In part 2 of my folding van table build, I share how I turned the folding table unit I built in part 1 into a practical and useful space for storing appliances for my van build.

Van table build part 1:    • Building A FOLDING VAN TABLE With STO...  

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0:00 - Intro & the existing table
0:28 - What I'll be keeping int he table unit
0:53 - Adding coat hooks
1:16 - Building the middle shelf
3:07 - Building the battery into the unit
4:49 - Capping the table wires
5:06 - Installing the shelf
5:38 - Finishing the fixings
6:10 - Making a door for the battery opening
7:34 - Reinstalling the table unit in the van
8:00 - The finished floating van table wall unit

I use the van frequently for day trips, for camping under 30 nights a year and, as I don’t live in the van, the table is tailored for my personal use. This is what I will keep in the table:

- A portable battery pack
- A dual hob gas stove
- A folding solar panel

But the first thing I did was to add a double hook to either side - using silver ones to match the table fixings.

I could now begin work on the next addition to the table - a shelf across the middle. This would hold the gas stove and solar panel, with the battery sitting in the opening below.

But before installing the shelf I needed to take care of the battery while I still had the space to work.

Battery movement when I’m driving has been a bit of a concern for me, so I needed to find a way to hold it in place at the opening in the table, whilst still being able to remove it when needed. My idea was to create a simple holder around the battery.

It’s a basic idea, but by leaving a bit of room behind the battery, I could slide it back and lift it out, though I’ll address the gap behind the battery shortly.

Happy with the design, I cut some wood into 18x18mm pieces and attached them from the underside of the table.

Finally, to stop the battery sliding backwards, I made this small block which could sit behind the battery to keep it in place.

And before I go any further, I want to share how I dealt with the exposed ends of the table support wires that I had cut to length in the previous table video. I purchased plastic end caps as I didn’t like the idea of having sharp wire sticking out near my hands, and these push on the ends and really neaten them up. I added a dab of superglue to hold them in place permanently.

So I could now finally install the shelf, and it would have been a bit easier if I had taken it off the wall but eventually I got the pocket holes field with screws and I plugged them with dowels and wood glue afterwards.

With the glue dry, I could sand the protruding dowels flat and give the areas I had worked on a final sand before coating with a polyurethane varnish for protection and to match the rest of the table.

But the story of the table doesn’t end here...there were still a few more tweaks I wanted to make to the table.

The first was to swap out the screws which I had used for the eye plates, which hold the wires and thus all the weight that I put on the table. I wanted to use stainless steel instead, and I also took the opportunity to add a dab of epoxy into each of the screw holes, as well as on the base of the eye plate, just to hold everything in place firmly.

I then added a door in front of the battery to protect it from the elements and could finally reinstall it in the van.

This table has definitely been a lot of work, but now got everything I need for days out securely stored in the van - be it in the table or in under bed storage.

I’ve no doubt I’ll keep adding little bits to the table as I use it more, but for now it’s the perfect set up for my van build.

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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 and experience using the van, I believe this to be the way that is best suited to my van and the way I intend to use it.