Have noticed my bones, my brain, and my musculature don't run about like they used to and in fact they think there is great utility in flopping down at a moment’s notice. It didn’t take me long to decide to keep the Burro rear dinette area permanently configured as a bed, er, lounge, for just those moments.

I notice many of us who camp in our wee shoeboxes have done the same. My beautiful dinette table is in storage at home. So Burro needed a new table plan. Many wonderful solutions for this are documented on this forum and I have added my own.

But my answer, the clever, foldaway mini-table I built for over the front gaucho cushions just wasn’t working for us. It was bulky, balky, and, I concluded, over-built. What was good was it made use of the under the window glassed in gaucho support ledge so no new support holes ever went through the shell. I also added a narrow, fenced in shelf, for pencils and stuff. Utility.

When you’re big like we are, doing things in tiny quarters better be smooth, or there’s trouble. For the table, we needed something better. Getting to work on that, I came up with a combination-stove-shroud-table that implemented a piano hinge and folded out and hung off the cabinet door into the middle of the trailer. Seemed a good idea at the time. Had utility, but after a few days I concluded this thing was ugly, big time. I couldn't eat dinner on that tortured looking thing. Nancy wouldn't eat dinner on that. Torquemada might.

Why can't I make something light but strong that sets up fast without arguments? Something clean and pure. It should look like what it is instead of what you fear it might turn into. The stove shroud thing was overkill and mostly redundant (and ugly).

I found myself staring intensely at some left over plywood, and a broom handle. I was young Edison now, or Alexander Bell, discarding the bad ideas, saving the good ones, simplifying, consolidating, re-inventing. Ah, the joy of discovery, eh, Tom? A T-nut and a screw-thingo driven into the broom, some varnish, and the thing was done. We can hang it in both places, or store it flat under the lounge.

Here's what the previous tables looked like.

Hey, that's a good idea. We have the same trouble with our Burro. The back is always a bed, and with a few extra pillows makes a"sofa". The front table, if it is positioned so we can slide in to it, does not allow the fridge to open fully. And the seating always seems cramped, yet the backs are too far back to be comfortable. (we've been around this bend before - look at Per's solution of the captain's chairs) Our solution was a "thingie" that Frederick turned us on to. It is a tripod that holds the table post and the table - anywhere you want it. Usually we want it outside!! to give us more room. It would work where you have put it also. Great idea, nice pics.

Frederick, if you are lurking out there, can you post that tripod for us?

Called porta leggs - one on ebay right now!!

Myron, your table looks great. How does it attach against the wall? Did you trim your gaucho support ledge? What is the black between the window frame and the ledge? How stable is it? Like, just say, if a small dog jumped up on it.

Well done, sir!

That would be a ready-made gizmo for those of us not as talented as Myron!
Click to view attachment

No trimming to gaucho ledge. I built a box around the ledge that screws into it. The "box" takes the shape of a long, narrow shelf with a 1 inch high "fence" around it made of scrap walnut. That's the "black" thing you see. Nothing attaches to wall, only to the ledge. I used scrap wood for everything. Joints employ the notch for added strength.

Table top has a lip facing down and a notch that nests on top the cross bar. Never touches the wall. I was going to add threaded inserts to screw table tight to the bar like I did on the cabined door (red knob) but the notch makes that overkill. How strong is it? If my 70 lb dog Ben ever put his paws on it it would likely not collapse, but I would. Whole thing's no stronger than the ledge and the leg, so it depends on the wood thickness you employ.

I just like thid description myself "cheaptitudity" If this is not a word maybe it should be?

Nice Mod too!

Thanks, Myron!

"Cheaptitudity" is when it works out like Myron's mods. My mods are better labeled 'Cheapidity'.

That looks like a great solution!

Boy, that's using your kidneys! SMART!

- Miriam