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7 Fabulous Uses For Tension Rods In Your RV

This post was updated on March 15th, 2024

tension rods
Use tension rods as a room divider. Photo via iRV2 Forums

7 Fabulous Uses For Tension Rods In Your RV

When it comes to organizing and decorating an RV, one of our favorite tools is a simple tension rod. Sure, these things were made to hold curtains, but there are actually a wide variety of uses for tension rods, and since they come in so many sizes, finding one to suit your needs is rarely a problem.

Wondering what on earth you might use tension rods for in your RV? Well, if you’re in the middle of reorganization or decorating, or even if you just want to make a minor change or two, this is the article or you.

In this post, we will discuss some of our favorite uses for tension rods so you can get started making some simple but wonderfully useful changes to your rig.

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1. Room divider

Our first suggestion actually has you using a tension rod for its intended purpose: holding a curtain. That said, we aren’t simply suggesting hanging curtains in your windows or shower, but rather as a long curtain to create room division in your tiny home-on-wheels.

We all know that privacy is hard to come by in an RV, and this simple room divider can help solve that problem. As an added bonus, it allows you to add some color and character to your space, something many RVers love.

2. Bunk rail

Kids love RV bunk beds! Unfortunately, these beds do have their flaws. One of the biggest issues with bunk beds in RVs is how narrow they tend to be.

While most kids can fit in these narrow beds comfortably enough, younger children might have a hard time staying in such a small bed overnight. Obviously, you won’t want your kiddo falling from the bunk down to the floor, so a solution is much needed.

Believe it or not, this is another case where tension rods are helpful. By putting a tension rod across the length of the bunk, you will create a barrier that reminds the sleeping child where the edge of the bed is and helps prevent them from rolling off.

3. Towel rod

When it comes to RVs, there are never enough places to hang wet towels and bathing suits. This is a big problem, especially if you do a lot of swimming.

Some people solve the issue by hanging a clothesline outside. However, more and more RV parks are putting the kibosh on clotheslines. But never fear, this is where a tension rod steps in to save the day.

Hang a tension rod across the back of your shower and use this to hang up wet items. You might even be able to get away with putting two rods in one shower, depending on your rig.

Just be aware that you will need to move the rods in order to use the shower, and you might want to run the vent fan while things are drying in order to avoid a rainforest-like feel in your tiny bathroom.

4. Basket hanger

Storage is hard to come by in the small space of a motorhome or trailer. One solution is to use baskets for storage, and what better way to hang those baskets than with a tension rod?

Using shower curtain rings, you can hang any type of basket from a tension rod between the cabinets above your sink. This will create a very handy place to hold dishwashing supplies or cookware. Alternatively, you might choose to put the rod in the bathtub to hold bath toys, in the bunk room to hold small playthings, or in the bedroom to hold all the odds and ends you like to keep next to the bed.

5. Cabinet organization

Smaller tension rods can be used in cabinets in a variety of ways. Place one across the front of a shelf to keep things from falling during transit. Similarly, you could place one across the front of a cabinet—just behind the door—to keep everything from toppling out on you when you open the cabinet after a trip.

A small rod placed inside a cabinet can be used to hang things from, and small items can be stored in baskets hung from a tension rod. If you have a cabinet of books, you might even consider using tension rods placed vertically in the cabinet to divide the books by genre and keep them organized.

6. Window garden

Do you have a green thumb? Do you wish you could take your plants RVing with you? Well, some plants actually travel quite well, especially when you create a cozy little window garden for them.

To make your window garden, hang small pots from a tension rod fitted into a window frame in your RV. Opt for low-maintenance plants and be sure to move them to a secure location during travel days, and you should be able to keep an adorable little garden while traveling.

7. Create a closet

Finally, there is the idea of adding a closet to your rig. While many RVs come with closets these days, not all do, and this can be very frustrating.

If you feel like you need a place to hang clothes, try finding a large cabinet—or even just an empty nook in your motorhome or trailer—and hanging a tension rod across it. This can serve as a makeshift closet, keeping your clothes neat, organized, and wrinkle-free.

Obviously, tension rods are a must-have for anyone looking to improve their RV. Why not go out and get some today so you can start your makeover right away?