Tubing thickness question.

[oggystyle]

Hello everyone im wanting to start gathering materials for my new build.im building a rectangular style trailer smoker.I'm wondering what size and thickness of tubing would everyone recommend for framing this monster out? Thanks

 

[416bigbore]

Hello everyone im wanting to start gathering materials for my new build.im building a rectangular style trailer smoker.I'm wondering what size and thickness of tubing would everyone recommend for framing this monster out? Thanks

Welcome to the SMF oggy! 

 A little more info on what you would like to build would be helpful. Are you trying to copy a curtain type smoker?  If I knew more about the size of your smoker and the ga. thickness of material you have available to use for your build. I would have a little better idea as to your axle rating and the material to build your trailer frame.

Do you have a way to post pics of your build, that helps a lot also.

What is your experience with working with welders etc.? 

Post up some more info and let's get this 

 build started ! 

 later, Mike

 

[c14james35]

The tubing you need would depend on the load its carrying. I would figure out how heavy the smoker is actually going to be then you would have to look in a steel book and see what tube would be best. Tube is incredible strong. Look at the load that those cheap trailers from lowes or menards can handle and those are pretty kight weight

 

[c14james35]

Light weight*

 

[oggystyle]

Thanks for the replies. Im actually wondering about the smoker itself i already have a trailer im goin to use and reinforce if need be. Im just worried if i use to thin of tubing it will just whorp and fall apart.

 

[c14james35]

So are you wondering about tube steel for a frame for the smoker then?

 

[oggystyle]

Yes sir i am.

 

[416bigbore]

Do you have some type of drawing with the dimensions ? Might be a little easier to start there first. Your fire box is going to be your hottest spot to have to worry about any real warpage issues, after that it's all about structural integrity. Heavier isn't always better! A-36 is alway A-36 and it's all about how you use it from there.  

You plan on buying all new steel for your build? any pics of your trailer? are you able to post pics for us to view?

Thanks, Mike   

 

[c14james35]

Depending on how big it is I would say 2×2×1/4 tube would be plenty probably could get away with 2×2×1/8 depending on how you build it. Hell I built some saw horses at work to build blow pipe with that has held elbows that weight about 1200 pounds. We put full skids of metal on them all the time that are 5,000 pounds. They are only 2×2×1/4 legs with a gusset and a 4 inch wide
C-channel for the top.