next build, 85 gallon trailer rig

[dportz87]

interesting design, nice to see how it works.

[mofomatic]

Fb is basically done. Got it mounted on the trailer. Need to mount a tab for the air inlet linkage. Going to attach a clevis and run a rod through that tab and a handle on the end. Still not sure about the throat opening/ shadow plate yet. All the way on the end or with the extra radiant heat, maybe move it closer to the middle some(or a lot).

[Rodcrafter]

[mofomatic]

Got the tank mounted, partially welded up. Probably going to leave the threaded nipples on the for now, get some pipe plugs , I can cut those off later. Wound up with a 3x4 ft deck area in front of the tank for coolers and what not. A few feet under the cc will be good for wood storage. Plenty of room for stuff.

[bluecatfish]

I personally don't mind a few threaded connections left on, after all it is an outdoor cooker! How it runs is what's important to me. I turned them to the bottom on mine and used them for drains.

[mofomatic]

This looked like a good place to put the weld seam of the tank. That put the all the ports over on what will probably be the back side of the cooker, At this point, I'm more interested in getting it done this month. All the little extra stuff can wait.

[Big T]

[Pete Mazz]

What did you wind up doing for the throat?

[Rodcrafter]

You may want to make the cross member at the front of the FB into a truss that will also help contain the wood. Small pipe isn't very strong laying flat. Just a thought


Making memories.

[mofomatic]

Not sure on the throat yet. I'm tempted to move it forward some, maybe middle of the fire box and add a shadow plate. But I'm also tempted to put it all the way on the end and try to keep the rest of the build as close to a regular reverse flow set up. Start making to many changes all at once and things don't work out.

The tank is a pain to move around. It's been in my truck since I got it. I drug it out, filled it with water, drained, and mounted it. I only wanted to move it once. I'll do the throat and door with it on the trailer.

Still thinking over a wood basket set up. Once I locate and weld up the spring hanger brackets, I was gonna add a vertical piece of 1/4" flat bar all the way across under the Fb tube there. I did add some gussets where the rear most tubes weld to the sides of the fire box. I'm gonna see about borrowing some scales or maybe putting this on a trailer and going to some scales. Figure a few hundred Extra pounds for racks and shelves.... And get my tounge weight and axle location dialed in.

Also I was thinking of maybe squaring off the doors. seems like it could be easier to do 2 flat doors than deal with a sprung door. Either way, I want the door opening large enough to comfortably get a pig in and out.

After the pig I cooked for the forth of July, my friend asked me to help him cook a pig for his sister inlaws wedding. Right about that time I was given this tank. I have a good plan b(60 gallon cooker) that is a pain to move, but I'd like to get this done with enough time to do a few test cooks. Main goals for now are get smoker part operational, and make overall rig road worthy. Storage racks, decking, removing pipe nipples, those are low priority.

[mofomatic]

So decided on squared off doors, cut out the side with the fittings... Found another piece of truck exhaust pipe for the stack. The turned out exhaust tips make a nice transition into the cook chamber. Added a 1/4x3" brace under the fb mounting pipe. Ties into the spring hanger bracket. When I drug it over to a friends house to cut out the cc door opening. The frame seemed a little bouncy/flexible . Should probably go ahead and add another piece of tube from the bottom of the fb to the tounge, tie it in to the cross members. Haven't cut the fb throat opening yet. Probably gonna put it in the middle and see how that goes. Next question is 2 doors opening off the sides or one door flipping up.

[Pete Mazz]

The flip up door throws all that heat and smoke in your face.

[Rodcrafter]

I like the side swing doors, they don't need to be counter weighted and anyone can open them with one hand.

[mofomatic]

I'm leaning towards swing out doors, I actually bought bullet hinges to match the fb door. I'm just sitting hear trying to double check my thought process. Lots of good ideas floating around here, thanks by the way.

On the two smokers I have built, I tig welded everything. Craziness I tell ya. I got tired of tig welding everything else I was working on too. Picked up a Miller 211. So much better. This smoker is flying together compared to the others.

[Squiggle]

Totally dude, I started with TIG & was in heaven when I swapped to MIG, soooooo much easier!! Just not as tidy though.

[mofomatic]

Got bp in. Got door frame welded up.

[mofomatic]

[Smurf]

Lookin good

[dportz87]

[Squiggle]

[mofomatic]

Getting close, hoping to burn it out and maybe season it/ first cook this next weekend. How are the toggle u bolt type latches for holding cabinet doors shut?

[mofomatic]

Did a test burn last night. Definitely seen a lot of extra heat from the fb being up under the cc. Getting around 100degrees difference across the bottom rack. Today I made the second rack and installed a deflector( cut outs from the cc into the fb, work already done) above the bp gap. Basically like Miles came up with. Thanks for the idea Miles. Makes a huge diference. With the shelf in and the deflector tacked in, Ran another test burn. Temps are now pretty close, maybe 8-15 degrees top to bottom and side to side. I ordered a second maverick so I can watch all four corners at once instead of moving probes around.

I sized the second rack so I could use it as a litter for getting pigs in and out.

Still need a few add ons, shelf in front of the doors, some trailer work. But on the most basic level, the cooker is operational and its mobile.

[Big T]

[Squiggle]

[Rodcrafter]

Good work


Making memories.