Owl Vans Side Table

[StogieMan]

This is a pretty cool idea from Owl Vans. It should be easy to store in our vans as it stores flat.

For us this would be perfect for our compact Eureka Grill that we got last year.

https://owlvans.com/products/trax-ta...ntent=CCGEmail

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_5MieD...3s&pp=2AE1kAIB

[3OnOurWay]

I liked it best idea and clean looking. But $500

[StogieMan]

Originally Posted by 3OnOurWay

I liked it best idea and clean looking. But $500

Yup, I bit and ordered it. They have many great products but for sure they’re not cheap!

[Mollysdad]

It looks like it utilizes the slider track for the side door. Clever, but now it restricts the door opening or else everything goes flying. Is there a door stop added to the track? How much do you use the side door?

[3OnOurWay]

Agreed on their products. Creative and well thought out. We have their spare tire / bike mount in our back doors. Looks beautiful and works great

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

It looks like it utilizes the slider track for the side door. Clever, but now it restricts the door opening or else everything goes flying. Is there a door stop added to the track? How much do you use the side door?

That was clear in the video. Yes, there is a stop. The video also shows the typical half the side door is blocked and not usable to start with, so you can still use the half that's not already blocked.

[StogieMan]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

It looks like it utilizes the slider track for the side door. Clever, but now it restricts the door opening or else everything goes flying. Is there a door stop added to the track? How much do you use the side door?

Yes, like Wazbro replied, it has a rail clamp that stops the door before it hits the table. There’s a small space before the door and table. He explains it in the video.

We have the extended AIGT which is on the 170 wheel base so we have a bit more space towards the back of the van. I’ll first try it the way it is and see how it goes. If it bothers me too much I’ll look into modifying the brackets closer together to be able to move it a bit more to the left as we have more room on the left side.

As for the door usage, I welded a door stopper on the track a few years back already so that it stops right past the entry cabinet. However, with a bit more of a push it goes past the stopper. Convenient when parked on a hill.

[StogieMan]

Originally Posted by Wazbro

The video also shows the typical half the side door is blocked and not usable to start with, so you can still use the half that's not already blocked.

Actually, the sliding door does slide all the way open from the factory. Many folks just add a stopper like I did for convenience.

The only drawback is for the folks with the automatic sliding door option as you can’t use the table with those. The door will try to fully open.

[DaveG]

Originally Posted by StogieMan

Actually, the sliding door does slide all the way open from the factory. Many folks just add a stopper like I did for convenience.

The only drawback is for the folks with the automatic sliding door option as you can’t use the table with those. The door will try to fully open.

The safety switch will activate stopping the door. The control logic may get confused? The door can get pretty weird if it doesn’t go full travel opening and closing. At least that’s been my experience.

[StogieMan]

Originally Posted by DaveG

The safety switch will activate stopping the door. The control logic may get confused? The door can get pretty weird if it doesn’t go full travel opening and closing. At least that’s been my experience.

I did not know that it had that safety feature but it makes sense.

However, the table unfortunately is not compatible with the power sliding door per their website.

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by StogieMan

Actually, the sliding door does slide all the way open from the factory. Many folks just add a stopper like I did for convenience.

The only drawback is for the folks with the automatic sliding door option as you can’t use the table with those. The door will try to fully open.

I did mean that, even with the door all the way open, about half the door opening was already blocked (with cabinets and/or equipment) on many camper vans.

[3OnOurWay]

That’s clever. From factory agreed GL door opens too far exposing second chair to elements.

[InterBlog]

I can’t imagine putting weight on Owl’s cutting board - did I miss something, because once it slides out, it does not appear to be well-supported.

I made a number of accessories out of perforated metal, most notably a top for my Lagun table, but I used a smaller piece of the same metal to make a sideboard that hangs on the side of my van using two 60-pound magnets. It stores on the butt end of the galley when not in use. Cost probably $30 or so.

The little portable roll-up aluminum camping tables have come a long way in recent years - I use those for food prep. They are surprisingly strong and don’t take up much storage space.

[DaveG]

Originally Posted by InterBlog

I can’t imagine putting weight on Owl’s cutting board - did I miss something, because once it slides out, it does not appear to be well-supported.

I made a number of accessories out of perforated metal, most notably a top for my Lagun table, but I used a smaller piece of the same metal to make a sideboard that hangs on the side of my van using two 60-pound magnets. It stores on the butt end of the galley when not in use. Cost probably $30 or so.

The little portable roll-up aluminum camping tables have come a long way in recent years - I use those for food prep. They are surprisingly strong and don’t take up much storage space.

Looks good! My thought as well about stability and support but Owl seems to have good stuff. Looking forward to user reviews here. We use a fold up table like you mention near the curb side rear wheel for easy access to the low pressure LP port. Just right for the Magma grill. Agree the folding tables have become pretty good.

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by DaveG

Looks good! My thought as well about stability and support but Owl seems to have good stuff. Looking forward to user reviews here. We use a fold up table like you mention near the curb side rear wheel for easy access to the low pressure LP port. Just right for the Magma grill. Agree the folding tables have become pretty good.

Well, they’ve become pretty good at a much lower price than this option, too. One could buy a good quality roll-up table *AND* a Clam Venture and still be ahead financially!

I’m all for being a big spender on van accessories that truly make life on the road easier, but this Owl table option is not resonating with me. I do hang my little DIY table on the side of my van on certain shorter trips, but if I am on a longer off-grid trip, newsflash - it’s going to rain, and rain, and rain, and the Clam Venture is one of the best accessories I’ve bought in a decade of Class B ownership, if not THE best. Even if I am not hauling my little CargoMate trailer, I can still toss that thing up on the Interstate’s roof and carry it that way (I strap it under the leading edge of my solar panels - I don’t have an EXT, so I’ve got no space in the rear). And then put the aluminum roll-up table inside of the Clam Venture. No rain, no bugs, no hassle - it’s a beautiful product.

[StogieMan]

It finally arrived a bit late but it’s here. We probably won’t get much use out of it this late in the season but we’re looking forward to using it when we head down south in a few months for a winter trip and next years camping season.

This might not be ideal for some folks but for us it works for our use case. Our grill fits on it perfectly and it’s very low profile and easy to store. When it’s setup along with the magnets - it’s on there pretty darn good and will hold some weight. Now we can take out the bigger profile grilling table that we carry. Again, probably not for everyone but we like it and can see some very good usage going forward.

[StogieMan]

One other thing to mention is that the door stopper that we installed previously stops the door just a few inches before the corner table bracket. You can’t really see it from the angle in the previous picture above but it does. The table also came with a stopper but I won’t be installing it as this works.