Emery Custom Builds

How to Install a Lagun Table in Your Van

A Lagun table turns a cramped van into a functional living space. Here's how to choose the right one, mount it properly, and get it wobble-free.

A Lagun pedestal table installation costs $500-$1,000 total (including arm, hardware, tabletop, and labor) and takes 2-4 hours. The Lagun arm runs $300-$600, swings out for meals or work, and stows flat against the wall when not in use. The key to a wobble-free table is a solid mounting surface with backing plates or through-bolts. Emery Custom Builds has installed Lagun tables in dozens of van builds at our San Diego shop.

Every van needs a table. Whether you're eating dinner, working on a laptop, or playing cards on a rainy day, a table turns your van from a vehicle with a bed into a place you actually want to spend time. The Lagun pedestal table system is the most popular solution in van conversions for good reason: it swings out when you need it, stows flat when you don't, and holds up to real daily use.

We've installed Lagun tables in dozens of builds at our San Diego shop. The installation itself is straightforward — a few hours of work — but there are a handful of things that make the difference between a table that feels solid and one that wobbles every time you set down a coffee mug. This guide covers all of it.

What Is a Lagun Table and How Does It Work?

A Lagun table is a modular pedestal dining system designed for RVs, boats, and van conversions. It consists of a vertical post mounted to a wall or cabinet, a swinging arm that extends outward, and a tabletop attached to the end of the arm. The arm pivots and telescopes, so you can position the table exactly where you want it — over a seat, between two bench seats, or off to the side.

When you're done eating or working, the arm folds back against the wall and the table tucks flat alongside your cabinetry. This is what makes it so much better than a fixed table in a van — you get the table when you need it and your floor space back when you don't.

The system is made of anodized aluminum and stainless steel, so it's light, strong, and won't corrode in the humid van environment. The joints have adjustable friction so you can dial in how freely the arm swings.

Why Is the Lagun Table the Best Option for Vans?

  • Space efficiency: Stows completely flat against the wall. No leg taking up floor space. No folding table leaning against something.
  • Flexibility: Swings to multiple positions — useful for different seating configurations or when you want the table closer or farther from the wall.
  • Build quality: European-made, designed for marine and RV use. The hardware doesn't rattle loose after thousands of miles on the road.
  • Weight capacity: Holds a solid meal, a laptop, drinks — real everyday use, not just a decorative shelf.
  • Cost: The table arm and hardware run $300–$600 depending on the model. With a custom tabletop and professional installation, budget $500–$1,000 total.

Which Lagun Table Model Should I Get for My Van?

Lagun makes several arm configurations. The main choices come down to:

Standard vs. Folding

The standard arm is a single piece that swings and telescopes. It's simpler, more rigid, and works great in most van layouts. The folding version adds a hinge point in the middle of the arm, which lets it fold in half for an even more compact stowed profile. The folding model is worth considering if you have a tight galley area where the arm needs to tuck into a small space.

Size and Reach

Arm length determines how far the table extends from the wall. In most Sprinter and ProMaster layouts, the standard-reach arm places the table comfortably over a dinette seat. If your seating is farther from the mounting wall, you may need a longer arm or a different mounting position.

Tabletop Selection

Lagun sells tabletops separately, or you can make your own. Custom tops are common in van builds — butcher block, bamboo, lightweight composite with a finished edge. The top attaches to the arm with a standard mounting plate. Most tops are 20" to 30" across, sized to fit your seating area without blocking the walkway.

What Do I Need Before Installing a Lagun Table?

Before you start drilling, make sure your layout accommodates the table:

  • Floor space: The table needs to swing in an arc from the wall. Map out the swing path and make sure it clears your cabinetry, galley components, and walkway.
  • Structural support: The wall or cabinet face where the vertical post mounts needs to be solid. If you're mounting to a thin cabinet panel, add a plywood backer or use through-bolts with backing plates. A wobbly mount means a wobbly table — period.
  • Height: Standard dining table height is 28"–30" from the floor. Measure from your seat cushion up to make sure the table height works with your seating. The Lagun post height is adjustable during installation, so you can dial this in.
  • Clearance: When stowed, the arm and tabletop need to sit flat without blocking a cabinet door, slide-out drawer, or walkway. Mock it up with cardboard before committing to a mounting location.

How Do I Install a Lagun Table Step by Step?

Step 1: Plan the Location and Prep the Space

Decide exactly where the table will live. Sit in your seat, close your eyes, and picture where you'd want the table surface. That's your target. Consider how the table interacts with your bed (does it need to fold flat before the bed extends?), your galley (does the swing path clear the stove or sink?), and the sliding door (can you still get in and out with the table deployed?).

Mark the intended post location on the wall or cabinet face with painter's tape. Mock up the table position using a piece of cardboard cut to your tabletop dimensions, held at the right height. Live with it for a day before drilling.

Step 2: Mark the Post Mounting Locations

Hold the Lagun wall bracket at the intended height and mark the mounting holes. Use a level to verify the bracket is plumb — even a slight tilt becomes noticeable when the arm is fully extended. If you're using a floor socket as well, mark that location directly below the wall bracket.

Step 3: Install the Mounting Plates

Drill pilot holes for all mounting points. If you're going into a plywood cabinet face, standard wood screws work. If you're going into a thin panel or the van wall itself, you need backing plates or large fender washers on the back side to spread the load. Through-bolts are always stronger than screws for this application.

The mounting plate is the foundation of the entire table. If this is sloppy, everything downstream wobbles. Take your time, make sure it's flush and tight against the surface, and don't skip the backing hardware.

Step 4: Install the Posts and Arm

Attach the vertical post to the wall mounting plate. Slide the Lagun arm onto the post and adjust the friction clamp. You want it tight enough that the arm doesn't drift on its own, but loose enough that you can swing it with one hand. If you have a floor socket, seat the bottom of the post into it.

Step 5: Mount the Tabletop

Attach the tabletop to the arm's mounting plate. Center the top so the weight is balanced — an off-center top will want to swing or droop. Use all the provided fasteners and torque them evenly.

Step 6: Test and Adjust

Swing the table to every position — fully extended, halfway, tucked against the wall. Place a glass of water on it and see if it stays put. Push down on the edges and check for any play or rocking. If there's wobble, the fix is almost always at the mounting plate — tighten the hardware, add a shim behind the plate if the surface isn't flat, or beef up the backing.

Step 7: Seal and Secure All Hardware

Apply blue thread locker (Loctite 242) to all bolts and screws. Road vibration will loosen hardware over time if you skip this step. Add felt pads or small rubber bumpers where the table or arm contacts cabinetry in the stowed position — this prevents rattles and protects the finish. Give the whole setup a firm shake and listen for anything loose.

How Do I Fix a Wobbly Lagun Table?

  • Uneven floor: Van floors are rarely flat, especially over wheel wells or corrugated sections. If using a floor socket, shim or level the socket before bolting it down.
  • Mounting to a metal van wall: If you're mounting the bracket directly to the van's ribbed wall (not a cabinet), you need spacers to bridge the gap between the ribs and create a flat mounting surface. Aluminum or hardwood blocks work well.
  • Limited space for the swing arc: In narrow vans or tight layouts, the table arm might not have room to swing freely. The folding Lagun model helps here, or you can adjust the arm length and mounting position to create a tighter swing radius.
  • Persistent wobble: If the table still wobbles after tightening everything, check if the mounting surface itself is flexing. A thin cabinet panel will always flex under load. The solution is a plywood backer or a solid blocking piece behind the panel where the bracket mounts.

How Much Does a Lagun Table Cost to Install?

A Lagun table installation is one of the quicker projects in a van build:

  • Time: 2–4 hours for a straightforward install. Add an hour if you're building a custom tabletop.
  • Lagun arm and hardware: $300–$600 depending on model and configuration.
  • Custom tabletop: $50–$200 for materials if you make your own, or buy a pre-made option from Lagun.
  • Total installed: $500–$1,000 including hardware, tabletop, and labor if done professionally.

Which Van Layouts Work Best with a Lagun Table?

The Lagun system works in just about any van layout, but it's especially good in these configurations:

  • Dinette layouts: Two bench seats facing each other with the table in between. This is the classic use case and where Lagun really shines — the table swings in for meals and out of the way for lounging.
  • L-shaped seating: Table swings over the L-bench corner and creates a full eating or working surface.
  • Solo/couple setups: Even with a single swivel seat, a Lagun table gives you a workspace or dining surface that disappears when you're done.
  • Full-time living: If you're in the van every day, the quick deploy/stow cycle is worth its weight in gold compared to a fixed table that always gets in the way.

What Are the Alternatives to a Lagun Table?

The Lagun isn't the only option. Here's how it compares:

  • RV pedestal tables: Cheaper ($50–$150) but bulkier. The single-post design with a floor socket takes up more room and doesn't tuck flat like a Lagun. Fine for a weekender, less ideal for daily use.
  • Folding wall tables: A hinged tabletop that folds down from the wall. Simple and cheap, but limited positioning — it's either up or down, no swing adjustment.
  • DIY sliding tables: Drawer-slide tables built into cabinetry. Compact when stowed, but the slide mechanism limits the table's position to one track.

For most van builds, the Lagun hits the best balance of function, space savings, and durability. It costs more upfront than the alternatives, but it's the table system you won't regret a year into van life.

What Have We Learned Installing Lagun Tables?

We've installed Lagun tables in the majority of our builds. The biggest lesson we've learned is that the mounting surface is everything. A strong, flat, solid mounting point means a rock-solid table. A weak or flexible mounting point means wobble that no amount of tightening will fix.

In our builds, we plan the Lagun mount location during the interior design phase and build solid blocking into the cabinetry specifically for the table bracket. That way the mount is integrated into the structure, not an afterthought bolted to a thin panel.

We also always test with real weight before final assembly — plates, a laptop, drinks. If it passes the coffee test (a full mug on the extended table with the van doors closing), it's good to go.

Related Pages

Related: All How-To Guides • Systems & Guides

Want a Lagun Table in Your Build?

We've installed them in dozens of vans. Tell us about your layout and we'll make it fit.

Tell Us About Your Build