my first 250 gal reverse flow

[alelover]

Man, that looks great DB. Love the C-weights.

 

[dragons breath]

Thanks Bubbonehead. I followed his entire thread. Spankerchief has it going on. He's got great fabrication skills just like a lot of other guys on this site.

I finally got my firebox door latch installed. This build has lasted so long that when I get something done I get excited.

It closes nice and tight now. I used 2" round bar for the hinge with 1 1/4" acme threads and 2' x 5/8" flat bar. This should last for the duration. The door's flatter now.

Now lets see what I can do for the stack damper. I don't want it flimsy. Was thinking maybe 5/8' round bar for the actuator.

 

[dragons breath]

Man, that looks great DB. Love the C-weights.

Thanks for the compliment alelover

 

[kcbluesnbbq]

WOW!! This thing looks great. I have been using my phone to access the forum and some how missed this great build. Love the heavy duty industrial look.

The lettering just sets it off. Keep chugging along. Can't wait to see it done.

 

[dragons breath]

Thanks KC. Almost there.

Something always pops up. I took her for a spin to see how she trailers and the hitch was so low that the back tires come off the ground!

I know that it's down hill on a curb but I don't have a receiver on my truck but I do have metal so I fabbed up an 8" drop hitch out of 1/4" plate. It worked perfect for my grill, in fact that's what I made it for, but this is too low for the smoker. When on flat ground my neighbor pointed out that all the weight was on the front axle.

I made one out of 3/8" plate with a 1 1/2" drop hitch and she sits as level as can be. Made a big difference. The truck bumper is rated for a 5000# trailer with 500# tongue weight. I think this baby weighs around 1600#. more or less. It did get heavier than I expected. I'll take her down to the scales when I get her finished.

 

[dragons breath]

The Dragon breathes. Fired up for the very first time!

I installed the temp. probes, changed the door handle, Put one toggle clamp, I'll have to put the other one on tomorrow, and finished the firebox dampers. Nothing left to do but fire her up.

I'm a newbie and wow everything gets HOT! Things I didn't think would. My heat shields for the closest tire is inadequate. Part of the tire needs more shielding.

The shielding works where it is but there is a small area about 4" that allows heat to get to the tire. I'll fix that tomorrow.

Hey, I'm amazed at how the weed burner works. No regulator. It really roars. Starts the coals quick.

The middle is running hotter than the sides. I expected that somewhat. Something I can use in the future when I learn how to smoke. I got to get some chicken wings for tomorrow.

Wow I am stoked!

 

[solaryellow]

Congrats DB!

Which part of the tire is getting hot? The top?

 

[bubbonehead]

Congrats! That is one awesome looking cooking machine!

 

[dragons breath]

Thanks sol and Bub.

Yeah it gets hot at the top. I'll have to put some more shielding there.

 

[dpeart]

so how many wings can you fit in the dragon :)

you got all the chickens in CA scared.

 

[dragons breath]

so how many wings can you fit in the dragon :)

you got all the chickens in CA scared.

You betcha. Even got them 4 legged chickens on the run and they can run.

I got the top grill fabbed and fit in so I can almost double the wings!

This thing's so wide that I have to step back even with a wide angle 18mm lens.

 

[raptor700]

Thanks KC. Almost there.

Something always pops up. I took her for a spin to see how she trailers and the hitch was so low that the back tires come off the ground!

I know that it's down hill on a curb but I don't have a receiver on my truck but I do have metal so I fabbed up an 8" drop hitch out of 1/4" plate. It worked perfect for my grill, in fact that's what I made it for, but this is too low for the smoker. When on flat ground my neighbor pointed out that all the weight was on the front axle.

I made one out of 3/8" plate with a 1 1/2" drop hitch and she sits as level as can be. Made a big difference. The truck bumper is rated for a 5000# trailer with 500# tongue weight. I think this baby weighs around 1600#. more or less. It did get heavier than I expected. I'll take her down to the scales when I get her finished.

 Looking good DB, From the pics it looks like the tongue is carrying most of the weight.

Can you lift the tongue with your hands when it's not attached to the truck?

 

[dragons breath]

 Looking good DB, From the pics it looks like the tongue is carrying most of the weight.

Can you lift the tongue with your hands when it's not attached to the truck?

Thanks raptor. In my old age I can barely lift a 100 pounds. And no I wouldn't even try to lift the tongue. I believe it's well over 200 lbs. which over my limit. The truck drops 1 1/2" when the trailer's on. I factored that in when I made the drop hitch. I'm not sure how good the suspension is on these stock 1/2 ton Ram trucks.

I may try putting a scale under the hitch. That would tell me how much tongue weight is really there.

 

[clyde79]

looking good, nice fabricating

 

[raptor700]

Thanks raptor. In my old age I can barely lift a 100 pounds. And no I wouldn't even try to lift the tongue. I believe it's well over 200 lbs. which over my limit. The truck drops 1 1/2" when the trailer's on. I factored that in when I made the drop hitch. I'm not sure how good the suspension is on these stock 1/2 ton Ram trucks.

I may try putting a scale under the hitch. That would tell me how much tongue weight is really there.

 How does it pull on the road?

The tongue weight is the key

 

[dragons breath]

 How does it pull on the road?

The tongue weight is the key

You know it pulls a little heavy but follows well. I know I wouldn't go down the freeway at 70 mph or shouldn't. Don't want to get complacent and forget. It's easy to do.

 

[dragons breath]

looking good, nice fabricating

Thanks Clyde.

 

[bubbonehead]

Once you add the big screen TV, kegerator and sushi bar to the back end, that should help balance it out some.

 

[sunman76]

...lol    What is your plan for the back?  Looks like some prime space back there!

 

[dragons breath]

...lol    What is your plan for the back?  Looks like some prime space back there!

My sister-in-law came up with a great idea. I'm going to make the entire area a work table for preparing meat before and after smoking. With my other trailer there's never enough prep space. Thought about building a 4' x 4' grill, but......

I also have a large turkey deep fryer that I could mount in a corner.

I added expanded metal for storage and lights for when the sun goes down and the meat's not done. I have a couple of large table umbrellas that I am putting on each end of the smoker.