Tailgating, car camping, and picnicking from a small car or SUV has always been a bit of a problem because there hasn’t been a table that can be used to put down food and a place to keep drinks. No one wants to leave food on the ground and blankets are uncomfortable and easily soiled, especially when drinks are spilled, which is often the case with a picnic blanket. Space Innovations Lab has addressed this problem and as long as your vehicle has a latch hook you can have a rear table to use on your outdoor adventures.
We had the opportunity to meet Lawrence Bugg, the founder of Space Innovations Lab, several years ago at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Denver, Colorado. We had the opportunity to learn a little bit about the company from him and his passion for design and how he came up with the back table and how he was growing his business. In fact, it was the design that really caught our eye and kept our attention throughout the years. Every detail had been incredibly well thought out, from wine glass holders to how secure the table was when hooked onto a latch hook in the trunk of the car. The only caveat was that it wouldn’t work in a vehicle with a rollaway bed like our Tacoma at the time.
The idea kept ringing in my head, though, and this past year, after purchasing an SUV with a hatchback and snap hook, we finally got the chance to try out the tailgate at our own picnic. We stopped at Whole Foods and picked up some sodas and some sushi and headed to our local park to celebrate our 7 year wedding anniversary. It was a perfect warm day so the park was a bit crowded but we found a nice spot near a big tree and broke the table and had a wonderful visit just the two of us. We made mimosas, enjoyed some cheese and crackers and of course the sushi, it was perfect. Sitting in the back rear of the car worked great and the center of the rear of the tail doubles as a perfect cutting table for cheese and apples. The round center was great for placing food and the drink holders are very well thought out and keep our drinks from spilling.
The way the layout works is great for two people with enough space to sit in the back rear of the car and have the table in the middle. If you have more people you can bring a few extra chairs and everyone had enough room to move around comfortably and with enough glasses for a few friends and family.
The table fits amazingly well and was extremely sturdy and well designed. The whole package folds up into a single carry case and if you get the Deluxe package we suggest getting glasses and a full case to carry everything.
The deluxe package includes:
- 6 12 oz plastic stemmed drink glasses
- 6 6-ounce plastic drink cups
- Separate deluxe pack bag that fits perfectly on the back table + 12 plastic cups.
- Drinkware and Deluxe Bag Liner are dishwasher safe.
- Cups made of Tritan – BPA-free plastic – Highly durable and shatter resistant
- Additional storage area for plates/cutlery (actual plates and cutlery not included)
The back table is a perfectly wonderful and nice accessory to have. It’s a must have, probably not, but it really is a nice item and ours will stay right in the back of our SUV on a regular basis for all of our road trips. Even if we decide to stop and grab some fast food, the back table setup is very nice and easy and we can sit outside and watch the world go by for just a few minutes of relaxation on long road trips. The Tail Table will make a great gift and we have a few weddings coming up where we know happy couples will like the chance to enjoy their own picnics and have a table to have some fun at.