I have been very "distracted" since Apr of this year and not really participating in the forum as much as I want.
Sorry 'bout that.
Here is why.
Brent, Mrs Kapn, and I got tired of getting beat up and soaked by the FL weather while competing.We have been using CheKeeta for about two years;
Her story is here: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34015&highlight=CHEKEETA
She served us well, but it is time to move on.
So, Sherman was conceived and constructed to make life a whole lot easier (bearable) for us.
The construction was a marathon.
Started with a 7 ft X 16 ft, 10,000#, equipment hauler frame my dad gave me before he died in Apr.
Designing and building the frame went pretty well. 1000# of steel there.
Built like a tank--therefore "Sherman" was a natural name.
Painting took forever. Weather stayed wet. I created a jillion small places to paint and it was a tedious nightmare that probably took 4-6 weeks but seemed like 4-6 years!
Some construction shots:
Sherman has 8 circuits. Not because of load, but for control.
Exterior pretty well done.
Still needs aluminum tote box and load equalizer hitch on front.
The rear is done except for the exhaust for the FEC on the driver's side and the Traeger on the other.
The maiden voyage was Lake City last weekend.
Sherman was a breeze to set up--should be 15-20 minutes when we get some practice.
(That spare tire goes into the bed of the truck which is it's new home.)
The passenger side has the sanitation and the Traeger.
3-bay sink off of CheKeeta with the Traeger to the rear.
Ariston 4 gal water heater under the sink.
Lots of room down there for storage or to add holding tanks some day.
100 ft. of water hose stays attached--just peel off what you need.
12 ft hot water hose is there for washdown and rinsing coolers.
Prep table is to the Driver's side with FEC to the rear.
Shelf gives perfect storage for pans, racks, and stuff we use all the time,
On the floor is a tool box and the 1 KW Yamaha generator.
Brent and I are "swapping custody" of my 1 KW with his 3 KW to make Sherman electrically self sufficient to include hot water.
100 ft electrical cord stays connected. Just peel off what you need.
My canopy stays on-board (as does all the equipment) between contests.
All we have to do is replenish consumables and go cook.
We have a "pantry" to the front which holds most of what we need.
I will add two shelves this week.
For Lake City, we set up a canopy off the rear for "socializing" and such.
I had a temporary partner at Lake City who brought his WSM for practice cooking,
Worked great.
Sherman towed better than expected.
Rock solid except for when we are tucked in behind a semi. He does not like the turbulance
12 MPG for fuel at 65 MPH Sherman only weighs 5000#, but is a big parachute to drag.
Not a problem!!!!
We were working on Sherman right up to departure (in the rain), so the decals we have were not applied. Later for the pretty work.
I have some "tweaking" to do before Mullberry.
A couple of more shelves for the pantry.
A "dimmer" on those fans!!! Even on low, ya gotta hang onto stuff to keep it from blowing out the back door. :lol: Keeps it cool though, even on a hot and muggy day in FL.
There is a slide show with some more pics (if anyone is interested) at :
http://s217.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/the_kapn/SHERMAN/?albumview=slideshow
It has been an "adventure", for sure.
But, we are tickled pink and looking forward to many comps with Sherman.
Now, I can get back to participating in the Forum (and life), I hope.
TIM
Sorry 'bout that.
Here is why.
Brent, Mrs Kapn, and I got tired of getting beat up and soaked by the FL weather while competing.We have been using CheKeeta for about two years;
Her story is here: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34015&highlight=CHEKEETA
She served us well, but it is time to move on.
So, Sherman was conceived and constructed to make life a whole lot easier (bearable) for us.
The construction was a marathon.
Started with a 7 ft X 16 ft, 10,000#, equipment hauler frame my dad gave me before he died in Apr.
Designing and building the frame went pretty well. 1000# of steel there.
Built like a tank--therefore "Sherman" was a natural name.
Painting took forever. Weather stayed wet. I created a jillion small places to paint and it was a tedious nightmare that probably took 4-6 weeks but seemed like 4-6 years!
Some construction shots:
Sherman has 8 circuits. Not because of load, but for control.
Exterior pretty well done.
Still needs aluminum tote box and load equalizer hitch on front.
The rear is done except for the exhaust for the FEC on the driver's side and the Traeger on the other.
The maiden voyage was Lake City last weekend.
Sherman was a breeze to set up--should be 15-20 minutes when we get some practice.
(That spare tire goes into the bed of the truck which is it's new home.)
The passenger side has the sanitation and the Traeger.
3-bay sink off of CheKeeta with the Traeger to the rear.
Ariston 4 gal water heater under the sink.
Lots of room down there for storage or to add holding tanks some day.
100 ft. of water hose stays attached--just peel off what you need.
12 ft hot water hose is there for washdown and rinsing coolers.
Prep table is to the Driver's side with FEC to the rear.
Shelf gives perfect storage for pans, racks, and stuff we use all the time,
On the floor is a tool box and the 1 KW Yamaha generator.
Brent and I are "swapping custody" of my 1 KW with his 3 KW to make Sherman electrically self sufficient to include hot water.
100 ft electrical cord stays connected. Just peel off what you need.
My canopy stays on-board (as does all the equipment) between contests.
All we have to do is replenish consumables and go cook.
We have a "pantry" to the front which holds most of what we need.
I will add two shelves this week.
For Lake City, we set up a canopy off the rear for "socializing" and such.
I had a temporary partner at Lake City who brought his WSM for practice cooking,
Worked great.
Sherman towed better than expected.
Rock solid except for when we are tucked in behind a semi. He does not like the turbulance
12 MPG for fuel at 65 MPH Sherman only weighs 5000#, but is a big parachute to drag.
Not a problem!!!!
We were working on Sherman right up to departure (in the rain
), so the decals we have were not applied. Later for the pretty work.I have some "tweaking" to do before Mullberry.
A couple of more shelves for the pantry.
A "dimmer" on those fans!!! Even on low, ya gotta hang onto stuff to keep it from blowing out the back door. :lol: Keeps it cool though, even on a hot and muggy day in FL.
There is a slide show with some more pics (if anyone is interested) at :
http://s217.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/the_kapn/SHERMAN/?albumview=slideshow
It has been an "adventure", for sure.
But, we are tickled pink and looking forward to many comps with Sherman.
Now, I can get back to participating in the Forum (and life), I hope.
TIM
