First Build, 150 Gallon Reverse Flow

GamecockEngineer · Post by **GamecockEngineer** » November 13th, 2018, 8:07 am

Snagged a 150 gallon propane tank a couple months ago and have been making slow but steady progress on the cooker.

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » November 13th, 2018, 8:16 am

And so the life quest begins!!!!

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GamecockEngineer · Post by **GamecockEngineer** » November 13th, 2018, 8:43 am

More

GamecockEngineer · Post by **GamecockEngineer** » November 13th, 2018, 8:45 am

GamecockEngineer · Post by **GamecockEngineer** » November 13th, 2018, 8:49 am

started putting the trailer kit together

Chromeski · Post by **Chromeski** » November 13th, 2018, 10:07 am

Looks great, sometimes it feels good to see I'm not the only one here without a full metal fab shop. When finished that smoker is going to be heavy, are you sure the trailer is up to the task?

GamecockEngineer · Post by **GamecockEngineer** » November 13th, 2018, 11:12 am

My wife would probably prefer I had a shop to do this instead of in the garage and in my driveway. My truck doesnt fit in the 1960s built garage so I use that space for my workshop. Eventually the cooker will live on my side of the garage when not being used.

Trailer is rated for 1060 lb. Tank is 320 lb, firebox is 240lb. I dont think the baffle, grates, and exhaust will exceed 400 lb.

towtruck · Post by **towtruck** » November 13th, 2018, 12:08 pm

Looking good. It's amazing how fast the weight will add up...

Post by **Big T** » November 13th, 2018, 6:57 pm

Dirtytires · Post by **Dirtytires** » November 14th, 2018, 10:45 am

I have to throw my opinion in the ring as well. Smokers always get heavier. We slowly add things to them like work shelves, brackets, tool boxes, wood storage, meat, fender wells and whatever else we can think of. Combine that with a bolt together trailer should never, in my opinion, be loaded to more than 50% of nameplate capacity and you have an extremely undersized trailer.

If you are just keeping it in the yard it might be ok for a while. Chances are it will distort before it falls on your foot but I really don’t think you should hit the open road with it as the bumps are just going to destroy it. I believe those tires are only rated to 45mph and I can tell you from experience that they will destroy themselves after multiple heat cycles going much faster.

You are putting a lot of work into a great smoker and would hate to see a harbor freight trailer be the center of it when trailers are so easy to build.

Just trying to help...

Gringo Loco · Post by **Gringo Loco** » November 14th, 2018, 4:46 pm

Looking Good!!!

GamecockEngineer · Post by **GamecockEngineer** » November 15th, 2018, 8:05 am

Dirtytires wrote: ↑
November 14th, 2018, 10:45 am
I have to throw my opinion in the ring as well. Smokers always get heavier. We slowly add things to them like work shelves, brackets, tool boxes, wood storage, meat, fender wells and whatever else we can think of. Combine that with a bolt together trailer should never, in my opinion, be loaded to more than 50% of nameplate capacity and you have an extremely undersized trailer.

If you are just keeping it in the yard it might be ok for a while. Chances are it will distort before it falls on your foot but I really don’t think you should hit the open road with it as the bumps are just going to destroy it. I believe those tires are only rated to 45mph and I can tell you from experience that they will destroy themselves after multiple heat cycles going much faster.

You are putting a lot of work into a great smoker and would hate to see a harbor freight trailer be the center of it when trailers are so easy to build.

Just trying to help...

Absolutely I appreciate the advice. The trailer is cheap enough to be a wait and see type situation. I really only intend on dragging it around in town and not exceeding the rated speed limit of 45 mph. If it sucks Im only out $300 and I can try to find a more permanent solution somewhere else.

GamecockEngineer · Post by **GamecockEngineer** » November 15th, 2018, 8:10 am

got the firebox substantially tacked together yesterday.

Chromeski · Post by **Chromeski** » November 15th, 2018, 11:13 am

Looks good

akjeff · Post by **akjeff** » November 16th, 2018, 1:20 am

Looking great!

GamecockEngineer · Post by **GamecockEngineer** » November 20th, 2018, 1:04 pm

got the tank mounted to the trailer and painted

GamecockEngineer · Post by **GamecockEngineer** » November 20th, 2018, 1:05 pm

Biggest problem now is that I had planned on doing a reverse flow, however the CG is just forward of the axle. If I put the firebox on that I was planning it will tip the unit over. Best thing I can think off is to go with a standard offset and put the exhaust on the trailer tongue size of the tank

Time to get creative.

towtruck · Post by **towtruck** » November 20th, 2018, 2:58 pm

Time for a different trailer. Plain and simple that is not going to work out.....unless you make it a tandem axle and add another axle under the firebox.
Unless you have 10-15% tongue weight it wont tow well and most likely it will whip side to side really bad being so short. I'm betting you cooking height is too low as well.

You could try moving the axle all the way back but I fear it's still going to be tail heavy.

GamecockEngineer · Post by **GamecockEngineer** » November 20th, 2018, 3:14 pm

Actually I like the idea of moving the axle to the back. Cooking height isnt too bad. I kinda want it low so the exhaust will fit under my garage door.

My dad is going to be grumpy about bringing the kabota back to town but I think thats a decent solution.

Chromeski · Post by **Chromeski** » November 20th, 2018, 4:11 pm

Build tube smoker you want. With all the time and materials you have already invested its not worth sacrificing now. It's an inconvenience now and may even cost you more, but that smoker will last a lifetime build the one you want. Offer dad some ribs in exchange for tractor rental

Dirtytires · Post by **Dirtytires** » November 21st, 2018, 6:52 pm

Hate to be a nag, but that trailer is undersized. It is going to be a problem no matter what you do with it.

Coach Cherry · Post by **Coach Cherry** » January 31st, 2019, 9:54 am

What are the exact dimensions of your tank. I'm having a hard time determining if my tank is a 120 or 150 gallon

Thanks

Post by **Pete Mazz** » January 31st, 2019, 11:40 am

Coach Cherry wrote: ↑
January 31st, 2019, 9:54 am
What are the exact dimensions of your tank. I'm having a hard time determining if my tank is a 120 or 150 gallon

Thanks

http://www.smokerbuilder.com/forums/vie ... =87&t=4426

GamecockEngineer · Post by **GamecockEngineer** » May 31st, 2019, 7:45 am

just to update everyone, I got a bigger trailer and finished the cooker. Starting to think about building a bigger cooker next and putting this one on a rolling stand to keep in my garage.

towtruck · Post by **towtruck** » May 31st, 2019, 8:31 am

Looks like it works! Good job.

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First Build, 150 Gallon Reverse Flow

First Build, 150 Gallon Reverse Flow

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