Recent content by jasonlotz

So I broke in the new smoker this weekend. I rolled my first fatty! I hadn't even heard of a fatty before I joined this site, they were awesome! Also did a brisket for 14 hours, 4 racks of ribs and a pile of stuffed jalapenos wrapped in bacon. Was a huge success and the smoker works like a champ.

The magnetic bar thing is a great idea! Found a set of magnetic trailer lights at Harbor Freight for $20, already wired just drop 'em on and plug 'em in. Nice call JckDanls 07

That's too funny, we were listening to C.W. McCall's Convoy on the Jukebox last night for inspiration. That and Alabama's Roll on. I think I'm gonna go with Creator Savants suggestion and name it "The Big Rig BBQ" Then I'm going to put a small line of type on the shelf in front that says "Roll...

That's a great name idea! Anybody Else?

Hey Dave, the camshaft is out of a Detroit Diese semi enginel. I had to cut off about 6inches of it to fit between the stacks. The stacks are off a freightliner, the handle for the cooking chamber and firebox are off a freightliner cab grab bars and the front shelf is a semi step. I'm not a...

Well thanks to everybody who helped and commented. Couldn't have done it without all the tips and insights on where to get info. I finished painting last night. Still may need to wire up the lights but don't want them to melt, not sure how close I can get.  Everything else is pretty much...

Not positive what I'll do with the lights yet, my initial thought is that I may mount them on top of the fenders because I know the one will melt for sure since my smoker is offset to the one side of the trailer, only about 5" away from the hottest part of the firebox.

You are right about the two stacks, one is for looks. The other one I did put in a 5" chimney pipe damper plate. I hope I didn't screw that up where I put it, the chimney goes down into the cooking chamber to about the middle cooking rack and is cut at a 45 degree angle inside. Worst case...

So I took Monday off work this week and spent most of the weekend working on it. I started about 3 weeks ago and should mostly finish tonight. I've spent most nights after work and every weekend on this thing, I'm on the home stretch. Last coat of paint goes on the cooking chamber tonight hopefully.

Well I decided to stay with my original counterweight, after mocking it up last night I liked the look of the camshaft from that Detroit Diesel hanging up there. That with the semi smoke stacks just look cool and the door opens really nice, it balances perfectly at the half way point and makes a...

THat's awesome! that is the exact size of my tank I believe. I'm still thinking about how I'll do the door, I have my hinges welded on REALLY good already but could grind them off and use something like this eventually. Is the door heavy to open, mine is a bear to lift, 1/4" steel on my tank...

THat is a cool hinge design, so does the hinge part on the door slide in that channel then and just bind to stay open? I'm a little perplexed on how that works exactly but looks awesome!

Yes on the bottom part of it I'm still need to cut an angle to it, it also needs to be up a little higher in the cooking chamber I think but not much. I'm really struggling with how to make it look good with the counterweight though. Any thoughts on car hinges welded on the inside that have the...

So I have the firebox all ready now, just need to build the door . The reverse flow plate is nearly complete, one piece to weld in yet. I was all good up to this point. I welded on my arms for the counterweight. Problem is I'm not sure if I like how this looks. I love the freightliner...

Well this weekend I hit it pretty hard. I'll add some more pics tonight but I have it all welded up to the trailer now. finished my lip around the door and the firebox sides and grate. Also built the reverse flow plate and a piece of angle iron down the middle with a 1" pipe through the bottom...