Truck-bed slide out work surface

[ryanps]

I will try and keep this short but forgive me if I am little long-winded. I have a truck in which I would like to install a slide-out work surface (basically a "table") in the truck bed. They sell commercial versions of these and I figure I could probably build one (unless the conventional wisdom on BT3 says differently).

The "table" would span the width between the two wheel wells and would be as long as possible when the tailgate is closed. The table would slide out on drawer slides. The table would be used for tail-gating purposes and also to hold my road bicycle. It would not be designed for someone to sit on and definitely not for someone to stand on.

Currently my truck bed has a plastic liner in it. I would like to install the table over this liner. I don't wish to drill through the truck bed unless this is absolutely unavoidable.

My non-engineering thoughts (meaning I really need some guidance) :

The current bed liner has small ridges in it. Small strips of pressure treated lumber could be gorilla glued in between these ridges flush with the the height of said ridges.

Screwed to these strips would be 1/4" plywood on top of which would be attached the housing part for the drawer slides.

Decking material (or some nice Teak or White Oak) biscuit joined to span the width -- with the other half of the drawer slide attached to the underside of this. Rout flutes that get progressively deeper along the length so as to assist in water run-off. Clear deck sealer or some such product applied to both sides and all edges of table.

Some sort of latch system so that when the table is slide back in it locks in place. Also some sort of index mechanism so that when the table is slide out it locks in the correct position. I don't want it too extend too far. A few feet would more than serve any tailgating purposes.

Some sort of guides (runners made out of wood) that would index the tire on my bicycle. Some sort of hold down mechanisms to hold the bicycle securely to the table in the closed postion). I will also be locking the bicycle using the truck bed's factory tie towns with a heavy-gauge steel cable run between the tires and the frame of the bicycle.

My worries: driving down highway I look in rearview mirror and notice the table careening through the air (obviously not good).

Your thoughts or ideas are greatly appreciated!

Regards,
Ryan

[russd]

Fine Homebuilding 189, pp. 30

The Big Drawer

*

I know truck-bed extenders are available commercially, but I decided to make my own to demonstrate my carpentry and problem-solving skills to my clients. It seems to have worked. My truck’s Big Drawer never fails to be a great conversation starter....


From Fine Homebuilding 189, pp. 30

September 1, 2007

[eccentrictinkerer]

I saw a fellow handyman at a BORG here in the Twin Cities who used some garage door rails bolted to the truck bed.

He made a platform with several garage door rollers attached. Platform rolled out real slick.

Wish I'd had my camera with.

[shoottx]

Ryan

Look at these for inspiration.

http://www.truckvault.com/Sub/Additi...de/default.asp

http://www.truckvault.com/Sub/Commercial/Default.asp

[JR]

I don't have any good ideas on the slide-out mechanism, but it might be helpful to understand how far out you expect it to slide - to end of the tailgate? Farther?

As far as the bike, though, I'd suggest something like the Dead Head from Yakima. It comes in locking and non-locking variants. It holds the bike upright, with no bouncing around.

[ryanps]

Thanks guys. Haven't had a chance to check out the links but will soon.
Rusty, do you happen to have any pictures you could post?
JR -- my truck bed is the really short one (5-1/2 feet I believe).
Therefore the table would only be about 5 feet long.
I would hope to extend it 3-1/5 to 4 feet out. Doesn't have to be the entire length of the table (i.e. using full or over extension slides). Just something long enough that would replace a traditional folding table. I will check-out the yakima products. Thanks.

Any other suggestions ideas please let me know.

Regards,
Ryan

[Kristofor]

<snip>
Therefore the table would only be about 5 feet long.
I would hope to extend it 3-1/5 to 4 feet out. Doesn't have to be the entire length of the table (i.e. using full or over extension slides). Just something long enough that would replace a traditional folding table.

Do you still have your tailgate installed? If so, do you expect this table to be extended 3-1/5 to 4 feet past the end of the tailgate or the actual bed (meaning maybe 2 feet past the end of the tailgate)?

If the tailgate is stil in place I wouldn't expect the table to go flying. Watch any loose items in the bed when you're driving (riding may be safer) and there's some swirling and whatnot, but loose items generally don't go blowing away...

[russd]

Sorry about the low res pictures.