RF Build In Slow Motion (Sinks are done!)

[solaryellow]

Why slow motion? Because we just don't have the collective time to knock this out quickly. So updates are going to be sporadic at best but maybe having a thread up will help in pushing forward. Our eventual goal is a complete kitchen on a trailer.

Here is our starting point:

We picked up a 120" long by 38" diameter 500 gal propane tank back in February. And there it sat for about 5 weeks while I did some research, did some rough drawings, and lots of calculations. To be fair I am kind of obsessed with numbers and enjoy manipulating them. So 3 weeks ago we started to physically work on it. We cut off some of the fittings and brackets, pressure washed the outside of it, and filled it with water and Dawn dishwashing soap.

Today we started laying out our cuts. A chalkline was fairly easy to use for our horizontal cuts but not so much on the vertical. Those we had to go back and mark again.

And then we were off to the races. Unfortunately we ran out of cut off wheels and time. So we will be back at it next weekend.

 

[tom37]

Fantastic Joel!!!!!

Thats an awesome tank, not to step on your toes but is there any chance that you have considered building this as a center feed RF. I'm sure you have seen the build thread by vette guy.

I honestly think this is the wave of the future.

I do quite a bit of building and I would highly suggest that you go plenty heavy in the front of the trailer, I will go into more detail about the near MISS I had yesterday morning.:eek: in my own build thread.

 

[solaryellow]

Fantastic Joel!!!!!

Thats an awesome tank, not to step on your toes but is there any chance that you have considered building this as a center feed RF. I'm sure you have seen the build thread by vette guy.

I honestly think this is the wave of the future.

I do quite a bit of building and I would highly suggest that you go plenty heavy in the front of the trailer, I will go into more detail about the near MISS I had yesterday morning.

in my own build thread.

Thanks Tom! I have seen more than a few of those but I am concerned about the layout of our trailer if we went that way. There will be a fairly good sized warming box over the firebox for warming and also smoking sausage. I am also planning on at least one sink if not a 3 compartment sink on the other side of the tank. Going with a center feed would make that a little more challenging to pull off.

I am planning on the water tanks being in front along with some other equipment. I am very concerned about weight distribution though.

 

[smokingohiobutcher]

WOW!!!! Looks like a winner!!!  Lots of luck being sent your way!!!!If the success of your plywood smokehouse is any indication this will be astounding!

SOB

 

[sunman76]

WILL BE FOLLOWING THIS ONE

 

[boykjo]

Nice tank........ Where did you find one. I am thinking of building one if I can get my hands on one

 

[solaryellow]

Nice tank........ Where did you find one. I am thinking of building one if I can get my hands on one

A buddy of mine has a hookup through his fire department. We have another 330gal that we are gonna hack up for the warming box and possibly the firebox.

 

[solaryellow]

Made some more progress today. We made some hinges, tacked them on and finished cutting the doors out. Here are some pics.

 

[boykjo]

Nice work so far... Wish I had a plasma cutter..............I see a nice spot for my camper.....

 

[solaryellow]

Nice work so far... Wish I had a plasma cutter..............I see a nice spot for my camper.....

The plasma cutter was VERY nice to have to cut out those hinges. I think we would still be out there if we were using angle grinders.

 

[DanMcG]

Lookin good Joel, I'll be looking forward to your updates

 

[Fife]

Joel that is starting to look good.

 

[fourashleys]

Looking good!!! Gotta keep watching this one:110:

 

[sunman76]

Heck yea thats looking good

 

[solaryellow]

Since we are doing this on the cheap, I figured I would toss some actual hard costs into this thread and try to keep that part updated. So far here is where we are at:

500 gal LPG tank - $35

Cut off wheels - $35

Barrel hinges for warming box - $30

Homemade hinges (3/16" scrap) - $2

Total cost so far - $102

 

[tom37]

Is the trailer in the first pics the one that you plan to build on?

Thats a nice looking trailer.

 

[beer-b-q]

Looks like that thing would hold a couple of buffalo.... It looks good so far...

 

[solaryellow]

Is the trailer in the first pics the one that you plan to build on?

Thats a nice looking trailer.

No, that is a buddy's trailer. At this point we are thinking about getting a couple of the Dodge Caravan rear axles for our trailer axles. We want to build the trailer from the ground up.

 

[tom37]

Sounds like a plan.

I have heard of many people using the mono beam axles and having very good results.

 

[solaryellow]

I have been reading similar success stories at a couple different trailer building forums. I am hoping to avoid the junkyards and land some free axles.