RF Build In Slow Motion (Sinks are done!)
- Thread starter solaryellow
- Start date
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We got quite a bit done today. The RF plates are in and welded. We actually discovered what the duty cycle of a Hobart 187 is.
Even the flies were having a good time.
We also started on the counterweights.
And the firebox/warming box is officially underway.
Even the flies were having a good time.
We also started on the counterweights.
And the firebox/warming box is officially underway.
Looking good Joel.
You must have been burning pretty hard, the 187 is a very decent machine. Must have had a guy fitting and a guy welding.
BTW to any viewers out there, the hobart 187 is down to around 550 bucks at tractor supply. I paid almost a grand for my miller 211. (Only slightly larger) I could have lived with the 187 with no problems had it been that cheep back when I got mine.
And of course if your hard core and want portability check out the ESAB Mig Caddy 200.
I've never used it but I hear nothing but good things from the few guys that have used it. (under 1000 bucks) and its only about 20 lbs.
You must have been burning pretty hard, the 187 is a very decent machine. Must have had a guy fitting and a guy welding.
BTW to any viewers out there, the hobart 187 is down to around 550 bucks at tractor supply. I paid almost a grand for my miller 211. (Only slightly larger) I could have lived with the 187 with no problems had it been that cheep back when I got mine.
And of course if your hard core and want portability check out the ESAB Mig Caddy 200.
I've never used it but I hear nothing but good things from the few guys that have used it. (under 1000 bucks) and its only about 20 lbs.
Thanks Dan and Tom!
Tom - We have 4 guys working on this thing. While I have been posting construction pics for the most part, we have also been spitting out the parts we need to finish this beast. All of the firebox and warming box plates have been cut, all of the rails have been cut, most of the rack frames have been cut, etc. Pretty much one guy working the chop saw, another guy working the plasma cutter, another guy working a grinder and the other guy welding. It has been fun so far but I don't think I would want to quit my day job to do this for a living.
Tom - We have 4 guys working on this thing. While I have been posting construction pics for the most part, we have also been spitting out the parts we need to finish this beast. All of the firebox and warming box plates have been cut, all of the rails have been cut, most of the rack frames have been cut, etc. Pretty much one guy working the chop saw, another guy working the plasma cutter, another guy working a grinder and the other guy welding. It has been fun so far but I don't think I would want to quit my day job to do this for a living.
smokin john
Smoke Blower
You guys are really doing a fantastic job. I had to put my build on hold, I got a 275 to build by the 10th of June. The pics are great. They answer a lot of my questions and my 500 should go smoothly. Keep posting.
Oh, one other update. Had a friend of a friend who is overhauling a boat trailer for his sailboat. He wanted to put some different axles under it so we picked up two 4500lbs trailer axles with electric brakes for $100. Next weekend we plan on hitting the scrapyard to find the materials to start framing out our trailer. Any of you builders ever done a spring over axle instead of spring under axle trailer?
As usual Joel, another fantastic find.
Is there a reason that you are wanting to go with the spring over axle vs spring under?
Even with not seeing the axle's I would have to say that there will be at least a 6" rise in the deck height with the spring over axle. My 6000lb axles are either 2.5 or 3 inch square, the spring pad and the springs. It adds up fast.
And after all of my brain trauma during my build, I would suggest that you go plenty long on the distance from the front axle to the coupler. I was at 12' from the center of the front axle and that was way to short. I had 6' from the center of the rear to the taillights. I'm no professor but I really thought I was alot closer to being right then I was. Yesterday I added 6' of new tongue and it helped out a bunch.
I plan to buy the heaviest as well as shortest sideway tires I can find and go from there. The only other thing that I can think of causing the sway would be, weak springs but I really don't think thats it.
Enjoy the help working on the rig. I beg guys to come over and they are always busy. Guess whos gonna be to busy to cook ribs someday.LOL
Is there a reason that you are wanting to go with the spring over axle vs spring under?
Even with not seeing the axle's I would have to say that there will be at least a 6" rise in the deck height with the spring over axle. My 6000lb axles are either 2.5 or 3 inch square, the spring pad and the springs. It adds up fast.
And after all of my brain trauma during my build, I would suggest that you go plenty long on the distance from the front axle to the coupler. I was at 12' from the center of the front axle and that was way to short. I had 6' from the center of the rear to the taillights. I'm no professor but I really thought I was alot closer to being right then I was. Yesterday I added 6' of new tongue and it helped out a bunch.
I plan to buy the heaviest as well as shortest sideway tires I can find and go from there. The only other thing that I can think of causing the sway would be, weak springs but I really don't think thats it.
Enjoy the help working on the rig. I beg guys to come over and they are always busy. Guess whos gonna be to busy to cook ribs someday.LOL
Just out of curiosity more than anything else.
I am hoping I can borrow some scales so we can get the weight distributed properly for axle placement. How long is your trailer now Tom?
I am hoping I can borrow some scales so we can get the weight distributed properly for axle placement. How long is your trailer now Tom?
rubadubcubb
Newbie
sunman76
Master of the Pit
lookn good my Hobart shutdown to cool off twice once on the fr plates, and once on the firebox...but a darn good little machine
lolz at the flies
lolz at the flies
Starting from the rear,
Its 6' from the bumper to the center of the rear axle. I did not measure between the two axles.
Its 8' from the center of the front axle to the front of the box. Also from the center of the front axle to the old coupler was 12'
Now its pretty close to 18' from the center of the front axle to the new extended tongue.
It pulls much better now but still not what I want. I am gonna blame this on the tires being junk.
I'm gonna go with at least a 12 ply low profile trailer tire and see what happens. I think thats gonna do the trick.
But if not then I will have to look into replacing the springs.
One of these days I will get around to stopping at a scale and see what it all weighs.
Now that I have a little extra space up front I think I will make it a small deck area for coolers and other stuff that wont hurt to get wet. And if I ever get a golf cart I will haul it right up there.
This sucker is just a little bigger then your average smoker trailer. I'll try and take a pic tomorrow so that the measurements make sense.
Its 6' from the bumper to the center of the rear axle. I did not measure between the two axles.
Its 8' from the center of the front axle to the front of the box. Also from the center of the front axle to the old coupler was 12'
Now its pretty close to 18' from the center of the front axle to the new extended tongue.
It pulls much better now but still not what I want. I am gonna blame this on the tires being junk.
I'm gonna go with at least a 12 ply low profile trailer tire and see what happens. I think thats gonna do the trick.
But if not then I will have to look into replacing the springs.
One of these days I will get around to stopping at a scale and see what it all weighs.
Now that I have a little extra space up front I think I will make it a small deck area for coolers and other stuff that wont hurt to get wet. And if I ever get a golf cart I will haul it right up there.
This sucker is just a little bigger then your average smoker trailer. I'll try and take a pic tomorrow so that the measurements make sense.
Coming along nicely.
I could have finished sooner than 79 days
Wish i would have had that much help!
I could have finished sooner than 79 days
What I keep reading is 60/40 for the weight distribution on the trailer building forums I am frequenting. I hope we can get our hands on some scales for a weekend.
Coming along nicely.
Wish i would have had that much help!
I could have finished sooner than 79 days
Thanks! Technically this past Saturday was day 7 although week number 8. It has been nice having lots of help.
If I ever build another full on trailer build like my current one, I will have NO more then 4' from the center of the rear axle to the tail end of the trailer. If it ended up weighing over 1100lbs on the tongue I'll just have to build it as a gooseneck.
What I have been going thru with this current build has been he!!. Now I get to splurge on some load range G tires for it so that I can make sure that tire roll is not a factor.
I just looked at 4 trailers that different buddies have and they all have the axles set further to the rear then on a normal trailer.
Of course all of us have our smokers at the rear, go figure.
There is a method to use bath scales, a 4x4, and a fulcrum point along with some math to get your weight at each corner.
Four buddies= four scales. LOL
What I have been going thru with this current build has been he!!. Now I get to splurge on some load range G tires for it so that I can make sure that tire roll is not a factor.
I just looked at 4 trailers that different buddies have and they all have the axles set further to the rear then on a normal trailer.
Of course all of us have our smokers at the rear, go figure.
There is a method to use bath scales, a 4x4, and a fulcrum point along with some math to get your weight at each corner.
Four buddies= four scales. LOL
still
I hope that is extra butter Joe. ;o)
My trailer is experience is pretty minimal aside from moving, towing my Heep, and towing other buddy's crap piles. But the 60/40 rule seems about right when I consider my own towing experiences.
I would be interested in hearing the bath scale method if you have a link or more info Tom.
Here is a link Joel.
http://www.handymanclub.com/project...ticleid/4994/tongue-weight-a-critical-balance
Its for tongue weight but I can't see any reason that it will not work at each corner. If I was going to weigh all four corners I think I would set the entire trailer on four jack stands to make sure I wasn't getting a false reading due to the springs.
And I gotta agree with ya about the trailers and say, the jeep. But, remember when ya look at the pic. The jeep is way heavier in the front then the back, and also there is a little bit of deck space behind the jeep.
I would be really courious to know what the tongue weight is with the jeep loaded.
I am really looking forward to seeing what ya come up with and being able to compare it to the 60/40 deal.
I'm just not sold on it yet. Its just one of those things thats stuck in my head, because of how much weight some of us put behind the axles.
I guess i'm gonna have to head to walmart tomorrow and buy a scale and see just what kinda weight I am dealing with on my trailer. I'm gonna make a wild guess here and say that I bet I end up needing between 500 and 700 lbs tongue weight to make my trailer pull good.
http://www.handymanclub.com/project...ticleid/4994/tongue-weight-a-critical-balance
Its for tongue weight but I can't see any reason that it will not work at each corner. If I was going to weigh all four corners I think I would set the entire trailer on four jack stands to make sure I wasn't getting a false reading due to the springs.
And I gotta agree with ya about the trailers and say, the jeep. But, remember when ya look at the pic. The jeep is way heavier in the front then the back, and also there is a little bit of deck space behind the jeep.
I would be really courious to know what the tongue weight is with the jeep loaded.
I am really looking forward to seeing what ya come up with and being able to compare it to the 60/40 deal.
I'm just not sold on it yet. Its just one of those things thats stuck in my head, because of how much weight some of us put behind the axles.
I guess i'm gonna have to head to walmart tomorrow and buy a scale and see just what kinda weight I am dealing with on my trailer. I'm gonna make a wild guess here and say that I bet I end up needing between 500 and 700 lbs tongue weight to make my trailer pull good.
Thanks for the link Tom!
I don't know why 60/40 wouldn't work from a weight perspective. Just to be clear I am not thinking about it from a length perspective. If 40% of the weight is behind the rear axle it should pull fine I would imagine. I obviously have more research to do but if I could calculate a 2D center of gravity, measure from there to the end of the trailer and then place the axles 20% further back from the 2D COG to end of trailer measurement I bet it would get me pretty close.
I don't know why 60/40 wouldn't work from a weight perspective. Just to be clear I am not thinking about it from a length perspective. If 40% of the weight is behind the rear axle it should pull fine I would imagine. I obviously have more research to do but if I could calculate a 2D center of gravity, measure from there to the end of the trailer and then place the axles 20% further back from the 2D COG to end of trailer measurement I bet it would get me pretty close.
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