Portable table (or stand in) for MiniMax - tailgate time!

tailg8ers

It's just over a month til the college football season kicks off.  Wondering about any ideas for a portable table to set our Mini Max up on - we have tables and can always toss in a stone to sit the MM on or just use part of the parking spot in the lot.  I'm a bit concerned about the kids (big and small ) that  are in our area on gameday and would rather keep it closer to our set up on the grass.  Any ideas?

Big_Green_Craig

I've been using the Husky X-Workhorse from Home Depot. $39
It has a 750lb capacity and fold flat for easy transport. I've experienced zero issues with heat so far. 

northGAcock

tailg8ers said:

.... Wondering about any ideas for a portable table to set our Mini Max up on - we have tables and can always toss in a stone to sit the MM on or just use part of the parking spot in the lot.  I'm a bit concerned about the kids (big and small ) that  are in our area on gameday and would rather keep it closer to our set up on the grass.  Any ideas?

I don't know what your tailgating spot is like (and your ability to enhance), but a buddy and I have built some permanent improvements to our spot. I don't have any recent pictures to share but below is a retaining wall that was under construction at the time. We have two walls now that anchor around 6 gum trees that put out a great umbrella of shade in the early months of the season (when it is needed) here in Columbia. I know this does not answer your question directly, but my point is consider erecting (have an erection party while you are at it) a piece of hardscape if you are allowed to do so at your site. 

I am going out tomorrow evening to cut the grass (we have monthly cleanup / upkeep meetings) that we do to keep ours up. My buddy and I use it as an excuse to work a little and then have a few refreshing beverages while we pat ourselves on the back. I'll try and remember to snap a current picture. We have gone so far as putting pavers down to set our Coleman Road-trip grill on so that it is always level.....(rules allow gas only) but you get the picture. After driving off many times without the under wheel flag mount, we actually cemented a permanent ground sleeve for the flagpole. We had many of our materials donated to us.....we invested in plants (not shown) etc. that are in our school colors. It has been an evolving project over the last five years or so. You can have fun with it. I get much better buy in for my egg addiction than I get from the wif on this project. Go figure.


Oh yeah.....Go Gamecocks!

SmokeyPitt

I have seen dutch oven tables made by camp chef that look pretty sturdy.  They don't list the max weight but they state they can hold two 14 inch dutch ovens.  They also have adjustable legs for uneven surface.  

Link: http://amzn.com/B000M9QJFY

dmirish1

@big_green_craig That table would be awesome for the MiniMax on the go. I'm buying one! Could have used that on my beach trip rather than having the egg on the ground. No concerns with heat under the egg?

SmokeyPitt

@northGAcock - That is interesting.  Do you pay for a designated area that is yours?  How do you make sure nobody squats it on game day? 

Big_Green_Craig

dmirish1 said:

@big_green_craig That table would be awesome for the MiniMax on the go. I'm buying one! Could have used that on my beach trip rather than having the egg on the ground. No concerns with heat under the egg?

Nothing worse than cooking on the ground. I've used this table for approx 6 months. I've done a tone of low & slow cooking and a ton of searing using this table. So far, zero issues. 

theyolksonyou

Use the same one Craig has. It is great. Folds flat. Up in seconds. 

dmirish1

I'm getting one. Love it. Just in time for another trip to Vermont with the egg. Thank you Sir.

Big_Green_Craig

dmirish1 said:

I'm getting one. Love it. Just in time for another trip to Vermont with the egg. Thank you Sir.

For the price of $39, it's a no brainer. Even if the top warps in a year's time, I go buy another. Great in my opinion. 

northGAcock

SmokeyPitt said:

@northGAcock - That is interesting.  Do you pay for a designated area that is yours?  How do you make sure nobody squats it on game day? 

I pay for a spot in a lot....the location is on a first come basis. Tailgate buddy lives near the stadium and is usually out there early. Over the years we have got to know many of the folks who park around there. There have been situations where neighbors have explained to others not to park there on our behalf. That said, it is hard to out early us. Nothing like an early morning Bloody before a night game....and can easily get in a couple of cooks. We hang strands of lights in the trees and power with a generator. You might say we have earned some squatters rights over the years. It is a great gathering place for many new and old friends on game day.

dmirish1

Just got back from the Home Depot and decided on one of these instead:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1-8-ft-x-3-ft-Portable-Jobsite-Workbench-225047/205887786

It looks like it is a bit more compact, easy to carry and assemble and offers some room for a work surface.

HofstraJet

@northGAcock My nephew is attending SC in the fall (he's from NY and we strongly encouraged him to pick an SEC school so we could have road trips to visit him). My cousin and I are going to visit him for the Gators game. Hopefully we can stop by and say hello. Will stay in touch as gameday approaches. #gogators

northGAcock

Would love to have you.....it doesn't get better than Saturdays in the SEC. The Gator game is later in the season so it want be so hot then. Look forward to it.

biggreenrob

I ordered this one, and have been waiting for it to ship.  I may need to jump on that Husky.

Coleman Pack-Away 4-In-1 Table 
by Coleman 
http://amzn.com/B002YXR766

HofstraJet

northGAcock said:

it doesn't get better than Saturdays in the SEC.

Amen to that.

tailg8ers

Thanks Big Green Craig!  Will be picking up one of those tomorrow!  Perfect for our needs -!!!!

Big_Green_Craig

I've been cooking with the Mini Max directly on this hard plastic table top for a while. I drug the MM into work this morning and this is what I found. I knew this was a possibility and wanted to see just how long it would take to melt a little of the plastic. The table is still standing and is still in working order. However, the red locking hub has melted closed. You might want to put some type of tile down under the MM.  

northGAcock

northGAcock said:

tailg8ers said:

.... Wondering about any ideas for a portable table to set our Mini Max up on - we have tables and can always toss in a stone to sit the MM on or just use part of the parking spot in the lot.  I'm a bit concerned about the kids (big and small ) that  are in our area on gameday and would rather keep it closer to our set up on the grass.  Any ideas?

 I don't have any recent pictures to share but below is a retaining wall that was under construction at the time. We have two walls now that anchor around 6 gum trees that put out a great umbrella of shade in the early months of the season (when it is needed) here in Columbia. 

Cleaned up our spot last evening....posting a current picture of our tailgate spot.

WeberWho

Like your posts title mentions, how about a tailgate? Do you or anyone in the group have a tailgate?  I can't tell you how many times away or at home that I've dropped the tailgate on my truck and used it for my small and mini. All you need is a tile in between if you have a plastic liner.  Don't have to worry about a table tipping or getting knocked over

tailg8ers

WeberWho? said:

Like your posts title mentions, how about a tailgate? Do you or anyone in the group have a tailgate?  I can't tell you how many times away or at home that I've dropped the tailgate on my truck and used it for my small and mini. All you need is a tile in between if you have a plastic liner.  Don't have to worry about a table tipping or getting knocked over

Nope -WeberWho? - don't have an actual tailgate - only a liftgate/hatchback - most of the folks in our group aren't able to park where we do as they are traveling a lot farther and have been spoiled by everything being set up when they arrive by just a few of us.   Not to mention we have way too much crap we haul and by game time one or more of us is not in condition to repack the back of the pilot.

tailg8ers

northGAcock said:

northGAcock said:

tailg8ers said:

.... Wondering about any ideas for a portable table to set our Mini Max up on - we have tables and can always toss in a stone to sit the MM on or just use part of the parking spot in the lot.  I'm a bit concerned about the kids (big and small ) that  are in our area on gameday and would rather keep it closer to our set up on the grass.  Any ideas?

 I don't have any recent pictures to share but below is a retaining wall that was under construction at the time. We have two walls now that anchor around 6 gum trees that put out a great umbrella of shade in the early months of the season (when it is needed) here in Columbia. 

Cleaned up our spot last evening....posting a current picture of our tailgate spot.

Ok - now you are just showing off!!! could you come work on our yard?!  We might have to trek down to Columbia and check out your spot!   We actually have some good friends who are big USC fans (albeit I think one wears that hideous orange/purple on occasion!)

evie1370

I was just out yesterday at HD looking for one of these...THANKS!!!

theyolksonyou

@evie1370 Claire, that's the same thing my MM was sitting in at the henapple hoedown. No melting for me as yet, but I usually have my MM on my other table. 

evie1370

theyolksonyou said:

@evie1370 Claire, that's the same thing my MM was sitting in at the henapple hoedown. No melting for me as yet, but I usually have my MM on my other table. 

thanks Jason! Hubby just bought one for us, I put two leftover kitchen tiles (ceramic) on the top to be on the safe side. Works great!

Possumtrot

At the henapple hoedown we (motowfo and I) used a rockwell jawhorse with a piece of 3/4' plywood clamped in the jaws for his MM.  Had it sitting around and tried it.  Jawhorse is pretty heavy and worked well for us.  We have used it on many projects (holds my 12" miter saw, etc.). This was a pic Henapple took.  The wood under it was slightly faintly browned but something under it would work.

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