Making pit mobile

Mr Tony's BBQ · Posted: Jan 25 2016 Post subject: Making pit mobile

So, last fall I sold my "scrapper" build to a guy who has been using her happily since, I picked up a gynourmouse [ to me ] cabinet smoker. She measures 48" wide, 36" deep and about 5'6" tall.
I had contemplated taking the Lang off the BBQ wagon / food truck, but decided that may be a bad idea for many reasons.
Soooo...after thinking things through at bit - I came up with this for less than a pair of new tires mounted to new rims!! 3500# axle boat trailer:

Thats the smoker off to the left rear of trailer.
Plan is to place the 2 large, drop cross members [ that are bolted on ] to the rear of the axles spaced just far apart enough to rest smoker on, centered. Then, weld in a solid support in place of current drop support near front.
From there, plan is to add my SS grill with warming boxes, 2 burner base, and still have pleanty of space for cutting boards, coolers and whatever I may come up with...Maybe even have room for my gas flat top?? Going to somewhat 'wing it' over the next week or two as weather permits!
Original owner / builder of pit thought it weighed about 800#, I dont see an issue having that hanging centered, directly behind axles, but could be wrong. Any input appreciated!
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missionsusmc · Posted: Jan 25 2016 Post subject: Re: Making pit mobile

JMDCali · Newbie Joined: 22 Dec 2015 Posts: 39

Looks like a cool project. Looking forward to seeing your progress

Mr Tony's BBQ · Posted: Jan 25 2016 Post subject:

Mine certainly wont be as detailed as K.A.M's, nor will it have a perty of welds!! Shocked

No roof in the plan [ at the moment ] but sorta kinda the concept!
I am definitely into the recycled steel thang, but mainly because I am CHEAP!!...LOL
Waiting on the sun to come up so I can go burn some fresh holes in my jacket, and shoes Shocked

Maybe break a finger or two...Its been too long!
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k.a.m. · Posted: Jan 25 2016 Post subject:

Looks like a fun project Tony. Very Happy

I look forward to seeing what you come up with. Very Happy

If you can put what ever cross members in you can before removing the old if you are planning on removing them. This way the frame will stay in check with the axle and not twist or shift on you.
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Mr Tony's BBQ · Posted: Jan 25 2016 Post subject:

Thanks KAM, plan A is to put her on jackstands as level as possible, remove the frond 'dangling' support and weld it all the way to the rear, then remove the current rear and put it the 36" forward from the rear needed, then weld base of smoker directly to the two, now ridged, cross members. I will at least tack a temporary across front as I do this.
I was surprised to see the only 2 cross supports are bolted in [ dangling] and move somewhat freely front to back, but then again, I am no boat trailer builder!! A little concerned about the front being so light until I add all the other crap as I will be moving trailer off to the side of driveway when not working on it...
Still not sure how I plan on getting 800# smoker from ground level up to dropped shelf, but will test the strength of the boat winch already on trailer with some rigged-up ramps ?? Shocked

Then remove the wheels from smoker once in place. Always room for plan B....Plenty of Farmers in the area with skid loaders etc. to use as a hoist!! Nothing a brisket or a few racks o ribs shouldnt cover the cost of!!
Its a balmy 27° out, and light enough to see all the ice I hope to NOT be slipping on....lol....Wish me luck, after the tail bone incident of 'the scrapper' I am getting cold feet, and not even outside yet Laughing

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k.a.m. · Posted: Jan 25 2016 Post subject:

Mr Tony's BBQ · Posted: Jan 26 2016 Post subject:

So, I had an idea, can someone tell me if its a bad one...I am already going to switch the 2" coupler toa 2 5/16" so I can pull this with my cube van [ welded on 2 5/16 ball ] and since this trailer would ride level with a drop hitch, I was thinking I coud weld a new tongue on top of the existing to give me another 3" of height, or drop, depending on how you look at it. I would also shorten the un needed length of the existing tongue as I just dont need it. Sound like it should work???
To achieve something like this, but a length of 3x3on top, and shortening the overall length from where the rails meet.:
http://www.thehulltruth.com/attachments/boating-forum/243054d1338053114-folding-trailer-tongue-issues-tongue.jpg
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Being Blessed with income from my passion!
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Mr Tony's BBQ · Posted: Jan 26 2016 Post subject:

Heres the tongue. Not excessively long, just not needed at all based on the angle

No need for the winch once smoker is onboard. Jack can go off to the l. or r. on frame...WAY more room on this thing than I need!
I also welded in the rear supports for the cabinet. There actually is clearance for the axle and springs, just not A TON...lol....But if that axle is moving forward and back, I have other serious issues!!! You can see the original asking price on the tongue...He gave me an even better " today only " deal!

and secured the grill with built in hot hold boxes onto the new front cross member

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TrailerBuilder · Posted: Jan 26 2016 Post subject:

Awesome Mr T! Another scrapper project. Im looking forward to seeing what you do on this one, I personally thought you did a bang up job on the last one. That is actually a pretty good trailer. I have done a few mods to yacht club trailers before and they were a solid base to start with. Your tongue idea should work just fine. Make sure you are square from the coupler to the center of the axle and you should be fine. Ill be watching for more burn holes and progress Very Happy

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Mr Tony's BBQ · Posted: Jan 26 2016 Post subject:

Thanks Troy! I assumed from the moment I saw it, it was a good price for the trailer considering he did come down even more, and I paid more for a single new replacement axle for my big BBQ rig!
Now, so as not to let any of you down, any of you who know me through my prior builds knows I just cant do anything like this without battle wounds.....lol...Its just part of the process from my view...
I put a brand new sanding disc on grinder, 2 min in to using the $10.00 disc, about 5 of the sandpaper 'flaps' go flying off..[ the old disc has hours of use on it and still worked, but wanted a fresh course pad ]..SO, thinking safety, I switch over to a brand new 5/8 thick grinding / sanding disc. Well, a few min into that I hit a burr, taking a chunk out of it while the trigger is locked on high.....Freaking thing grabs onto corner I was sanding, rips out of my hand and launches itself like a top fuel dragster at my knee Crying or Very sad

Both disc's procured that morning, in original packaging, both big name units, not the dollar store variety tools, both different grinds, neither some big, gnarly burr's either..Well..The swelling went down considerably overnight...and my wrist is working much better this morning too......I suppose I ought to find that handle for grinder that was getting in the way...

Well, I am glad I got THAT out of the way early....LOL!!
I swear, some days I think I should be the poster child for how NOT to do chit....Good day for paperwork today Rolling Eyes

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BurnBern · BBQ Fan Joined: 17 Jul 2015 Posts: 152 Location: UK

Sorry to see that you got injured but glad you are on the mend!

Those grinders can really be dangerous and I've seen some horrific injuries from them. Some times we all become complacent in handling them, me included, and that's when they seem to "bite" you the hardest. When you least expect it. I find that I the older I'm getting the more seriously I'm taking health and safety in my own workshop at home.

It won't be long and you will be back normal and back to the build.
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k.a.m. · Posted: Jan 26 2016 Post subject:

Rough looking road rash Tony I am glad it wasn't a cut off wheel those things will cut to the bone in a heartbeat Brother. Get you a grinder with a paddle switch that way when it leaves your hand it at least slows down I do not know how many times my Dewalt has launched especially with a bead breaker wire wheel attached to it. What brand wheels were they?
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Cat797 · Posted: Jan 27 2016 Post subject:

Mr Tony's BBQ · Posted: Jan 27 2016 Post subject:

Well, I guess I have no shame, but I DO have another load of FREE [ kinda ] steel!!
I stopped in at my buddies fab. shop to check out the scrap pile...WELL, turns out they are about to have one of those ISO or whatever inspections, so they are cleaning house [ I should have been there last week when they filled a dumpster Confused

] The guy's pointed to the 'cut-off wall' and said "whatcha need???" I described what I am doing, and they started tossing steel in my truck!! Some is buried under the 4 x 9 sheet of 1/8" stainless that was sitting next to the dumpster waiting for a couple guys to wrestle in!!!!! It was a table top and didnt look good to the big boss... Cool

the 'other side' is almost spotless! 3x3 thick wall for my tongue extension is cut to length an in there somewhere too!
They had also set that expanded off to the side last week knowing I could use it Very Happy

The round they cut to length for a LP tank, cut me 2-6' channels for my ramps to get smoker onto trailer, and anything lighter walled box steel! The pictures dont do justice to whats all in there, including a S.S. elbow for a chimney on the grill!

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[URL=http://s802.photobucket.com/user/mrtonysbbq/media/st2_1.jpg.html]

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Seems these boy's just love me, but it may be for my brisket, which they WILL be enjoying in quantity, soon!!
The lead man even took me over to his wire rack and asked what kind of welder I had - when he didnt have what I use, he said " I have a sales guy with a garage full, we'll take care of you!! We buy so much from him, he will give it to us"...WOW!
I am now going to have spools of 308, 309 and standard flux core to make sure I have all I need!! THEN he says, "when your all done, bring the rig down and we'll check all your welds, fix as needed".......These guy's are gonna eat like KINGS I tell ya!!!
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Maniac · BBQ Super Pro Joined: 02 Oct 2010 Posts: 2433 Location: Pa

Tony you are off to a great start Exclamation

Sounds like you are healing from your battle wound...which could have been much worse, lets keep it to one per build Wink

It is great to have friends with scrap piles that share Cool

Be careful rolling the cabinet up the ramps on the narrow side the angle makes her a lot more top heavy. good luck with the rest of your build.
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Mr Tony's BBQ · Posted: Jan 28 2016 Post subject:

Got out the BIG chain, used the winch on trailer [ which can come off now ] re-figgered a little as I forgot 2 of the 4 wheels did no swivel Embarassed

Spot welded the ramps in place, used the winch to raise the nose until the ramps hit the ground, buy winching it up on a ladder Cool

Cut the wheels off when somewhat in place! I used the existing extensions from the wheels to secure smoker to outer frame, and welded the base of the smoker to the new frame.
This all went surprisingly well with a little ingenuity!!

My photobucket is messing up....will post more details later, back to freezing and burning!
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Money Maker
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Mr Tony's Kitchen http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=67601
Being Blessed with income from my passion!
WWW.MRTONYSBBQ.COM

missionsusmc · Posted: Jan 28 2016 Post subject:

Looking good! Nice blade on that Ford, BTW. Where were you on Saturday? You coulda scraped my road, a road the county seems to forget is the quickest way from the highway to get across the mountain.
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Mary had a little lamb, a little brisket, a little ribs, and boy she was full!!!

Mr Tony's BBQ · Posted: Jan 29 2016 Post subject:

k.a.m. · Posted: Jan 30 2016 Post subject:

Very nice work Tony. Very Happy

The fact that you did all that in the snow has me tipping my hat to you. I would not of even went outside to take the pictures. Wink

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Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker