275 oil tank build

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bubba0161

Newbie
Original poster
Oct 15, 2012
12
10
Pittsburgh, Pa
I am going to get started on a 275 gallon oil tank build. I had a char broil offset smoker worked good for me but rusted out and now I am going to try to build something. I looked at the calculator and got all my dimensions a d calculations I needed. It is going to alittle bit of a long build cause I will work on it after work and when the kids aren't running to there sports.

What are some good wheels I can put on this build?

Any help or information is always greatly appreciated!
 
Bubba, how are you planning on orienting the tank and how do you plan on moving it (just pushing it around the driveway or are you taking your show on the road - well since you are from Pittsburgh I guess it would be more like on the hills)? 

I used 5" casters rated at 325 lbs each on my vertically oriented oil tank build with the tall side pointing up.  I moved it off my trailer last night by myself for the first time and had zero problems.  It slowly rolled down with just a little back pressure from me on the firebox side.  I've only had a chance to use it twice since it was ready in June but I am glad I put wheels on it rather than just mounting it to the trailer.  I have a lot more flexibility with it this way and it is really easy to position it.  The biggest difference on the tank on mine is its only 4 feet wide (200 gallon) vs. the 5 feet you have but I would think you would see similar results.

Can you post a drawing of what you are planning?

Thanks,

FB
 
FB

I wasn't sure if I wanted to use casters or and air filled tire. I am going to put this in my yard until I build my patio. So for ease of moving it I was thinking like an off-road tire instead of a caster.

Below is a rough sketch of what I am planning on doing. Also the build is on a couple week break cause I had to get 4 stitches in my hand. So don't want to be Messi g with oil with an open wound in my hand.

 
I like the design, the warming box is a nice thing to have (I went with out). 

I looked at air filled tires and could only find 10" ones at Harbor Freight and they were expensive.  The bigger issue was how much higher everything would sit.  The 5" casters I used looked higher than I thought they would be once installeed.  As for moving over grass I saw on another thread an idea to have a couple pieces of cut up plywood to put under the wheels, I plan on trying that if I have to move the unit off the trailer and then over some grass any distance.  The wheel base is only ~28", so I can use a couple strips of wood for that if it comes down to it.

I won't junk up your thread with pics from my build, but it is posted under 200 Gallon Oval Oil Tank Build on this forum if you want some context of what I am saying here.
 
Well I finally got the stiches out of my hand and can get back to working on my smoker in the next week. I have been getting all my steel in to cut my firebox and warming rack. The only thing I need to get is the steel for making my hinges. So be looking for some updated pictures in the near future.
 
Well I was able to do alittle work on the smoker today. I got the throat cut out only had about 45 minutes to work today. Next I will be stitch cutting the doors. I am waiting on some material I order to come in so I can make my hinges so the doors don't fall in after cutting them open.

 
Finally got my material in too build my hinges. I used some square tube along with round bar.

Also was able to burn out the tank as well. Now hopefully I can get rolling on the build.
 

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Watching this build. I am hunting a propane tank but they are hard to find. These tanks are all over the place
 
Well I got my firebox cutout and started to weld it on Saturday. After I got the sides all welded together the fire box looked big. My dimensions are 27x 30x 30. I am just wondering if that is too big for my build? I have posted some pictures of the size. I might also add this is my first time welding too.
 

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I can tell you "Don't use the Air Filled Tires".
My Son built this Big Pig Smoker.
275 Oil Tank, with a 2' X 2' X 2' Firebox on each end.
The thing is so heavy you can't put enough air in the tires to keep them from being flat on the bottom.
If you use Air Filled Tires, they would have to be bigger than the ones in the Pic below:

Bear

1c091d32_Pigroasterfinished2-1copy.jpg
 
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