Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 17:15:00 -0600
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: "Kitchen" table in Westies?
In-Reply-To: <6bc66ccf1003081325g7a004843n4d10014ab33a8886@mail.gmail.com>
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Don, since you live in Portland, you ought to be able to find someone who has a camper with functioning table who'd let you take a look. The thing is pretty simple, but a slight difference in measurements might make quite a difference in function. It is a tight fit to get it into storage position, for example.
The leg, which fits through the hole in the counter and down into the receptacle below, is just an L-shaped pipe, looks like about 1.75", but you'd better measure to get it right. It takes two clamping knobs, one on the side of the cabinet to lock the leg in place, and one under that table top to lock the table top on the horizontal bar that is the top of the leg.
When the thing is all mounted, the table top fits above the two storage bins as you already figured out. To swing it out, one pulls it straight out away from the windows (the leg will be pivoting while you do this, so both clamps have to be loose), keeping the table itself with long edge parallel to the windows while you pull it out. It is really tight, squeezes against the left back of the rear seat. Same when stowing it. When the horizontal support (leg top arm) is parallel to the rear seat, then the table top can be pivoted to the position you want -- generally for eating, parallel to the seat. For that matter, if you use the table top for food preparation, that's the best position, too.
If the table is too close to the bulkhead when stowed, it will squeak as you drive as it rubs against the bulkhead, no matter how tightly it is clamped down. Got to make sure there is a gap between the bulkhead and the table edge. Also, must be clamped super tight with both knobs, to prevent movement.
Personally, I'd buy one if I needed it. Even at GoWesty prices, not too bad, and a table that fits perfectly.
DMc
---- Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> Can someone point me to a picture, diagram, whatever, of how the swing out
> table is supposed to work? I got my interior 2nd hand from a Westie and
> have it installed into my low top van. When I got the interior it came with
> a "homemade" POS table set-up...the one that swivels out on the driver's
> side just behind the stove/sink/fridge cabinet. The one that came with my
> second hand interior was so crudely made that I guess I just tossed it out
> without paying much attention..Can't even find it anymore, but now I'd like
> a working table, I think. But they are silly-expensive to buy the whole
> deal on the Samba, etc..so I want to make one. It is supposed to 'cover'
> those two flip-open hatches, when it is not deployed as a table, by
> pivoting on some kind of "leg" that fits through the hole in that lower
> cabinet. I have the clamping sleeve and the knob plus a "base" bracket down
> on the floor of the van where I guess some part of the table leg is supposed
> to land. I am supposing there must be a 'telescoping' arrangement of some
> sort so that you can raise up the table and pivot it across the interior
> perpendicular to the side of the van and then lock it in place. I am handy
> with tools so I just need to see one, a picture of one, or a sketch or
> description of how to.... to fabricate a working copy for my own van. Or if
> someone around Portland, Or. has a cheap table leg set-up they'd be willing
> to off..that would work, too.
> thanks, Don Hanson
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