First build attempt starts Tomorrow! Need help

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

I do the same, but I usually think through my builds while I'm trying to fall asleep. Needless to say, I don't get much sleep.

[Pennywise]

So I haven't posted in awhile...because funds dried up. I need to purchase some more steel. I have however made progress, but since I haven't had a moments rest from work to upload pics, I didn't post yet. Basically the baffle plate is completely welded in, I used 1x1 angle iron to make a lip for grease run off, and then flipped over the angle iron to weld along the entire seam of the BP; both sides. I know its alot of extra welding, but it looks fantastic IMO.

Also cut my door hole and framed in the square doors. Next step is to build my smoke box, but again...low funds.

[Rodcrafter]

[The Czar]

You know the rules....no pics never happened!!

[Tom_Heath]

That is one awesome build. One awesome tow rig. And a pretty awesome Dad for all his help.

I love it.

I noticed that the spring over axle was mentioned and you commented that it was perfect height as is. Thats cool. But if you are to decide that its a little to tall. By all means flop those axles on top of the springs. Your U Bolts may very well be the strongest part of you whole trailer next to the pintle ring. No fear of them letting go. My trailer is spring under axle and it hits the scale right at 10,000 lbs.

Have you installed all the trailer cross members? And have you built the tapered part of the tongue yet? Just asking since you are planning to pull it with a big truck, you will need just a little longer tongue to clear the bed corners when you install a box. 90% of the trailers out there are a little short on the tongue.

[Pennywise]

That is one awesome build. One awesome tow rig. And a pretty awesome Dad for all his help.

I love it.

I noticed that the spring over axle was mentioned and you commented that it was perfect height as is. Thats cool. But if you are to decide that its a little to tall. By all means flop those axles on top of the springs. Your U Bolts may very well be the strongest part of you whole trailer next to the pintle ring. No fear of them letting go. My trailer is spring under axle and it hits the scale right at 10,000 lbs.

Have you installed all the trailer cross members? And have you built the tapered part of the tongue yet? Just asking since you are planning to pull it with a big truck, you will need just a little longer tongue to clear the bed corners when you install a box. 90% of the trailers out there are a little short on the tongue.

Thanks, and awesome suggestions. Yes I have the tongue built, but NO I don't have all my x-members done in the front of the trailer. Its total length from FB to pintle plate is right @ 20'. I still have to put at least 2 x-members in the nose area, but I want to figure out where my wood storage/propane storage will be and incorporate them to the x-members.

As to the axles, I see your point. I was just afraid once I got the rest of the weight on there that it would probably sit another inch lower and all of my measurments has been to ensure I could do everything I needed without getting a stool or stooping over. I can see however how once I get the warming box and the pipe put on I might want it a tad lower.

Were friends on FB now, so feel free to check out the build photo album. Its got more recent pictures....I mean to upload them today to photobucket.

[Pennywise]

Heres the photo's from a few weeks ago:

Cutting out the door






Putting in the 'rails' for the BP and getting prepped for the grease tube







Next morning...I was a tad hungover...I aint gonna lie.




This is the extra scrap from cutting the door frame...coincidence its shaped exactly like a football?





Started framing in the swing doors



I have some more pics to upload from the next day where we tied the front of the trailer together and put our plate on for the pintle. I'll upload em later.

[Tom_Heath]

Looks amazing.

LOL is that your dad wearing the slip on boat shoes.... I know a guy that welds in flip flops. LOL

Dont let my thoughts persuade you to flip the spring set up unless you feel that it will benefit the build. I just wanted to assure you that if needed it would be more then acceptable.

[Pennywise]

I don't think so. If I flip em, then all the weight is resting on those u-bolts instead of the springs. I appreciate the thought and purpose behind it, but I think doing them this way keeps the weight better distributed across the axle surface.

And yeah...dad welds in his moccassins. Cracks me up. I welded in flip flops once...it only lasted about 2 hours before I caught slag between two toes and found this was an error in my line of thinking I could easily rectify...LMAO

[Rodcrafter]

[Pennywise]

So spent this last saturday working out the doors. Noticed that the trailer wasn't completely level (off 3/16" on one side) so spent 45 minutes fixing that, then got the grinder out and ground all the welds on the back side plate on top section of door opening. Got it straight, then I ground every surface to flush around the door frame. I didn't expect to have that much grinding.

We got it all squared up and added 1" angle to all the edges to give it a clean look. Thats as far as I got.

I did make an SOS call to Frank on the doors. I keep beating myself up on the best way to do them. He was very helpful and advised me to use angle inside and on the doors to make the seal. Thanks for the advise Frank!

[The Czar]

He does seem to whip the miracles out of his.....

[Pennywise]

He does seem to whip the miracles out of his.....

LOL, yeah he was spot on, even though you were getting him drunk.

[Rodcrafter]

DC drinking with Frank, no way.


Making memories.

[The Czar]

Well...at least I was probably drinking....

[Pennywise]

OK in another thread Puff mentioned I need to re-calc my FB size due to doing squared off doors. I'm no math wiz, so how do I go about doing this properly? Is their a size 'safety' zone that I could use...say 119% of original capacity?

If not, how do I measure the curved surface for the new figure?

I'll look back at my pit calc link in here and re-post it if it helps.

[Rodcrafter]

I would say, look at the end of your cooker and measure the top portion you added, then the front top to bottom multiply that by the length. After multiplying all three then divide the number in half. This is because you really have created an triangle which is always half of a square. then just add those cubic inches to what you already had an it will be very close.

jm2cw

[Smokeone]

Man, everybody is going all btu lately. Nice work, RC!

[Tom_Heath]

Right


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[Rodcrafter]

[Pennywise]

Ho there. Couple things:

1) haven't given up. Just been a tough winter around here.
2) Anyone have a line on 5X10 sheets of 1/4" in the KC area?

[Puff]

Hey Pennywise,

Good to see your post....

[motoridr09]

I've been keeping an eye on yours. I'm ready to see how your square doors turn out.

[Pennywise]

Well today we built 4 of the 6 sides on the fb. Will upload pics monday. Have the top cut, but don't want to tie it in until we finish cutting on the inside.

[Pennywise]

Hey Pennywise,

Good to see your post....

Hola Senior Puff.