A good table is an essential part of any overlander’s gear. Whether you’re off-road camping in Moab, boondocking in Oregon, or making your way down the Pan American Highway, you’re gonna need a table you can rely on for…
- Meal prep
- Repairs
- Mobile work
- And late-night card games in epic locations!
So what are your choices for overlanding tables? In this article, I’ll give you my 12 top choices that are worthy of coming along on your next overland adventure.
Let’s start with what makes a camp table a good one for overlanding.
*Pssst…and when you’re done with this article, don’t miss my other overland camping articles like…
- Overlanding vs. Off-Roading: Is There Really a Difference?
- Top Overlanding Roof Top Tents 2022 | Best Rooftop Tents
Table of Contents
What Makes a Table Great for Overlanding?
A table is a table, right? Not really, especially when you’re in the middle of nowhere at a remote campsite.
So here are 4 things that make a table good for overlanding adventures and off-road camping:
- Easy to Set Up: On an overland trip, you’re moving from campsite to campsite every day. That’s why all your equipment — tent, kitchen, portable toilet, and TABLE — needs to be easy to set up and take down.
- Compact: You carry a lot of gear on extended overland trips. So it helps if you can get a compact and lightweight table that doesn’t take up a ton of unnecessary space.
- Rugged: Your camp table takes a lot of abuse. Depending on where you’re camping, you might need to set it up on uneven terrain or even in the mud.
- Versatile: Overland tables aren’t just for meal prep. You need a table that can handle being used as a vehicle repair station, dining table, or mobile office.
*See more about what you need to outfit your overlanding kitchen in my article Your Overland Kitchen Guide to What You Need and What You Don’t.
6 Types of Overland Tables
Overland camp tables come in all shapes and sizes. Here are several basic types of common tables used for overlanding.
Roll-Top Tables
Roll-top tables strike a nice balance between sturdiness and compactness. The top has a bunch of solid slats that roll up into a cylinder. Depending on the model, the legs come off and get rolled up with the top, or there’s a fold-up frame that stores in a bag along with the top.
Folding Tables
This is probably the broadest category of overland tables. They range from simple tables that fold in half to tables with more folds than a piece of origami.
Solid Surface With Removable Legs
While not as common as folding tables, these feature a simple design that’s rugged and budget-friendly. The big con is that since they don’t fold up, they’re harder to pack.
Workstations
With multiple levels, these folding workstations give you extra table real estate. They make great camp kitchens but don’t work well as a table to sit at.
Ultralight Tables
These lightweight tables are nice if you have a small vehicle with limited cargo room. While not as durable as most of the other tables, they give you a small area for meal prep, eating, or working with lightweight gear.
Vehicle-Mounted Tables
These fold down or out from around your vehicle. One big plus is how easy they are to set up. Most don’t have legs and are mounted on drawers or hinges around your vehicle so they just take a second or two to pull out or unfold.
Head on to the next section to see my picks for the best camp tables for overlanding.
12 of the Top Camp Tables for Overlanding
Here are 12 of the top tables that deserve a place on your next off-grid adventure.
Front Runner Pro Stainless Steel Camp Table
Table Size: 29.5 x 44.5 inches
Table Height: 28.7 inches
Table Weight: 26.1 lbs
Weight Limit: None specified but in their product video, 2 people sit on top. So probably close to 300 pounds!
Setup: Top folds in half and legs unfold from underneath.
What makes it a great overlanding table:
- Made to slide underneath most Front Runner Slimline II Roof Racks so it doesn’t have to take up any extra space
- Durable stainless steel top
- Can handle a lot of weight and abuse
- Size works well for food prep, mealtime, or other tasks at camp
Cons
- Pricey!
Check the current price.
Lifetime Camping and Utility Folding Table
Table Size: 24 x 48 inches
Table Height: Adjustable legs from 22-36 inches
Table Weight: 19 lbs
Weight Limit: 200 lbs evenly distributed on the top
Setup: Top unfolds in half and legs unfold from underneath. Then extend the legs to reach the desired height.
What makes it a great overlanding table:
- This is basically the budget-friendly version of the FrontRunner table
- Adjustable legs help you get a level surface on uneven terrain
- Rust resistant
- Cheap and durable
Cons
- With the plastic top, you need to be careful with hot items
Check the current price.
Camp Chef Camp Table
Table Size: 32 x 14 inches (big enough to fit 2 dutch ovens or most normal 2-burner stoves)
Table Height: 28 inches
Table Weight: 28 lbs
Weight Limit: None specified
Setup: Tabletop stays in one piece with 4-inch legs coming down from it. The longer legs fit inside those shorter ones.
What makes it a great overlanding table:
- Durable steel construction.
- Pile coals on it and use it for dutch oven cooking
- Included windscreen helps protect delicate gas flames
- Holes in the windscreen work nicely for routing cables through if you’re using it as a workspace
Cons
- A little heavy
Check the current price.
GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Station
Table Size: 52 x 21 inches
Table Height: 32 inches
Table Weight: 19 lbs
Weight Limit: Top aluminum rack – 48 lbs. Lower rack – 35 lbs. Up to 300 combined pounds between all the surfaces.
Setup: The whole thing is one piece and folds up for transport.
What makes it a great overlanding table:
- Gives you plenty of cook kitchen space with multiple racks and shelves
- Metal top for camp stoves
- Convenient cupholders and hooks
Cons
- With so many joints and hinges, there’s a lot to go wrong with heavy daily use
Check the current price.
*Check out some similar portable workstations in my article Best Portable Camping Kitchens for Easier Camp Cooking
Camp Chef Mesa Aluminum Camp Table
Table Size: 48 x 27 inches
Table Height: Adjustable legs from 27-39 inches
Table Weight: 22 lbs
Weight Limit: Up to 100 lbs
Setup: Top rolls up and detaches from the base. The base is all one piece that folds/unfolds. It all fits in a slim carrying bag.
What makes it a great overlanding table:
- Large, lightweight, sturdy, and not too expensive —a winning combination!
- Aluminum top can handle some heat
- One of the tallest tables on this list at up to 39 inches tall!
- Adjust each leg individually on uneven ground
Cons
- Can take a little practice until you learn to unfold the base correctly
Check the current price.
Snow Peak Single Action Table
Table Size: 36 x 28 inches
Table Height: 26 inches
Table Weight: 22 lbs
Weight Limit: None specified
Setup: Top unfolds in half lengthwise and unique, interlocking legs automatically unfold from underneath.
What makes it a great overlanding table:
- Solid bamboo tabletop
- Surprisingly sturdy for a folding table
- Comes with a storage bag for easy packing
- Quick setup
Cons
- Pricey
Check the current price.
Mountain Summit Gear Roll Top Table
Table Size: 47 x 28 inches (for the large) 56 x 28 inches (x-large)
Table Height: 28 inches
Table Weight: 15 lbs 3 oz (large) 16lb 8 oz (x-large)
Weight Limit: None specified
Setup: Top detaches and rolls up. The base is one piece and folds/unfolds.
What makes it a great overlanding table:
- Large tabletop (I think the x-large is the largest table on my list)
- Aluminum top so you don’t have to worry about putting your camp stove on it
- Sturdy steel frame can take some abuse
- Folds up quickly
Cons
- No adjustable legs
Check the current price.
ALPS Mountaineering Camp Table
Table Size: 28 x 28 inches
Table Height: 27 inches
Table Weight: 6 lbs
Weight Limit: None specified but it can handle a normal 2-burner camp stove
Setup: One-piece base unfolds and the roll-up top unfolds and attaches to the base.
What makes it a great overlanding table:
- Great overland table for those with a limited payload capacity
- Packed dimensions are just 29” x 4” x 6”
- Budget-friendly price
- Durable metal top
Cons
- Can’t handle a ton of weight like some of the other tables on this list
Check the current price.
Tire Table Camping Table
Table Size: 29 x 23 inches
Table Height: 14 inches and up
Table Weight: 13 lbs
Weight Limit: Up to 50 lbs
Setup: Adjustable arm grabs onto the top of the tire. Two folding supports brace against the front of the tire. Unfold the adjustable leg and adjust it to ground height.
What makes it a great overlanding table:
- Leg adjusts so you can get a level tabletop on uneven ground
- Simple design is low-tech so there’s not a lot that can go wrong with it
- Doesn’t take up a lot of space
- Big enough for most 2-burner camp stoves
- Super-fast setup
Cons
- Not freestanding…obviously 😋
Check the current price.
Front Runner Drop Down Tailgate Table
Table Size: 43 x 13 inches (with the wood tray extension)
Table Height: Depends on your vehicle
Table Weight: About 9 lbs
Weight Limit: 88.2 lbs
Setup: Unfolds from the tailgate. Wood extension slides out from underneath the main table surface.
What makes it a great overland table:
- Quick setup
- Takes up very little space
- Great for cooking and meal prep
- Simple design means there’s not a lot to break or go wrong
Cons
- Only works on vehicles with a rear swing tailgate (and even then you need to verify it’ll fit…you may need to do some drilling)
Check the current price.
Helinox Table One Hard Top
Table Size: 23 x 16 inches (regular) 30 x 22.5 inches (large)
Table Height: 15.5 inches (regular) 19.5 inches (large)
Table Weight: 2.1 lbs (regular) 3.5 lbs (large)
Weight Limit: Up to 110 lbs
Setup: Put the frame together (takes about 20 seconds). Unfold the top and attach it to the frame.
What makes it a great overlanding table:
- Perfect height for using with Helinox chairs
- Surprisingly sturdy for such a lightweight table
- Durable carrying case for easy packing
- Packs up to a tiny size
Cons
- Best for light meal prep, games, and eating. It’s not a good place for large camp stoves and heavy cookware
Check the current price.
G4Free Portable Folding Camp Table
Table Size: 15.5” x 13.5” (small) 18” x 22”(medium) 18” x 27″ (large)
Table Height: 12.5” (small), 16.5” (medium and large)
Table Weight: 1.8 lbs (small) 2.8 lbs (medium) 3.2 lbs (large)
Weight Limit: Up to 50 lbs
Setup: Roll up top attaches to a folding frame.
What makes it a great overlanding table:
- Durable aluminum top
- Folds up really small
- Convenient mesh pouch in the middle of the frame
Cons
- Similar to the Helinox table, it’s for light-duty use only. However, if you’re preparing simple meals and just traveling with 1-2 people, this might be all you need.
Check the current price.
Oh, how the tables have turned!
🤪 So what table are you gonna get for your next overland adventure?
- The rugged yet budget-friendly Lifetime Folding Utility Table?
- Maybe the small and lightweight Helinox Table One Hardtop
- Personally, I think the Camp Chef Mesa Aluminum Camp Table is one of your best options. It comes in right at the middle of the pack in terms of weight, size, durability, and price. You get a really good bang for your buck.
Whichever table you decide on, just make sure to get out there and have some fun visiting epic locations on your overlanding trips!
And don’t forget to check out other articles in my overlanding and off-grid camping series:
- 9 Things You NEED To Know Before Boondocking in Your Camper!
- How to Start Overlanding | Overland Camping for Beginners
- What is Overlanding? Get Ready to Go Overland Camping!
- 13 Best Camping Porta Potty Toilets to Go On the Go!
- Solar Eclipse 2024 Kids Printable Activity Pack! - April 8, 2024
- 11 RV Bathroom Makeovers to Inspire You! - April 7, 2024
- 13 Dreamy Hammock Camping Set Up Ideas + Pics - February 22, 2024
