20ft smoker trailer build

Jfrazer22 · Post by **Jfrazer22** » May 7th, 2018, 8:51 pm

I was reading some trends on your site and decided to share my build. I'm sure I will ask for some advice along the way. Currently the trailer is complete, except for 4 spring hangers I'm going to change out. With a axle over spring, I do not have enough clearance for axle movement and 2" of max spring deflection. The tanks is a 500 gallon long, about 11ft long and 31in diameter. I built a model in inventor which I will share the vision.

Post by **Big T** » May 7th, 2018, 9:52 pm

Welcome aboard!! It looks like you're off to a great start! So is it going to be a traditional offset or an RF ? You should start you a build thread so that it's easier for everyone to keep up with.

Jfrazer22 · Post by **Jfrazer22** » May 7th, 2018, 10:05 pm

I will do that. If u can move the trend I will continue to add to it. It will be a reverse flow.

Post by **Rodcrafter** » May 8th, 2018, 5:18 am

Welcome to the crew!

That rascal looks longer than that in the picture. It’s going to be a great smoker.

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Jfrazer22 · Post by **Jfrazer22** » May 8th, 2018, 7:30 pm

Thanks. I have more steel arriving Friday to start installing the reverse flow baffle. I'm going to make it adjustable ao I can regulate different temperatures. I'm thinking 12"-16" wide 1/4 plates that can be moved and butted together. How has everyone else done this?

Post by **Big T** » May 8th, 2018, 8:21 pm

On a true RF the baffle plate is a solid plate that is welded in, it has a gap at the end farthest from the fire box. You can adjust the BP gap from the same size as the throat, down to 75% of the throat to change the ''tune'' of the pit. A traditional offset uses tuning plates like you are referring to so that you can regulate different temperature zones. I'm not sure how a gap in the BP other than the normal end gap would affect the performance, I can't say it wouldn't work but I can't say it will either. I have seen a couple of guys build a hybrid smoker that has a stack on both ends of the pit that can be blocked off and they have plates like you are wanting to use. They can push them together and run it as a RF or spread them out and run it as a traditional offset.

Post by **Rodcrafter** » May 9th, 2018, 5:45 am

Another thing to consider is, when the baffle plate has gaps like a tuning plate you need a grease dam at the FB throat. On my backyard rig I made an adjustable BP for the purpose of closing the opening into the CC like BigT said. I used 6” or 9”wide plates with 4” flat bar welded to one side of each plate so they would overlap. This afforded me about 6” of adjustment to the end gap.

I too wouldn’t make gaps between the plates without a stack on both ends to direct the draft.

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Jfrazer22 · Post by **Jfrazer22** » May 12th, 2018, 9:04 am

Thanks for the input guys. Based on your posts, and doing some research on my own, I'm going to make a hybrid that I can run as a true RF or open tuning plate and run more as an traditional offset. I like this because some times I smoke all ribs. But sometimes I'm smoking my ribs and finishing a pork butt. This would allow me to run part of the smoker at 325 while keeping part of the smoker at 225. Getting the plates to fit right will be the key. I will also find a way I can lock the plates in place. So when I move the trailer the plates stay. Do I need to worry about a 9" plate warping from the heat cycling?

Dirtytires · Post by **Dirtytires** » May 12th, 2018, 9:58 am

Just my 2 cents, but ill bet you end up with close to a 100 degree temp difference from side to side no matter what you do. A pit that long is going to have trouble keeping even temps left to right.

McBroom · Post by **McBroom** » May 12th, 2018, 10:48 am

To help control temps on each end. Dual fireboxes??? Hmmm
Big’n & a lil’n?????

I Love My 2018 RAM 2500HD 4x4 6.4L. USMC (ret)

Post by **Rodcrafter** » May 13th, 2018, 5:24 pm

Mine are 9” but 3/8” thick.

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Jfrazer22 · Post by **Jfrazer22** » July 4th, 2018, 1:25 pm

I have been working on this project but have not shared in a while. Wanted to update everyone on my progress.

Jfrazer22 · Post by **Jfrazer22** » July 4th, 2018, 6:13 pm

When I mounted my doors they did not fit (match radius of tank) after some measurements I realized the tank tried to unroll and flattened the small ribs between the doors. To fix this I cut all my middle shelf supports the dimensions on the side of the tank that still has the end bell. I used a portapower and pulled the tank back. I had a gap from 1/2 to over an inch. I'm attaching a pic to show how I did that. I also used a ratchet strap to hold the shelf (no expanded metal on it yet) to the support rails with an 11ga spacer. The doors are very close. I will fine tune after all welding is done.

Jfrazer22 · Post by **Jfrazer22** » July 4th, 2018, 6:19 pm

Firebox is built. I have openings on top, a baffle plate with the opposite opening will normally close them off. But I wanted to be able to open to grill and more importantly cook fire oven pizza. The top of firebox is 3/8. The rest of the firebox is 1/4"

Jfrazer22 · Post by **Jfrazer22** » July 4th, 2018, 6:26 pm

Oven is attached to firebox. I decided to make the firebox out of 11ga. Damper holes are cut in.

Jfrazer22 · Post by **Jfrazer22** » July 4th, 2018, 6:27 pm

Pic didnt attach

Post by **Big T** » July 4th, 2018, 8:49 pm

You've been putting in work

ajfoxy · Post by **ajfoxy** » July 4th, 2018, 9:12 pm

Very nice. Coming along very nicely.

Post by **Rodcrafter** » July 5th, 2018, 8:01 am

Looking good!

Nice tools help.

Making memories!

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » July 5th, 2018, 3:40 pm

Can ya taste it yet?

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Jfrazer22 · Post by **Jfrazer22** » July 8th, 2018, 6:39 pm

I can start to. I actually went and had BBQ today lol. The next thing I need is 10 spring handles and 8 temperature gauges. Any recommendations for a site I can buy them in bulk? Or at least a good price for a good product.

Post by **Big T** » July 8th, 2018, 7:13 pm

Have you checked out bbqsmokersupply.com ? They usually have a pretty good selection of products on their site.

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » July 11th, 2018, 12:36 pm

Yeah that

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