Install plant hangers on the outside

[moonlitcoyote]

Is there anyway I could install some plant hangers to the outside wall of the Homebago? I was thinking of the ones that would fold in, so they arent sticking straight out when traveling. I'd really like to be able to hang a couple of tomato plants for now and maybe some flowers later on... I have seen people hang them on their awning but a PO took the awning off so I dont have one. Any suggestions? Thanks


MJ

[Oz]

Well, anything you would fold-in would rather wreck the plants when you have to move, I would think.  I'd just suggest using a couple of "S" hooks from the bottoms of the windows or maybe some screw-in hooks through the sidewall into the wooden coach framing to hang window boxes and then stow them inside when traveling.

[moonlitcoyote]

Well, anything you would fold-in would rather wreck the plants when you have to move, I would think.

:)rotflmao I meant to take the plants down when I have to move. I had thought of hanging plants inside but there really is no room, I didnt think about storage room and such when I bought the Homebago. I sort of like your idea on a window box, but they are not very deep from what I remember. If I did go with that option, how would I know where the studs are and I am assuming I would need to caulk the holes where I screw in the hooks?

[ClydesdaleKevin]

Depending on how your window drains are shaped, you might be able to make a metal bracket that you can bend so it goes into them...make sure its thin enough metal not to completely block the drain.  If you can get the bend just right and then have the metal go down about 6 inches before curving it back out in a hook, it should support the weight of the plants just fine.  I'd put some sort of rubber bumper behind that part before the bend though so it doesn't scratch your paint, since the weight of the plant is going to be pushing against the side of the coach...even just gluing an old piece of inner tube to it should do the trick.  This is what I came up with for the Itasca when Patti wanted removable window boxes, but never did the project.

So, basically, take a piece of strap steel and bend the very end of it 90 degrees, then just a fraction up from that, another 90 degrees, so it looks like a step...just one step bend is all you need, and it only has to be a quarter inch at each bend, so you can easily get it into the window drain slot.  This alone would be strong enough to hold window boxes, bolted to the boxes hanging straight down.

The problem you'll run into to use this idea for hangers is that the metal has to be thin enough to slide into the window drain slot without blocking the drain, which means it won't be strong enough to bend upward into a hook for the plant.  The solution would be to use the above thin hangers with the step bend and have them hang down about 4 inches, and then rivet them to a heavier piece of steel that can extend downward with the rubber bumper on the back, then back up into any hook shape you want.  I wouldn't hang a banana tree from this setup, but a tomato plant or Topsee Turvee would be fine.

Just a thought so you don't have to drill evil holes in the wall.

Kev

[moonlitcoyote]

Thanks Kev, I know what you mean about bending the metal, we use basically the same set-up when doing our metal over insulation on a vertical run. I'll have to find some plant boxes to check it out. All my plants are in pots right now.

[Froggy1936]

Another way is to remove two screws from the molding that runs along the edge of the roof on the side replace the screws with eye hooks and use chains to support window boxes use silicone sealant on the eye hooks  Frank

[moonlitcoyote]

I really like that idea Frank, I think I'm going to go with that one. Theres no "real" stores here where I'm at so after I make the trek to my fathers tomorrow  I'll be able to go to a walmart and find a window box,chains and eye hooks. Awesome idea !! Thank you