Bionic Bandera

BBQchef33 · 10-09-2006, 10:37 AM

"We can Rebuild it."

i adopted Rbsnwngs Bandera last week to leave at the place for our Boy Scout me Meetings. Once or twice a month, I'll be cooking for the troop at the regular troop meetings and at all special event meetings, so it shoul dbe at least biweekly. Anyway, The poor Bandera has been left alone for a year or so and needs some TLC..

Lid is warped so it dont close well, and it is modless, needed a baffle and firegrate.

Its at my cousins, who is an ironworker.. i went yesterday(he had it one day), and he allready made a new top for it. I called smoker and got dimensions of our baffle and mikes welding one on that will wrap a litlle bit around the waterpan. Also adding a few more shelves.

all seams are being recinforced and heavy plate is being welded inside the fire and smokeboxes.

Then, the frame is being modded/reinforced and hes welding a reciever on it that will go directly into a trailer hitch. That way, The Boy Scout Bandera can be lifted directly onto the back of one of the trucks when we go camping.

more to come!!

These are the first set of photos, I'll post more as it progresses.

Check out the new lid made of 3/8 inch plate.

G$ · 10-09-2006, 10:52 AM

Looks like an awesome project to me. I especially like that new firebox lid. I never liked the tall default one.

RichardF · 10-09-2006, 10:57 AM

That's just about exactly the firebox lid that I want for my Bandera. Takes out most of the wasted space. Nice

Bigdog · 10-09-2006, 01:20 PM

I'm joining Phil's troop as honorary Pit Bitch.

Jorge · 10-09-2006, 02:14 PM

Phil? How close will the pit be to the tailgate?

chad · 10-09-2006, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jorge

Phil? How close will the pit be to the tailgate?

Good question considering his mega-$$ "truck" has a plastic tailgate!!

Not that there's anything WRONG with that!

jt · 10-09-2006, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chad

Good question considering his mega-$$ "truck" has a plastic tailgate!!

Not that there's anything WRONG with that!

Tonka mod

BBQchef33 · 10-09-2006, 03:28 PM

The hitch thing is actually more for the wrangler im thinking. its designed as an "H", welded to all 4 legs, with the crossbeam being offset closer to the firebox. The crossbeam will be a 2.5" channel with a smaller channel that slides in or out so it can have some adjustment for clearance into a hitch. That will account for spare tire carries or larget bumpers.

chad · 10-09-2006, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBQchef33

The hitch thing is actually more for the wrangler im thinking. its designed as an "H", welded to all 4 legs, with the crossbeam being offset closer to the firebox. The crossbeam will be a 2.5" channel with a smaller channel that slides in or out so it can have some adjustment for clearance into a hitch. That will account for spare tire carries or larget bumpers.

So, what size tires you putting on it? I can just see it throwing sparks as it's pulled down the freeway on it's side!!

Kevin · 10-09-2006, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chad

So, what size tires you putting on it? I can just see it throwing sparks as it's pulled down the freeway on it's side!!

From the condition of his paws, it looks like he kept up for a couple of miles.

Jorge · 10-09-2006, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin

From the condition of his paws, it looks like he kept up for a couple of miles.

REAL tomatoe ketchup, Ed?

jpw23 · 10-09-2006, 05:16 PM

Good lookin' welds!!! That guy is a craftsman!!!!

rbinms33 · 10-16-2006, 10:04 AM

So how'd she do this weekend during the cookout for the Scouts? I'm curious to see if that new lid made a difference.

BBQchef33 · 10-16-2006, 11:04 AM

the cookout was great.. and all i can say is, the magic is IN THE FIREBOX!

We finished the top and added a 1/4 or 3/8 inch steel baffle to it and a new firegrate. Also sealed up those annoyin seams/cracks in the top of the firebox and added some reinforcing steel angle to the bottom.

I seasoned it thursday and incinerated some sausages while doing so.

dumped a full chimney of kingsford in it and added a log of oak. Waited for temps to start climbing, and past experience said that that fuel load should bring be to about 250... i left everything fullopen down and went inside. Checked an hour later and the beast was still locked at 350+ and the sausages were incinerated to porklump. The log was still intact and coalbed was about half gone. I dampered down and it ran for nearly another 2 hours on that fuel load with temps dropping down to 225. Being it was just seasoning some new racks, the baffle and some spots where i wire brushed the crud off it, i felt 3 hours was plenty and let if die down. i shut top and bottom dampers and the next day, the log was still there as a big chunk of lump charcoal. Showed that the top sealed good enuf to snuf out the fire. The first cook for the boyscouts I'll give details in a seperate thread, but i used only one chimney of kingsford, about a chimney or 2 of lump to keep a coalbed going and only half the wood that i anticipated and brought with me.

The litttle beast is going back to he welding shop for more work. The cousin wants to rebuild the entire firebox with 3/8 inch steel. and we may get to welding on the reciever to be place into a hitch. Which BTW.. is for TRANSPORT ONLY.. Seems a few guys thought i was going to be cooking with the bandera on the hitch.. Plan is, to be able to hitch it to the wrangler, bring it to the campsite and take ot OFF the hitch to cook!.

rbinms33 · 10-16-2006, 11:27 AM

Thanks for the update, Phil. Seems cutting out that excess space in the top definately helps. You mentioned a baffle.....did you add a baffle to the inside of the top or replace the baffle in the cook chamber? And a 3/8" firebox to boot......just make sure you have plenty of help getting it on and off that hitch!

10-09-2006, 10:57 AM	#3
RichardF is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 03-07-05 Location: the best day ever	That's just about exactly the firebox lid that I want for my Bandera. Takes out most of the wasted space. Nice __________________ if you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him Live every week like it's shark week

10-09-2006, 01:20 PM	#4
Bigdog somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 09-17-03 Location: Wichita, Kansas	I'm joining Phil's troop as honorary Pit Bitch. __________________ Bigdog Senior member of the Brethren Weber Platinum Kettle, Weber OTS, Meco square grill, a PK, ECB, UDS, Large BGE, a camping grill, a Blackstone flattop, a Camp Chef grill,The MOAB, and a YS640. MOINK. Pitman for Andy Groneman at the All Things BBQ cooking classes. Smoke on Brother KC Father of the Fatty (the name) 4/20/04 on the BBQ Brethren with inspiration from Brother parrothead.

10-09-2006, 02:14 PM	#5
Jorge somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 01-23-04 Location: DFW, San AntonioTx	Phil? How close will the pit be to the tailgate? __________________ You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. --Frank Zappa Keeping Valspar in BBQ, one cook at a time. Recipient of a Huggies box! Shut up, and cook!!!!

10-09-2006, 03:28 PM	#8
BBQchef33 Grand Poobah and Site Admin Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Long Island, NY Name/Nickname : Phil	The hitch thing is actually more for the wrangler im thinking. its designed as an "H", welded to all 4 legs, with the crossbeam being offset closer to the firebox. The crossbeam will be a 2.5" channel with a smaller channel that slides in or out so it can have some adjustment for clearance into a hitch. That will account for spare tire carries or larget bumpers. __________________ Site Administrator and Grand PooBah CBJ with a Fuzzy Blue Hat, 18 Foot Competition Trailer, Customized Klose BYC, Custom Built Shirley built to feed our Veterans(A.K.A "Abrams"), 1 Double Barreled Lang 84, 1 Heavily Modified Bionic Bandera, 1 Custom Super Medium Stickburning Spicewine w/stoker, 2 XL BGE, 1 Mini BGE, 2 Pit Barrel Cookers, 3 WSMs, 3 Weber Kettles, an NB Hondo, A Modified Brinkman Horizontal, DCS 48" Grill, a Broilmaster P3, a Blackstone 36 and 17, a covered, pellet pooping FEC100, and our duck died. :( News Flash: "A mans worth is judged by the weight of his integrity " You know your getting older when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy Smoke on KC. WWW.BBQ-BRETHREN.COM

10-09-2006, 05:16 PM	#12
jpw23 Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-02-05 Location: Ky	Good lookin' welds!!! That guy is a craftsman!!!! __________________ __________________ --------------------------------------------------- Chargriller Pro with mods El Cheapo Brinkman Some name I can't remember Gasser Oil Less Turkey fryer

10-09-2006, 10:52 AM	#2
G$ is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 01-01-05 Location: Southern Arizona	Looks like an awesome project to me. I especially like that new firebox lid. I never liked the tall default one.

10-16-2006, 10:04 AM	#13
rbinms33 is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Coldwater, MS (just south of Memphis)	So how'd she do this weekend during the cookout for the Scouts? I'm curious to see if that new lid made a difference. __________________ Richie Perfect Smoke BBQ Team Pork Me Baby BBQ Team Coldwater, MS (just south of Memphis) KCBS CBJ #7595 NB Bandera Mod E Custom Drum Smoker 18" Weber Smoky Mountain Weber Kettle One Touch Silver

10-16-2006, 11:27 AM	#15
rbinms33 is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Coldwater, MS (just south of Memphis)	Thanks for the update, Phil. Seems cutting out that excess space in the top definately helps. You mentioned a baffle.....did you add a baffle to the inside of the top or replace the baffle in the cook chamber? And a 3/8" firebox to boot......just make sure you have plenty of help getting it on and off that hitch! __________________ Richie Perfect Smoke BBQ Team Pork Me Baby BBQ Team Coldwater, MS (just south of Memphis) KCBS CBJ #7595 NB Bandera Mod E Custom Drum Smoker 18" Weber Smoky Mountain Weber Kettle One Touch Silver