The gear we use to go outdoors makes our lives easier, safer, and more comfortable. But while we all get wrapped up in exciting stuff like sharp knives and bright flashlights, often it鈥檚 the most humble equipment that adds to the experience. I submit for your consideration the camp table.
When I started to plan the build for my Ford Ranger, I penciled in lights听that shine half a mile into the night, most practical camper ever made, and all the gear I鈥檇 need to protect my rig听from damage听and get it out myself if it got stuck. But the part that brings me the most satisfaction, the thing听that took the most trial and error to figure out, and had听me听staying听up late working the night before my听wedding road trip to southern Baja听is a听little table mounted to the back bumper.
That table is mounted to the rear bumper鈥檚 swingout鈥攁 device that allows you to carry heavy, bulky equipment, like an oversize听spare tire, a fuel can, and tools, upright听and flush to the back of a truck听but which swings out of the way when you unlatch it听so you can still access the bed or trunk. Because it locks in place at a 90-degree angle to the back of the truck, and because you鈥檙e always getting stuff in and out (or getting in and out yourself), it creates a sort of natural bookend to a campsite. It makes sense to make that bookend useful, rather than just a barrier.
But听mounting a table to a swingout comes with challenges. For one, the vehicle鈥檚 tailgate needs to open, which takes up about one-third of the available length on the swingout. And, of course, you need to figure听a way to mount the table so that it鈥檚 secure, not just during use听but as the vehicle vibrates and bounces around on and off-road, too. Other considerations are weight, since that swingout can only handle so much dynamic load; imperviousness to weather, beause听it鈥檚 going to withstand听a lot mounted on the outside of a truck; and a construction designed听to stand up to vibrations,听road spray, and repeated use.
And after all that forethought, you need to consider the elements of a good table: it should be level and stable and听the right height, so it鈥檚 comfortable to use, and it should offer听enough real estate to actually put some stuff on it.
Back in October, my now wife, Virginia, had a low-speed accident in the Ranger, sending it to the body shop for what ended up taking four months. I got the truck back four weeks before we were scheduled to leave for Baja, and with one听of those weeks booked for a visit to New York, I had to scramble to get all the parts mounted in time for our Mexico听trip. By the time the bumpers, winch, lights, and rock rails were on and working correctly, we had just a couple days to spare. And it was then that I remembered how much I wanted this听table.
My plan had to been to construct the entire table with听some plywood, cutting-board wax, and whatever hardware I could find in the bins at Home Depot. But听when I realized I hadn鈥檛 bought a new circular saw since the move to Montana, I called my friend Graeme to see if I could borrow his. He patiently listened to my idea, then invited me to come by his dad鈥檚 race-car shop instead.
It took us two nights听and more runs to Ace Hardware than we鈥檇 planned, but we were able to turn a sheet of aluminum we found in the back of that shop into a functional table with the aid of some aircraft cable, hinges, and a grinding wheel.听Relentless Fabication (which made the bumpers)听reinforces its jerry can mounts with a 90-degree gusset on both sides, so we were able to mount one side of the table to that听and the other to the vertical tire support with a flat bar and some long bolts. It鈥檚 so overbuilt that I can stand on it, but thanks to the aluminum, it鈥檚 also light听and will never corrode.
After wrapping it up, I went home, went to bed, and woke up five hours later to make a 12-hour drive south听into the Nevada desert with Virginia. When we听pulled into camp, I undid the two wing nuts holding it closed, careful to thread those back onto the bolts in the splash back, and that鈥檚 all it took to have a safe place to rest my beer while we opened the tailgate, let the dogs out, and unloaded our camp gear.
The table鈥檚 just big enough to prepare a quick meal on, tall enough that the dogs can鈥檛 get to anything that鈥檚 on it, and so quick and easy to set up that I use听it as a disinfection station in the grocery store parking lot. It鈥檚 perfect, basically, and adds a considerable amount of convenience, utility, and joy to all the tasks my truck performs.
Why not simply use the tailgate? Well, tailgates get dirty, tailgates remain in use as you set up听and take down camp, and having a table that鈥檚 functional without opening the back of the truck means you can keep dogs penned up or supplies听from falling out if all you need to do is perform a quick job on a work surface. Perhaps most important: tailgates make a good seat. And it鈥檚 pretty neat to have a table right there, next to where you鈥檙e sitting.
So how do you get a table like this听if your friend鈥檚 dad doesn鈥檛 have a race-car shop that he lets you steal parts from? I鈥檝e got a few suggestions.
Front Runner Drop Down Tailgate Table ($169)
One of the reasons I procrastinated on making a听table is that Front Runner鈥檚 PR firm told me one of these was on听the way. Designed for the side-opening tailgate on the Jeep Wrangler, it鈥檚 universal enough that you can probably make it fit to any swingout or side tailgate with a run to the hardware store. The company has听also spent time听developing telescoping arms, rather than cable tabletop supports, which free up the sides when it鈥檚 deployed. And an included cutting board pulls out of either end of the table, giving you added work space. If you want a setup like mine, this is what I鈥檇 buy.
Rigd Supply UltraSwing ($1,100)
Is it possible to get a swingout without spending money and payload on an expensive, heavy rear bumper? Rigd听makes a universal-fit 鈥嬧嬧嬧嬧嬧媠wingout (for any two-inch hitch receiver) that you can use on virtually any vehicle, including crossovers like the Subaru Crosstrek. It鈥檚 the best way to add a full-size spare to one of those听while also allowing you to carry fuel cans听or a Hi-Lift jack. But the reason I鈥檓 including it here is that Rigd has developed a mount for that aforementioned听Front Runner table, creating the best possible home for that product. It鈥檚听even swapped out the table鈥檚 standard wooden cutting board听for one made from a food-grade, BPA-free polymer that鈥檚 impervious to weather.
REI Co-op Camp Roll Table ($75)
You don鈥檛 need to spend a fortune if you want a great table. This piece听weighs just 8.5 pounds, is sturdy, and affords more work space than you will believe can come out of the small package it folds down into. This is what I carry for additional cooking and eating space once I鈥檝e set up camp. It鈥檚 easy to clean听and made well enough that it鈥檒l last for years. Buy something fancier because you want to鈥攏ot because you need to.
Kovea AL Bamboo One Action Table ($185)
Want to set up a camp kitchen as nice as the one you have at home? Start with this impressive bamboo and aluminum table from South Korean luxe-camping brand Kovea. Not only is the bamboo surface pleasing to look at, but I have yet to scar it with any permanent damage, even after using it as a vet exam table for my dogs in this video. It鈥檚 much sturdier than any other folding table I鈥檝e used, too, making it a great upgrade option if you鈥檝e outgrown the one from听REI. Plus, it adjusts from normal table height down to just 16.5 inches鈥攑erfect as a听cocktail table between two beach chairs.
Camp Chef Mesa Aluminum Table ($118)
Similar to the REI table, Camp Chef鈥檚 alternative offers two advantages: a larger tabletop听and legs that can extend听to a 39-inch height鈥攊deal for听use as a standing desk, if you鈥檙e one of those weird people who works from camp. Its main advantage to me, though, is that it鈥檚 tall enough to keep even the biggest dogs from stealing stuff from it. At home, this is the table I use to prep outdoor meals, as the height makes it more comfortable to work on for this tall barbecue chef, and being able to turn my back without risking the loss of an entire brisket and 12 hours of work saves me a lot of stress. I left it up all winter, and with just a quick wipe down, it鈥檚 still as good as new.
Relentless Fabrication Custom Rear Bumper ($1,700 and Up)
Have you fallen as far down the truck-modification rabbit hole as I have? A replacement rear bumper will add a considerable amount of protection from low-speed impacts on the trail (or in parking lots), while adding convenient recovery points.听And yes, that swingout tire carrier makes a good table mount. But听bumpers come at the penalty of weight and cost. Also, you鈥檒l likely need stiffer aftermarket suspension to support the weight of fully featured bumpers.
The Relentless rear bumper simply bolts to the Ranger in place of its stock item, requiring no further modification. It can support tires up to 35 inches in diameter听and has mounts on the end for a jerry can听or 听(go with the latter, they rattle way less). Behind that mount is a location that couldn鈥檛 be a better fit for the . And there are听even places to attach听ultrabright reverse or work lights. The best part? Relentless makes its own table for its swingouts, giving you a considerably larger work area than mine. Make sure you spec听that option.