We Tried Turning a Tonneau Into a Table. It Kinda Worked. But That’s Not the Point

Not every experiment ends in a product. Some just end with dirty hands, sunburned forearms, and a big reminder of why we love doing this in the first place.

This one’s about a table — and also, not about a table at all.

The Table That Never Was

From the earliest design days of our manual tonneau panels, one thought kept floating to the top:

“Could this thing double as a camp table?”

Flat surface. Durable materials. Removable. It practically begged to be tested. So we did. We built a quick bracket system, attached legs, and rolled out a functional camp setup. We even shared the concept on Rivian Forums to gauge interest.

Spoiler alert: people were curious. So were we.

Why It Won’t Be a Product

The prototype worked — technically. It held weight. It looked good. It folded away neatly. But the more we used it, the more we realized:

• Powder-coated panels get hot. Like, egg-frying hot.

• The same panels that sit near muddy gear aren't ideal for dinner service.

• Cleaning them thoroughly? Yeah… no.

We love dual-purpose gear, but not at the expense of actual usability. So this one’s going on the “fun, but not for sale” shelf.

What This Is About

Honestly, this post isn’t about a table at all.

It’s about the way we think around here. Every product we make starts with a “what if”—a gut itch to find hidden utility, turn a single-purpose part into something better, more useful, or just more fun. The tonneau-table mod didn’t make the cut, but it sharpened how we think about function, finish, and what makes something truly useful in the real world.

That’s what our design process looks like: get curious, get messy, and test until something sticks (or fails spectacularly).

Tell Us What You’d Mod Next

Got a “what if” idea of your own?

We’re always listening. The forum thread’s open. Our inbox isn’t scary. And chances are, if it’s weird and maybe useful, we’ve already started sketching it on a napkin somewhere.

Drop your idea here or reach out to us. Worst case? It ends in another great story.