Hey guys, glad to be here. New member from Va.

[raw23062]

Thought I would introduce myself and say hi. My name is Randy and I'm from Southeastern Va. but we are currently looking to relocate to the Smokey Mountains. We've spent the last 3 years taking trips into Eastern TN, Western NC AND SC, as well as North Eastern GA. I've been on the coast for 40 years but have always loved the mountains and am drawn to good ole BBQ and mountain festivals like nothing else. I'm in Real Estate for a living but have been building hot rods for fun most of my life. In the last 5 years I have developed a real passion for BBQ and have gone through my share of cookers, smokers, as well as a number of my own BBQ recipes. I feel like I am at the end of my beginner stage and ready to take the next step into serious cooker/smoker. I've had the gas smoker and recently gone through a number of years with the cheaper wood smoker with the side firebox. All of the down falls to this design I have experienced first hand. The more I read about these the more I wish I had read before going in this direction. Since I have a large shop and lots of fabrication abilities, I want to step my game way up and build a first class smoker. I have a 500 gallon oil tank, I have an old horse trailer I have gutted to the deck and axel that I plan on mounting it to and I have just recently landed an old woodstove I thought would make a great firebox. I've got a nice plasma cutter, and a bunch of plate steel and aluminum. My real desire is to make sure I design and build this thing the right way to maximize my results!! I'm REALLY looking forward to the expert advise on here and can't seem to read enough. Thanks agin for having me and again, I'm really glad to be here with people who share my same interests!

[TuscaloosaQ]

First of all there are many people here who can help you, I myself have several builds under my belt and any question you have feel free to ask. Remember there are no dumb questions. Me and my son are both highly skilled fabricators, but cookers were never our speciality. We learned from others and looking at other builds, I never wanted to copy anyone just take a bunch of ideas and bring them together. Look at some of our builds and other peoples and ask questions. Good luck and remember the only dumb queations are the ones we never ask cause they lead to goo fy mistakes.. Again welcome and good luck

[raw23062]

Thank you, I appreciate the kind words. Where on this site is the best place to look at the different builds? I could probably figure out this one on my own if I looked but figured I would take the easy way out and ask. Thanks again!

Randy

[Frank_Cox]

I Know you are going to like it here!
Here is a link to the smoker design section--- Smoker Design section
Here is a link to the reverse flow section---- Reverse Flow Section

[SoloQue]

[Gizmo]

Welcome RAW!
Personally I specialize in goofy mistakes - just check out my builds.
As you'll notice from my threads even a blind pig can find a truffel once in a while...
Please ask away - like to spend other people's money and help them avoid pitfalls whenever possible.
I would estimate that if you quit your day job you could read all the threads on this site in just under 2 weeks...
Just remember, DC and Frank are great at remembering where stuff is at on here so ask and they can prolly point you in the right direction - they've bailed me out more than once...

[Smokeone]

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[TuscaloosaQ]

Go to the trailer build section/ there is some good stuff in there..... Those guys kinda fly under the radar and get left out... They are reverse flow smoker trailer builders and I think they are top knotch!!!!!

[Frank_Cox]

[SoloQue]

As you'll notice from my threads even a blind pig can find a truffel once in a while...

truffel ... road apple ... I always pick up the wrong one

mmm ... hmmm ... lost my train of thought

[TuscaloosaQ]

raw23062 Rick does have a ccouple of awesome builds you will defiently want to check them out.... I am gonna do one like them one day if I can muster up the nerve and brain for it I like Edgar and??????????? you know who I am talkind abt rick my mind went blank.... but she is fine!!!!

[Smokeone]

I think TQ is referring to Edna. Edna is a fine specimen of a cooker.

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[Gizmo]

Thanks guys!

Edgar is still here but I sold Edna...

[raw23062]

All this looking at cookers is making me hungry

[The Czar]

Rick what ever happened to Edgar and Edna having an offspring?

Raw....get used to it...I usually log on after I eat...but it don't help much...

[Gizmo]

Still in the works but I need to sell Edgar and free up some shop space and $ to get started on "Eddy" or Eldridge" or "Edith" or "Eunice" or ....

[raw23062]

So I was all set to get started with my build this weekend and then a friend tells me this morning that she can get me a free 500 gal propane tank. After reading a bunch on here it seems like the propane tanks are thicker material and better for building a quality smoker. Would guys say this is definitely the way to go?

This is what I was going to start with.





http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/ab32 ... G_3855.jpg

[smokendink71]

[Frank_Cox]

If you can get a 500 gallon tank that is the way to go!

[The Czar]

Is that an old oil tank?

[Smokeone]

Go for the 500 propane tank!

[raw23062]

Ok boys.....I found 325gal propane tank and the guy will also throw in a 125 gal propane tank with it. I was a little worrie the 500 would be a bit large for my trailer anyway....so I was thinking the 325 might be good. Thoughts? Thanks for the input!

[Frank_Cox]

Either of those propane tanks will make a nice smoker!

[raw23062]

Ive started skeching a basic layout for the trailer and I think Im going to try and do a RF smoker on one side of hthe trailer with the 325 and a propane cooker on the other with the 125. If room permits Id like to add a propane burner for lighting the charcoal, etc... not sure Ill have room. We'll see.

[Frank_Cox]

Sounds great! lemmee know if you need help! here is a link to the pit calc...
Feldon central calc