Trailer Mounted Reverse Flow with added Goodies

[hogie]

I am a long time lurker, first time poster, so take it easy on me.

Lately I have been cooking for more and more people (Labor day was a 60+ person family cookout), and have committed to some charity events and work parties (estimating 400+ in April).  My small offset barrel smoker wont do the job, so I have decided to build myself a rig I can be proud of...

As we know, everything is bigger in Texas, so this is what I have planned for the whole rig:

14' or 16' x 83" tandem trailer

250gallon Reverse Flow with 5' tall smoking(warming) tower / insulated firebox combo.

BBQ Guru

Built in prep area with storage underneath

2x 40lb propane tanks

2 Stove-top burners (propane powered)

Propane powered grill across back

2x 40lb

Dual basin sink

RV Water-heater (propane)

RV / Marine water pump

2x 22-40 gallon water tanks (one for clean water, one for grey)

Wood rack for fuel

ice chest storage...

It seems like a lot to take in, but it is basically going to be something like East Texas Smokers builds...  I am looking to do the first purchases in the next two weeks.  The first thing I was going to get is the trailer from a local mfg.  It would have a 7k gvwr, electric brakes on the rear axle, and expanded metal flooring (instead of wood).  I wanted to start the build with a good trailer, which I wont need to do repair work on.

After that, would be the 250 gallon tank.  I have a couple propane companies which have them for scrap randomly, but I wont have anything to move them on until I get the trailer.  Once I do have the tank, I have the issue of being in a burn ban area in Texas currently.  Would I be able to get it sand blasted on the inside to do most of the cleanup instead of a burnout, then do a more controlled burnout once I get it built so I can control the fire and make it look like a regular grill / BBQ type fire instead of a crazy-get me fined fire?

I plan on doing this build in stages.  First getting the smoker mounted / working, then adding on as I can.  The first thing after the smoker would be something to add more tongue weight to the trailer.  During this time, I do not plan on moving the trailer much, since it will already be where we have most of our family functions.

I have a supplier for new steel that I can do local pickup if I can't find what I need at the local scrapyards.  I also have a couple friends which can help me with the build.

I'll be updating this thread in a few days with what I am able to think of materials wise for the smoker itself.  I hope to put in the trailer order next Monday (Oct 24th), once I get a good plan set down.  Any help on keeping me from making a huge mistake on my plan would be helpful:)

 

[SmokinAl]

   Glad to have you with us!

Sounds like quite a project.

Take photo's along the way, I think we would all like to see how it progresses!

 

[solaryellow]

Balancing the weight on the trailer is probably gonna be the biggest challenge you will have. I would put the heaviest items (aside from the smoker) closest to the front of the trailer like your water tanks and prep table. Good luck and can't wait to see how this turns out!

 

[sunman76]

 sounds like a great build good luck keep us posted!

 

[hdflame]

Sounds like a nice build!  I'll be watching to see how it turns out.

 

[michael ark]

You find all the help you'll need here.I like their outdoorsman.

 

[fourthwind]

Looks like a fun project!

 

[hogie]

I couldn't wait... so I just ordered the trailer from the local mfg.  He says I can have it by Friday afternoon.  Ordered the 16'x83" tandem with expanded metal flooring.  I am suppose to go out to him tomorrow morning so I can give him the check / sign the DMV paperwork for the title stuff (trailers larger than about 4000# GVWR in texas are titled).

 

[hogie]

Early this morning I was up at the trailer mfg to pay them / sign paperwork so it has plates when I pick it up... and they already had it 80% built... they were finishing the floor (expanded metal), and then he said it would go get primed and painted tonight, with them wiring up the electrical tomorrow morning.  I get to pick it up at 8am on Saturday.

I might have also found the tank for it, so I'll know Saturday morning if I get that.

Question of the day:

Would cold rolled steel plate (1/4" or 5/16"... not sure which I want yet), hold up better in the firebox than hot rolled plate of the same thickness?  I want to get something that will last.  The plate is for the internal part of the firebox, as the internal barrier before the insulation...

 

[fourthwind]

Go with the cold.  It will work just fine.  Thicker the better on the inside.  It will help with any warp issue's.   Look for ceramic wool for your insulation.  Much easier to work with when it comes to welding it all up. 

 

[hogie]

Got the trailer this morning:)

I might have a line on a 10' 500 gallon tank for it.  I'll know about it in a couple days.  If that falls through, there are a ton of 250 gallons for sale in the area for the same cost as the 500gallon, so no big loss.

 

[hogie]

I found a Hobart Handler 175 (still works) with regular and a "custom" cart yesterday on Craigslist for $200, so I picked that up.  Tomorrow I will be going up toward the Red River to pickup the 10' 500gallon tank I found.  Hope to have it strapped to the trailer by 8am, so I wont be late for work.

 

[fourthwind]

Looks like the fun is about to begin!   Make sure you clean that tank out good before you start cutting!

 

[hogie]

Looks like the fun is about to begin!   Make sure you clean that tank out good before you start cutting!

How dirty is the water going to be when I cut this open if I fill it up?  I am asking, because we are in a drought here in Texas, and I dont really have anywhere near me to pump it out to...  I am trying to keep myself from getting fined because of the massive runoff that will probably happen...  (My house sits 4 houses from the high end of the block, so it would need to go past 6-9 houses to get to a stormdrain).

Hope to have pics of the tank once I get to work in the morning.

 

[solaryellow]

How dirty is the water going to be when I cut this open if I fill it up?  I am asking, because we are in a drought here in Texas, and I dont really have anywhere near me to pump it out to...  I am trying to keep myself from getting fined because of the massive runoff that will probably happen...  (My house sits 4 houses from the high end of the block, so it would need to go past 6-9 houses to get to a stormdrain).

Hope to have pics of the tank once I get to work in the morning.

Hook up a hose to your running vehicle's exhaust and drop the hose into the tank before and during cutting. The exhaust will displace the oxygen in the tank and keep you from being fined.

 

[michael ark]

What you don't want to be this guy?

 

[hogie]

Just got to work...  Been driving since 6:15am CDT (its 9:35a now)

Actually had a little trouble getting the trailer out of the driveway... more than getting it in.  It kept wanting to hit the fence on one side, and the tree on the other.  Narrow alleyways suck.

 

[daveomak]

Do not use car exhaust to "clean" out the tank. CO is highly flammable. I have witnessed explosions in a contained  vessel from CO.

Unburned fuel could be present along with CO. Just my 2 cents.... The risks are too high....

Molecular formula	CO
Molar mass	28.010 g mol[sup]−1[/sup]
Appearance	colourless, odorless gas
Density	0.789 g mL[sup]−1[/sup], liquid 1.250 g L[sup]−1[/sup] at 0 °C, 1 atm 1.145 g L[sup]−1[/sup] at 25 °C, 1 atm
Melting point	−205 °C, 68 K, -337 °F
Boiling point	−191.5 °C, 82 K, -313 °F
Solubility in water	2.6 mg/100 mL (20 °C)
Solubility	soluble in chloroform, acetic acid, ethyl acetate, ethanol, ammonium hydroxide
Dipole moment	0.112 D
Hazards
MSDS	External MSDS
EU Index	006-001-00-2
EU classification	Highly flammable (F+) Very toxic (T+)
R-phrases	R61 R12 R26 R48/23
S-phrases	S53 S45
NFPA 704
Flash point	−191 °C
Autoignition temperature	609 °C

Concentration	Source
0.1 ppm	Natural atmosphere level (MOPITT)[sup][31][/sup]
0.5 to 5 ppm	Average level in homes[sup][32][/sup]
5 to 15 ppm	Near-properly adjusted gas stoves in homes, modern vehicle exhaust emissions[sup][33][/sup]
100 to 200 ppm	Exhaust from automobiles in the Mexico City central area[sup][34][/sup]
5,000 ppm	Exhaust from a home wood fire[sup][35][/sup]
7,000 ppm	Undiluted warm car exhaust without a catalytic converter[sup][33][/sup]

 

[solaryellow]

Interesting. I have never tried it but have seen many writeups where it has been done using exhaust. I guess those guys got lucky. Dave is more knowledgeable on the subject than I am.

 

[chinasmoke]

When i got my tank from the original owner they had already filled and drained it with water, but to double check i aired

it out by forcing air through it with an air compressor and aired it out once more with CO2.