How to Keep RV Drawers Closed

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 3, 2022 References

There’s nothing like the bounce and vibration of the open road to play havoc with your RV’s drawers and cabinets. If drawers aren’t properly secured or are being used incorrectly then they could fly open at any turn, flinging your possessions out and making for a big clean up job when you reach your destination. Whether you own your RV or you’re hiring it, there are a few adjustments you can make to make sure your RV drawers can withstand the drive, no matter how bumpy.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Temporary Fixes

1
Tie bungee cords around two or more drawer handles to keep them shut. If you can’t drill holes or install new latches in your RV then bungee cords are a quick and easy fix for drawers that won’t stay shut.^{[1]
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- If you have a line of drawers on top of each other, you can tie them all together using a bungee cord with hooks.
- Bungee cords can also be used to secure cabinet sized drawer units so they won’t open on the move.
2
Push a rolled up rug in front of low drawers. A tightly rolled carpet wedged against a low to the ground drawer will stop it opening en route. You could also use a heavy towel in the same way.^{[2]
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3
Use sticky magnets or velcro for lighter drawers. This will give the drawer just that extra bit of security and keep it shut on the road with the added bonus of no drilling or screwing.
- Adhesive magnets or adhesive velcro can be stuck on the inside of RV drawers where there isn’t too much weight pressure on the latch but remember not to overload these drawers.^{[3]
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4
Pack your possessions in cabinets or containers instead. Sometimes a drawer is simply too overloaded for the latch to stay shut. If you have one problematic drawer which keeps flying open, try lightening the load you are carrying in it or emptying it altogether.
- You can use cartons, bin bags, pouches and over door cabinet hooks to stow your things.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Permanent Solutions

1
Screw in strong magnetic latches. These latches, which come in two magnetic parts for either side of your drawer, will keep your drawers shut on the road. Magnetic latches are invisible and so they won’t mess up your decor.
- Line up one side of the magnetic latch on the inside of the drawer and screw in with the wood screws provided.^{[5]
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- Line up the other side of the latch so it can connect with the first part and screw in.
- Packs often come with a template which will help guide you on placement.
- Take note of the weight limits on the packet so you don’t overload the latches or they won’t work.^{[6]
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2
Install magnetic security latches. These invisible locks will hold your drawers shut and are great if you are also looking for a security element.^{[7]
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- Use wood screws to screw one side of the magnetic lock inside your drawer. Use the template provided in the packet to find the right placement so that the mechanism can latch shut.
- To open the cabinet, hold the magnetic key against the drawer on the other side of the latch and wait for the click.
3
Secure the drawers with child-safety catches. These screw-in catches are designed to keep busy little hands out and so are very effective at keeping drawers shut even in rough driving conditions.
- Position one side of the latch against the inside of the drawer cabinet near the edge and drill in place with the screws provided in the pack.
- Position the other side of the latch on the drawer itself so that it can connect with the first side and then drill that in place.^{[8]
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- Child safety catches will allow the drawer or cabinet to open slightly so be wary of storing anything small and thin with these catches as those things may slip out.