First build. 130 Gallon. On my way to Smokeville!

[Mo Smoke]

Excuse my backyard. Its a work in progress too.

[Mo Smoke]

About a month later, I picked up some steel for the frame and firebox, and some 10" wheels. Didn't want it mounted on a trailer, I was thinking more of an Off road version of a patio cooker. Thought I was ready to go, but my first welder was hesitant to work with me though. He had problems with me wanting to come around while he was working on it, and he didn't like the fact that I wanted a different style of grill than he was used to building. Plus he was going to make me wait another month before he even started. Luckily another guy I had talked to before was between jobs and said he was ready to start. He was reasonable and open to my involvement since he had never built an RFS either. He picked up the tank and starting cutting it up around the 2nd week of June. Had the door cut in no time, and starting laying out the racks.

[Puff]

Mo, nice looking tank from the earlier pictures. Looks like a diving bell from the end. The problem with working a project like this is that you still have obligations to family and life and yet a strong desire to see this through. That's just a really good character ....I gotta say though, no matter how long it takes, it's well worth it. Mine took me 9 months, but the family really enjoys the food that has come out of it so far.

Keep the pictures and posts coming. Don't forget the ArmorAll on those tires!

[Big T]

It looks like your fab guy takes pride in his work.

[Puff]

Since I can't see it, I'll mention it. Do you have a method for anti-tip guards on the racks? Just something to keep the racks from tipping over should you slide them past the balance point ? I know it's in progress but hey, you never know.

[bluecatfish]

Sandblasting is the way to go!

[Mo Smoke]

Thanks guys. I'm definitely happy with the way its' coming together, and I definitely got the right guy for the job. We work good together. He respects my input which comes from my creative side, and all the info I get from you guys. Most guys around here aren't that technical when it comes to building a grill. Get a tank, cut it open, throw some racks in, stick a pipe or two in for exhaust and start cooking. Nobody's using calculators to figure out proper air flow, volume and what not. Nobody's building Reverse Flow Cookers either. So all the stuff I'm telling him, its like I've been to school for this. I also respect his input. He's actually building the grill. I couldn't weld two sticks together without taking a class first. He builds his own style of grill that he sells from time to time, and has been welding for years, so I gotta respect what he brings to the table. We talked about the thing with the racks when he first started on them Puff. He has it where they won't drop down, nor fall out when you slide them.

[Mo Smoke]

So next we went to work on the frame and wheel mounts. Originally I planned to use some 3x5 angle and 2x2 square pipe to build the frame. My guy convinced me that it would be wayyy to heavy with no need to use such big stock. Hated to waste that steel I bought but oh well... We went with 2x2 angle for the frame instead. He was right.

The wheels came next. I wanted to use 10" flat free tires all the way around mounted on casters. Static in the back, swivels in the front. No go. With the casters the frame would have to sit 12 inches off the ground making it kind of top heavy. Switched to a 6" flat free swivel up front. Also wanted a wider wheelbase, and more support in the back due to the weight of the firebox. Switched the back wheels to a 13" tire on an axel. Check it out.

[SmokinFF]

don't see why that won't work.

[Mo Smoke]

Thanks bro ! We're gettin there.

[Rev.Mike]

[Mo Smoke]

Next he cut the opening to attach the firebox to the CC. Then he build the firebox and attached it. I sized the firebox a little big but according to the pro's, I should be good. (See my thread, "Fireboxes, how big is too big").

Everything seemed to work pretty good, but I wasn't happy with that little wheel up front. Too much weight for it, and I thought it would give me problems rolling across the grass in my backyard. Gave up the swivel, put the 10" tire on the front, mounted on an axel, and bammm!!! That baby looked like if you put a motor in the firebox it would give a Mini Cooper a run for the money. Here it is.

[bluecatfish]

Just one question. In the pictures the tires seem fairly close to the FB. Will there be a heat problem from the FB or will they be low enough to not be a problem?

[Mo Smoke]

Thanks for the feedback bro. There is actually about a 1.5 inch gap between the wheels and the firebox. I hope thats enough, but we are talking about adding a heatsheild made out of scrap metal in between for extra insulation to keep the firebox heat from damaging the tires.

[Pete Mazz]

Nice job! I hope you won't need to make too many turns.

[Mo Smoke]

Thanks. I hated to give up my swivel front tire feature, but I couldn't have it all. Its still easy to maneuver though. Due to the added weight on the back end from the firebox, the front end lifts up easily and I will have a handle on that end when it's done.

[Rodcrafter]

Yep your doing a good job on that rascal. Your going to have lots of rack space too.

COOL!

[Rev.Mike]

[Mo Smoke]

Back at you fellas with some updated pics.
1. Got a shot thru the firebox into the cook chamber,and from the cc back into the fb. He cut it so theres a 1 inch lip that acts a grease bridge.

2. My baffle plate is made of 1/4" and is split into 2 sections to make it removable when I want to operate in grill mode instead of smoking. In the pics you can see the gap where it meets the firebox, the butt in the middle, and the opening opposite the throat. One section of the plate has a piece of 1" flat bar to cover the seam which is actually pretty tight already. Might come back and throw a thin piece of insulation in to seal it up even tighter but I'll wait to see how it performs and let it tell me what it needs.

3. Firebox inlets. 1 on each side and 1 on the front". Each measures 2" x 6".

[Mo Smoke]

You have to excuse the mess. My welder would kill me if he knew I was posting pics of the build without cleaning it up first !

[Puff]

The flat bar over the split in your baffle plate should work. I used the exact same thing in my 275 only with two seams. The baffle plate is three sections and there is 2" x 1/4" flat with about a 1 7/8" overlap.

[Rodcrafter]

It is coming along great.

[Puff]

By the way, the reason I went with three part baffle plate....I couldn't maneuver the 1 piece plate in the tank ! Two was easier, three was a piece o' cake.

[Big T]

It's getting there.

[Mo Smoke]

I really appreciate the comments fellas. It would probably be a little further along if I wasn't so picky about little details. I end up going back and forth over something and before I know it a week has gone by. We're gonna push to wrap up everything but the paint this week. But hey…we both said that at least 2 weeks ago ! Got some more pics coming in a day or so of the smoke stack opening and door handles.