400 GAL Trailer Build.

[Discus39]

Hello to everyone, i am new to this site and look forward to meeting all of you. I'm going to attempt my first build on this one. I found the tank in a field and had a trailer to put it on. Ive been doing alot of reading throughout the forums and trying to gain some knowledge about how to go about this. i cook whole hogs a few times a year and would like to make it mobile. would love to fill this thing with some brisket and ribs as well but its going to take alot to fill it and a ton of people to eat it.

Im open to any suggestions that would make this thing better or learn from any of your mistakes. Im planning on making it into a RF smoker with FB hanging off the rear with warmer on top of FB. I have been playing with feldons calculator trying to figure out dimensions for FB and opening to CC. what is recommended metal thickness for FB and reflector plate? not sure if i should do 1 door that opens up vertically or 2 doors that open side to side. cant have a support in middle of door so i can slide entire hog in and out.



Plate?

 

[smokin peachey]

Welcome to the forum. When I build my smoker I used 1/4. I also made 2 doors that overlap so there isn’t anything in the middle that would hinder you from sliding a hog in. Here is a link if you want to check it out. https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/threads/500-gallon-tank-build.250565/

 

[daveomak]

Making it a "Gull Wing" would give better access to the meat racks... A door on each side, so to speak... Install the Fire Box prior to cutting any doors, as welding in the FB could cause warping to the Cook Chamber....
Take a look at this tutorial on building a RF smoker... Due to the diameter of the CC, some of the tutorials dimensions can be reduced without any detrimental effects to the quality and performance of the smoker....

https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t...eady-to-use-rev5-6-19-15.172425/#post_1264161

 

[Discus39]

I will do some research. Thanks for advice....
Trying to make a shopping list to order some materials.

 

[JckDanls 07]

I too built a smoker (120 gal) using Dave's calculator.. Dave has given some great advice on many of builds... The smoker works flawlessly.. my build is in my signature line.. just click on the link ...

 

[radioguy]

If you have some extra 1/4 plate I like the
extra space you get when you square off the front. Shirley Fabricators do this...gives you a lot of cooking space.

RG

 

[Discus39]

 

[Discus39]

Firebox build progress today.