320 gallon pit build on a trailer.

[DogFaced PonySoldier]

I've posted a few times about various aspects of this build and another one I've started, and after getting into this hobby I have several more that will be in the works eventually.

It's taken us a loooong time to get together all the tools and equipment we need to handle this stuff and it's finally starting to pay off.

First, the big tank we picked up out of a friend's 'back 40'.




The gantry we built to lift it, in the foreground is the firebox we built and in the back is the trailer we bought for it.



And today, we finally got the tank lifted and mounted on the trailer!



It is now FINALLY mounted and WELDED to the trailer - have 2 more support struts cut that need to be shaped and molded to the curvature and then welded in.

Hope to have the firebox mounted soon, doors cut out and then it's just racks and stack!

I'll update here from now on for this build. It's been a journey, but I now have the tools and equipment to do just about whatever we need to do for future smoker projects!

W00T!

[Jerod Broussard]

Dang, that is a BEAST!!!

[rlozinak]

Nice to see it come together.

[barelfly]

That’s pretty cool! And given the extra space on that Glastron trailer, you could really add some cool features to the cooker! Excellent!

[DogFaced PonySoldier]

We'll likely be adding some decking, maybe a woodbox or something. I don't know if we'll go too crazy though. We'll see.

[RonB]

Thanks for posting this, and keep the photos coming.

[DogFaced PonySoldier]

Big part of this project was 'repurposing' and using the old tank. Buddy bought the land, this was laying out there, he wanted to clean things up, he's made some riding trails and such out on the property. His wife is a big equestrian and the idea of taking something old, ugly, discarded and an eyesore and turning it into a dream smoker was pretty intriguing. So... that's that.

[DogFaced PonySoldier]

Doors laid out:


Ground down for hinges and cut through made in front of hinge areas:


Straightedge guide for plasma cutter:


Hinges - 3/8" pieces:



Cut top edge only on doors, major door pop:



Now we're a bit stuck. The tank is bowed itself, so the door actually popped itself straight, by bending inward. Partner and I have some different ideas about how to go about remedying the situation. I want to use heat, compression and a BFH, which is a combination of the general advice of Ahumadora and Smokerbuilder Frank Cox. He has different ideas about it.

I guess we're a little stuck here at the moment.

[Jerod Broussard]

Is it possible to cut just enough for the hinges, and then once they are welded, cut the rest? Or is that an outcome either way?

[Ahumadora]

Do not use heat! BFH. You can also use a hydraulic jack on the tank side.

[Ahumadora]

This is how you straighten un co operative doors. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-16...16LB/206768920 The hinges will be welded on later after the dooors are cut out and the seals welded on them. You may want to tack a hook onto the doors to lift them with. This will probably be a case of hyd jack, blocks of wood and sledge to fix these.

[DogFaced PonySoldier]

I can't swing a hammer like that. My shoulders suck. I can barely reach over my head.

[Sweaty Paul]

Now that’s a project!!

[bardsleyque]

I like the BFH, kinda like truing Harley crankshafts!

[Huskee]

Loving this!

[Bkhuna]

How many hot dogs you reckon you can fit at a time?

[lumbrjk]

Awesome. Looks like so much fun. What is the plan for it when you are done? Keep it or sell? etc?

[DogFaced PonySoldier]

No this one isn't for sale. Or shouldn't be. Unless someone makes a stupendous offer. It's on hold for this week, though we had some major warpage when I made the first door cut, so we're trying to figure out the best way to proceed.

[lumbrjk]

Everything is for sale at the right price! One note about your doors springing... In my experience, if you cut the vertical door cuts out and then weld on the flat metal you are going to use as a seal, tack it to the body of the tank temporarily. Then cut out your horizontal door cuts welding on the seal as you go. This helped me with minimizing warping. Clear as mud? lol DogFaced PonySoldier

[DogFaced PonySoldier]

I know what you mean exactly, yes. Unfortunately, I don't think it would have helped in this case - that tank is 5/16" thick, and our door trim is 1/8". And with that massive tank being as out of shape as it is, I think it is going to do what it is going to do regardless - we just have to work on finding a way to straighten it out.

[DogFaced PonySoldier]

Been a while - been working on my smaller smoker project while I ponder what to do and how to proceed.

Yesterday and the day before I cut some crossbraces for the firebox, hand shaped them to fit in the inner curvature and then ground them flat to mate up with our planned 1200 sq in 1/4" thick griddle top.

Original pic for size reference - 30" dia x 42" deep:



So, now with the crossmembers welded in:



Perspective makes the gap look long at the end... I was going to do a 4th one, but I just don't think it's necessary. I have one cut, but... I don't think we're going to need it. I dunno. I might...

But today... I think today... is a door cutting day. I think.

[DogFaced PonySoldier]

Or today could be a grate building day. For my smaller smoker. Or it could be both. I have all day. We'll see, I suppose.



Either way, it's a day to get dirty! W00T!!!