It seems like people work extra hard to find something to criticize. Your burner location is fine. Again you did a great job with this DIY truck build.
@@softroadingthewest I have been doing pretty much what you have been doing to your Nissan to my 04 Tundra these past couple of years. I truly appreciate all of the work/reviews/tips that you have given us! Thank you.
@@softroadingthewest Emissions requirement mean most vehicles have charcoal filters and recapture mechanisms to prevent fuel vapors escaping into the environment. this is why you are not suppose to 'top off' modern gasoline vehicles when fueling.. the liquid fuel will get into the vent line filters and cause the charcoal pellets to swell / plug, and then your vehicle won't accept fuel at a normal pace because air can no longer get out
What about using the tire table after going thru a muddy trail, sometimes that has a ripe smell and now your sitting and cooking right there with it ? At least a folding table does not have to be right there at the tire.
Good point! I haven't had that happen, but it absolutely could. Even if it wasn't smelly mud, the tires are often muddy, some of which is inevitably going to transfer to the table and then have to be handled. You can see mine has already accumulated some muck.
We've used several of those plastic folding tables for years. What I like about them is that I can move the table to any place I want. We don't usually do one-nighters but when we do we set up our single burner inside and make a quick one pot meal for the night. Most of the time we are in camp for multiple days and this is when we set up our screened gazelle gazebo and a couple tables for prepping and cooking on. We love that it keeps the bugs away from our outdoor kitchen. We'll even sit in there if it's raining outside. If it is real windy or stormy we'll hunker down inside our Four Wheel slide-in popup camper otherwise we spend most of our time outside. When you made your burner tire table I thought that was pretty darn clever. I enjoy seeing your thought process that you go through when building your camping components.
We have the same one that we take in our Jeep and we love it. It's the perfect size and very strong. I upgraded to all metal thumb screws and I just keep them on the inside so you don't have to unscrew them out and then back in on the outside.
That's a good solution. I do use the one I remove as a tool to push in the little buttons, so that step is dual purpose. And I actually do leave the other one in place, in its outside position, and just store the table with that side up in the truck. 🙂
I think it is worth it the stove is all ready set up, the folding table still have to get the stove out of your truck . On your propane bottle you can get a longer hose , great video Thank you
I prefer a freestanding table that I can move around the campsite to where we want to cook or eat or just admire the view. Each site is different and i like the flexibility of taking advantage of some useful rocks, fire pit, shade of trees, etc.
Overland camping rigs are like houses......never finished remodeling. Always a work in progress. Thinking... how has this item worked? What can I do to make it better or more enjoyable! Donald, you show us the process of making a camper better. With through explaining of how to and/ or why. Enjoy all of your videos. See you at N.W. EXPO.😊
Cool tunes, Donald! They reminded me of going to the supermarket as a kid 50+ years ago and the music they played on the intercom. 🙂 Since the tire table has the burner, one aspect of the set-up and take-down times of the folding table would be to include getting the stove out, setting it up, then storing it again. Great video!
I actually prefer the more robust tire table and the awesome stove mod you did to it. In actuality, had you included that in your time comparison, I bet it’s quicker to get cooking on your tire table than setting up the folder (after it was leveled), adding a stove, and hooking up the propane. Thanks for taking the time to do this. Another enjoyable and informative video! Keep it up
The table set-up time segment was intended to just compare the tire table itself to a folding table, for the benefit of people considering which to buy. My assumption is the average user probably won't embed a stove in their tire table, so any normal person would still need to set up their stove either way, which would take the same amount of time regardless of which table. And yes, in my specific case, my tire table has an advantage with the built-in stove. But if I were to switch to a folding table, I would buy one with a metal surface and embed my burner in that, so it would still be a wash. I should have made that more clear in the video...it was intended to be an apples-to-apples table vs table only, ignoring the stove I happened to embed in mine.
@@coreyclarke1604 Personal choice of course, but one thing I knew was that I absolutely did not want to do my food prep on the same surface I walk on to get into and out of my camper. Having a separate table means I can have cooking stuff set up and still access my camper, I can close up the camper and night with my table & stove still set up and ready to go in the morning, and I'm not putting my dirty feet on my kitchen table. When I was tent camping out of this truck however, the tailgate was the perfect table...so fast & easy and always right there at the ready. 🙂
What works for us is to leave the knobs on the inside structure of the table rather than unscrewing them to put on the outside. It may seem a little awkward the first couple of times but you get used to it. I certainly agree with you on the "push buttons" being difficult at times. Perhaps maybe if they were longer?
Well I do use one of the knobs as my little helper tool to push the buttons, so I need to remove that one anyway. The other one I actually do just leave in place, on the outside position, and I just store the table with that side up in the truck. 🙂
I looked at the table before after seeing you and Jason use it. The burner integration is pretty clever, especially if you can plumb it to a nearby port. Amusingly, the pros and cons you came up with match my own thoughts. After the last camping trip using both a folding table and the cranky expando+roll top table, I will revisit this topic again. Cheers!
We had a similar design as tire work steps. It sat lower on the tire and instead of a 3rd leg it had supports that rested down each side of the tire. I like this table design
Thank you for the run down. I especially like what you said about the uneven and or soft ground issue for setting up the regular table. I think that I will bring both of them as they both have their usefulness.
Nice donald. The table was quicker but then you had to put the cooker out aswell. And your tire table was all set up ready to use. I have a tire table to and i just might put a burner on mine. Thanks
The table set-up time segment was intended to just compare the tire table itself to a folding table, for the benefit of people considering which to buy. My assumption is the average user probably won't embed a stove in their tire table, so any _normal_ person would still need to set up their stove either way, which would take the same amount of time regardless of which table. And yes, in _my_ specific case, _my_ tire table has an advantage with the built-in stove. But if I were to switch to a folding table, I would buy one with a metal surface and embed my burner in that, so it would still be a wash. I should have made that more clear in the video...it was intended to be an apples-to-apples table vs table only, ignoring the stove I happened to embed in mine. 😄
Great comparison. I like what you did with the addition of the burner for cooking. To be a fair comparison for setup, you should have added the time it would take to to locate and setup your stove on the folding table. Not the gas to run it, as that is not part of the tire setup. But the tire setup does save you the time to locate and setup a stove.
Well, the comparison was more for the sake of viewers who are probably unlikely to embed a stove in their table. Just purely a table-to-table comparison. In my particular case, the embedded stove indeed provides a time advantage, though my thinking is that if I _were_ to move to a folding table, I would buy a metal one and embed the burner in it also, so we're still apples-to-apples. 🙂
I keep the fastening knobs on the Tire Table in one location - I don’t switch them from inside to outside. Takes a little more focus setting up but does save some time.
Well I do use the one as a tool to push in the buttons, so I need to remove it anyway. The other side, I actually just leave it in place in the outer position, and store the table with that side up in the truck, so technically I only have to full remove/re-insert one of the knobs. 🙂
No its not worth the price they want for it. I am so tired of the prices that any thing associated with Overlanding are getting so out of hand. But at least your set up ads more functionality.
Agreed. $75 might be a fair price given materials, utilities, and time. But, I wouldn't pay $75 either. People that WILL pay $75, will also likely pay $150, maybe more. So here we are.
Hey there Donald, Another great vid, I have been looking into the Ally one here in Australia, As I go to the beach a lot, and didn't want rust issues from exposed bits, or chips, and being lighter. OMG they are sooo expensive here, Around A$283 from Amazon, and up to over A$340 at some other places (even the steel ones are A$ 250+) ...... there are also quite a few knock offs, obviously when you look up close at the welding etc. I saw one on youtube, just loosening the hand screws (for the tyre bracket), adjusting, and then retightening where they sit, from the INSIDE of the frame. I wasn't sure if this could be done on all of them. quicker and less fiddly, nothing to catch on, and also, leaving the tyre bracked locked in position, for next time. Take up more room to stow, but again quicker and less fiddly. Just a pondering. Cheers and keep them coming, absolutely love seeing the wilds of Oregon and Utah, Stay safe
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I have never heard of safety siphon. I don't know about the Tailgater because I have a folding table but the safety siphon will save my back and I can actually do other things while siphoning is going on. I will have to look for the video you did of the safety siphon.
I love it. It was only $10 when I bought mine some years ago and works SO well. I just used it again on my trip this week, I ended up transferring my extra fuel to the truck and it's soooo nice and easy.
Great comparison video. I have used a separate table often and recently purchased a Tire Table. I am curious how they compare for me. My biggest concern is the stability of the table top. I think if you included setting up and breaking down a stove into your timed comparison, they would have been pretty close. Not that 20-30 seconds is that long of a time. Thanks again for making and sharing the video.
I got the gen 1 steel. If i did it again, I'd get aluminum just because it doesn't rust and is lighter. I also have two steel camp tables from eezi-awn mounted below my roof rack. I find this table to be the most used and the position above the driver's rear tire is the most handy place for me to use as a functional platform. I also have a driver's side awning. Even with my camping tables, this is by far the most used for general table uaage when camping solo or for two.
15:16 that's an awesome cat! wasn't that your neighbors cat at some point? Great taste in Elevator Music, Cat trusts you enough to jump on your chest.... You're a perfect person Donald!
Different cat, we finally got our own about a year and a half ago. 😄 The neighbor's cat you used to see - Mooners - is black. He doesn't come around much since we got Charlie, though they don't really fight. Charlie is not territorial, just very curious about other animals and often follows any dogs getting walked up our street. I found him trying to play with a baby possum the other day. Wasn't trying to kill it, but the possum was playing dead - as they do when frightened- and Charlie was gently patting it, trying to get it to move. 😆 So anyway, Charlie would of course run up to Mooners anytime he saw him, which would startle Mooners to see this grey thing coming at him, so he would just turn and run away. Of course Charlie thought that was great fun and would give chase. Now they co-exist reasonably well, they'll greet each other with a nose touch, but Mooners still largely avoids us now. Charlie has become good friends with another neighborhood cat though, a super shy one that won't let us get near her, but she comes around looking for Charlie and they hang out in our backyard and explore together. 😄
@@softroadingthewest Thanks for sharing that Donald! My orange tabby cat was a stray that came up to me and meowed at me until I took him in. He was the best bud and would always hang out with me while I worked on my cars. While he was full of personality and would even walk with me down the street (like a dog). He hated car rides, so I was never able to take him on my adventures, but I think if he got passed that, he would have made a superb adventure cat. Sadly, I think he was of advanced age. He was starting to limp around. I think it was time for him to move onto cat heaven and about a week ago the Wife and I haven't seen him.
Really thorough review & I really like the sturdiness of being able to put a fuel can on the table. I currently have a Coleman fold up/roll-up aluminum table that isn't wind proof but it was a gift, so the price was right. I will probably hold off on the table for now but I'm definitely getting one of those fuel syphon hoses. Thank you for sharing your experiences with the tables.
Great minds DO think alike. I went through just about the same thought process. I would like to have a put-away table in the kitchen window, but there just isn't enough room to do what I want. In my case, the tire mount table comes up to just above my knees. Too short to be comfortable to use. In the end, I have found a 24" x 36" steel mesh folding table on Amazon that seems to be the best of both worlds. We will find out soon.
The height is a good point. I'm short enough that it doesn't bother me 😄 but depending on the terrain of the campsite, sometimes I do have to stoop over it a bit and wouldn't want to be any taller. Also someone running 37" tires would have a significantly higher table than me on 33's or someone running 31s. Ultimately I wish I had slowed down enough to think through my unnecessary fixation on the tire support I wanted to use with my failed DIY approach, and just bought a metal folding table. I'll be curious to see yours.
Another great content! I was actually thinking the same. I have a tire table, but I think it's too low for my needs. It might be ok right by a campfire, but when I do campfire, I don't want to sit right next to a metal box. I'm serching for a fast setup table.
I too use the safety syphon to transfer fuel from my metal fuel cans. To aid in knowing where my "jiggler" is at the bottom of the can, when the was empty I dropped the jiggler down inside and aimed it towards the front below the filler next. It naturally has a healthy curve in the tube so it shoves it right up against the corner of the can. At this point I added a zip tie to the tube right where it rests on the can spout. This way I know I have the jiggler in the can right where I need it to suck up the most fuel possible with a tilt of the can near the last half gallon or so.
One concern regarding the quick fold table - I have a white gas Optimus stove that I've been carrying around for nearly 45 years. The stove is great at elevations above 6,000 ft and when the temps dive down into the teens. However, the bottom of the liquid fuel stove beneath main burner gets hot enough that I wouldn't trust using it on a plastic table top. Also, there are times during the preheat procedure that any spilled fuel tends flare up.
Oh I agree completely, the plastic table is not a good solution for a number of reasons. Mine is technically not even a "camp" table, it's just a cheap Walmart thing designed for interior use. I used it here because it's what I had on hand, but for actual long-term camping use, I think a similar folding table with a metal tabletop makes much more sense and would require a very similar amount of setup/breakdown time. 🙂
I installed track on the outside of my cargo conversion so I could hang wire shelving from the side of 5he trailer when I get to camp. I am able to run a camp stove on the shelf. Was on a week long antelope trip, and ended up using the camp stove for all my cooking needs. I was pretty horrified to notice all of the cooking splatter all over that side of the trailer, which was then caked in dust on the drive back to blacktop. I washed it all down when I got home with Dawn dish soap and water. That’s when i realized how easy the cleanup was compared to having the splatter inside the conversion. An outdoor stove is a plus not a minus.
I love my tables I have 2 aluminum ones I customized to fit in a space above my electric fridge in back of my jeep, I carry 2 of them one one front tire to cook on other on rear tire as my kitchen table to eat at. I need to get couple more for my new Colorado I’m converting to a overlanding setup. I think there perfect and I will keep using them in both rigs
Nice. I am certainly more fixated on speed than most campers need to be. I make/break camp every single day, almost never staying more than one night in one place, and I am busy trying to film in that nice evening or morning light when setup/breakdown also needs to happen, so I have been continuously refining my kit for maximum ease and speed. 😄
someone else mentioned it, but it would be interesting to see how the time compares if you added in setting up a single burner stove. Or even a 'coleman' style 2 burner. I'm guessing it would be about a wash. I just went camping and brought a similar sized plastic table like that. It held up our 5 gallon water jug just fine. And that was even in desert sand (although I guess that may have helped. It was also nice to be able to move it around the truck. So maybe a con for the TailGater is that it's at a fixed location. In the end...everyone should use your video as a point of reference and figure out what works best for them and how their vehicle and campsite is set up.
The table set-up time segment was intended to just compare the tire table itself to a folding table, for the benefit of people considering which to buy. My assumption is the average user probably won't embed a stove in their tire table, so any _normal_ person would still need to set up their stove either way, which would take the same amount of time regardless of which table. And yes, in _my_ specific case, _my_ tire table has an advantage with the built-in stove. But if I were to switch to a folding table, I would buy one with a metal surface and embed my burner in that, so it would still be a wash. I should have made that more clear in the video...it was intended to be an apples-to-apples table vs table only, ignoring the stove I happened to embed in mine. 😄
7:40 As long as your gas cap is closed/sealed I don't see any significant risk being located there! I wouldn't open it while you're cooking with an open flame but that's pretty common sense... and I can't foresee a scenario where you'd be inclined to do that...
The thing that sells this idea to me is the gasoline refill support. I'm not going to buy one of these, mostly because I already have everything I need to make one. My current table just slots into my receiver hitch (I welded receiver hitches to my rock rails. It's not close enough to use for gasoline cans, but I'm going to go ahead and add a port just for that.
I have a folding step that mounts on a tire in a similar way. It's okay as long as you're driving on dry roads. I'm surprised you don't mention that tires and your vehicle can get muddy and that will make mounting a mess. Aside from muddy mounting and dining, you lose the flexibility of setting up a table where you have a better surface underfoot or where you have a better view or more comfortable breeze. Being tied to your truck is a big negative. I see this thing frequently in my Facebook feed and wondered who really like dining next to a truck tire.
This is great, and a great video as well. Curious if you were to just get another set of knobs so you didn't have to remove them completely with all that turning. Just a thought.
At least one of them has to be removed from one side or the other in order to store the stable on edge, which is the only way I can transport mine, no room to carry it flat. Removing that one knob does give me the "tool" to push in those annoying stiff buttons, so that makes me a little less bothered. I do actually just leave the other knob in place, and I carry the table with that edge up in the truck.
Indeed, it is certainly the sturdiest of camp tables, and I did mention that in the conclusion pro/con segment. I have at one time or another knocked over - or had the wind knock over - every other camp table I've ever used. It's a solid argument in favor (pun not intended LOL).
You need Fluid Film. No need to even research it on the Internets, just get a rattle can and do all the moving metal parts. Both your tables will benefit greatly. I'm enjoying your taking us along the thought processes for these little details on your rig. Helpful for me as I'm moving from a bumper pull teardrop into an old Dodge camper van. Basically ripping out every 30 year old system in the van and laying in a LED, 12V, modern set up. Camp out of van as opposed to a live in van. No tic tock van, no TH-cam vanlife, So a lot of what you have worked through pertains to my immediate interests. Time for a how to poop on the road tutorial? LOL.
The main problem seems to be the thickness of the layers of metal prevents pushing the button down far enough. They were difficult to fully push in even when it was new out of the box. Without the additional metal in the way, they move just fine. My buddy Jason has the aluminum version of the tire table; that metal is thinner, and his buttons are _much_ easier to operate. Even the somewhat stiff, corroded spring-loaded buttons on my old camp table are still much easier to operate than the tire table buttons when it was brand new. All that said...I'm sure everything would benefit from some lubrication, especially my old table! 😄
Man as dirty as my tires get sometimes, I'd be really hesitant to hook my food prep surface on to them. Also if you haven't seen the GCI folding table, its a pretty significant step up over the rolltop tables, sets up in literally seconds. Between the price of this thing, needing to mess with thumb screws, and the way it forces you to interact with the most muddy part of your vehicle to make food, I just don't know.
I wonder if the wind wouldn’t be so bad if the burner was closer to the pan. It looks like you could cut/grind off about ¼-½” from the bottom lip of the burner plate and still have the bolt holes to attach to the table.
I use a folding table, but I see a few possible advantages to your tire table.. since it is not a solid top, it doesn't accumulate dust / dirt, water / rain, food juices, etc; it would also make a great dish rack for drying dishes.. fewer extra towels needed!
That's an excellent point. I thought the mesh might be a headache but it has not been problematic in the least. In fact if I were to replace this with a folding table, I would look for one with the same mesh surface again.
Hey donald...I'm watching your trip with Jason. My husband and I are planning to go the the owyhees end of August. What time of year did you and Jason do this trip and and suggestions on directions. We will be coming from Newport O
Our trips have generally fallen somewhere between Oct 15 and Nov 15, though we've often run into some weather difficulties with the November trips...definitely want to avoid precipitation in this area. Late August/early September might still be pretty hot out there. October is probably the ideal point between Too Hot and Too Wet. :-) Directions depend on where exactly you're aiming to get started. It's a massive area and your routing may vary if you're starting more north or more south. I usually just let Google or my phone nav plot the best highway course.
You have a color matched cat? Good review. Tables have been an ongoing frustration for me forever. There really is an opportunity for some clever person to revolutionize this aspect of camping. Unmentioned aspects: Can the table be stored without damaging other items around it? Can it be adjusted from a sitting height to a working height? Can it stand up to hot pans and skillets? How difficult is it to clean if it gets grease spatter on it?
• Storage: The steel one is heavy and needs to be secured. I bungee mine into the space behind my driver seat so it doesn't move around, and my camp chair then stows between the table and my drivers seat. They sell a storage bag for it which would make it easier to tuck into more places. • Height adjustment: Nope. The height is entirely (no pun intended) dependent on the size of your tire, and that is the height it will always be. I have slightly oversize (for my truck) 33" tires and I'm not very tall, so it works okay for me. A taller person with 31" tires might find it awkward. Anyone running 37" tires would probably find it comfortable. • Hot pans: It's powder-coated and I haven't had any issue moving my hot skillet onto it. • Cleaning: Can't really comment. Mine hasn't gotten dirty enough yet to prompt me to try and clean it, but my standards might be lower than yours. 😄
I believe... the size of the tire would affect the table height. Small diameter tire, lower height. I could be wrong, but I'm an old grump camper (been car camping since the 60's) and bending down is nothing I like to do if I can avoid it. I would rather my table to be taller then lower. The folding table will always be the same height BUT trying to get a 4 legged table (or looped legged one) to sit flat/stable on unlevel ground can be challenging especially in rocky areas. That's probably in part why I started to enjoy backpacking because you don't try so hard to "build a camp" but rather just blow it, set up quickly and leave early... no table concerns, though a log or stump maybe helpful and used.
You are absolutely correct, the height of the table surface is dependent on the size of the tire. Someone running 31s would have an uncomfortably low table vs someone running 37s. I have 33" tires and am not very tall so the height feels acceptable enough to me and it didn't even cross my mind to address that in the video, but it's a super valid point.
Pretty cool. I wonder if you could integrate quick release leavers like bike wheels have to do away with the knobs Live how you built the stove into it
Indeed, I didn't think about that because I'm short enough it doesn't bother me. 😄 But absolutely valid point. Also, the height of the tire table will vary depending on tire size. Someone running 37s will end up with a much higher table surface than someone running 31s. 🙂
Not sure if yours is the same, but with both of my tire tables, I can leave the threaded knobs on the inside and secure the table, so I just leave them on the inside spot, reach under and loosen or tighten the knobs. Snagged both mine from rei 2 years ago, they had a random sale on them for $40 or $50, so was worth the price at that price point lol
I did fiddle with that when I first got the table but found them annoying awkward to turn and immediately gave up on it and never tried it again, maybe I should. What I do now is leave one in place on the outside and store it in the truck with that side up. So I only move one knob from inside to outside (plus I use it as a tool to push the little buttons in the process, so it does have that one little side benefit). I might re-try leaving them both inside though, a number of viewers have indicated it works for them. I could probably use a key as a push tool for the buttons instead, as they would always be in my pocket at that point. Thanks!
Forgot the setup and break down of the table with the stove. Close enough anyway. I have two tables that fold out with roll tops. they probably take about the same time to setup up as the table you have, maybe less. For the price I would take the tables since I could move the table(s) to wherever I want them if I had to. Thanks for the review. George
Yep, I don't know why I remained so fixated on the tire once my own DIY approaches didn't work. I could have still done my built-in stove in a folding metal table for less money, easier setup, and flexible placement. 🤦♂😄
The table set-up time segment was intended to just compare the tire table itself to a folding table, for the benefit of people considering which to buy. My assumption is the average user probably won't embed a stove in their tire table, so any _normal_ person would still need to set up their stove either way, which would take the same amount of time regardless of which table. And yes, in _my_ specific case, _my_ tire table has an advantage with the built-in stove. But if I were to switch to a folding table, I would buy one with a metal surface and embed my burner in that, so it would still be a wash. I should have made that more clear in the video...it was intended to be an apples-to-apples table vs table only, ignoring the stove I happened to embed in mine. 😄
Good content... unfortunately I just bought the aluminum tailgater tire table at Overland Expo West! In large part based on your use lol. Seems decent so far. I WANT the thin Alu-Cab table that fits up under the overhang, but $500, and the Alu-Cab dealer, OK4x4? at OEW didn't even have a display...
The aluminum version seems to work better though. Jason has it in aluminum and it's so much nicer to handle...lighter weight and the buttons work much better. And it DOES have its advantages, especially that it can be set up and level regardless of what the ground is like. It also just makes for a very tidy camp that doesn't turn into a garage sale in the woods. 😄 Hopefully they had show pricing for you at Expo. I'm not enchanted by mine, but I have it now and will certainly just keep using it.
@softroadingthewest Made a video this morning showing table/stove setup time plus a new carbon steel wok making cheesy scrambled eggs and ham. Hope you don't mind the link, just wanted to show because I got the table and made my setup, based on your great videos. Thanks again! th-cam.com/video/O1-hpzu67s4/w-d-xo.html
I only noticed that when I was filming this last week (bought the table in August last year). Looks like maybe slight cracking in the powder coat has allowed a bit of water in.
Didn't you use Rotopax jerry cans? If you explained the change in another video, dang it, I missed it. Why did you switch to a heavy metal jerry can? And thank you for this video. I have long coveted that table. Now I will stick with a piece of plywood on my tailgate bike rack.
I stopped using the Rotopax when the Forester was wrecked in 2021. The capacity of my Rotopax (3.5 gal) was good for the Forester but I wanted more on the truck. I could have stacked on a second one, but on my original truck build, I still needed to carry the fuel on the roof, and I did not want to go back to having Rotopax laying flat. The biggest headache with those is that with elevation changes and/or temperature changes, they need to be opened regularly to vent off accumulating vapors. Starting from low elevation on a cool morning and then climbing up to into the mountains or high desert and getting hit by the sun on a warm day, that thing would balloon in a _very_ unsettling way. The problem is, laying flat, you can't open the lid or all the gas comes pouring out, so I would have to get up there, completely remove the securing bracket, stand the Rotopax up, vent it, then lay it back down and re-secure it. Depending on the conditions, sometimes multiple times per day. When I built the original roof rack for the Frontier, I made a holder for three standard 2-gallon gas cans (if you dig back you can find my video about the roof rack, spring 2021). These still needed to be vented occasionally, but they were upright, so all I had to do was reach up and twist the lids open a bit, then twist them back closed. Dividing the fuel into three containers also made it much easier to handle, only two gallons at a time lifting them on & off the roof or holding them up to siphon gas into the truck tank. Last year, when I took the roof rack off to accommodate the camper and moved roof stuff to the rear bumper I made (there are videos about all of this too 😄) there wasn't a good way to utilize those three plastic cans. I did consider going back to Rotopax mounted vertically on the bumper (would've been easy to vent) but buying enough cans and mounting hardware to carry an extra 10 gallons gets expensive fast with Rotopax...and they're still plastic cans that occasionally fail. So I ultimately decided to invest in genuine NATO-grade steel cans. I was able to build my own holder for them (at most about $20 worth of mostly scrap/remnant steel) and I appreciate that these fuel containers will definitely last however many years I keep doing this. 😄 Ultimately they are easier to handle than Rotopax. I would use a siphon no matter what, but the form factor of the jerry cans works much better than the tall skinny Rotopax that have to be precariously balanced upright. The jerry cans sit so perfectly on my table for refueling...I can start the siphon flowing and do something else while it refuels itself. Oh also, this setup makes it wonderfully easy to refill them at a gas station. I just pull the truck forward enough and I can fill them without even removing them from the bumper. 🙂
@@softroadingthewest Thank you so much for taking the time to send such an informative response. Extra fuel storage is the next thing on the list for my build and I appreciate this info more than you know.
As I was writing that out, it occurred to me it might be a good topic for a video. While I have technically covered all of that in various videos, it is spread out over the course of years within videos about other topics. I think it would make a good self-contained video, so thank you for asking! :-)
I wouldn’t worry about the fuel filler. Gasoline engine passenger cars/trucks sold in the U.S. from 1996 and up use an EVAP system to recover fuel vapors as part of the mandated emissions system. The OBDII system self-tests for a sealed gas cap/fuel system when you drive the vehicle. If the EVAP system detects a loose or leaky gas cap, the check engine light will turn on.
Haha, I thought about holding up a lit lighter right next to the fuel filler to emphasize my point, but decided not to push my luck and end up with genuine explosion footage. 🤣
A metal folding table, into which I would mount my burner. Best of both worlds...the folding table would be less money, less finicky setup, more work surface, more placement flexbility. I don't know why I didn't think of that. I had just become so tunnel-visioned on the tire for some reason. 😆
That was part of the original plan but the way it came together, I don't have enough clearance. The top of the toolbox has frequently proven useful as a table-like surface though. :-)
I live in a STUDIO apartment, my kitchen is small 😊 , and I cook all my daily meals , and I manage with out a problem 😅 , 🍳 cooking all my DAILY MEALS in a SINGLE STOVE 😂....
$140 for something that you can only use in one place and at one height, mounted to your vehicles tire… A quick search revealed folding tables in the $20 range. As soon as you add the word “camp” to the search the price doubles… Appears that the outdoor recreation market has the public over a barrel… For my money I could purchase many $20 Golding tables for the price of one Tire Table and utilize the folding table for other purposes away from a vehicle.
It's definitely not for everyone, and that's okay. Don't buy it. It's not my favorite bit of gear for sure. Numerous people in the comments below have indicated they are quite pleased with it. * shrug * It's nice that there are multiple options for various needs and we can each choose what makes sense for us. To be fair, in my experience, *decent* "camp" gear is engineered in ways that make it better for stowing and for outdoor use. The folding table I use in this video was a cheap thing, not a table designed for camp use, maybe $30 at Walmart. A fraction of the cost and yes it's a table, but it's awful as a camp table. I've made it work for some years because I'm cheap LOL but it has not held up well at all. On the flip side, I have dedicated "camp" gear I bought 20-30 years ago that I still use. Sometimes you do get what you pay for.
@@softroadingthewest Yes I’ll have to agree with you on “you get what you pay for”… BTW I’m looking at Nissan Frontier now, I’ve looked at Jeeps for years but never owned one, they have some reliability issues that just don’t seem to ever get fixed.
🤔 While cool. Seems a folding table and JetBoil Genesis stove would be an easier option. And the Jetboil Genesis stove system is really compact for a dual stove(I know you mentioned you don't need 2 burners)
Yep. Or even without the jetboil, I could have simply bought a folding table with a metal surface and mounted my burner in that. Which I may still do. 😏
On the time comparison you didn't include the extra steps for the separate camp stove with the folding table. Probably still just a few seconds difference overall.
Well, it was just a table-to-table comparison, not a table+stove comparison. I assume most people won't embed a stove burner in their table and would need to set up a stove either way, which would be the same amount of time regardless of which table they were using. 🙂
I would have thought so, but so far it hasn't been an issue. It's expanded steel, not wire per se, so it's very sturdy. I carry a small, thin cutting board in my "kitchen" for food prep, and haven't had an issue with anything else that I set on it. Another viewer pointed out that the mesh allows spills to just flow through to the ground, and won't accumulate any rain. In fact, if I were to buy a folding table to replace it (still a possibility) I would actually choose one with the same type of mesh surface again.
Your magnetic wind blocker wouldn't have worked if you had gotten the aluminum one instead of the steel one. I'm sure they probably don't make a tire table that would fit my tires, I'd have to build my own to use something like that. I'm not sure the timed comparisons are equal. Your tire table was set up and the stove was set up where-as the folding table was just the table. If you had pulled out a camp stove to put on the folding table, time would have been near identical for set up and break down times.
I made the magnetic wind blocker after buying the steel table. Had I bought the aluminum version (still wish I had) I would have come up with a different solution for the wind. (and what I did come up with doesn't work impeccably in any case 😆) The table set-up time segment was intended to just compare the tire table itself to a folding table, for the benefit of people considering which to buy. My assumption is the average user probably won't embed a stove in their tire table, so any normal person would still need to set up their stove either way, which would take the same amount of time regardless of which table. And yes, in my specific case, my tire table has an advantage with the built-in stove. But if I were to switch to a folding table, I would buy one with a metal surface and embed my burner in that, so it would still be a wash. I should have made that more clear in the video...it was intended to be an apples-to-apples table vs table only, ignoring the stove I happened to embed in mine. 🙂
It's really common for products to not only get sent to TH-camrs for free to review, sometimes even paid by the company to produce the review, and this often this includes a deal for the TH-camr to earn commissions from sales they drive...which gives them a motivation to create a positive review. It's so common that viewers have become cynical and suspicious of ANY positive review. I like to reassure my viewers that I have no financial stake in whether or not they buy the product.
HI DONALD 👋 THE TIRE TABLE IS WAY BETTER . NOT NEEDING LEVEL GROUND / EXCEPT FOR SLEEPING ,ETC ,MAYBE COOKING , EATING . WAY STURDIER FROM WIND & BUMPING INTO BY PETS , CHILDREN & ADULTS . GOOD CHOICE . IT'S SUPPOSE TO BE RELAXING WHEN YOU GO CAMPING 🏕 NOT A RACE ! BUT THAT DEPENDS ON THE WEATHER & WILDLIFE TOO ! ENJOYED ❤ BE SAFE ☺️ 🙏HAVE FUN ☺️ 🙏GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS ON YOUR ADVENTURES ☺️ 🙏THANK YOU ☺️ 🙏I THINK YOU MADE A COOL CHOICE WITH YOUR SETUP 😎 ☺️ 🙏
Indeed, I am certainly more fixated on speed than most campers need to be. I make/break camp every single day, almost never staying more than one night in one place, and I am busy trying to film in that nice evening or morning light when setup/breakdown also needs to happen, so my focus is always on refining my kit for maximum ease and speed. 🙂 Thanks David!
“I’ve never had a problem” is a pretty poor standard to measure safety against. You can ask NASA about that: they were sure that pure O2 environments and launching space shuttles after a frost were safe things to do, until they weren’t. That said, I think you’re probably right about the gas filler not being a safety problem. Gasoline in an open environment is so volatile that the fumes will dissipate before they can ignite. Try lighting gasoline on fire when it’s in an open dish or on a non-porous surface: it’s really tough.
But that's the only measure I have. I had already used this multiple times before ever showing it to my viewers last year. It's not like I stood here and proclaimed, "This is safe." I literally said I was unsure about it: _"I don't know how truly potentially dangerous this is or is not."_ I don't know what else I could possibly say beyond my anecdotal evidence that I've used this countless times without blowing up. 🤷♂
Why go with a table you can only fit off a tire? Only place you can set it up is off one of the four tires. A freestanding table would be such a better idea.
You're correct...I had been so fixated on my DIY tire-supported solution that when I went to buy something, I didn't even think of just getting a metal folding table and mounting my burner in that. 🤦♂ The tire table does have the advantage of being perfectly stable and level regardless of how uneven or soft the ground is, and very sturdy. I just got back from a trip where some of my campsites had zero level ground, AND I ended up using my extra fuel and was grateful for the sturdy support, so I came home with a new appreciation for the tradeoffs. 😄
Your times for set up and tear down are a bit off, the folding table should include setting up a stove since the tire table has one built in, thus I feel like the tire table is close enough or even fast to the folding table. Either way.....which do YOU like better , cuz you ar the one living with it and THAT is ALLLLLLL that matters! Good to see your cat supervises like mine does. CHeers!
The table set-up time segment was intended to just compare the tire table itself to a folding table, for the benefit of people considering which to buy. My assumption is the average user probably won't embed a stove in their tire table, so any normal person would still need to set up their stove either way, which would take the same amount of time regardless of which table. And yes, in my specific case, my tire table has an advantage with the built-in stove. But if I were to switch to a folding table, I would buy one with a metal surface and embed my burner in that, so it would still be a wash. I should have made that more clear in the video...it was intended to be an apples-to-apples table vs table only, ignoring the stove I happened to embed in mine. 😄
Love the way the cat inspects and approves the table after setup!
It's good to see that your supervisor is there to help!
It seems like people work extra hard to find something to criticize. Your burner location is fine. Again you did a great job with this DIY truck build.
I'm gonna get one of those OSHA safety log signs... "271 days without an explosion" 😄
@@softroadingthewest I have been doing pretty much what you have been doing to your Nissan to my 04 Tundra these past couple of years. I truly appreciate all of the work/reviews/tips that you have given us! Thank you.
@@softroadingthewest Ha!
@@softroadingthewest Emissions requirement mean most vehicles have charcoal filters and recapture mechanisms to prevent fuel vapors escaping into the environment. this is why you are not suppose to 'top off' modern gasoline vehicles when fueling.. the liquid fuel will get into the vent line filters and cause the charcoal pellets to swell / plug, and then your vehicle won't accept fuel at a normal pace because air can no longer get out
What about using the tire table after going thru a muddy trail, sometimes that has a ripe smell and now your sitting and cooking right there with it ? At least a folding table does not have to be right there at the tire.
Good point! I haven't had that happen, but it absolutely could. Even if it wasn't smelly mud, the tires are often muddy, some of which is inevitably going to transfer to the table and then have to be handled. You can see mine has already accumulated some muck.
I was wandering about the same thing . Thanks for the information! 😊
There's this crazy invention, I think it's called water..
@@feminazislayer Sure, just swing by the car wash while you're overlanding........
We've used several of those plastic folding tables for years. What I like about them is that I can move the table to any place I want. We don't usually do one-nighters but when we do we set up our single burner inside and make a quick one pot meal for the night. Most of the time we are in camp for multiple days and this is when we set up our screened gazelle gazebo and a couple tables for prepping and cooking on. We love that it keeps the bugs away from our outdoor kitchen. We'll even sit in there if it's raining outside.
If it is real windy or stormy we'll hunker down inside our Four Wheel slide-in popup camper otherwise we spend most of our time outside. When you made your burner tire table I thought that was pretty darn clever. I enjoy seeing your thought process that you go through when building your camping components.
We have the same one that we take in our Jeep and we love it. It's the perfect size and very strong. I upgraded to all metal thumb screws and I just keep them on the inside so you don't have to unscrew them out and then back in on the outside.
That's a good solution. I do use the one I remove as a tool to push in the little buttons, so that step is dual purpose. And I actually do leave the other one in place, in its outside position, and just store the table with that side up in the truck. 🙂
Love your narratives about common tasks like cooking.
It is a cool idea to integrate the stove into the table.
I think it is worth it the stove is all ready set up, the folding table still have to get the stove out of your truck . On your propane bottle you can get a longer hose , great video Thank you
I prefer a freestanding table that I can move around the campsite to where we want to cook or eat or just admire the view. Each site is different and i like the flexibility of taking advantage of some useful rocks, fire pit, shade of trees, etc.
Overland camping rigs are like houses......never finished remodeling. Always a work in progress. Thinking... how has this item worked? What can I do to make it better or more enjoyable! Donald, you show us the process of making a camper better. With through explaining of how to and/ or why. Enjoy all of your videos. See you at N.W. EXPO.😊
Cool tunes, Donald! They reminded me of going to the supermarket as a kid 50+ years ago and the music they played on the intercom. 🙂 Since the tire table has the burner, one aspect of the set-up and take-down times of the folding table would be to include getting the stove out, setting it up, then storing it again. Great video!
I actually prefer the more robust tire table and the awesome stove mod you did to it. In actuality, had you included that in your time comparison, I bet it’s quicker to get cooking on your tire table than setting up the folder (after it was leveled), adding a stove, and hooking up the propane. Thanks for taking the time to do this. Another enjoyable and informative video! Keep it up
I don;'t know. Even quicker.. using the tailgate as a table.
The table set-up time segment was intended to just compare the tire table itself to a folding table, for the benefit of people considering which to buy. My assumption is the average user probably won't embed a stove in their tire table, so any normal person would still need to set up their stove either way, which would take the same amount of time regardless of which table.
And yes, in my specific case, my tire table has an advantage with the built-in stove. But if I were to switch to a folding table, I would buy one with a metal surface and embed my burner in that, so it would still be a wash.
I should have made that more clear in the video...it was intended to be an apples-to-apples table vs table only, ignoring the stove I happened to embed in mine.
@@coreyclarke1604 Personal choice of course, but one thing I knew was that I absolutely did not want to do my food prep on the same surface I walk on to get into and out of my camper. Having a separate table means I can have cooking stuff set up and still access my camper, I can close up the camper and night with my table & stove still set up and ready to go in the morning, and I'm not putting my dirty feet on my kitchen table. When I was tent camping out of this truck however, the tailgate was the perfect table...so fast & easy and always right there at the ready. 🙂
@@softroadingthewestyou’re right. It was table to table comparison Your test was perfect. No need to explain. The video was spot on
What works for us is to leave the knobs on the inside structure of the table rather than unscrewing them to put on the outside. It may seem a little awkward the first couple of times but you get used to it. I certainly agree with you on the "push buttons" being difficult at times. Perhaps maybe if they were longer?
Well I do use one of the knobs as my little helper tool to push the buttons, so I need to remove that one anyway. The other one I actually do just leave in place, on the outside position, and I just store the table with that side up in the truck. 🙂
Hey thanks Donald, this is an even idea, that we will now adopt! You are a clever man.
I looked at the table before after seeing you and Jason use it. The burner integration is pretty clever, especially if you can plumb it to a nearby port. Amusingly, the pros and cons you came up with match my own thoughts. After the last camping trip using both a folding table and the cranky expando+roll top table, I will revisit this topic again. Cheers!
We had a similar design as tire work steps. It sat lower on the tire and instead of a 3rd leg it had supports that rested down each side of the tire. I like this table design
Thank you for the run down. I especially like what you said about the uneven and or soft ground issue for setting up the regular table. I think that I will bring both of them as they both have their usefulness.
Nice donald. The table was quicker but then you had to put the cooker out aswell. And your tire table was all set up ready to use. I have a tire table to and i just might put a burner on mine. Thanks
The table set-up time segment was intended to just compare the tire table itself to a folding table, for the benefit of people considering which to buy. My assumption is the average user probably won't embed a stove in their tire table, so any _normal_ person would still need to set up their stove either way, which would take the same amount of time regardless of which table.
And yes, in _my_ specific case, _my_ tire table has an advantage with the built-in stove. But if I were to switch to a folding table, I would buy one with a metal surface and embed my burner in that, so it would still be a wash.
I should have made that more clear in the video...it was intended to be an apples-to-apples table vs table only, ignoring the stove I happened to embed in mine. 😄
Great comparison. I like what you did with the addition of the burner for cooking. To be a fair comparison for setup, you should have added the time it would take to to locate and setup your stove on the folding table. Not the gas to run it, as that is not part of the tire setup. But the tire setup does save you the time to locate and setup a stove.
Well, the comparison was more for the sake of viewers who are probably unlikely to embed a stove in their table. Just purely a table-to-table comparison. In my particular case, the embedded stove indeed provides a time advantage, though my thinking is that if I _were_ to move to a folding table, I would buy a metal one and embed the burner in it also, so we're still apples-to-apples. 🙂
Very well done! I have been considering something like that. Very informative.
Thank you,
Kevin
I keep the fastening knobs on the Tire Table in one location - I don’t switch them from inside to outside. Takes a little more focus setting up but does save some time.
Well I do use the one as a tool to push in the buttons, so I need to remove it anyway. The other side, I actually just leave it in place in the outer position, and store the table with that side up in the truck, so technically I only have to full remove/re-insert one of the knobs. 🙂
No its not worth the price they want for it. I am so tired of the prices that any thing associated with Overlanding are getting so out of hand. But at least your set up ads more functionality.
You can just make it yourself?
Absolutely things related to 4wd/camping have exploded in $$$$
Agreed. $75 might be a fair price given materials, utilities, and time. But, I wouldn't pay $75 either. People that WILL pay $75, will also likely pay $150, maybe more. So here we are.
I saw this on sale last fall for about half price. I almost pulled the trigger. Some tables don’t hold up in the wind and this solves that problem.
Do you wanna mail me yours? I’ll buy it from you and you can buy the aluminum one the condition is that you leave that handy-dandy stove in there
Thanx for the informative video. Was considering a tire table, not any more.
I must say the trick with the cat at the end was awsome!!!
Lol . . . You have me pondering my table decisions. 😂 . . . Great video.
I have a version of the tire table. It is an awkward item. Lol.
Hey there Donald,
Another great vid,
I have been looking into the Ally one here in Australia, As I go to the beach a lot, and didn't want rust issues from exposed bits, or chips, and being lighter.
OMG they are sooo expensive here, Around A$283 from Amazon, and up to over A$340 at some other places (even the steel ones are A$ 250+) ...... there are also quite a few knock offs, obviously when you look up close at the welding etc.
I saw one on youtube, just loosening the hand screws (for the tyre bracket), adjusting, and then retightening where they sit, from the INSIDE of the frame.
I wasn't sure if this could be done on all of them. quicker and less fiddly, nothing to catch on, and also, leaving the tyre bracked locked in position, for next time. Take up more room to stow, but again quicker and less fiddly.
Just a pondering.
Cheers and keep them coming, absolutely love seeing the wilds of Oregon and Utah,
Stay safe
Great mod for the tire table. I have one and find it very useful. I place my diesel heater on mine.
Glad you had the cat inspector to make sure you were doing it right! Which one?? Hands down, the folding table!
I just bought one of these. Thanks for the tips and review.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I have never heard of safety siphon. I don't know about the Tailgater because I have a folding table but the safety siphon will save my back and I can actually do other things while siphoning is going on. I will have to look for the video you did of the safety siphon.
I love it. It was only $10 when I bought mine some years ago and works SO well. I just used it again on my trip this week, I ended up transferring my extra fuel to the truck and it's soooo nice and easy.
Your cat is gorgeous! What a magnificent beastie! Great video, thank you for the honest review!
Great comparison video. I have used a separate table often and recently purchased a Tire Table. I am curious how they compare for me. My biggest concern is the stability of the table top.
I think if you included setting up and breaking down a stove into your timed comparison, they would have been pretty close. Not that 20-30 seconds is that long of a time.
Thanks again for making and sharing the video.
I got the gen 1 steel. If i did it again, I'd get aluminum just because it doesn't rust and is lighter.
I also have two steel camp tables from eezi-awn mounted below my roof rack.
I find this table to be the most used and the position above the driver's rear tire is the most handy place for me to use as a functional platform. I also have a driver's side awning. Even with my camping tables, this is by far the most used for general table uaage when camping solo or for two.
15:16 that's an awesome cat! wasn't that your neighbors cat at some point? Great taste in Elevator Music, Cat trusts you enough to jump on your chest.... You're a perfect person Donald!
Different cat, we finally got our own about a year and a half ago. 😄 The neighbor's cat you used to see - Mooners - is black. He doesn't come around much since we got Charlie, though they don't really fight. Charlie is not territorial, just very curious about other animals and often follows any dogs getting walked up our street. I found him trying to play with a baby possum the other day. Wasn't trying to kill it, but the possum was playing dead - as they do when frightened- and Charlie was gently patting it, trying to get it to move. 😆
So anyway, Charlie would of course run up to Mooners anytime he saw him, which would startle Mooners to see this grey thing coming at him, so he would just turn and run away. Of course Charlie thought that was great fun and would give chase. Now they co-exist reasonably well, they'll greet each other with a nose touch, but Mooners still largely avoids us now. Charlie has become good friends with another neighborhood cat though, a super shy one that won't let us get near her, but she comes around looking for Charlie and they hang out in our backyard and explore together. 😄
Cool idea but yes with nearly everything related to 4wd/camping overpriced 4 what they are, lov Charlie ❤
@@softroadingthewest Thanks for sharing that Donald! My orange tabby cat was a stray that came up to me and meowed at me until I took him in. He was the best bud and would always hang out with me while I worked on my cars. While he was full of personality and would even walk with me down the street (like a dog). He hated car rides, so I was never able to take him on my adventures, but I think if he got passed that, he would have made a superb adventure cat. Sadly, I think he was of advanced age. He was starting to limp around. I think it was time for him to move onto cat heaven and about a week ago the Wife and I haven't seen him.
Really thorough review & I really like the sturdiness of being able to put a fuel can on the table. I currently have a Coleman fold up/roll-up aluminum table that isn't wind proof but it was a gift, so the price was right. I will probably hold off on the table for now but I'm definitely getting one of those fuel syphon hoses. Thank you for sharing your experiences with the tables.
Great minds DO think alike. I went through just about the same thought process. I would like to have a put-away table in the kitchen window, but there just isn't enough room to do what I want. In my case, the tire mount table comes up to just above my knees. Too short to be comfortable to use. In the end, I have found a 24" x 36" steel mesh folding table on Amazon that seems to be the best of both worlds. We will find out soon.
The height is a good point. I'm short enough that it doesn't bother me 😄 but depending on the terrain of the campsite, sometimes I do have to stoop over it a bit and wouldn't want to be any taller. Also someone running 37" tires would have a significantly higher table than me on 33's or someone running 31s. Ultimately I wish I had slowed down enough to think through my unnecessary fixation on the tire support I wanted to use with my failed DIY approach, and just bought a metal folding table. I'll be curious to see yours.
Another great content! I was actually thinking the same. I have a tire table, but I think it's too low for my needs. It might be ok right by a campfire, but when I do campfire, I don't want to sit right next to a metal box. I'm serching for a fast setup table.
I hear you. There is no perfect solution that I've been able to find so far. 😏
I too use the safety syphon to transfer fuel from my metal fuel cans. To aid in knowing where my "jiggler" is at the bottom of the can, when the was empty I dropped the jiggler down inside and aimed it towards the front below the filler next. It naturally has a healthy curve in the tube so it shoves it right up against the corner of the can. At this point I added a zip tie to the tube right where it rests on the can spout. This way I know I have the jiggler in the can right where I need it to suck up the most fuel possible with a tilt of the can near the last half gallon or so.
That's very clever, great idea!
One concern regarding the quick fold table - I have a white gas Optimus stove that I've been carrying around for nearly 45 years. The stove is great at elevations above 6,000 ft and when the temps dive down into the teens. However, the bottom of the liquid fuel stove beneath main burner gets hot enough that I wouldn't trust using it on a plastic table top. Also, there are times during the preheat procedure that any spilled fuel tends flare up.
Oh I agree completely, the plastic table is not a good solution for a number of reasons. Mine is technically not even a "camp" table, it's just a cheap Walmart thing designed for interior use. I used it here because it's what I had on hand, but for actual long-term camping use, I think a similar folding table with a metal tabletop makes much more sense and would require a very similar amount of setup/breakdown time. 🙂
I installed track on the outside of my cargo conversion so I could hang wire shelving from the side of 5he trailer when I get to camp. I am able to run a camp stove on the shelf. Was on a week long antelope trip, and ended up using the camp stove for all my cooking needs. I was pretty horrified to notice all of the cooking splatter all over that side of the trailer, which was then caked in dust on the drive back to blacktop. I washed it all down when I got home with Dawn dish soap and water. That’s when i realized how easy the cleanup was compared to having the splatter inside the conversion. An outdoor stove is a plus not a minus.
I have it and like it for holding our water jug and also for making morning coffee.
I love my tables I have 2 aluminum ones I customized to fit in a space above my electric fridge in back of my jeep, I carry 2 of them one one front tire to cook on other on rear tire as my kitchen table to eat at. I need to get couple more for my new Colorado I’m converting to a overlanding setup. I think there perfect and I will keep using them in both rigs
Nice. I am certainly more fixated on speed than most campers need to be. I make/break camp every single day, almost never staying more than one night in one place, and I am busy trying to film in that nice evening or morning light when setup/breakdown also needs to happen, so I have been continuously refining my kit for maximum ease and speed. 😄
someone else mentioned it, but it would be interesting to see how the time compares if you added in setting up a single burner stove. Or even a 'coleman' style 2 burner. I'm guessing it would be about a wash.
I just went camping and brought a similar sized plastic table like that. It held up our 5 gallon water jug just fine. And that was even in desert sand (although I guess that may have helped. It was also nice to be able to move it around the truck. So maybe a con for the TailGater is that it's at a fixed location.
In the end...everyone should use your video as a point of reference and figure out what works best for them and how their vehicle and campsite is set up.
The table set-up time segment was intended to just compare the tire table itself to a folding table, for the benefit of people considering which to buy. My assumption is the average user probably won't embed a stove in their tire table, so any _normal_ person would still need to set up their stove either way, which would take the same amount of time regardless of which table.
And yes, in _my_ specific case, _my_ tire table has an advantage with the built-in stove. But if I were to switch to a folding table, I would buy one with a metal surface and embed my burner in that, so it would still be a wash.
I should have made that more clear in the video...it was intended to be an apples-to-apples table vs table only, ignoring the stove I happened to embed in mine. 😄
Great video Donald. Thank you.
7:40 As long as your gas cap is closed/sealed I don't see any significant risk being located there! I wouldn't open it while you're cooking with an open flame but that's pretty common sense... and I can't foresee a scenario where you'd be inclined to do that...
Thanks. Great video and awesome cat!
The thing that sells this idea to me is the gasoline refill support. I'm not going to buy one of these, mostly because I already have everything I need to make one. My current table just slots into my receiver hitch (I welded receiver hitches to my rock rails. It's not close enough to use for gasoline cans, but I'm going to go ahead and add a port just for that.
I have a folding step that mounts on a tire in a similar way. It's okay as long as you're driving on dry roads. I'm surprised you don't mention that tires and your vehicle can get muddy and that will make mounting a mess. Aside from muddy mounting and dining, you lose the flexibility of setting up a table where you have a better surface underfoot or where you have a better view or more comfortable breeze. Being tied to your truck is a big negative. I see this thing frequently in my Facebook feed and wondered who really like dining next to a truck tire.
This is great, and a great video as well. Curious if you were to just get another set of knobs so you didn't have to remove them completely with all that turning. Just a thought.
At least one of them has to be removed from one side or the other in order to store the stable on edge, which is the only way I can transport mine, no room to carry it flat. Removing that one knob does give me the "tool" to push in those annoying stiff buttons, so that makes me a little less bothered. I do actually just leave the other knob in place, and I carry the table with that edge up in the truck.
One advantage to the tire table is a healthy gust of wind won’t reposition it…
Whereas, a lightly loaded folding table might need retrieving.
Indeed, it is certainly the sturdiest of camp tables, and I did mention that in the conclusion pro/con segment. I have at one time or another knocked over - or had the wind knock over - every other camp table I've ever used. It's a solid argument in favor (pun not intended LOL).
You need Fluid Film. No need to even research it on the Internets, just get a rattle can and do all the moving metal parts. Both your tables will benefit greatly. I'm enjoying your taking us along the thought processes for these little details on your rig. Helpful for me as I'm moving from a bumper pull teardrop into an old Dodge camper van. Basically ripping out every 30 year old system in the van and laying in a LED, 12V, modern set up. Camp out of van as opposed to a live in van. No tic tock van, no TH-cam vanlife, So a lot of what you have worked through pertains to my immediate interests. Time for a how to poop on the road tutorial? LOL.
The main problem seems to be the thickness of the layers of metal prevents pushing the button down far enough. They were difficult to fully push in even when it was new out of the box. Without the additional metal in the way, they move just fine. My buddy Jason has the aluminum version of the tire table; that metal is thinner, and his buttons are _much_ easier to operate. Even the somewhat stiff, corroded spring-loaded buttons on my old camp table are still much easier to operate than the tire table buttons when it was brand new. All that said...I'm sure everything would benefit from some lubrication, especially my old table! 😄
Man as dirty as my tires get sometimes, I'd be really hesitant to hook my food prep surface on to them. Also if you haven't seen the GCI folding table, its a pretty significant step up over the rolltop tables, sets up in literally seconds. Between the price of this thing, needing to mess with thumb screws, and the way it forces you to interact with the most muddy part of your vehicle to make food, I just don't know.
I wonder if the wind wouldn’t be so bad if the burner was closer to the pan. It looks like you could cut/grind off about ¼-½” from the bottom lip of the burner plate and still have the bolt holes to attach to the table.
I use a folding table, but I see a few possible advantages to your tire table.. since it is not a solid top, it doesn't accumulate dust / dirt, water / rain, food juices, etc; it would also make a great dish rack for drying dishes.. fewer extra towels needed!
That's an excellent point. I thought the mesh might be a headache but it has not been problematic in the least. In fact if I were to replace this with a folding table, I would look for one with the same mesh surface again.
Hey donald...I'm watching your trip with Jason. My husband and I are planning to go the the owyhees end of August. What time of year did you and Jason do this trip and and suggestions on directions. We will be coming from Newport O
Our trips have generally fallen somewhere between Oct 15 and Nov 15, though we've often run into some weather difficulties with the November trips...definitely want to avoid precipitation in this area. Late August/early September might still be pretty hot out there. October is probably the ideal point between Too Hot and Too Wet. :-)
Directions depend on where exactly you're aiming to get started. It's a massive area and your routing may vary if you're starting more north or more south. I usually just let Google or my phone nav plot the best highway course.
You have a color matched cat? Good review. Tables have been an ongoing frustration for me forever. There really is an opportunity for some clever person to revolutionize this aspect of camping. Unmentioned aspects: Can the table be stored without damaging other items around it? Can it be adjusted from a sitting height to a working height? Can it stand up to hot pans and skillets? How difficult is it to clean if it gets grease spatter on it?
• Storage: The steel one is heavy and needs to be secured. I bungee mine into the space behind my driver seat so it doesn't move around, and my camp chair then stows between the table and my drivers seat. They sell a storage bag for it which would make it easier to tuck into more places.
• Height adjustment: Nope. The height is entirely (no pun intended) dependent on the size of your tire, and that is the height it will always be. I have slightly oversize (for my truck) 33" tires and I'm not very tall, so it works okay for me. A taller person with 31" tires might find it awkward. Anyone running 37" tires would probably find it comfortable.
• Hot pans: It's powder-coated and I haven't had any issue moving my hot skillet onto it.
• Cleaning: Can't really comment. Mine hasn't gotten dirty enough yet to prompt me to try and clean it, but my standards might be lower than yours. 😄
I believe... the size of the tire would affect the table height. Small diameter tire, lower height. I could be wrong, but I'm an old grump camper (been car camping since the 60's) and bending down is nothing I like to do if I can avoid it. I would rather my table to be taller then lower. The folding table will always be the same height BUT trying to get a 4 legged table (or looped legged one) to sit flat/stable on unlevel ground can be challenging especially in rocky areas. That's probably in part why I started to enjoy backpacking because you don't try so hard to "build a camp" but rather just blow it, set up quickly and leave early... no table concerns, though a log or stump maybe helpful and used.
You are absolutely correct, the height of the table surface is dependent on the size of the tire. Someone running 31s would have an uncomfortably low table vs someone running 37s. I have 33" tires and am not very tall so the height feels acceptable enough to me and it didn't even cross my mind to address that in the video, but it's a super valid point.
Pretty cool. I wonder if you could integrate quick release leavers like bike wheels have to do away with the knobs
Live how you built the stove into it
Maybe add on light on wheel well also bolt on bottle opener also maybe Velcro strap bag and use that for the legs and hardware.
For me, at 6', the main disadvantage would be the low table weight. I can feel by back complaining now. :- )
Indeed, I didn't think about that because I'm short enough it doesn't bother me. 😄 But absolutely valid point. Also, the height of the tire table will vary depending on tire size. Someone running 37s will end up with a much higher table surface than someone running 31s. 🙂
Not sure if yours is the same, but with both of my tire tables, I can leave the threaded knobs on the inside and secure the table, so I just leave them on the inside spot, reach under and loosen or tighten the knobs. Snagged both mine from rei 2 years ago, they had a random sale on them for $40 or $50, so was worth the price at that price point lol
I did fiddle with that when I first got the table but found them annoying awkward to turn and immediately gave up on it and never tried it again, maybe I should. What I do now is leave one in place on the outside and store it in the truck with that side up. So I only move one knob from inside to outside (plus I use it as a tool to push the little buttons in the process, so it does have that one little side benefit). I might re-try leaving them both inside though, a number of viewers have indicated it works for them. I could probably use a key as a push tool for the buttons instead, as they would always be in my pocket at that point. Thanks!
@@softroadingthewest yeah, the little push pins get me every time. Like you said in the video it's especially hard when your hands are cold or wet
Forgot the setup and break down of the table with the stove. Close enough anyway.
I have two tables that fold out with roll tops. they probably take about the same time to setup up as the table you have, maybe less. For the price I would take the tables since I could move the table(s) to wherever I want them if I had to. Thanks for the review. George
Yep, I don't know why I remained so fixated on the tire once my own DIY approaches didn't work. I could have still done my built-in stove in a folding metal table for less money, easier setup, and flexible placement. 🤦♂😄
@@softroadingthewest We all live and learn. More food for thought on the next project.
When you do the time test you should include the time to get your other stove out and set up because the tire table already includes that.
The table set-up time segment was intended to just compare the tire table itself to a folding table, for the benefit of people considering which to buy. My assumption is the average user probably won't embed a stove in their tire table, so any _normal_ person would still need to set up their stove either way, which would take the same amount of time regardless of which table.
And yes, in _my_ specific case, _my_ tire table has an advantage with the built-in stove. But if I were to switch to a folding table, I would buy one with a metal surface and embed my burner in that, so it would still be a wash.
I should have made that more clear in the video...it was intended to be an apples-to-apples table vs table only, ignoring the stove I happened to embed in mine. 😄
Good content... unfortunately I just bought the aluminum tailgater tire table at Overland Expo West! In large part based on your use lol. Seems decent so far. I WANT the thin Alu-Cab table that fits up under the overhang, but $500, and the Alu-Cab dealer, OK4x4? at OEW didn't even have a display...
The aluminum version seems to work better though. Jason has it in aluminum and it's so much nicer to handle...lighter weight and the buttons work much better. And it DOES have its advantages, especially that it can be set up and level regardless of what the ground is like. It also just makes for a very tidy camp that doesn't turn into a garage sale in the woods. 😄 Hopefully they had show pricing for you at Expo. I'm not enchanted by mine, but I have it now and will certainly just keep using it.
@softroadingthewest
Made a video this morning showing table/stove setup time plus a new carbon steel wok making cheesy scrambled eggs and ham. Hope you don't mind the link, just wanted to show because I got the table and made my setup, based on your great videos. Thanks again!
th-cam.com/video/O1-hpzu67s4/w-d-xo.html
Great video!
how long did it take for the rust to start appearing? I enjoy your videos!!
I only noticed that when I was filming this last week (bought the table in August last year). Looks like maybe slight cracking in the powder coat has allowed a bit of water in.
Love that Goofy breakdown music, where can I get the album.
🕺All my music comes from a dedicated subscription music licensing service called Epidemic Sound.
7:11 is incredible graphics.
The HOA was not pleased with me when I filmed that
Nice video, thanks. Let me add another con: the Tire Table is very low if you are standing. Thanks again.
Indeed, depending on the size of your tires. Someone running 37s will have a taller table surface than someone running 31s. 😄
Didn't you use Rotopax jerry cans? If you explained the change in another video, dang it, I missed it. Why did you switch to a heavy metal jerry can?
And thank you for this video. I have long coveted that table. Now I will stick with a piece of plywood on my tailgate bike rack.
I stopped using the Rotopax when the Forester was wrecked in 2021. The capacity of my Rotopax (3.5 gal) was good for the Forester but I wanted more on the truck. I could have stacked on a second one, but on my original truck build, I still needed to carry the fuel on the roof, and I did not want to go back to having Rotopax laying flat. The biggest headache with those is that with elevation changes and/or temperature changes, they need to be opened regularly to vent off accumulating vapors. Starting from low elevation on a cool morning and then climbing up to into the mountains or high desert and getting hit by the sun on a warm day, that thing would balloon in a _very_ unsettling way. The problem is, laying flat, you can't open the lid or all the gas comes pouring out, so I would have to get up there, completely remove the securing bracket, stand the Rotopax up, vent it, then lay it back down and re-secure it. Depending on the conditions, sometimes multiple times per day.
When I built the original roof rack for the Frontier, I made a holder for three standard 2-gallon gas cans (if you dig back you can find my video about the roof rack, spring 2021). These still needed to be vented occasionally, but they were upright, so all I had to do was reach up and twist the lids open a bit, then twist them back closed. Dividing the fuel into three containers also made it much easier to handle, only two gallons at a time lifting them on & off the roof or holding them up to siphon gas into the truck tank.
Last year, when I took the roof rack off to accommodate the camper and moved roof stuff to the rear bumper I made (there are videos about all of this too 😄) there wasn't a good way to utilize those three plastic cans. I did consider going back to Rotopax mounted vertically on the bumper (would've been easy to vent) but buying enough cans and mounting hardware to carry an extra 10 gallons gets expensive fast with Rotopax...and they're still plastic cans that occasionally fail. So I ultimately decided to invest in genuine NATO-grade steel cans. I was able to build my own holder for them (at most about $20 worth of mostly scrap/remnant steel) and I appreciate that these fuel containers will definitely last however many years I keep doing this. 😄 Ultimately they are easier to handle than Rotopax. I would use a siphon no matter what, but the form factor of the jerry cans works much better than the tall skinny Rotopax that have to be precariously balanced upright. The jerry cans sit so perfectly on my table for refueling...I can start the siphon flowing and do something else while it refuels itself. Oh also, this setup makes it wonderfully easy to refill them at a gas station. I just pull the truck forward enough and I can fill them without even removing them from the bumper. 🙂
@@softroadingthewest Thank you so much for taking the time to send such an informative response. Extra fuel storage is the next thing on the list for my build and I appreciate this info more than you know.
As I was writing that out, it occurred to me it might be a good topic for a video. While I have technically covered all of that in various videos, it is spread out over the course of years within videos about other topics. I think it would make a good self-contained video, so thank you for asking! :-)
@@softroadingthewest Absolutely!
So move the table to the RH side. You have two wheels right.
I wouldn’t worry about the fuel filler. Gasoline engine passenger cars/trucks sold in the U.S. from 1996 and up use an EVAP system to recover fuel vapors as part of the mandated emissions system. The OBDII system self-tests for a sealed gas cap/fuel system when you drive the vehicle. If the EVAP system detects a loose or leaky gas cap, the check engine light will turn on.
Haha, I thought about holding up a lit lighter right next to the fuel filler to emphasize my point, but decided not to push my luck and end up with genuine explosion footage. 🤣
I quite enjoyed your tube manipulation.
I'm a professional. 😂 Don't try this at home.
Knowing what you know now, if you had to do it all over again, what would you choose?
A metal folding table, into which I would mount my burner. Best of both worlds...the folding table would be less money, less finicky setup, more work surface, more placement flexbility. I don't know why I didn't think of that. I had just become so tunnel-visioned on the tire for some reason. 😆
I could see you creating a dropdown table from your swing out arm.
That was part of the original plan but the way it came together, I don't have enough clearance. The top of the toolbox has frequently proven useful as a table-like surface though. :-)
I live in a STUDIO apartment, my kitchen is small 😊 , and I cook all my daily meals , and I manage with out a problem 😅 , 🍳 cooking all my DAILY MEALS in a SINGLE STOVE 😂....
Next to the gas tank ?
$140 for something that you can only use in one place and at one height, mounted to your vehicles tire…
A quick search revealed folding tables in the $20 range. As soon as you add the word “camp” to the search the price doubles…
Appears that the outdoor recreation market has the public over a barrel…
For my money I could purchase many $20 Golding tables for the price of one Tire Table and utilize the folding table for other purposes away from a vehicle.
It's definitely not for everyone, and that's okay. Don't buy it. It's not my favorite bit of gear for sure. Numerous people in the comments below have indicated they are quite pleased with it. * shrug * It's nice that there are multiple options for various needs and we can each choose what makes sense for us.
To be fair, in my experience, *decent* "camp" gear is engineered in ways that make it better for stowing and for outdoor use. The folding table I use in this video was a cheap thing, not a table designed for camp use, maybe $30 at Walmart. A fraction of the cost and yes it's a table, but it's awful as a camp table. I've made it work for some years because I'm cheap LOL but it has not held up well at all. On the flip side, I have dedicated "camp" gear I bought 20-30 years ago that I still use. Sometimes you do get what you pay for.
@@softroadingthewest Yes I’ll have to agree with you on “you get what you pay for”…
BTW I’m looking at Nissan Frontier now, I’ve looked at Jeeps for years but never owned one, they have some reliability issues that just don’t seem to ever get fixed.
I feel the larger table is able to support more condiments. Obviously, here, we’re talking about catsup.
🤣👏👏
You can buy almost the same thing on temu 50$ made of tubeular steel and two adjustable legs for almost a 3rd of the price is more than half as good
Missed the chance to drive with it attached to the wheel 😂😢
New subscriber...greetings from Baltimore
🤔 While cool. Seems a folding table and JetBoil Genesis stove would be an easier option. And the Jetboil Genesis stove system is really compact for a dual stove(I know you mentioned you don't need 2 burners)
Yep. Or even without the jetboil, I could have simply bought a folding table with a metal surface and mounted my burner in that. Which I may still do. 😏
For the 30 seconds I’d much rather have the wheel mount. Stability is much more important than a minute of setup time.
On the time comparison you didn't include the extra steps for the separate camp stove with the folding table. Probably still just a few seconds difference overall.
Well, it was just a table-to-table comparison, not a table+stove comparison. I assume most people won't embed a stove burner in their table and would need to set up a stove either way, which would be the same amount of time regardless of which table they were using. 🙂
Your cat appreciates all of your entertainment... I'm a cat person...
isn't a wire mesh surface a huge Con?
I would have thought so, but so far it hasn't been an issue. It's expanded steel, not wire per se, so it's very sturdy. I carry a small, thin cutting board in my "kitchen" for food prep, and haven't had an issue with anything else that I set on it. Another viewer pointed out that the mesh allows spills to just flow through to the ground, and won't accumulate any rain. In fact, if I were to buy a folding table to replace it (still a possibility) I would actually choose one with the same type of mesh surface again.
Your magnetic wind blocker wouldn't have worked if you had gotten the aluminum one instead of the steel one.
I'm sure they probably don't make a tire table that would fit my tires, I'd have to build my own to use something like that.
I'm not sure the timed comparisons are equal. Your tire table was set up and the stove was set up where-as the folding table was just the table. If you had pulled out a camp stove to put on the folding table, time would have been near identical for set up and break down times.
I made the magnetic wind blocker after buying the steel table. Had I bought the aluminum version (still wish I had) I would have come up with a different solution for the wind. (and what I did come up with doesn't work impeccably in any case 😆)
The table set-up time segment was intended to just compare the tire table itself to a folding table, for the benefit of people considering which to buy. My assumption is the average user probably won't embed a stove in their tire table, so any normal person would still need to set up their stove either way, which would take the same amount of time regardless of which table.
And yes, in my specific case, my tire table has an advantage with the built-in stove. But if I were to switch to a folding table, I would buy one with a metal surface and embed my burner in that, so it would still be a wash.
I should have made that more clear in the video...it was intended to be an apples-to-apples table vs table only, ignoring the stove I happened to embed in mine. 🙂
Question y do u always say this is not sponsored in any way jut curious I hear other u tubers say the same thing keep up the good videos
It's really common for products to not only get sent to TH-camrs for free to review, sometimes even paid by the company to produce the review, and this often this includes a deal for the TH-camr to earn commissions from sales they drive...which gives them a motivation to create a positive review. It's so common that viewers have become cynical and suspicious of ANY positive review. I like to reassure my viewers that I have no financial stake in whether or not they buy the product.
It's worth it if you find it for $50 on the marketplace like I did 👍🏼
Love your cat 😺 your cat loves to be with you while u do your projects outside by your truck he or she?
Boy cat. The shelter had given him the name Charlie and my daughter liked it so it stuck. Charlie Cat.
When your gas cap gets old and the seal fails, you will know you need a new one when you notice a small explosion. :o)
🤣🤣
HI DONALD 👋
THE TIRE TABLE IS WAY BETTER . NOT NEEDING LEVEL GROUND / EXCEPT FOR SLEEPING ,ETC ,MAYBE COOKING , EATING . WAY STURDIER FROM WIND & BUMPING INTO BY PETS , CHILDREN & ADULTS . GOOD CHOICE . IT'S SUPPOSE TO BE RELAXING WHEN YOU GO CAMPING 🏕 NOT A RACE ! BUT THAT DEPENDS ON THE WEATHER & WILDLIFE TOO ! ENJOYED ❤ BE SAFE ☺️ 🙏HAVE FUN ☺️ 🙏GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS ON YOUR ADVENTURES ☺️ 🙏THANK YOU ☺️ 🙏I THINK YOU MADE A COOL CHOICE WITH YOUR SETUP 😎 ☺️ 🙏
Indeed, I am certainly more fixated on speed than most campers need to be. I make/break camp every single day, almost never staying more than one night in one place, and I am busy trying to film in that nice evening or morning light when setup/breakdown also needs to happen, so my focus is always on refining my kit for maximum ease and speed. 🙂 Thanks David!
“I’ve never had a problem” is a pretty poor standard to measure safety against. You can ask NASA about that: they were sure that pure O2 environments and launching space shuttles after a frost were safe things to do, until they weren’t. That said, I think you’re probably right about the gas filler not being a safety problem. Gasoline in an open environment is so volatile that the fumes will dissipate before they can ignite. Try lighting gasoline on fire when it’s in an open dish or on a non-porous surface: it’s really tough.
But that's the only measure I have. I had already used this multiple times before ever showing it to my viewers last year. It's not like I stood here and proclaimed, "This is safe." I literally said I was unsure about it: _"I don't know how truly potentially dangerous this is or is not."_ I don't know what else I could possibly say beyond my anecdotal evidence that I've used this countless times without blowing up. 🤷♂
I found your evidence amusing 😊
IMO, it's too small for me and I camp solo. Also, you do realize where that tire has been? (oo)
I like your content and I mean my comment and no disrespect
All good! :-)
you weld... make a custom tire table of modify that one more
comments? yeah...I'll build my own version
Why go with a table you can only fit off a tire? Only place you can set it up is off one of the four tires. A freestanding table would be such a better idea.
You're correct...I had been so fixated on my DIY tire-supported solution that when I went to buy something, I didn't even think of just getting a metal folding table and mounting my burner in that. 🤦♂ The tire table does have the advantage of being perfectly stable and level regardless of how uneven or soft the ground is, and very sturdy. I just got back from a trip where some of my campsites had zero level ground, AND I ended up using my extra fuel and was grateful for the sturdy support, so I came home with a new appreciation for the tradeoffs. 😄
Your times for set up and tear down are a bit off, the folding table should include setting up a stove since the tire table has one built in, thus I feel like the tire table is close enough or even fast to the folding table. Either way.....which do YOU like better , cuz you ar the one living with it and THAT is ALLLLLLL that matters! Good to see your cat supervises like mine does. CHeers!
The table set-up time segment was intended to just compare the tire table itself to a folding table, for the benefit of people considering which to buy. My assumption is the average user probably won't embed a stove in their tire table, so any normal person would still need to set up their stove either way, which would take the same amount of time regardless of which table.
And yes, in my specific case, my tire table has an advantage with the built-in stove. But if I were to switch to a folding table, I would buy one with a metal surface and embed my burner in that, so it would still be a wash.
I should have made that more clear in the video...it was intended to be an apples-to-apples table vs table only, ignoring the stove I happened to embed in mine. 😄
anyone can point me to the "basic folding table"?
Walmart?
Yeah this was just Walmart find, you can find similar on Amazon. I would not recommend this one for camping, it's not made for outdoor use.
Folding table - easier to keep clean. Not sure I'd want to put that Tire Table into the back of my truck covered in food grease.