External Towel Bar/Drying Rack

[ghopkins1033]

@dhaig Amazing tips! Thanks so much!

I got the parts today (exactly your list). I'll stick to your original design and do the olive oil trick!

[Patriot]

We have been using these quick dry micro fiber beach and shower towels for a few years. Simply laying the towels over our camp chairs in the sun or a light breeze,  they dry out fast.  

https://www.amazon.com/4Monster-Camping-Absorbent-Microfiber-Backpack/dp/B07WJKZDTZ/ref=sr_1_7?crid=36GBWCVUZJGKX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dFe_c20sdlYzd-zyAsq_funKLO06H91apK9OV9Uo-B7K1TMNfYxCxmi5cCdNK4IrLIQRvTpSDp6OaqhWtkb0ZBZT4wgdUppjio_L8576pU4U1gPhIuAOCgZF91aJ_QJM42KtEGegGWH53DHZ99w6oFy4Fj178JhJCTjhnvv-1u8fB8ItzaZjKrY1Q2MTLmj7_jDgOlgEZQ_YgZstv1PeJieqA8lAJ4mhL3xZ9IP8HITAiBlvV0ZrD69UPC6Rf9JZOA9vz21rNOpNOUhy6bVSP5JIwRiuA8jsc0R1wVaTLyVr4OuPxSIo-POjdFFAni-Pboun0cjE227CyA-EXBVHI8oGdfRViE0peDPoSTYM3kAH5cmGNqro2eEAf-0O1FukZUKXVAgjhq50SuasdLtwxhRflhfIr983VMsXroufMJJ9VBRKFdKdyGwBGbS5-bxi.gaUk0TUySiVC8Pc-2DEnvwQcjauvHndLZHUItmP3P-8&dib_tag=se&keywords=camping%2Btowels%2Bfast%2Bdrying%2Blightweight&qid=1735633114&sprefix=Camping%2Btowels%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-7&th=  

Edited December 31, 2024 by Patriot

[Ronbrink]

I made mine using a section of an old swimming pool telescopic pole and a glass lifting suction cup handle holder cut in half. Collapses for easy stowage when not in use. Stainless steel ‘S’ hooks used for shoes, hats trash bag, etc..

[Bill and Nancy]

Glad the rack is still working we haven't had much time to play but God willing that is about to change. As of January 1st we Retired. We sold our business to our long time employee and she will continue to run our Bird store hopefully for may years to come. We will still be working for another month or so until she settles in and finds an employee to replace us. We hope to travel later this summer and put some miles on our Oliver. Hopefully we will bump into some of you on the road.

God Bless 

 

Bill and Nancy

[topgun2]

11 hours ago, Bill and Nancy said:

As of January 1st we Retired.

Good for you guys!

Unfortunately, after 30 years of retirement I still have not done even half of those things I always dreamed about.  Hopefully you guys do the same.  Have fun!

Bill

[Tony and Rhonda]

Resurrecting this old thread from @dhaig with a question for those who used the Harbor Freight suction cup lifters (https://www.harborfreight.com/4-58-in-85-lb-dual-suction-cup-lifter-59689.html). I assembled this towel bar with the HF lifters. I tested it on the side of the Ollie for about 5 minutes, then removed it. The black suction cups left black rings on the gel-coat. The rings wiped off but I'm concerned. Has anyone else seen this?

Thanks, Tony

[dhaig]

@Tony and Rhonda, take a look at a prior response  to a similar question I had made on 12/30/24, appearing on a prior page of this thread.  (Also includes tips on using clips to secure towels to the rack under windy conditions),

When I first fabricated my towel rack I had tried to fasten them to the gelcoat dry.  The suction cups would not retain grip to the trailer gelcoat, so I tried dampening the black suction cups with water.  While the suction cups appeared to be holding firm to the body of the trailer, inevitably, the suction cup on  one or both ends of the rack would loose grip and fall to the ground.  Sometimes the suction cups would loose grip in a few minutes and at other times hold a few hours.  The suction cups would leave a ring mark on the trailer gelcoat which I was able to remove with some auto detailing cleaner and a rag.

I learned a trick from another OTT owner who owned a business selling bird feeders which mounted to window glass using suction cups.  He had followed the thread I posted and had made a towel rack to use on his LEII.  From his experience mounting bird feeders with suction cups he learned the trick is to use a very thin coating of petroleum jelly (Vaseline or equivalent) on clean suction cups prior to mounting them to the body of our LEII.  The petroleum jelly enables the suction cups to achieve a much stronger bond than by dampening them with water.  He had also recommended, as an alternate to the petroleum jelly, applying extra virgin olive oil.to the suction cups.

I found both the petroleum jelly and the olive oil were much more effective in achieving a strong grip with the suction cups.  The olive oil I found would leave a slightly green ring pattern on the gelcoat.  The petroleum jelly leaves a slightly yellow ring.  In both cases, I was able to clean off the residue from the gelcoat using the auto body detailing cleaner.  I find the petroleum jelly slightly less messy to apply.

I have not tried any other substances which could provide adequate suction cup hold to the gelcoat, but not leave some residue.  So, for over three years I have used the petroleum jelly predominantly and just accepted I would need to clean the residue rings when I do post trip cleaning of trailer.

About a year ago I did a thorough cleaning of the trailer exterior and applied a coating of Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray Coating.  I was motivated to try the ceramic coating to reduce the effort (or need) to clean residue from insect collisions from the front of the trailer following a trip through insect heavy areas.  I have been pleased with the results of using this ceramic coating product.  The insect collision residue on the nose of the trailer is much easier to remove AND as a bonus, the suction cup residue rings also clean off with little effort.  

So far this is the best approach I have found for having a functional exterior towel rack which would stay in place and not drop the towels on to the ground.  I invite suggestions on other approaches.

In any case, I am pleased you found my towel rack design appealing.

Regards, Don

[Patriot]

We never did purchase a suction cup style bar.

Our 1UP USA Super Duty bike rack it works great as a towel dryer or we just use our camp chairs.

Necessity is the mother of invention. 😎 Old photo after our Truma Aventa factory install which Oliver did a stellar job on.

We are so glad we got the low profile Truma when we did. One of our top retro mods. 

 

Edited 8 hours ago by Patriot

[Tony and Rhonda]

Don, @dhaig thanks for the post. I did read the whole thread and I remember you mentioning using clips to hold drying items on the bars but I must have missed the ring residue part. These new cups seem to attach pretty securely but they're very clean since they are new. Since they were only attached for a few minutes and left rings I was concerned that long term use might make the rings more permanent but I'll get some auto detailer to keep in the Ollie.

During my thread reading last night I found a thread mentioning using a solvent to remove plasticizer from new plastic. I may try this on the cups. I set the suction cups on some of the pink rigid foam insulation in my shop and it stuck to the foam.

I've used water on suction cups on the TV windshield (TPMS monitor, GPS) but not petroleum jelly because it's hard to reach the base of the windshield to clean off. Shouldn't be a problem on the side of the Ollie.

I have also read @John E Davies thread on making an inside clothes line. I liked the idea but didn't want to drill more holes so I took your suction cup idea and applied it to the inside of the Ollie. Harbor Freight sells single suction cup lifters, so I bought two and use them on the ceiling or high on the walls for a drying line inside the Ollie. Must be different material since the single cups haven't left rings.

Tony

[Tony and Rhonda]

@Patriot, unfortunately we don't have the rear receiver on our Ollie so no bike rack. As I remember, Oliver wants >$1000 for the receiver mount. For that much money, I'd rather put racks on the TV.

Tony

[Patriot]

39 minutes ago, Tony and Rhonda said:

@Patriot, unfortunately we don't have the rear receiver on our Ollie so no bike rack. As I remember, Oliver wants >$1000 for the receiver mount. For that much money, I'd rather put racks on the TV.

Tony

I understand and yes, upgrades are spendy!

We also use our camp chairs for drying towels which work great too! 😊

[jd1923]

6 hours ago, Patriot said:

We never did purchase a suction cup style bar.

Our 1UP USA Super Duty bike rack it works great as a towel dryer or we just use our camp chairs.

I'm with Patriot on this one. I wouldn't ever apply a suction cup to the fiberglass. I hang my bath towel over the truck tailgate for an hour, then fold it up and put away. If it's a late-night shower in the wet bath, the screen door handlebar is perfect to hang a bath towel. Chris hangs hers in the bathroom.

The cheap black rubber on those suction cups is the issue. If you must use a suction cup on the hull, use the clear plastic suction cups, not black rubber. I use one of these for our outdoor shower, but I only stick it to the window glass.

https://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Bathroom-Handheld-Mounting-Polished/dp/B07ZXB9FXQ/

And the thought of Vaseline or olive oil is really gross. These products will collect dirt when camping or towing and to remove them the residue, you will also remove the ceramic coating (or wax) in that area!