Re: Portable work surface

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On Friday, February 22, 2013 7:43:14 AM UTC-5, JoeRaisin wrote:
> I would like to have some sort of portable work bench/table that I can=20
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> stow in my truck.
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> My truck is a pick up with an 8ft bed and a topper that does not extend=
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> above the cab.  Inside the bed I've divided it roughly down the center=20
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> with one side having shelves and tool bag storage and the other with=20
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> ladder hutches (8, 6 ft ladders laid flat & 4 ft on its side) and space=
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> for wire spools/boxes, equipment to be installed and other material=20
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> (really just open area above the ladder hutch).
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> I was looking at the black and decker workmate but it really isn't all=20
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> that compact when folded.
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> Do any of you use something like that?  The older I get the farther away=
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> the ground gets and working off a print laying on the cold concrete of a=
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> commercial construction project is getting old.
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> I've gone so far as to try and design something I could build myself but=
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> since I don't weld or have the ability to shape metal (cut and drill,=20
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> sure, but nothing beyond that), everything I can figure out would still=
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> be too clunky - I guess I'm not as creative as I would have liked to=20
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> believe.
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> If you have something proven I'd even be willing to take it to a welder=
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> - but I haven't done that with anything I've come up with as I don't=20
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> really want to put out the cash on spec.
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> Work carts are nice but you have to have a van to stow one of those - so=
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> anything portable and compact along those lines would be great as well.
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> If you guy know of any products or have even built something along those=
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> lines I would greatly appreciate it... And these old legs would thank=20
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> you as well.

How about one of those white plastic "Lifetime" folding tables you get from=
 Sam's Club? They make them from about 8' long down to about 3' I think and=
 they fold completely flat about 2" in height. I think a 4' or 6' would be =
great for reading prints. When I worked for one company many years ago, we =
built a sub-floor in our vans to slide a Little Giant ladder underneath and=
 then all the usual stuff was placed on top without feeling a loss of space=
 unless you wanted/needed too climb inside. I'm sure a pickup can work just=
 as well, if not better. Plus you can buy the nice and comfy matching chair=
 to sit your sore and tired butt in. :)