Gadgets & Gizmos @ IKEA

sgttiki

I live on Long Island (NY), so I have an IKEA store close by. On occasion, I wander about inside the store. Although I don't expect to see Donald Trump shopping there for furniture, they do have some interesting gadgets & gizmos that I imagine would be great for storage/hanging stuff, etc.

While I don't yet have my T@B, I would not be against drilling and securing things to the walls (properly done of course). If I were fastening with screws, I would prefer to use stainless steel screws, which are usually available in good hardware stores and/or boating supply stores. Check online too.

IKEA items seem to be less expensive, or just not available in other stores. They have kitchen organizers and storage items that I think are a great fit for the T@B. They also have blankets, mattress toppers and pillows that I'd be willing to try. Again, inexpensive.

If anyone can get to an IKEA, it's an interesting place to wander through (I don't know if you can purchase online). Whenever I go, I seem to find one more small, practical item I think would go well in a T@B. Of course, I've always liked small, practical GIZMOS & GADGETS. 

ChanW

When we bought our Tab, I thought I could easily screw into the wall for mounting, ie with the right kind of anchor. It wasn't so easy tho.

I had a really hard time finding any kind of framing member to screw into, much less in the place I wanted one!

The walls are a composite sandwich: a thin skin on both sides, with foam in between.

The walls around the shower and a/c unit are wood tho, and can handle screws.

sgttiki

Good information! Thanks!

Mercator

Often pop rivets will work better than screws in thin materials like the inside skin of a T@B wall.  Drill the correct sized hole and use a short aluminum (or stainless) rivet and a rivet gun to do the job.

ChanW

Great idea Mercator. Thanks for that.

Nomad

Mercator - That scares me, sounds too permenant and I just know I'd screw it up even tho I riveted metal. I'll stick with Command Strips - My theory is if CSs won't hold it I don't actually need it :-)

Dalehelman

X2 on NOT using pop rivets IMHO.

DougandMia

Paint the wood. Then it isn't raw wood anymore.
         
We just spent a good few hours at Ikea yesterday.  I bought some solar lights. They have on/off switches, so I can take advantage of sunny days for charging and use them in the cabin or the galley when we don't have electric. (Which is most of the time.)  I love Ikea for the small scale, and multi-purpose storage ideas. We chuckle when we receive video and photos from my relatives in Hungary and we can point out all of the Ikea items. 
                    

BBchBum

Ikea has lots of storage ideas/solutions - a 'dangerous' store to wander into without a very specific agenda!

Rad

BBchBum said:

Ikea has lots of storage ideas/solutions - a 'dangerous' store to wander into without a very specific agenda!

Wander, are the stores out here different?  No wandering, you follow a specific route from entry to exit that takes you through every department.  I went once, never again.

Nomad

The one I was in was similar Rad - Freestyle roaming was a chore. Like you, been there once and haven't been back. But, I hate shopping, I want to go directly to where what I want is and get out. - Not bad Swedish meatballs though.

BBchBum

There are all sorts of short cuts on the upper floor. Not very obvious but will get you to a specific department much quicker.

Nomad

They need to be more obvious for me. IKEA has a lot of nifty stuff but not nifty enough to get me back in a store.

Cyclonic

PXLated, I think that is how most of us men like to shop, in and out

I have not been in an IKEA in years.  Been meaning to go take a look, as I have seen some storage ideas that folks have posted, involving hanging baskets that go on rods, that seem like a really good idea.  I could put everything I need, organized in the baskets, and just pull them out and hang them when I get to camp.  I am a fan of the quick, easy setup and break down, since most of my camping is done on the weekends, and these seem like good solutions.

BTW, everything and the kitchen sink will probably be at Tearstock.

Lisa33

I've successfully used 3M Dual Lock to hang all sorts of things in my trailer.  It's not totally temporary like Command strips, but I'd think with some heat and Goo Gone it could be removed.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007OXK272/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687742&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B007OXK1AK&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1DTP04HQJB83J7V0JCJA

DougandMia

Aw, come on, does anyone really follow those silly arrows at IKEA ? It's much more fun to make your own route. Doug gets VERY happy when I say: " short cut -- we only need a few things."

Nomad

If you rarely shop IKEA, one doesn't know the shortcuts - it's more like a maze with many dead ends.

RollingLagrima

I must have the male anti-shopping gene.  I can't stand the IKEA experience either.

DougandMia

There is a map near the entrance to guide you to specifics, and they also have paper maps. At every doorway, just above, it says: " shortcut to....." Just go once or twice and you'll be an old pro. The good thing about stores like IKEA or Walmart is that you can go practically anywhere in the world and the set up is very much the same, so you can get in and out really fast.

Nomad

Mia, Mia, Mia - We males don't read signs and look at maps, that's way too much work :-)

Cyclonic

And don't even think about telling us to ask for directions!

DougandMia

Sorry, PXLated, I forgot momentarily. After almost 42 years of marriage you would think I would know that. I must have blocked it out.