1st reverse flow-on a budget

SAFETYHARBORREDNECK · Post by **SAFETYHARBORREDNECK** » January 7th, 2016, 3:46 pm

My ex-wife calls me cheap.I think of it as frugal,LOL.
And since I'm a poor boy,I've got to keep the cost of this smoker to a minimum.
It all started as I was working for a car salvage yard.A friend of mine has a 120 RF hybrid and I am kinda jealous.I wanted one too,but the $1500 for a used one was a little steep for me.
So,whats a Redneck to do?Build one on a budget!
At the salvage yard,I picked up a pair of new chrome Caddy wheels dirt cheap.
Then,a friend gave me the remnants of a home made trailer.
Here are the wheels and trailer.

Look at the tongue!

No seriously,look at the tongue!

SAFETYHARBORREDNECK · Post by **SAFETYHARBORREDNECK** » January 7th, 2016, 10:45 pm

Fixed the tongue.Cut the bad part out.Dang tongue was way too long anyway.

Then I saw an ad on Craigslist for a 120 gal. propane tank at a scrap metal place for $100.They had 4 of them.I picked this one cause it was in the best shape.The others were pitted pretty bad.Notice the seam is dead center.Never seen one like that before,but it let's me cut a door that's roughly 52" wide.

Slowly started to get a few other pieces.
Some LED lights I'm gonna recess into the stake pockets on the rear of the trailer.Wasn't happy with the looks of the boring trailer lights.

Had to get 2 different size leaf springs to offset the heaviest cooker being on 1 side.Did I mention I'm going to mount this one AND my 80 gal.grill on the same trailer.Also gonna mount a propane burner on the front and sometime in the future,perhaps a small vertical cooker on the other front corner.

Got some hub and bearings from a 2000 Sedan Deville to mount the rims on.Gonna oreder a 3500lb axle probably next week to mount the hubs to.

Post by **Big T** » January 7th, 2016, 10:54 pm

It looks like it's been rode hard and put up wet by the way that tongue is hanging out! I also built my trailer rig out of scrap piles and metal dumpsters . I used a trailer from an old jet ski that a friend gave me just to get it out of his yard. It took about 6 months to scrounge materials and about 4 months to build but I've only got a few hundred bucks tied up in it. I'm sure you can build a nice one too.

SAFETYHARBORREDNECK · Post by **SAFETYHARBORREDNECK** » January 7th, 2016, 10:59 pm

Since I'm frugal(and can't weld),I bought another 120 gal. tank to cut up(I know,some would call it sacrilegious,but hey,what's a poor Redneck to do?) for the firebox.
It was pink!it was also 66" long.Was gonna use this one as my CC,but it was too pitted,so I'll stick with the 62" one.

Since I'm cutting it,I'll cut the other end off too for a future build.I cut them at 24",so it leaves me roughly 19" in the center.Might plate off one end and use it as a fire ring,or possibly the firepit for a Discada???we'll see....
Ta daaaa.3 hours and 5 3" cutoff discs later,we have a firebox!

Got a few pieces of 1 1/2"x1"x1/8" channel to use as cross members for the trailer.
trailer is 10 1/2 ft long,so I got 25'.We'll see if that works...

SAFETYHARBORREDNECK · Post by **SAFETYHARBORREDNECK** » January 7th, 2016, 11:06 pm

Gonna recycle the feet of this tank to put on the CC tank,cause those got bent.
Sucks using a cutoff wheel,but hey,I got time.

Mock up of the 2 tanks.

Marking out the CC door.1 inch above 12 o'clock and bottom cut at 3 o'clock.

soccerguy83 · Post by **soccerguy83** » January 8th, 2016, 11:16 am

Reason for having the FB vertical?

SAFETYHARBORREDNECK · Post by **SAFETYHARBORREDNECK** » January 8th, 2016, 3:10 pm

soccerguy83 wrote:Reason for having the FB vertical?

To have a flat top so I can use the heat of the firebox to cook a pot of beans or whatnot on so's I don't have to use up the propane burner as much.Buddy of mine has one like this and we cook beans and p-nuts all the time.The lid will be 2 piece with hinges 2/3rds back.
Here's a pic of his.Also,he has a 6" round pipe(I know,undersized)leading from the FB to CC.My FB however, will be welded directly to the CC like most RF's.
Notice the Keg we slit in half.It's a heat shield,LOL.His tank sits on the right side of his trailer,a little too close to the tire,so we came up with this neat heat shield!

Post by **Rodcrafter** » January 8th, 2016, 9:54 pm

Keep up the good work!

Making memories.

Dirtytires · Post by **Dirtytires** » January 8th, 2016, 11:47 pm

I am not familiar with using different rate springs on the same axel. Wouldn't it be better to use a matched set?

SAFETYHARBORREDNECK · Post by **SAFETYHARBORREDNECK** » January 9th, 2016, 6:38 am

Dirtytires wrote:I am not familiar with using different rate springs on the same axel. Wouldn't it be better to use a matched set?

I'm putting the 120 gal.RF on 1 side of the trailer and my 80 gal.charcoal grill on the opposite side.Roughly 250lb difference.
In theory,if you put too much weight on 1 side,you can compensate by using a larger spring on that side to help compensate for the added weight.I've never tried it,but a few of the fine folks here say it's the way to go,soooooo.

SAFETYHARBORREDNECK · Post by **SAFETYHARBORREDNECK** » January 9th, 2016, 6:49 am

Here's a better pic of what my FB will look like.
This particular one has a 3" square clean out at the bottom as well as a 5" square air inlet opening.The 5",IMO,is too small,but the cleanout compensates for that.
The lid is 2 piece with some kind of chain links for hinges.I just might incorporate similar chain links for my build.

Here's a close up of the chain link hinges.He used them for the door opening as well.

Post by **Rodcrafter** » January 9th, 2016, 7:34 am

Did you use the pit calc to make sure these sizes are correct or are you judging by the way this one works?

Making memories.

bluecatfish · Post by **bluecatfish** » January 9th, 2016, 10:35 am

Looks like you have a plan! I am looking forward to seeing your build come together. I have a 66" x 22" propane tank that I plan on cutting to 44" and using the other 22" to make the FB for a RF patio rig. I hope to incorporate some of your design if you don't mind.

SAFETYHARBORREDNECK · Post by **SAFETYHARBORREDNECK** » January 10th, 2016, 7:55 am

Dirtytires wrote:I am not familiar with using different rate springs on the same axel. Wouldn't it be better to use a matched set?

Thought I posted a response to this yesterday,but I don't see it,so here goes again.
This 120 gal. tank will be mounted on the drivers side of the trailer and my little 80 gal.charcoal grill will be mounted on passenger side.Since there's quite a bit of weight difference between the 2(I want to say roughly 250lb.s),some of the folks here recommend using the 2 different size springs to offset the weight of the 2 tanks so the trailer doesn't list(DC,that means lean) to one side.
Hope that clears it up.

SAFETYHARBORREDNECK · Post by **SAFETYHARBORREDNECK** » January 10th, 2016, 8:06 am

Rodcrafter wrote:Did you use the pit calc to make sure these sizes are correct or are you judging by the way this one works?
Making memories.

Yes Rodcrafter,I did use the calculator.At 24" tall,the firebox is at 116%.I will most likely knock off another inch or 2,just to make sure I have clearance between FB and road.
I wish my trailer was road worthy.Wouldn't mind driving to Orlando to use your plasma cutter,but I've already got the top cut of the CC door cut and this morning gonna go the shop and finish cutting the door out.Actually,I don't have the hinges yet,so I'll leave 4 1" places NOT cut till I get the hinges and strapping.It'll also give time for the door to cool so that when I do make the final cuts,it won't spring or warp.

SAFETYHARBORREDNECK · Post by **SAFETYHARBORREDNECK** » January 10th, 2016, 8:38 am

bluecatfish wrote:Looks like you have a plan! I am looking forward to seeing your build come together. I have a 66" x 22" propane tank that I plan on cutting to 44" and using the other 22" to make the FB for a RF patio rig. I hope to incorporate some of your design if you don't mind.

I would be flattered(DC,that means honored and pleased).Can't wait to see yours come to fruition(DC,oh never mind,LOL).

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » January 10th, 2016, 9:02 am

Why you gotta drop me into this? Ha!

Post by **Rodcrafter** » January 10th, 2016, 10:35 am

He sure is picking on you DC. Did you guys get along ok at the gathering?

Making memories.

SAFETYHARBORREDNECK · Post by **SAFETYHARBORREDNECK** » January 11th, 2016, 2:36 pm

Rodcrafter wrote:He sure is picking on you DC. Did you guys get along ok at the gathering?
Making memories.

Heh,Heh.Yeah,we got along.It's just that I see him ribbing others here and thought I'd give him a little dose,LOL.
No hard feelings DC?(and thanks for the saying under my avatar.appropos.(that means "fitting",LOL)

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » January 11th, 2016, 7:22 pm

I'm sure I don't know what your talking about

Post by **Rodcrafter** » January 12th, 2016, 7:42 am

I think he thinks you put the rank under his avatar. But Redneck really that changes by itself according to how many posts you place on the forum. Everyone has all of them over time.

Making memories.

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » January 12th, 2016, 7:53 am

See I'm innocent ...well okay...I didn't do it

SAFETYHARBORREDNECK · Post by **SAFETYHARBORREDNECK** » January 14th, 2016, 3:28 pm

Rodcrafter wrote:I think he thinks you put the rank under his avatar. But Redneck really that changes by itself according to how many posts you place on the forum. Everyone has all of them over time.
Making memories.

The ranking and stars I get.I was referring to the saying right under my name that says "has a junk pile that will one day smoke LOTS of BBQ".

Post by **Rodcrafter** » January 14th, 2016, 5:35 pm

That is the rank, it will change as you continue to post

Making memories.

Post by **Pete Mazz** » January 14th, 2016, 6:32 pm

I think Frank's been having some fun....

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