Save and Simple: 3 Securing Items for your Van!
In a van, everything – from drawers to doors and even small items – must be well secured to avoid chaos while driving. Our experience shows that magnetic locks are often not enough, especially for heavy drawers. We'll share with you the small and big helpers we use.
Whether it’s drawers, doors, or other small items – everything in a van must be properly secured. At first, we were quite naïve and thought that securing things wasn’t necessarily required. But after our first drive, when chaos broke out, we quickly learned that securing things is essential.
By the way, I also learned that plants in hanging baskets in the van are simply not practical. Initially, I thought they would look great, as I had seen so many vans with hanging baskets. However, after a few trips, I realized that you need to take them down and store them securely before every drive to avoid any risks.
Special Magnetic Locks for Drawers
These popular magnetic locks for drawers – they do look sleek, as they are invisible in most drawers, but they are specifically made for campers. On our journey, we met many people who told us that their magnetic locks eventually broke. The drawers couldn’t be secured anymore, and replacements were often hard to come by.
For us, this solution wasn’t an option anyway, as our Euroboxes don’t allow for the installation of magnetic locks.
Our drawers do have a built-in magnetic lock, but it’s not enough to hold filled drawers in place during sharp turns.
Latches – Our Long-term Solution
After much experimentation, we finally found a solution that has worked perfectly for 2 ½ years: latches. These are usually seen on doors, where a latch is slid across to lock them.
For us, we’ve installed the latch vertically, not horizontally. So, we slide the latch in front of the drawer, and instead of locking the drawer itself, we simply prevent the drawer from moving on its own. The same goes for our cupboard doors.
You can find such latches in any hardware store. When buying, make sure the latch can slide out far enough!
Velcro for Smaller Items
For smaller things like baskets, bottles, or our toothbrushes, we use Velcro straps. This simple but effective solution helps us keep smaller items securely in place.
Magnets – Versatile and Essential
We’re big fans of magnets. They come in countless forms, and the possibilities for using them are endless. In our van, we use magnets as hooks, under curtains, or in our drawers. We also use screw-on magnets, which hold our brush upside down on the shelf or securely fix our knives in the knife block.
