Thanks for your ideas and suggestions. My husband is planning to borrow it next month to go to a pottery conference. I had thought of just keeping quiet and waiting to hear what comments he comes back with after he experiences the sound effects. I will let you know if I come up with anything that works. These are definitely not squeaks but pretty loud thumps....and yeah I already checked out the post on the table and thought about what I had stored in the seats! I'll be looking for you down the road.
Hannah