Insta-Table Project DONE :)

[Markuson]

OK. I am super happy with how this little funky idea came out.

But what’s it for?
Especially the peculiarities on top...?

Specifically these things...

 

[kevinfoutch]

Dance floor with foot grips?!?

 

[Markuson]

OK... Since we are all full of Turkey and too tired to care or guess...

Here’s the idea...

First, it’s FREE surface space.
-When living out of the truck, the tailgate surface is prime real estate for everything from cooking, preparing, tooling, etc. So after often trying to set items on my water cans...I thought of a super convenient “mini table” that will always be available no matter what.

Great for hot food...hot coffee pots...etc. with no interfer

Hot water!
-When you use a Kariba, it heats the water quickly...but having to monopolize the tailgate while heating sucks. Plus, it’s dangerous as it pipes super-heat up and into the open hatch. Tables can be used, but who wants to monopolize a table while camping, when you could be using it for other stuff.

So... thst’s Where the weird items on top come in.

The two black things are actually strong magnetic firearm mounts...repurposed to instantly and strongly secure the Kariba heater/stove while heating water. This takes it out of any tip-over danger...gets it out of the way...and allows easy access to the water cans it heats, pumps from, etc.

These magnets are SUPER strong with rubber housing and screwed to my table. The Katiba isn’t going anywhere until you want it to. I trimmed the Kariba’s rubber feet at a slight angle to create closer proximity to the magnets. If I want stronger attachment, I can trim more...but the magnets could easily be TOO strong. So it’s nice to be able to fine tune the pull in this way.

Once the water is hot?
Now I’ve got a great little surface that’s sturdy and easy reach, but out of the way of drawers, etc.

Edit: The table is off-set toward the one side purposely. This is to clear my propane tank, and also so that it extends as much usable surface out from behind the ladder as possible. Since the Kariba is secure at the very edge of the other side, this turns into a great space even when the heater is in use.

Anyway... Super happy with this little idea.

 

[Markuson]

For even further rattle-free-ness on the road, a small strip of the extremely effective two-sided hook & loop from Harbor Freight works a charm with the gap that I placed directly over the outside water can handle:

Also added a bit of door protector to the inside metal of the hole (see last photo above) so that it won’t threaten the propane tube if so choose to run it through the hole and up to the Kariba.

 

[mcgaskins]

I'm beginning to think modding your truck is your full time job!

 

[RET2]

^^^ I concur but have the nagging feeling "we ain't seen nutt'n yet"

 

[Markuson]

^^^ I concur but have the nagging feeling "we ain't seen nutt'n yet"

I’m almost ready to call it done.

———-
Edit: OK, who am I kidding... Its never DONE....but @RET2 already knew that...
———-
Will likely replicate the small panels on two more doors, because it just makes sense.

There will be more tweaks, but the tweak BINGE is nearly over.

Nice thing is that most of these mods fade into the background on the trail now that they are usable. Just means stuff is easier to get to and less fiddly to put away in camp.

Baja taught me that I took way too much stuff, and that having *layers* of stuff truly sucks. So my goal is...everything I want has it’s own, dedicated, secured spot...and nothing is buried two layers deep. No box stacking...no digging. No loose crap floating through the truck except jackets, blankets and my dog.

This binge is getting me closer to that.

 

[Docboy]

If you ever encounter a big unfortunate natural disaster, you are ready

 

[RET2]

He's going to open Markuson's Hardware after the big one. Nothing like being prepared, except being prepared. When the SHTF he'll be microwaving a cup of noodles and having an ice cream sammich for dessert.

 

[Markuson]

He's going to open Markuson's Hardware after the big one. Nothing like being prepared, except being prepared. When the SHTF he'll be microwaving a cup of noodles and having an ice cream sammich for dessert.

Heh...

I know most y’all think I be a crazy Pansy with a microwave...

...but to all y’all with fancy camper trailers... Y’ALL be the pansies! Lol. Just think o me as a mobile trailer kitchen, but without the trailer...beds or dedicated pooper...

Although I can sleep ONE plus my dog, so I’m all set. +=

 

[TonyP]

Now all you need is a 12v oven to warm up those Hot Pockets... or cook a roast.

12 Volt Marine Oven

 

[Markuson]

Now all you need is a 12v oven to warm up those Hot Pockets... or cook a roast.

12 Volt Marine Oven

Heh...

My microwave actually isn’t as much s space hog as it seems. It has an internal wave rotation (so no irritating rotating glass plate to fall all over the place).

This means I can use every bit of its 1.0 cubic internal space for my kitchen items with a perfect size bag (really a range bag). So really the only wasted space is the 1.5-2” surround and control panel side.

Not too bad:

 

[TonyP]

Stuffing gear inside is a good idea.

I think I'm going to incorperate that 12v stove into my Troopy. One of Ronny Dahl's guy's has one and it seems quite useful and doesn't take up much space at all.

 

[Markuson]

Stuffing gear inside is a good idea.

I think I'm going to incorperate that 12v stove into my Troopy. One of Ronny Dahl's guy's has one and it seems quite useful and doesn't take up much space at all.

I’ve heard good things about similar (I think smaller) 12v “hot-boxes.” That one seems way more substantial. Pretty cool. Definitely better to bake pizzas than nuke em. Costco has a road show with frozen pizzas recently and they were absolutely amazing. Would be great for a small oven like that.

 

[Romer]

Mark you should update your build thread so all these cool ideas are captured in one place. I missed the one on the microwave so not sure what you did there

 

[Tommy Dwyer]

I agree with @Romer . You’ve done some great mods of late, need to keep them all collected in one place (so we can copy them)

 

[Markuson]

I agree with @Romer . You’ve done some great mods of late, need to keep them all collected in one place (so we can copy them)

Mark you should update your build thread so all these cool ideas are captured in one place. I missed the one on the microwave so not sure what you did there

Ya, I think of that, and it does make sense. Part of the problem is that my “Bubba goes Beast” thread really only covered that one major portion of the truck’s life (bumpers, winch, 35’s).

My build started well before that...so sometimes I think I should almost start over with a more complete and true build thread starting at the beginning when it was fully stock...

I wish I could go back and add the earlier stuff without it all being out of sequence.

 

[Romer]

feel free to start a new thread in sequence

 

[Markuson]

feel free to start a new thread in sequence

Ya... I think I will. It will be a lot easier to follow that way. I wish there was a way I could incorporate some insightful responses by others in the Bubba thread. Oh well.

Thanks for your suggestion.

 

[Romer]

you can. Qoute them and paste the qoute over