Project idea

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So I've got an engine driven welder bolted down in the bed of my pickup now and I'm getting setup to do mobile work. Since I don't have a shop with a nice welding table, I need a decent small work table and a vise mount to travel with me. We've all seen the Stronghand Nomad and the Miller Arcstation portable welding tables. Looks a little light to me and not suitable for vise mounting, of course. And dropping the tailgate and working on that probably isn't the finest idea, either. So what I'm considering building is a hitch receiver mount welding table. Extend a couple of feet back to clear the tailgate (tailgate has to drop to run the welder) and then up to a comfortable working hieght for the work surface and vise mount. I'm not going to be beating on this with a sledge or anything, just need a sturdy work surface. Any reason I shouldn't do this? Any better ideas? Will welding on such a table mounted in such a manner affect the truck or the welder?Last edited by JD955SC; 09-16-2013 at 02:18 AM.Hobart Stickmate LX235AC/160DCRanger 305GVictor 315 O/A rigHope to acquire in the next couple of years: Hypertherm PM45 and Dynasty 200DX
Reply:I bought the table at Northern Tool for $90.00. Light enought to work for you. Good Luck. Weld On!
Reply:A hitch mounted table means it would be there all the time mounted in the hitch?  Then it would need to fold or other wise store out of the way for travel.  My two cents would be to add a couple of folding adjustable legs to stabilize it the hitch mount alone will have some wobbles.   Also you may need to provide a way to actually use the hitch while the table is mounted.  You could tow a trailer to a job site then back up, unhitch the trailer then pull up a few feet to use the table.IMHO "G"ConductorX - The Volkswright Shophttp://volkswright.blogspot.com/http://bugwerks.blogspot.com/Miller DVI w/Spoolgun - Miller Plasma Cutter
Reply:Originally Posted by ConductorXA hitch mounted table means it would be there all the time mounted in the hitch?  Then it would need to fold or other wise store out of the way for travel.  My two cents would be to add a couple of folding adjustable legs to stabilize it the hitch mount alone will have some wobbles.   Also you may need to provide a way to actually use the hitch while the table is mounted.  You could tow a trailer to a job site then back up, unhitch the trailer then pull up a few feet to use the table.IMHO "G"
Reply:Why not just add a piece of plate the width of your tail gate and a foot longer to the gate. You could add some fold down adjustable legs to it for additional support. Always there and ready. The other option is to just make a plate that slides out of the bed over the gate.
Reply:Why not just add a piece of plate the width of your tail gate and a foot longer to the gate. You could add some fold down adjustable legs to it for additional support. Always there and ready. The other option is to just make a plate that slides out of the bed over the gate.