In this video I share how I built this new fold down table side unit with built-in van storage and integrated battery pack for charging my devices.

My old an table:    • How To Build A FOLDING VAN TABLE | Ch...  
See part 2 of this table build here:    • Building A FOLDING VAN TABLE With STO...  

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🚐 Check out the written version on my website: https://thetinycampervan.com/2020/12/...

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👉 Heavy duty adjustable steel wire: https://amzn.to/3JDEDjR
👉 NOVOO portable power generator/battery pack: https://amzn.to/3Zbsdpg
👉 Campingaz Kitchen 2 CV stove: https://amzn.to/3yWHTlA
👉 Kreg R3 Pocket Hole Jog System: https://amzn.to/3FKpdJC
👉 High tensile bolts: https://ebay.us/xvHFNu
👉 Penny washers: https://ebay.us/DZv4Ak
👉 Metal eye plates: https://amzn.to/3JDKUw7
👉 Cupboard latch: https://amzn.to/3lymhJ1
👉 900mm piano hinge: https://amzn.to/3ncBZKy
👉 Magnetic catch: https://amzn.to/42KoDFE
👉 Gorilla wood glue: https://amzn.to/3TKex3l

0:00 - Introduction
0:30 - The Front
3:12 - The Sides
5:31 - The Table
9:00 - The Top Shelf
9:45 - The Upper Brace
10:20 - The Base
12:21 - The Lower Brace
12:46 - Final Prep
13:37 - Attaching The Table
16:15 - Installation

I created a design of the table in Sketchup & joined two boards with dowels to get my width. I then cut out my table from this front piece & attached it with a piano hinge. I cut out various notches from the top of the front piece to get it fitting against the van ceiling & wall, & to incorporate a shelf.

With the van wall being a very uneven surface, I created templates with two bits of cardboard & trimmed them down to get a good fit, then drew up these templates onto the wood & cut them out. I then cut out an opening for the face of my battery pack to sit in, using a router.

Clamping the side pieces in place, I used pocket holes to screw the sides to the front piece for an arched structure.

The next piece to cut was the top shelf, once again with a couple of notches removed, so that it would fit in place. Once cut & sanded, I added pocket holes & screwed it into the unit, making the bottom of the shelf was flush with the top of the table opening.

This shelf would have the addition of a back piece & this is would allow an area for the table to be attached to the van wall. Due to the corners of the van, the back piece didn’t stretch all the way along, but as long as it met the screw threads in the van walls then this didn’t matter.

I created the base in the same way as the top shelf & with a bit of refinement got it to a good fit. I cut a recess for my piano hinge & this is so when the table is folded up it sits flush with the rest of the front. With the structure of the table finally coming together, I could attach the hinge into the front recess.

I needed to fix the lower area of the unit to the van wall & so another brace was needed. This time, it required an angled edge to accommodate the corner of the van.

I undid the pocket holes, & got some wood glue in the joints & then, after screwing it all back together, got some 9mm diameter dowel plugs that I had pre-cut, to fill the pocket holes in places where they might be seen, like the top shelf, inside the side the unit & on the base.

I could now attach the table to the hinge. It was a good fit overall, though the corners were a tight, so I sanded the edges. I then attached 2 magnets, a latch & 4 eye plates for my wires to hook on. Before deciding on this method of holding the table up I looked at nearly every possible way of supporting a table, including folding shelf brackets, fold-out arms & piston stays. Though it would have been nice not to have these wires, I’ve never found them to be ‘in the way’ & if I’m going to be cooking on this table, then I want the strongest possible support for it. After a final sand, I gave the whole unit 3 coats of polyurethane varnish to protect the wood, & sanded in between coats.

At long last I was ready to install the table in the van. For this I used all 5 of the M6 screw threads built into the wall of the van, & purchased some high tensile bolts that would secure it in place, along with penny washers to help distribute the load & protect the wood. I could now add the battery - it’s great to finally have power built into the van!

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#Vanlife #NissanNV200 #LensOfJames

DISCLAIMER: In this video, I am in no way stating that this is the proper way to undertake the conversion of a van, however after research & experience using the van, I believe this to be the way that is best suited to my van & the way I intend to use it.