New Expansion Tank Smoker Build

rwillden

Newbie

Original poster

Jan 19, 2010

13

10

• Jan 19, 2010

• #1

Hello everybody. I'm new here. I was born and raised in Utah, but my wife is a genuine southern belle from Memphis, TN. I lived in Memphis for a year, and have been back to visit quite a bit. I decided on my last trip out there that I wanted to take a little taste of the Mid-South home to Utah with me, plus I was looking for a project to keep my mind off of my 4 year olds upcoming heart surgery, so I came home and started looking around for materials to build a "propane tank smoker." I found a 185 Gallon Expansion Tank that a company in Salt Lake had ordered for a customer and they never picked it up. When I saw it, I didn't think I would be taking it home because they were asking $500 for it (way out of my budget...) After inquiring inside, he told me he paid over $2000 for it, but it had sat outside for over a year, and he said I could take it home for the cost of the freight ($170.) So, I went back the next day with a trailer and loaded it up. Next, I began looking for a trailer, and found a boat trailer for $100. Only snag is that it came with the boat.... I asked him if I could have the trailer for $50, and he told me I could have it, but only if I took the boat. ;)

I'm working on this as a nights and weekends project. Any advice or tips would be appreciated.

Here are some pics of the progress so far:

My first attempt at Ribs... I used a Mastercraft Bullet Smoker for the first few sessions. Worked like a charm.



The smoker project:





The Boat and Trailer... (The trailer I'll be using for the build...)




My brother Eric getting our $50 worth out of the boat...


The Build in progress:

 

rwillden

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Jan 19, 2010

13

10

• Jan 19, 2010

• #2

I'll be cutting the fenders off the trailer and replacing them with new ones, and once the Smoker is completely assembled, I'll sandblast and paint the whole thing.

 

rbranstner

Smoking Guru

OTBS Member

Oct 18, 2007

5,698

39

West Fargo, ND / Northern MN

• Jan 19, 2010

• #3

That looks like it will make a nice rig!

 

rwillden

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Jan 19, 2010

13

10

• Jan 19, 2010

• #4

Thank you. It's a slow process, but it's coming along.

 

G

gene111

Smoking Fanatic

Aug 28, 2008

361

10

madison IN.

• Jan 19, 2010

• #5

very slow process my 1st build took a bout a month but your off to a good start!!!

 

rwillden

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Jan 19, 2010

13

10

• Mar 24, 2010

• #6

Almost done... Just need the Stack, Paint, and the finish touches, and I can fire it up.

 

smokey bones

Fire Starter

Mar 2, 2010

46

10

• Mar 24, 2010

• #7

looks great, nice stove

 

rbranstner

Smoking Guru

OTBS Member

Oct 18, 2007

5,698

39

West Fargo, ND / Northern MN

• Mar 24, 2010

• #8

Yea that is a sweet rig for sure!!!!!

 

wingman

Smoking Fanatic

SMF Premier Member

Dec 18, 2009

558

21

Tacoma, WA

• Mar 24, 2010

• #9

Now that's cool! I like the axes for door stops. Nice touch.

 

jdt

Smoking Fanatic

SMF Premier Member

Feb 3, 2009

792

16

Des Moines

• Mar 24, 2010

• #10

looks good

 

boiseque

Smoke Blower

Mar 20, 2010

112

10

Boise, Idaho

• Mar 24, 2010

• #11

That is awesome! Very creative touches with the stove for firebox and hatchets for stops. Great work, keep it up! Thats going to be so sweet when its all finished and you are making some killer BBQ in it!

 

kobornigan

Fire Starter

Aug 18, 2008

47

11

Pleasant Valley, NY

• Mar 24, 2010

• #12

(drools profusely) NICE!!!

What color are you going to go with?

 

rwillden

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Jan 19, 2010

13

10

• Mar 24, 2010

• #13

Thanks everyone... It's been a lot of work. I priced out the materials to make my own firebox, and it was close to $175 for the steel. I picked the stove up for $120, and never looked back. ;)

I told my brother in law it looked a little redneck, and he reminded me that if it ain't redneck, it ain't barbecue. Haha. Too true.

 

rwillden

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Jan 19, 2010

13

10

• Mar 24, 2010

• #14

Probably flat black just to make it easier to touch up in the future.

 

hdsmoke

Smoking Fanatic

Aug 20, 2009

300

10

Ohio

• Mar 24, 2010

• #15

Nice rig!!!! Smokers coming along too.

 

rwillden

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Jan 19, 2010

13

10

• Mar 24, 2010

• #16

Thanks! I love it. Probably a little more power than I need for a smoker, but it pulls our 12,000lb Toyhauler along nicely.

 

craiger

Fire Starter

Dec 10, 2009

44

11

central Arizona

• Mar 24, 2010

• #17

Best wishes on your child's surgery

 

rwillden

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Jan 19, 2010

13

10

• Mar 24, 2010

• #18

Thank you so much! He actually had the surgery in February, and it went off very well. He will have to have surgery at some point (hopefully no sooner than his teens they are hoping) to fix two of his valves in his heart. For the time being though, he's relatively healthy, and you wouldn't know he had heart problems seeing him run around, etc... His recovery time was amazing. They sent him home less than 72 hours after major heart surgery. I'm amazed at how resilient kids are. I hope he outlasts me by a long shot.

Thanks again.

 

rio_grande

Smoking Fanatic

Feb 4, 2009

608

11

INDIANA

• Mar 25, 2010

• #19

That is great to hear. The smoker looks good. I was supprised it is ballenced good. When I first looked at the pictures I thought the tounge would be pointing in the air. Keep up the good work.

 

fourthwind

Master of the Pit

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SMF Premier Member

Mar 12, 2009

1,203

12

Thornton, CO

• Mar 26, 2010

• #20

Love the use of the stove for a firebox! Nice looking build.