First Reverse Flow build-500 gallon!

[upinsmokebbq]

I'll try not to ramble on too badly here...but it HAS been a long drawn out process. A little back-story: About a year ago, a friend of mine in Florida told me he wanted to sell his cooker. He had bought it at Memphis in May about 10 years ago & parked it at his vacation property in Crystal River. I had seen it & even cooked on it...basically a giant grill made from a 500 gallon propane tank on a trailer. Being bored with the Kentucky winter, I called a buddy of mine & long story short...drove to Florida, bought it and brought it home.

Notice how short the tongue on that trailer is. Try backing that sucker up



A few to give you an idea of what we started with.

Front


Backside

Apparently it was intended to be fired through these tiny doors. My shovel was too big

The back of the trailer had this box for carrying your "stuff". No cut on the tank for this thankfully.


The cooker sat pretty much like this for several months. It's hard to make progress when you have no metal working skills...neither you or your builder has ever seen a RF smoker & you can't explain it well enough to make him willing to start cutting. Eventually I tired of that program and started looking around on the internet. Got lucky & found this website! Talked to Frank...bought plans...made progress. Now my builder had someone to blame when it didn't work....Frank Number one rule of corporate America..."Never start a project until you have figured out who to blame when it goes South". Damn I'm glad to be retired.

Time to start cutting and chopping. Ass removed and double doors now one.




Baffle plate welded in. 1/4" plate

Speaking of plate...dang, I got tired of buying this stuff. $200 a sheet for 1/4" and $300 for 3/8" (4X8 sheets)


Another view: Front of the baffle plate.


Getting ready for the firebox.



Got firebox? I do...3/8" plate. Notice the support under the firebox. Sucker stood straight up in the air without it Heavy...


Twin stacks removed & single 8" X 1/4" exhaust in place. Looking more like it should now.


But still two problems. It is REALLY heavy in the back (exhaust flue probably weighed 150 lbs. & no telling what the firebox weighs). Also the tongue is waay to short. Thankfully the solution to both problems is the same. We extended the tongue about 5' and then built a framework out of 3"X3"X1/4" angle to accommodate a box for wood & "stuff". Pictures of all that to come. Perhaps this is enough to quiet the "No pics....it didn't happen" crew

Comments and questions welcome. Glad to answer to the limited extent of my ability.

Oh, and BTW........THANKS FRANK!!

[The Czar]

...... .... ..... ....


Actually that looks to be a very nice rig your gonna have in the end....I think you will be very happy with the results.....

[upinsmokebbq]

I'll try and get some pictures of the "largely finished" product today and get them posted up. It looks much better with the front extended, woodbox on, coat of paint, etc. Down to the details now. Plus getting a few butts on there & a fire going in it. Got to remember to take pics of the racks also.

BTW...where in Missouri are you? I need to send bubblegum

[The Czar]

I'll try and get some pictures of the "largely finished" product today and get them posted up. It looks much better with the front extended, woodbox on, coat of paint, etc. Down to the details now. Plus getting a few butts on there & a fire going in it. Got to remember to take pics of the racks also.

BTW...where in Missouri are you? I need to send bubblegum

I am in Mid Missouri.... ....and I bet that little trailer was a nightmare to back up with....I am very interested to see the trailer extended.....and on a off note.....I drove thru Paducah KY......several times.....absolutely gorgeous county....

[Blazer]

Upinsmokebbq it turned out real nice, cant wait to see how it cooks.

[Gizmo]

I'd still like to SEE some pics!
All your posts came through as "This image or video has been moved or deleted - Photobucket"

[upinsmokebbq]

Boy howdy...yep. Went back in and "organized" my photos. Forgot about breaking those links.

I'll fix it.

Edit: Dang...that was a pain. Took my computer challenged self over a half hour. Fixtl

Took some today as it sits now. I'll try and post those tonight...........Best...........John

[The Czar]

I think it was Ricks Apple.....I saw them just fine....

[Frank_Cox]

Great job John! No warming cabinet? now that woulda made it heavy!

[maccas66]

real nice conversion John, be careful welding on that dry grass, just saying!

[TrailerBuilder]

Very nice remodel. Looks like you have done a great job.

[upinsmokebbq]

Great job John! No warming cabinet? now that woulda made it heavy!

Thanks Frank. Got tired of buying steel

Actually still thinking about the warming cabinet. Weight is not really the issue as I have about 100 lbs. tongue weight without my cage for the wood...or any wood loaded. Just not sure I want it & it's easy enough to add if desired.

[upinsmokebbq]

So....a few of the finished product.

At least it's all more or less one color now...second coat as soon as weather permits. Using 1,000 degree paint from True Value.



Slide out grates:



Used 3"x3"x1/4" angle for the platform on the front. Probably much stronger than needed, but wanted more weight up front.



Cage for the wood in place...just bolting this on.



Rear view:



And yes...that pile of wood in the background is hickory. I almost hate to burn it as much work as it was to cut, split & stack.

That is probably it for pics unless someone has something specific they want to see. Fire away...

Best......John

[Wreckless]

Fantastic re-do!

[The Czar]

Man that is so cool.....so much better ten times over than when you started....

[KILLSWITCH505]

one great looking rehab

[k.a.m.]

upinsmokebbq, awesome job on the re-hab she turned out fantastic.
I have to admit you had me with the pics of the 50lb. boxes of rods I love me some stick welding.

[upinsmokebbq]

Thanks for the kind comments...all credit to my builder and Frank's plans. All I did was throw money at it, grind a few welds and paint. It still lacks a few details to be done. I have springs for the handles...and need to get handles on the grates to ease pulling them out...plus another coat of paint. But it will cook fine as is. Probably gonna need some advice on the "how-to" of the cooking as I have never used a Reverse Flow before. I'm certainly looking forward to not having to burn a mountain of hickory and shovel coals into the pit. Won't miss that a bit.

One question: I mentioned earlier that I used 1,000° paint from True Value Hardware...their house brand. Anybody had any experience with this product? Hold up OK? At $12.00 a quart it was about half the price of the name brand...Rutland I think. I was surprised that it took less than a quart to put a coat of paint on it.

Now I gotta find a deal on some mag wheels

Best..........John

[upinsmokebbq]

upinsmokebbq, awesome job on the re-hab she turned out fantastic.
I have to admit you had me with the pics of the 50lb. boxes of rods I love me some stick welding.

Thanks! Yeah, I think my builder went through some rods on what he called the "cooker from hell"

[Frank_Cox]

John, I plan to make some videos this weekend on running a pit like yours. Hopefully I'll have them up sometime this weekend

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[upinsmokebbq]

John, I plan to make some videos this weekend on running a pit like yours. Hopefully I'll have them up sometime this weekend

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Frank,

Thanks for the heads up...certainly interested in checking that out.

[Smokeone]

That is going to do some fine Q!

[Tom_Heath]

I gotta agree, thats a Fine looking rehab job.

Awesome looking rig

[jwsimpleville]

At this point if i said anything but this is a great build, I think others would call me CRAZY!

SO I WON'T, THAT'S AN AWESOME BUILD. How about some q-view?

[DUAYNE B]

real nice job on the rehab, glad I found this thread,,,,,,,, nice job and lot nicer lookin stretched out