7 Best Towel Hooks For Easy Installation In Rvs That Declutter Your Life
Declutter your RV with our top 7 towel hooks. We review simple, drill-free options designed to maximize small spaces and keep your life organized.
There’s a moment every RVer knows: you finish a shower, and the only place to put your damp towel is on the dinette seat or draped over the driver’s chair. This isn’t just messy; in a small, sealed environment, it’s a recipe for mildew and a constant feeling of clutter. Solving the towel problem is one of the first and most satisfying steps to making an RV feel like a functional home, not just a vehicle you sleep in.
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Solving RV Towel Storage: A Guide to Hooks
Hooks are the obvious answer, but the right hook is what matters. RV walls are not like the drywall in a sticks-and-bricks house. They’re often thin luan plywood with a vinyl wallpaper covering, backed by either aluminum framing or insulation. Drilling into them is a commitment, and you always risk hitting wiring or creating a hole you can’t easily patch.
This is why easy-installation hooks are the go-to solution for most RVers. They generally fall into four categories, each with its own ideal use case:
- Adhesive Hooks: The most versatile, but their performance depends heavily on the wall surface and the quality of the adhesive.
- Suction Hooks: Perfect for non-porous surfaces like shower stalls and windows, but can fail with temperature changes.
- Over-the-Door Racks: Excellent for using vertical space without any installation, as long as your door has the clearance.
- Magnetic Hooks: An incredibly strong and simple option, but you’re limited to steel surfaces.
Before you buy anything, press on your wall. Is it solid or hollow? Is the surface smooth vinyl, textured wallpaper, or bare wood? Knowing your surface is the first step. Next, consider the weight. A single, dry bath towel is one thing; a wet beach towel is another. Always choose a hook rated for more weight than you think you need.
Command Large Bath Hooks: The No-Damage Classic
Organize your bathroom without damage using these water-resistant hooks. Each hook adheres strongly to most surfaces, holding towels, robes, and more, and removes cleanly without residue.
There’s a reason Command hooks are in almost every RVer’s toolkit. They stick, they hold, and most importantly, they come off cleanly. For the standard vinyl-covered interior walls found in most travel trailers and motorhomes, these are often the most reliable, damage-free option for hanging bath towels.
The key to success is meticulous prep. You must clean the surface with isopropyl alcohol first—not a general-purpose cleaner—to remove any residue. Press firmly for 30 seconds, then let the hook cure for at least an hour before hanging anything on it. Skipping these steps is the number one reason these hooks fail.
Their biggest weakness is extreme humidity and temperature swings, which can weaken the adhesive over time. While the "bath" versions have water-resistant strips, I still wouldn’t place them directly inside a wet bath where they’ll be constantly soaked. For hanging towels to dry outside the shower, however, they are a proven and dependable choice.
HASKO Suction Hooks: Best for Shower Walls
Suction cup technology has come a long way from the cheap plastic hooks that fell off your tile in the middle of the night. Modern suction hooks, like those from HASKO, use a mechanical locking system. You press the cup to the wall and then flip a lever or twist a dial, which creates a powerful vacuum that can hold significant weight.
These are the absolute best choice for the inside of a fiberglass or acrylic shower surround. The surface is perfectly smooth and non-porous, allowing for a flawless seal. This gives you a place to hang washcloths, loofahs, or even a towel you want to keep handy without drilling into your waterproof enclosure—a huge win.
The tradeoff is that they require a pristine surface. They will not work on textured plastics, grout lines, or the slightly porous vinyl wallpaper in the main living area. They can also lose suction over time as temperatures fluctuate, so it’s wise to check them and "re-suck" them to the wall every few weeks as part of your regular RV maintenance.
mDesign Over Door Rack: Maximize Vertical Space
In an RV, every door is an opportunity for storage. An over-the-door rack is the simplest way to add a multi-towel hanging station with zero installation. You just unbox it and hang it. This is perfect for the main bathroom door, instantly giving you space for three or four towels without putting a single hole in the wall.
Look for models with padding on the back of the hooks to protect your door’s finish. The biggest complaint with these is rattling during travel. A simple fix is to use a small piece of foam tape or felt on any contact points to silence the noise before you hit the road.
Before buying, check two things. First, measure the thickness of your door; most racks are designed for standard residential doors and may be too wide for thinner RV doors, causing them to shift. Second, ensure you have enough clearance between the top of your door and the frame. In some tight RV builds, there isn’t enough of a gap for the hooks to fit.
KES Adhesive Rack: A Sleek Multi-Towel Bar
If you want the permanent, residential look of a towel bar without the risk of drilling, a high-quality adhesive rack is the answer. Brands like KES often use 3M VHB (Very High Bond) tape, an industrial-strength adhesive that creates a surprisingly strong and durable hold. It gives you a clean, minimalist aesthetic that looks like a factory installation.
This is a great solution for a flat, smooth surface where you know you’ll always want towel storage, like on a larger bathroom wall or the side of a cabinet. The single bar design allows towels to dry more quickly than they would when bunched up on individual hooks, which helps control humidity inside the RV.
Be warned: this is a semi-permanent solution. While you aren’t drilling, removing that VHB tape can be a real chore and may pull the thin vinyl wallpaper right off your luan paneling. Plan your placement carefully, because once it’s on, you should assume it’s staying there for good.
Gootones Adhesive Hooks: Heavy-Duty Modern Style
For those who need to hang something heavier—like a damp robe or a full-size beach towel—a heavy-duty adhesive hook is a step up from the standard plastic Command hook. These are typically made of stainless steel with a large, square adhesive backing that distributes the load over a wider surface area. They look sharp and feel incredibly solid.
Their modern, brushed metal finish integrates well into contemporary RV interiors, offering a more upscale look. You can place them individually wherever you need them, providing more flexibility than a fixed towel bar. A few placed strategically by the entry door are also perfect for jackets and bags.
Just like the adhesive bars, these hooks come with a major caveat: the powerful adhesive is not meant for delicate surfaces. It will hold tenaciously to smooth wood, metal, or fiberglass, but it can easily delaminate the wallpaper from an interior RV wall if you ever try to remove it. Use them where you’re confident in the placement and the strength of the underlying surface.
UBYMI Folding Hooks: Ultimate Space-Saving Pick
In a tight RV hallway or a compact bathroom, every inch counts. A standard hook that juts out from the wall is a snag hazard waiting to happen. Folding hooks are an ingenious solution to this problem. When not in use, they fold up to sit nearly flush with the wall, and a simple flick of the wrist deploys the hook when needed.
This design is the embodiment of small-space thinking: multi-functional and unobtrusive. It keeps your walkways clear and prevents you from catching a hip or a sleeve on a hook as you squeeze by. They are perfect for placing right inside the entry door or along the narrow path to the bedroom.
Most high-quality folding hooks are designed to be installed with screws for maximum strength, as the folding mechanism puts unique stress on the mount. However, some lighter-duty adhesive versions are available. If you opt for an adhesive model, be realistic about its weight capacity and use it for lighter items like hand towels or keys rather than a heavy, wet bath towel.
Neosmuk Magnetic Hooks: For Metal RV Surfaces
Don’t overlook the power of magnets. High-powered neodymium magnetic hooks are incredibly strong and offer unmatched installation ease: you just place it on a steel surface, and you’re done. They can be moved or removed in a second with zero damage.
The most obvious place to use them inside is on the side of a metal refrigerator, instantly creating a spot for a hand towel or dish towel in the kitchen. They also work on steel door frames, the underside of metal overhead cabinets, or any other ferrous metal surface you can find. I even keep a few in my outdoor storage bay to hang things from the RV’s steel frame while working on a project.
The limitation, of course, is that you need a magnetic surface right where you need a hook, which isn’t always the case. But for the spots where it does work, there is no easier or more versatile solution. Always buy from a reputable brand and check the pull-force rating—a good one can easily hold a wet towel without sliding an inch.
Ultimately, the best towel hook is the one that fits your specific wall, your specific towel, and your specific life on the road. Don’t be afraid to mix and match. Use a suction hook in the shower, an over-the-door rack for the family’s towels, and a few classic Command hooks for robes and hand towels. By choosing the right tool for the job, you can conquer the clutter and make your small space feel open, organized, and truly yours.
