Mounting a TV may be difficult, but mounting a TV without studs might be considerably more difficult. Often, we find a situation where one spot seems perfect to place a TV in the RV, close to the electrical outlet, at a right angle and a comfortable height, but when we inspect the wall, there are no studs. That happens a lot when we try to install a TV in an RV bedroom, where the spots to install a TV are very limited. Therefore, installing a TV on a wall without studs is very fragile, and the installation must require additional support. Here is a brief video to learn a TV studless installation. Then, read the guide focusing on the four methods suitable for hanging a TV in an RV wall with studs, step by step.
If you want to create the ideal television-watching experience but aren’t sure how to properly mount your television on a wall without studs, check out these ideas and get your TV up on the wall and in the right location today and learn different ways to mount a TV on the wall without studs.
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How to Mount a TV Without Studs
TV wall mounts are designed for drywall, requiring the presence of studs. Unfortunately, depending on your living space and the construction of your home, the wall you choose for your TV may or may not have studs.
I try to find out where your studs are, and there are no studs in the location where you wish to install your TV. You do have choices for mounting your TV without studs, which we will take you through!
#1. Use Drywall Anchors
Using drywall anchors is a great option for mounting a tv on the wall without studs.
When studs are not accessible, expanding anchors or conical anchors are one of the easiest ways to install a television. When a screw is inserted into the wing-like slots, they lock into place behind the wall, providing enough support for items such as heavy-framed portraits or a lightweight tv.
Simply drill a hole, insert the sleeve, and slide the anchor piece in. With the disposable pull tool, you can even get it near the wall. This secures the anchor and prevents it from loosening as you insert the screw.
#2. Use Molly Bolts
Another choice for mounting a TV without studs is with expandable anchors such as molly bolts. Toggle anchors, toggle bolts, and molly bolts resemble standard screws but have a butterfly toggle at the end.
When installed in the wall, toggle anchors adhere to the back of the drywall. Pulling on the screw or exerting external force has minimal effect since the toggle causes the entire sheet of drywall to respond, not just the crumbly center. It’s the difference between tearing down a whole wall and removing a single screw.
If you can’t drill into a stud, mounting a television with drywall anchors or bolts is an excellent choice. You can use a wall anchor that has a butterfly toggle at the end. They will attach to the rear of the wall after they are installed.
When it comes to mounting a TV without studs, they have shown to be incredibly sturdy on their own, but as a general rule, they should not be coupled with a full-motion mount. Mounting a television without studs may be a safe and dependable method provided the restrictions of the wall and the toggles are carefully considered.
Molly bolts are an anchor for a no-studs television installation. They combine the convenience of installation with a high level of strength; a big molly bolt may support up to 50 pounds. They are a little more difficult to use than conventional drywall anchors, but they are strong and suitable for medium to high loads.
A pointed molly bolt has a sharp tip that can be fitted with a hammer, but a non-pointed molly bolt, which is suitable for usage in plaster walls, needs you to first carve out an installation hole.
When left untightened, molly bolts remain thin, but when tightened in your walls, the sleeves expand, forming an anchor to the rear of your wall – a similar function to toggle anchors. Once the molly bolt is properly attached, remove the screw and replace it with the tv wall mount screws.
Choose Quick Studless Install with No Drill TV Mounts to Install a TV Without Studs
I would suggest choosing TV mounts dedicated to studless walls. Quick Studless Install with No Drill is the type of TV Mounts infrequent to find on the market but valuable if you want to install and hang a TV mount on walls without studs
#3. Mounting A TV With A Mounting Plate
When it comes to putting a television without studs, a mounting plate is a suitable option.
Mounting plates make it easier for the anchors to support the weight of the television and allow you to add more anchors, giving it a more secure attachment.
Although the mounting plate is not aesthetically pleasing, you may always choose a mounting plate that is smaller than the TV and select one in color and style that complements the decor of your space, or you can paint over it.
#4. Use a Ceiling TV Mount for RV Walls Without Studs
The wall you choose for your TV may have the electrical outlet you need but doesn’t have the studs you need in the area. If you couldn’t find studs on the walls, you may be available to have some studs on the ceiling. That happens a lot when mounting a TV in an RV bedroom.
If your walls lack studs, you can attach your television from the ceiling, which is less common than typical wall installations.
This is a more time-consuming and not always practical process, but virtually all ceilings include beams or joists that serve the same purpose as studs.
Depending on the shape of your house, longer screws may be required to reach joists, and these joists may be more spread out than you imagine, but they should be present.
Before Mounting a TV On the Wall Without Studs
Although anchors, toggle bolts, mounting bolts, and mounting plates are excellent methods for keeping TV wall mounts in place when installing a TV without studs, there are a few things to consider.
Be sure, in advance, before mounting a TV on a wall without studs, that the TV weight is appropriate for the condition of the wall.
When attaching a television with drywall anchors, a mounting plate, or any other method, make sure the anchor screws are rated to support the weight of the television. TV weights vary by model. However, an average 32′ television weighs between 25 and 30 lbs., implying that a bigger screen will weigh more.
If you decide to attach your television with drywall anchors, be sure the anchors have a high weight capacity.
Whether the wall is old or decaying, it doesn’t matter if the strongest wall anchors are employed. If the wall seems fragile, it may bend under the weight of the television and may break at some time, destroying both the wall and the television.
If you have studs in the area you want the TV, our recommended post is How to Attach a TV Mount to an RV Wall
Use the Right Type of TV Mount When Installing Without Studs
Using the correct type of TV mount when installing without studs is the key to a perfect TV installation on the wall.
To guarantee that wall mounts will fit any television, a common layout is used. Mounts, on the other hand, are rated to accommodate certain television sizes and weights. A 32′ TV wall mount would not be able to withstand the weight and proportions of a 40′ TV. Choosing the incorrect mount, on the other hand, might be hazardous to your television.
Toggle bolts and other types of wall anchors should only be used with fixed mounting.
Weight is naturally added to mounts with arms and swivels that allow for complete angle adjustments. The continual movement caused by moving your mounted TV might put additional strain on your anchor points and the wall itself.
Final Thoughts to Keep in Mind When Mounting a TV on the Wall Without Studs
Final thoughts to keep in mind when mounting a TV on the wall without studs.
- Be sure there are no studs in the area you want to install the TV.
- If there are no studs, verify which of the FOUR methods proposed in this article is right for you for mounting a TV on the wall without studs: attaching the TV mount to the wall with drywall anchors, anchors, or molly bolts by using a mounting plate or by attaching a ceiling TV mount if you find studs on the ceiling (instead of on the wall).
- If there are no studs, ONLY choose fixed TV mounts.
- Verify the TV weight is adequate for the wall.
- Verify the wall is in good shape to tolerate the weight of the TV mount plus the TV.
- If you are attaching the TV mount to the ceiling by using a ceiling TV mount, verify the ceiling can tolerate both weights.
- Choose adequate TV brackets, and verify the VESA hole pattern of your TV is suitable for the TV mount.
Keep these in mind and you will successfully have a TV mount on a wall without studs.
Recommended Post: How to Mount a TV in a Travel Trailer
