Car shelf

Adds additional shelf space outside the camper van

Author: Fabian Borner, Solothurn, Switzerland

Online since: 02/10/2018, Number of visits: 189723

Especially during the summer months a lot of time is spent outside the camper van (in this case a VW T5). Very quickly, the camping table or the ground can become cluttered with a variety of items. This home-made car shelf provides additional storage space to remedy the situation.

Materials needed

2 pot magnets with threaded stud, type GTN-48
2 pot magnets with threaded stud, type GTN-40
2 Rubber caps Ø 49 mm
2 Rubber caps Ø 41 mm
2 threaded rods M8
2 hexagonal connector nuts M8
2 metal tubes
elastic cord
narrow wooden slats
string

Frame assembly

Cover the bottom of each pot magnet with a rubber cap to prevent scratching the paint of the car.
Place the pot magnets on the car at the desired distance.
Bend the threaded rods so that they can be attached to the pot magnets parallel to the ground.
Attach a metal tube to each of the top parts.
Pass an elastic cord through each tube and tie a knot.
Using the connector nuts, attach the threaded rods to the pot magnets.
Insert the shelf (see below).

The use of narrow wooden slats allows for space-saving storage of the car shelf. For the top shelf, the wood slats were simply tied together using a piece of string. This way they can be pulled through underneath the elastic cords all together and without a problem. For the lower, narrower part of the shelf, the slats were just laid down unattached. That is fine because this space only holds small items.

As you can easily see, the finished car shelf can support quite some weight. According to its creator, it should be capable of holding up to 6 kg. We, here at supermagnete, think that is a strong performance.

More ideas for DIY camper van upgrades can be found under magnet applications for camper vans.

Note from the supermagnete team: You could also use already rubberised magnet systems for this project. However, please note that, at the same size, they will have a significantly lower adhesive force than magnet systems without rubber coating.

Update 2020
Mr Borner kept continuously improving the camper shelf, and now two different versions are available for purchase: storage system 80 / 20 as well as storage system 80 / 20 +. The latter has a small lower tray in addition to the large shelf.

Sturdy wood composite boards have replaced the wooden slats. They are waterproof glue-laminated with oiled edges, making the shelving unit completely weather-resistant.

You can order these extremely useful camper shelves at büssli-shop.ch.

Articles used

GTN-48

Neodymium pot magnet Ø 48 mm with threaded stud, holds approx. 85 kg, thread M8,

	1 pc.	14,42 EUR ea.*
from	3 pcs.	13,01 EUR ea.*
from	10 pcs.	11,75 EUR ea.*
from	20 pcs.	11,13 EUR ea.*
from	40 pcs.	10,59 EUR ea.*
Ask for a rebate from 240 pcs.

Available: 1 889 pcs.

GTN-40

Neodymium pot magnet Ø 40 mm with threaded stud, holds approx. 45 kg, thread M8,

	1 pc.	8,13 EUR ea.*
from	3 pcs.	7,28 EUR ea.*
from	10 pcs.	6,51 EUR ea.*
from	20 pcs.	6,14 EUR ea.*
from	40 pcs.	5,81 EUR ea.*
Ask for a rebate from 280 pcs.

Available: 7 425 pcs.

Rubber caps Ø 49 mm

to protect surfaces

	5 pcs.	0,40 EUR ea.*
from	15 pcs.	0,36 EUR ea.*
from	40 pcs.	0,33 EUR ea.*
from	80 pcs.	0,31 EUR ea.*
Ask for a rebate from 3 000 pcs.

Available: 1 905 pcs.

Rubber caps Ø 41 mm

to protect surfaces

	5 pcs.	0,33 EUR ea.*
from	15 pcs.	0,29 EUR ea.*
from	40 pcs.	0,26 EUR ea.*
from	80 pcs.	0,24 EUR ea.*
Ask for a rebate from 2 500 pcs.

Available: 25 285 pcs.

GTNG-43

neodymium magnet system Ø 43 mm black rubber-coated with threaded stud, holds approx. 10 kg, thread M4

	1 pc.	5,32 EUR ea.*
from	3 pcs.	4,65 EUR ea.*
from	10 pcs.	4,05 EUR ea.*
from	20 pcs.	3,76 EUR ea.*
from	40 pcs.	3,50 EUR ea.*
Ask for a rebate from 160 pcs.

Available: 8 292 pcs.

GTNG-66

neodymium magnet system Ø 66 mm black rubber-coated with threaded stud, holds approx. 25 kg, thread M8

	1 pc.	9,86 EUR ea.*
from	3 pcs.	8,67 EUR ea.*
from	10 pcs.	7,61 EUR ea.*
from	20 pcs.	7,09 EUR ea.*
from	40 pcs.	6,64 EUR ea.*
Ask for a rebate from 120 pcs.

Available: 14 468 pcs.

GTNG-88

neodymium magnet system Ø 88 mm black rubber-coated with threaded stud, holds approx. 56 kg, thread M8

	1 pc.	15,49 EUR ea.*
from	3 pcs.	13,77 EUR ea.*
from	10 pcs.	12,24 EUR ea.*
from	20 pcs.	11,49 EUR ea.*
from	40 pcs.	10,83 EUR ea.*
Ask for a rebate from 140 pcs.

Available: 846 pcs.

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