theksmith 4,148 Posted June 20, 2016 For your comparison shopping or inspiration pleasure... every folding table that specifically works with the JK tailgate, and some thoughts on building your own at the end. Please post up a link if you know of any that I missed, and feel free to share your own custom solutions in this thread too! --------------- M-PAC / Springtail JK Rear Door Folding Tray/MOLLE Panel $189.99 + shipping (Regularly $224.99) 25" x 13" x ?? (folded depth) 325 sq-in surface area (calculated) unknown weight MOLLE compatible table 16 ga. steel table, 11 ga. steel back (powder coated black) paracord supports unknown hardware materials 40lb load rating (option to drill more mounting holes for higher rating) appears to work with factory passenger side mounted subwoofer mounting hardware included no drilling required (uses plastic screw grommets) requires removing or cutting the factory trim panel Replacement parts available (latch pins) Matches other MOLLE items sold by M-PAC Also on eBay as seller springtailsolutions --------------- eBay seller alanjk427 JK Tailgate MOLLE Panel $125 with free shipping on eBay (black) - $130 with free shipping on eBay (zombie green) - 22.625" x 10.75" x ?? (folded depth) 243 sq-in surface area (calculated) unknown weight MOLLE compatible table 12 ga. steel (powder coated black or lime green) paracord supports unknown hardware materials no load rating given appears to work with factory passenger side mounted subwoofer unknown if mounting hardware included drilling is required does not require removing or cutting the factory trim panel Appears you can get a custom msg laser cut into table (not sure if extra charge)? Matches other MOLLE items sold by alanjk427 --------------- Teraflex JK Multi-Purpose Tailgate Table $189.04 with free shipping at Quadratec (MSRP $209.99) 23.5" x 12" x 1.25" (folded depth) 162 sq-in surface area (calculated) 6.9 lbs (shipping weight) appears to be MOLLE compatible (has slots & holes) aluminum (powder coated black) stainless coated wire rope supports stainless hardware 75lb load rating appears to work with factory passenger side mounted subwoofer mounting hardware included (screws, nut-serts & install tool) drilling is required does not require removing or cutting the factory trim panel Includes bottle opener and trash bag hooks Small plastic cutting board accessory available ($19.99) Same as Vector version (companies are partnered for this product) --------------- Vector Off-Road MP Table Currently $199.99 + shipping Same as Teraflex version (companies are partnered for this product) Currently comes with free set of Hood UFOs (http://www.vectoroffroad.com/ufos-hood-p-40.html) Vector used to also sell a longer version of this table for use without the factory subwoofer, but it appears to no longer be produced --------------- Outback Adventures Trailgater $299.00 + shipping (plastic board) $329.99 with free shipping at Rebel Offroad (bamboo board) main table: 25" x 13", cutting board side-out: 20" x 11" 1.8" (folded depth) 525 sq-in surface area (advertised) 20.3 lbs (plastic board), 19.5 lbs (bamboo board) (advertised) solid surface with slide-out cutting board extension 14 ga. stainless steel table (raw), 0.120" aluminum back (painted gray) wire rope supports (unknown materials) stainless hardware 40lbs load rating (main table) works with factory passenger side mounted subwoofer mounting hardware included no drilling required (uses plastic screw grommets) requires removing or cutting the factory trim panel Includes slide-out cutting board in white HDPE Sanalite (plastic) or natural bamboo Table & cutting board surfaces are FDA approved for contact with food Also sold as an Adventure Trailers product --------------- EVO Manufacturing Trail Table $179.99 with free shipping at Quadratec 25" x 14" x 1.5" (folded depth) 348 sq-in surface area (advertised) 30 lbs (shipping weight) solid surface 1/8" steel (black power coated) solid folding supports unknown hardware materials unknown load rating (company shows image of adult standing on it, 150 lbs claimed on another forum) works with factory passenger side mounted subwoofer mounting hardware included drilling is required requires removing or cutting the factory trim panel Can be mounted to fold up or down --------------- Rock-Slide Engineering Tailgate Table $159.99 (raw) with free shipping at 4WheelParts $179.99 (black) with free shipping at Quadratec bottom shelf: 17.5" x 16", top shelf: 18.5" x 10.75" 1.6" (folded depth) 450+ sq-in surface area (advertised) unknown weight 2 tier solid surface 12 ga. aluminum (raw or black powder coated) solid side supports unknown hardware materials no load rating given (38 lbs claimed on another forum) appears to work with factory passenger side mounted subwoofer mounting hardware included drilling is required does not require removing or cutting the factory trim panel (can fit below) 2 tier system provides a lot of workspace but not practical for typical propane camp stoves --------------- Warrior Products Tailgate Table Storage System $349.99 with free shipping at Quadratec unknown size unknown surface area 22 lbs (advertised) half solid surface & half MOLLE compatible aluminum panels (raw) with steel sides (power coated black) no supports (thick enough to just rest against tailgate) unknown hardware materials no load rating given work swith factory passenger side mounted subwoofer mounting hardware included drilling is required requires removing or cutting the factory trim panel Acts as a storage container when folded, includes 2 small shelfs or items can be strapped to back Lockable when folded No supports needed means items can hang off sides (a wide stove/grill for example) --------------- SunTop TailMesa Italian company, could not find it for sale anywhere in US or with international shipping. Neat 2 tier design can leave top up so you could use a tall stove on bottom shelf still. --------------- Offroad Trail Tools Tray Table No longer produced. Very nice aesthetic though, lots of space without secondary shelves or slide-outs, no need to remove plastic trim - but doesn't work with subwoofer. --------------- DIY $25 - $200 in materials + your time + must have tools & work area A quickly accessible vehicle mounted table is one of the single most useful accessories anyone can add. But is paying $200 or more incredibly insane, or absolutely appropriate? It really all depends on your unique situation (time, skills, desire, etc.). Some things to consider: - What level of quality is acceptable to you? If you're perfectly happy with a bungee corded, out-of-square, splintery edged chunk of wood that you found on the side of the road, then have at it and enjoy your free table. If you're the complete opposite and obsess over every little detail in a product, then you can still certainly make your own, but you're not going to save a ton of money trying to make something really awesome. Realistically, you can probably make something fairly nice that belongs in the middle of those 2 extremes for maybe $75. - Is your contraption weatherproof? Especially important for top-off rigs, but even a little rain can quickly swell untreated wood and rust bare steel. Using stainless or aluminum for any metals including all hardware drives the cost up quickly. If you use wood as the primary material, you need to seal it well - multiple coats of paint/varnish/bedliner add time and expense. The same goes for powder-coating any steel panels (for long term durability and weatherproofing). - Are you building it for trail repairs, food prep, or both? The whole MOLLE thing is neat, but you'll be torqued the first time your stove boils over and goo drips down into all your accessory pouches. Only one table in the list specifically mentions using materials that are FDA approved for contact with food. Sure, making a sandwich on a painted piece of wood isn't likely to kill you, but if you plan to work on parts one day and eat off it another day then you at least want a surface that cleans well and doesn't hold chemicals or germs. - Shipping costs and unplanned hardware/tools/bits/blades/etc. can add up quickly. Most folks that make their own will already have plenty of tools and parts lying around, so this might not a huge concern. What wears on me at times is all the extra trips to the hardware store for unexpected items, or waiting for some final piece to come from an online order. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HeyOK 8 Posted June 24, 2016 Here is what I made. I'm always looking for a flat surface. I use this to hold tools and as a work bench. Probably wouldn't hold up too well if you were to sit on it but it is surprisingly strong. Some paracord is being used for the supports. Originally I was going to use cable but the paracord is easy to work with and doesn't rattle around when the shelf is folded up. Nutserts are used to hold the aluminum angle to the gate. The shelf is just a piece of pine shelf. The hinge is nothing more than a 1/4 - 20 bolt that threads into a threaded insert on each side. To help keep the bolt from ripping out of the wood, another piece of angle was used. It distributes the force over a much larger area and keeps the wood from splitting. These pictures are a couple of years old now. Eventually I replaced the wood shelf with a piece of Baltic birch plywood. The paracord is holding up fine as I have only had to adjust it one time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theksmith 4,148 Posted June 24, 2016 nice and simple, i like it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jgaz 606 Posted July 24, 2016 Here is another possibility to add to your list: https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/en/us/drop-down-table.html Price point looks competitive especially considering it has the pull out extension. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theksmith 4,148 Posted August 3, 2016 Here is another possibility to add to your list: https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/en/us/drop-down-table.html Price point looks competitive especially considering it has the pull out extension. i'll have to add that to the list now that it appears to be shipping - and for a great price. i'm really suprised how cheap it is, Front Runner stuff is usually very well made and priced accordingly! this is probably the best buy out there if you don't mind drilling holes in your tailgate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theksmith 4,148 Posted August 3, 2016 a writeup on my first attempt at making my own is here: https://offroadpassport.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4710 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
