Symbol Plus and Lagun table

Well, having had our Symbol Plus for, oooh, more than a fortnight now... I've started to make modifications!  We're delighted with almost everything about it, but we did feel the table arrangement could be improved.  

The big free-standing table that comes with the van is great -- large, stable, and nicely-stowed -- but once it is up, it does block the central corridor almost completely, and even the chef, who sits at the kitchen end, has to negotiate its legs if she wants to get up to fetch the salt and pepper.

The small pedestal table is really intended for when you turn both the front seats around, but we don't often do that, given all the other nice seats we have that don't need turning!  It's too high, too small and too far away to be reached from the others.

So we were thinking about alternatives -- perhaps one of those tripod bases for the pedestal so it could be moved - anyone use those?  -- but in the end we decided to splash out and get a Lagun swivelling table leg system, and a tabletop from Rainbow Conversions.

We haven't taken it out on the road yet, but we're delighted with the flexibility, so I thought I'd post some pictures.  [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

It swivels and the height is adjustable:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

(I'm limited to three pictures, so will post some more in a reply)

How about a side table? (Also a good storage spot if leaving it up while travelling)



[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Conveniently, the place I wanted to bolt the bracket was already a double-thickness wall.  I did add a couple of extra angle-brackets to give the box a bit more rigidity:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

And one more reply coming up for the last picture...

Here are the individual components.  We went for a table top that is 800x400mm (15mm ply).  It just fits inside the wardrobe under the rail, but I may put it above the cab.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Some downsides for anyone considering this:

* It's expensive.  The combination of leg plus tabletop came to a little over 200 quid.

* It seems pretty solid to me, but you probably wouldn't want careless children or stumbling adults putting their weight on the far end of the long-cantilever-plus-long-table lever!

* Since the driver's seat on the Symbol Plus doesn't rotate 180 degrees, the place where I've fixed the bracket can't be used when that seat is rotated.  So if you're someone who likes turning those seats to watch TV, for example, the pedestal table would be a better place to put your drinks!

An upside of the system, though, is that you could buy a second mounting plate (also pricey!) and put it elsewhere, such as the back of the nearside single seat, giving you a second possible location for the table.  You would want to build it out a bit there, though, because the cushion overlaps the top of the cabinet a bit; the result might be more hazardous to ankles unless done in a nice curvaceous way!

Overall, though, I'm exceedingly happy with this, and I suspect we might well end up leaving both of the other tables at home...

Hope it's useful to someone!

Quentin

Looks good. We use two foldable wooden tv tables from Dunelm, but seen same in Argos, can be used individually or side by side, inside or outside van and store above cab neatly. Total cost £20 the pair.

Both original tables in attic

Someone else posted about their Lagun table, probably on a Symbol, they mounted their's on the side of their single seat. I saved their photos not the link.
If I have a criticism about how your install would not suit us, there's a lot of table above the raised step, this would tend to push two diners close together even where there is table top space available.

If I were fitting a Lagun table I would favour mounting it on the side of the single seat. As it is in our Kemerton XL I bought a table top from A/S, fitted a boss underneath for a metal pole, inside we use a Fiamma tripod and appropriate length of metal pole to achieve an acceptable eating height. Outside I can use the tripod and table top with a slightly different size of SS mental post which more fits with the eating height when we sit in our folding chairs. The standard A/S table can be used outside, often if weather permits supporting out gas powered Cadac 2+2 BBQ which comes with positive endorsements from myself and burlintonboaby.

Should you decide to resite your Lagun table, holes left could be used to install a Berker USB power socket and switch from an idea crafted by glyne lock, our ideas man on ASOF.

Many thanks, all, for the comments and suggestions!

@BilboBaggins - I did a search for Dunelm folding TV tables and they look good.  I do like to eat with my knees under the table where possible, but we might get one of those as a spare.  We do also have a couple of lap-trays if needed :-)

@Relaxez-Vous - My earlier photos didn't really show this, but by the time the table is at the angle we actually want it when pulled in closer for eating, there's very little overlap with the raised step.  Certainly if I'm sitting with my right hand on the table I'm not close to the step.  So I think that will work fine.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]


But actually think we might use it like this sometimes, with one person on the single seat:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

View from above:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

As I mentioned, I might mount it on the single seat if this doesn't work out for us, but I think I'd get a second mounting plate rather than moving the current one, though I like your USB socket idea :-)

Lastly, I did actually contact A/S to see if they might provide a custom table top (or even some the formica used elsewhere in the van, so we might get a good match when building stuff.  But the chap I spoke to was adamant that it wasn't something they could do.  (He did sound as if he might not be very knowledgeable, though... needed to go and check with his supervisor from time to time...)


Quentin

I have fitted a Lagun leg to our Stanway having played about with the rather large original which slotted into a rail on the offside wall. But the leg was always in the way (ask our dogs).
The leg is fitted to a board I previously fitted as a bed support (another story) 15cm from the wall and reinforced with oak boards as the Lagun leg imposes quite a strain on the mounting.The table top is 75cm x 45cm mounted offset so one can use as a long or short table.[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
 The table is not needed for the bed, is left in place, just raised a little. I have simplified bed making with larger cushions instead of a jigsaw of small ones, and a new bed base on the nearside to provide 2 new wide singles or as double. 
The Legum is expensive but no leg to get in the way, raise up or down, swivel, remove with ease although ours has been in situ since fitting.
 Although what I have done is Stanway specific if you can fit one securely in another model, its worth every penny.

A quick follow-up from a delightful campsite near Uppingham, just to say that the Lagun table is proving a great success on its first real trial.

Not only is it handy to have something that doesn't get in the way too much, but it's really handy to have something that can be swung out of the way at a moment's notice while fully-laden.

Very pleased with this one. If doing it again I might make the table top slightly longer than the current 800x400, but this size does allow it to be stored in the wardrobe if wanted.