.
• Spring Arm (OXO): Excellent for smooth, one-handed tearing. A great balance of security and user-friendliness.
• Friction Ring/Bar (Simplehuman, Spectrum): A silent, elegant solution that provides constant, gentle resistance.

Second, evaluate the mounting method. This depends entirely on your rig’s walls and your willingness to drill.

• Screw-In: The most secure and permanent option. Ideal for mounting into cabinet bases or wall studs. Be sure to use appropriate anchors if you’re drilling into thin paneling.
• Adhesive: The best choice for avoiding holes. Only works on smooth, non-porous surfaces. Follow installation instructions precisely, including cleaning the surface and allowing the adhesive to cure.

Finally, look at the material. This affects both durability and aesthetics. Stainless steel is the top choice for its resistance to rust and its solid feel. Powder-coated metal is a durable and often more affordable alternative. Plastic can work, but it’s more prone to flexing and breaking over time under the stresses of RV travel. Choose the material that best fits your budget and the overall look of your kitchen.

In the end, the perfect paper towel holder is the one you don’t have to think about. It just works, keeping your paper towels ready and secure, whether you’re parked at a serene lake or bouncing down a forest service road. It’s a small, deliberate choice that makes daily life in a small, moving home just a little bit easier.