120 Gallon RF Trailer Build (Painted w/Pics and Pron!)

Cat797 · Last edited by Cat797 on Sun Dec 25 11 5:06 am; edited 14 times in total

Hey all......

Been Lurking here for a while taking in all the goodness that is the Smokering. I've been smoking on my SNPP (that I got for free) for about 2 years, but you guys with all the great builds going on have me wanting to build a real cooker (that and the fact I can't get enough food on the SNPP). Stay tuned I'll probably be asking lots of questions......

So, I picked this up yesterday from a place that builds propane trucks and refurbishes tanks for Hicksgas in Illinois. Got it for $30!... Cool

. It's already safe to cut on which is good! Shocked

.......I'm thinking that I'm going to build an offset RF, with an insulated firebox, and make it so that I can put it on my little 5x8 trailer when I want. Dimensions of the tank are 27 x 52 (120 gallon). Probably only 1 door and two racks. Should be good for what I need.

Stay tuned, this will be a slow build......

Ed

Jim_K · BBQ Fan Joined: 26 Dec 2008 Posts: 244 Location: SW Va

Nice score cant wait to see your build!

milt · Posted: Sat May 08 10 2:18 am Post subject:

Nice tank for a smoker. On one that size I would think
about using tuning plates. The reverse flow system works
better on longer tanks in my opinion.

_________________
Curt
www.kissmybuttsbbq.com

k.a.m. · Posted: Sat May 08 10 6:52 am Post subject:

Cat797, nice score on the tank. Very Happy

That one will make a nice cooker for sure. I will be watching for more updates. Smile

_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

BLACK ANGUS · Newbie Joined: 08 Mar 2010 Posts: 77 Location: Bells, TX

Great looking tank. It will make a fine cooker. Look forward to watching your build.

daddywoofdawg · Posted: Sat May 08 10 3:12 pm Post subject:

Don't cut off that loop till your ready for paint.that will come in handy for moving it around and maybe even a door stop.
_________________
Good BBQ is all smoke and beers!
The Dawghouse Custom vertical Gasser
Custom Made offset smoker
Char grill smoker
Weber kettle

Cat797 · Posted: Sat May 08 10 9:16 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the comments all........Daddywoofdawg, I already figured that out because it sure came in handy when we unloaded it.

idleminds · Newbie Joined: 10 Sep 2005 Posts: 54 Location: Ardmore, OK

Cat 797 , Check out my build on about the same size tank and trailer

http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d37/freytags/Building%20new%20smoker/

Jim

daddywoofdawg · Posted: Sun May 09 10 1:58 am Post subject:

idleminds:How big is your firebox.The calc tells me I need a firebox almost the size of my tank,but yours seems like the size I would think I would need.
_________________
Good BBQ is all smoke and beers!
The Dawghouse Custom vertical Gasser
Custom Made offset smoker
Char grill smoker
Weber kettle

Jon D. Q. · Posted: Sun May 09 10 4:37 am Post subject:

I will look forward to your build on here. I must tell you however that I am very jealous of your tank find. Pro pane tanks are fairly easy to find around here but the larger diameter shorter length tanks like you found are almost none existant. The only one I have found with that shape was $575.00. I did not buy it for that price on the princaple of it. I want that shape to build a very high capacity vertical smoker out of it. Good luck to you as you go forward.

BluzQue · Posted: Sun May 09 10 7:49 am Post subject:

Congrats on your great tank score Cat797! Wink

_________________
" A Touch of Hickory and a Taste of the Blues "

GOOD MUSIC GOOD FOOD GOOD BEER GREAT FRIENDS

OLE BOY OFFSET SMOKER
WEBER PERFORMER GRILL
WHISKEY BARREL SMOKER

mrcustomsteel · Posted: Sun May 09 10 11:23 am Post subject:

Great tank score.

Jon DQ I would look for someone to roll you some clean plate to the diameter you want. After working with Vexter1's 500 gal tank, I swore I would not mess with another propane tank again. Unless you can get one for darn near free, by the time you mess with the rust, fittings, paint, etc. you are better off paying a little more for some clean pipe or rolled plate. Just this old poor welder's opinion, for what little it's worth. Shocked

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D. Tillery
Texan transplanted in Billings, MT
www.mrcustomsteel.com

idleminds · Newbie Joined: 10 Sep 2005 Posts: 54 Location: Ardmore, OK

CAT 797

the firebox in a piece of 1/4 inch thick 20in dia. X 20 long pipe. I wish now that I had made it 24 long, would have been better if you had a log cut a little long.

The firebox is plenty big as far as the heat goes, If you put to much wood in it you will be at 350 to 400 degrees. Once I get the fire going I can hold it at 250 by adding a log or 2 every hour.

Jim

Cat797 · Posted: Mon Jun 28 10 7:23 am Post subject:

Well finally got around to doing a little work on the new project today.......Actually, my wife said if I didn't do something to make the thing quit stinking, she was going to call the junk man herself Shocked

For real, this thing stunk so bad that I was afraid to cut on it, but after waving my weed torch over the valve holes and living to tell the tale, I got enough sack to cut on it. I had to use a cutoff wheel on a 4.5 in grinder, since I don't have a torch. Went a lot smoother than I thought it would. The door sprung on me, so I can't wait deal with that mess..........but for now:

Found a good use for my old engine stand -

Laying out the Door -

Voila! Hole cut -

Bye, bye Funky Smell -

So, maybe if I can catch a break this week, I can make the cut for the firebox and get the door welded back on.

k.a.m. · Posted: Tue Jun 29 10 9:17 am Post subject:

Cat797, you are off to a great start. Very Happy

And making Momma happy is the first thing to do. Cause we all know if Momma isn't happy then nobody is happy. Laughing

I will be watching for more updates. Smile

_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

Wreckless · Posted: Tue Jun 29 10 6:25 pm Post subject:

Cat797, I agree that seeing anothers build gets the creative juices going. I like the size of that tank and want one myself. Yours looks to be a fun one to watch.
k.a.m's advice on keeping peace with the better half is good. Not many folk build comp rigs in their wifes parking spot for 6 months and retain the ability to open beer cans afterward.
_________________
Backyarder
Smoker Grill
Trailer Rig

pullit · Newbie Joined: 15 Nov 2007 Posts: 49

I really want to see this build as I am supose to be getting a tank of this same size (if the propane company ever call and tells me it is ready!)

Cat797 · Posted: Fri Jul 02 10 11:00 am Post subject:

Well got the hinges welded (ok, maybe more like stuck....I'm not much of a welder, but practice makes perfect Rolling Eyes

) onto the tank today. Will get some pics tomorrow.....

I'm going to try and straighten the door tomorrow and need a little help. To describe it, it's like the door tried to flatten out. It's high in the corners and low in the middle along the left and right edges. I think I read on here somewhere that someone used a bottle jack or scissors jack with a chain wrapped around the door and the jack in order to put some curvature back in it. Do you guys think this could work? If it will, do you think it will work without heat? I don't have a torch..........I can't post any pics till tomorrow.

Thanks in advance for the help......

Ed

k.a.m. · Posted: Fri Jul 02 10 11:26 am Post subject:

Ed, it sounds like your door sprung on you. Here is a link that shows the jack trick. It should fix your problem. If not let us know and we will figure out something. Smile

http://thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=138073&highlight=#138073
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

Cat797 · Posted: Fri Jul 02 10 11:36 am Post subject:

Thanks KAM, that's the one........Do you think I can get into shape without a torch? I do have a weed torch, but don't think that would get it hot enough.