How to fit a motorhome shelf without drilling
The quick answer: most of our motorhome shelves and shelf kits clamp to the existing furniture panel using adjustable Häfele shelf clamps with cork pads, so there's no drilling and nothing permanent. Tighten the clamps evenly, just enough to stop any movement, and the shelf comes off again whenever you want.
Why clamp rather than screw?
Motorhome furniture is lightweight, and a lot of it doesn't hold a screw well. Once you've drilled it, there's no going back. Clamping leaves the van as it left the factory, so if you ever sell it, or just change your mind, you can take the shelf off and there's no trace.
What you need
A pair of our Häfele adjustable shelf support clamps, which take shelves from 4mm to 40mm thick, and a shelf. If you've bought one of our shelf kits, everything you need is in the box, with step by step fitting instructions.
How to fit it
- Offer the shelf up and check it sits level and clears any doors, blinds, seats and fittings when they're opened or moved.
- Position the cork pads so they sit flat against the panel, below any rounded edging.
- Tighten the clamps evenly, just enough to hold the shelf firmly with no movement.
- Don't overtighten. Motorhome furniture is lightweight, and too much pressure can mark or damage the panel.
Will it work in my van?
The clamps work where the shelf sits just above an upstand or furniture panel. If your shelf needs to sit higher, for example above upholstery or trim, they may not be the right fit. Send us a photo and we'll tell you.
Can I leave things on it while I'm driving?
No. Our shelves are for lightweight items while you're parked. Clear the shelf or take it off before you travel, and please don't use it as a step or a grab handle. There's more on our Fitting & Safe Use page.
Kits made for your van
If we make a kit for your motorhome, it's designed around the real vehicle and test fitted, so it fits properly and looks like it came with the van. Have a look at our motorhome shelf kits, or order a made to measure shelf and leave the box ticked to add the clamps.
Many thanks,
Keith (aka Chippy)
People often ask if our CNC machine does all the work. It does the cutting brilliantly, but there's a lot more to a good table top or shelf than pressing...
How the Radix tripod turns your Sequoia, Cypress or Redwood table leg into a freestanding table for the awning, the campsite or inside the van.
Bürstner changed the Lyseo seat base during 2023. Here's how to check which frame your van has, and which of our shelf kits you need.
How to choose a laminate and edging that match your motorhome interior, from our standard colours to laminates pressed specially for you.
How folding and tri-fold motorhome table tops work, the sizes they come in, and which suits your van.
A step by step guide to measuring for a new motorhome, campervan or caravan table top: length and width, corner radius, thickness and clearances.
In December 2019 we made a CNC cut, CNC engraved and hand painted table shaped like a Gibson guitar headstock, with six cup holders, for blues guitarist Toby Lee's 1972...
