2nd Build - Tank Offset Trailer Build

[dacolson]

I cut it all out. Fortunately it’s on the side where I’d cut the door so that’s the plan. Checking w the local metal supplier if they can roll a piece of steel to match my tank otherwise I’ll bracket around the opening and put in a flat door.


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[dacolson]

Cut out the door opening. I moved it around the side to open on the same side as the cook chamber. i had originally planned to have it open on the end like the firebox. It was the only way to position it so the rust cut out was removed in the door opening. Still waiting for a quote on a piece of rolled sheet for the door.

Today I welded the WC to the FB and welded in the opening between the CC and the WC. As close as I thought I got on my measurements and my cuts there were some pretty big gaps to weld up. Couple of fat caterpillars around there.

I also mocked up some reinforcements and the legs for the trailer. I’ll cut out a section in the back cross member to move the FB up closer to the axle. The smoker will be slightly offset to the drivers side. I’ll put a charcoal grill on the other side I’m building from a smaller tank and a wood basket on the tongue. Coming along!

[towtruck]

Nice!

[andysmoked]

Coming together nicely.


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[dacolson]

Nice!

Thanks towtruck. Appreciate the feedback and tips.

[dacolson]

Coming together nicely.


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Thx andysmoked. This one is a challenge!

[dacolson]

Did some more work on the trailer today. Needed to mock up the height and get the position right. I’ll move the tank off tomorrow and weld the thefts and the rest of the sides up.

Excuse the messy shop but here’s a look of the smoker on the trailer.

Tough to get a great look in my narrow work space. The tank wanted to keep twisting on the chain hoist so I had to use a couple straps to keep it floating in the right spot. Fun to see the vision finally.

[andysmoked]

That is not a messy shop. Mine is much worse.


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[dacolson]

Tight angle shot. The wide angle would be far messier. Just a sign it gets used, right?

[Big T]

I think most of our shops are pretty cluddered, I know that mine is.

[dacolson]

I usually clean it every day - sweep up grinder/plasma dust, put away tools, organize scrap/random metal pieces. Otherwise I’ll search half the day for my slag hammer/pliers/level/etc. I swear I looked straight at my metal scribe 5 times today and still couldn’t find it right in front of me - peaking out from under my gloves. Lol. Breathing too many welding fumes?

[towtruck]

You ain't seen a messy shop until you step foot into mine.....just a hint: I have not been into the top of my tool chest for three years. All the tools that I use in there are sitting on the lid with a whole bunch more crap. Today I cleaned it off and opened the lid. I found stuff in there I have not seen in years and forgot I had. My work bench has no visible bench showing and I cannot get any closer than 20" from it as the clutter has grown outward.

Every time I clean it out it only takes a couple days to grow right back. I gave up years ago......but I did put away over 75 tools today that were tossed around.

[dacolson]

Towtruck and BigT - I went back today and re-read your first build threads. It’s super encouraging to see you are both human and had first builds. Great looking rigs both of you. Towtruck wins the most unique with that center tube design. BigT has the best stack config with that recessed lip to hold it in place. You’re both a couple of pioneers and have been a great help. Thanks for chiming in all the time.

[towtruck]

Towtruck and BigT - I went back today and re-read your first build threads. It’s super encouraging to see you are both human and had first builds. Great looking rigs both of you. Towtruck wins the most unique with that center tube design. BigT has the best stack config with that recessed lip to hold it in place. You’re both a couple of pioneers and have been a great help. Thanks for chiming in all the time.

Thank you. I was given those chunks of tube and sat on them for a while before deciding to build a smoker out of them. As you read I had hurdles to jump before figuring it all out. Uncharted waters for sure. I learned a lot about air flow on that one. The smoker actually does a great job and I can control the heat by the degree as it's sealed so well.

The new 2x4' BBQ/Smoker I built followed a known design with some tweaks of my own to get it to fit my trailer. It has an air flow issue right now but I am not calling it a problem as I built it with no air inlets. It only sucks air from the ash pan opening and I control it by opening the pan a bit. The issue is when burning two piles of charcoal (one on each end of the bbq) the fire closest to the opening is obviously hotter. It allows for two zones of heat over the coals.....but I cannot really control them as there is only one air inlet on the one end. I am thinking of adding an air inlet in the front half of the bbq to better control a double fire and make the coals even across the entire fire tray. I purposefully did not cut intakes as I wanted to see exactly what was needed before cutting them in.
What I have been doing is building two fires in that bbq and placing my meats with the big end towards the hotter fire. I did a whole chicken and three tri-tips not long ago and the dual heat zone on each end with the meat faced correctly in the center not directly over the coals does a great job of smoking them perfectly.

[dacolson]

Once you figure it out I bet you get some tribute builds. It’s a great low profile design.

[towtruck]

Once you figure it out I bet you get some tribute builds. It’s a great low profile design.

Yeah, the main tube smoker is dialed in.....it's the bbg/smoker that I'm still dialing on.

[dacolson]

Is that one on the same trailer w the tube smoker?

[towtruck]

Is that one on the same trailer w the tube smoker?

Yes.....on the left side

[dacolson]

Big day today. Finished framing up the trailer and attached the smoker. Really pleased with how it came together. Everything is plum and level. The balance is slightly forward toward the tongue which will increase when I attached the charcoal grill behind the CC and attach the wood basket up front. The FB has plenty of clearance off the ground. I have to raise the tongue over 45°before it hits. Lots to do yet but this was a big milestone for me.


















There are a couple in there where I mocked up the stack for effect.

[dacolson]

Sorry for the sideways pics. Tried spacing them different. No use.
** UPDATED ** I removed the pics then added them back in w/ Tapatalk and they stayed in their original orientation. FYI

[Big T]

It's really starting to come together now.

[dacolson]

It's really starting to come together now.

Lots to do yet:
1. FB Door and latches
2. FB Vents
3. Coal basket and ash pan
4. WC door/latches and shelves
5. CC Shelves
6. CC door handles and latches
7. Grease trap
8. Throat baffle
9. Tuning plates
10. CC/WC throat baffle
11. Stack - collector and stack
12. Charcoal grill behind the CC
13. Trailer floor
14. Wood basket in front of CC
15. Work/prep rack
16. Sand blasting/painting
17. Fit and finish - thermometers, temp probe ports, tool hooks, etc
18. ???

I love a good punch list.

[towtruck]

Looks good but I fear your outgrowing that trailer pretty fast......says the guy that has a 1600 lb smoker trailer crammed full of stuff

[dacolson]

Lol. Yes. Weight is on my mind. Still pretty light considering. Easy for me to wheel around. I figure I’ll be under 1000# when it’s done. Can’t be more than 500# right now.

[hogaboomer]

It's really starting to come together now.

Lots to do yet:
1. FB Door and latches
2. FB Vents
3. Coal basket and ash pan
4. WC door/latches and shelves
5. CC Shelves
6. CC door handles and latches
7. Grease trap
8. Throat baffle
9. Tuning plates
10. CC/WC throat baffle
11. Stack - collector and stack
12. Charcoal grill behind the CC
13. Trailer floor
14. Wood basket in front of CC
15. Work/prep rack
16. Sand blasting/painting
17. Fit and finish - thermometers, temp probe ports, tool hooks, etc
18. ???

I love a good punch list.

Oh my Gawd!!! I have one thing left on my punch list, the water pan filler tube - and I can go get the parts for it tomorrow. Cool looking build!