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Competition BBQ *On Topic Only* Discussion regarding all aspects of Competition BBQ. Experiences competing or visiting, questions, getting started, Equipment, announcements of events, Results, Reviews, Planning, etc. Questions here will be responded to with competition BBQ in mind. |
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04-21-2011, 08:51 PM | #16 |
On the road to being a farker
Join Date: 03-01-11
Location: Valley, AL
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The towing capacity is roughly 6800 lbs. I will check out continental trailers as well. Thanks.
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Hicktown BBQ Team - Superior SS2, WSM |
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04-22-2011, 08:57 AM | #17 |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 07-28-09
Location: Melbourne, Florida
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Right in the middle of doing exactly what you're talking about. I went with a 8.5x18 flat front.
Yes to: radial tires, rear ramp door, RV style side door, multiple roof vents pre-wired for A/C, stand-up headroom plus at least 3", extended tongue, insulated ceiling with white vinyl finish, side windows. No to: V-Nose, beavertail, heavy duty rear ramp door, torsion axles, 3/4" plywood on walls, factory option water system. If you disagree with me about the above that's fine. However, if you are going to go for the factory packages then I very strongly recommend that you download some free CAD program and spend the time to design your floorplan VERY carefully. I can't stress that enough. Account for every inch of space. If you are going 8.5 foot wide then find out where the wheelwells are going to be in the interior space. Then, when you go to specify what you want the factory to do for you, be absolutely SURE that you HAVE IN WRITING EVERY DETAIL. I don't care if the contract is 5 pages long, get every detail in there. Exactly where everything is to be installed and even exact part/model numbers if you can. Stuff like, is the water pump 12vdc or 110vac, is the hot water heater 110vac or LP gas, exactly where is the fresh water tank going to go, black tank, gray tank, etc. Things that are very obvious to you but don't get written down WILL become a mistake. Ask me how I know. Last, when you get your floorplan figured out, show it to a couple of people that understand the general idea of what you're trying to do, preferrably other competitors that you trust. Every question they ask should be a red flag to you that your drawing isn't clear enough. Make the changes to add the detail to make it clear before you place the order for the trailer. Don't mean to rant on this but I don't want to see other people make the same mistakes I did. Russ
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Lead Cook 'Second Star BBQ' using a Big Orange 'Prince', 22 OTG, SJS FBA & KCBS CBJ |
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04-22-2011, 09:37 AM | #18 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 06-27-10
Location: Louisville, KY
Name/Nickname : Drew
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A few weeks ago we towed a 8.5x24 flat front with our gear and a stumps stretch in the back 425 miles with a Nissan Frontier. It was an experience to say the least. :)
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www.ilovemeat.com |
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04-22-2011, 09:56 AM | #19 |
Grand Poobah and Site Admin
Join Date: 08-11-03
Location: Long Island, NY
Name/Nickname : Phil
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just a heads up. Your're getting real close to your towing capacity, and just because its rated at 6800 doesnt mean it will enjoy it. My truck is rated at 8500lb towing, I tow 6100 on 8.5x16 loaded for a contest. You will me surprised how things add up when it comes to weight. For instance, the commercial floor tiles I installed added 350 lbs to the trailer. Things u dont anticipate will be added in there and u may come to close to your capacity to be safe, or at least comfortable towing.
My trailer is a carhauler, with beavertail and ramp door. But I had them build the flooring straight. It keeps the trailer lower to the ground and less of an incline on the ramp. (bad knees and walkign up and down a steep ramp for 2 days sucks ) Definite prewire on the AC, and get 2 roof vents. Also, add extra receptacle, even if u think u dont need them. Also have one installed on the outside.
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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 |
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04-22-2011, 10:25 AM | #20 |
Moderator
Join Date: 12-09-04
Location: Wandering, but not lost
Name/Nickname : Captain Ron
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Here is a good site to help you determine how much you can safely tow with your vehicle...
http://changingears.com/rv-sec-calc-...eight-tt.shtml With most SUVs and 1/2 ton trucks the limit is typically not the rated towing capacity, but rather the payload capacity, so look at the vehicle GVWR and then get the actual weight and the difference between them is your payload capacity. Subtract a full tank of gas, additional people besides the driver, and your gear and that will tell you how much additional weight you can handle for the trailer tongue weight. A good WD hitch will help and may be mandatory, check your owner's manual. For example, my Nissan Titan can handle 900+ lbs tongue weight with w WD hitch, but only 500 without. I'm curious as to why no V-nose? Also, why no to the heavy duty rear ramp? With the weight of the smokers I want a HD ramp in case I wanted to use the ramp as a cooking platform.
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"Ron Rico, Boss. You can call me Captain Ron..." Naked Fatties Rock! PKGo X 2/PK360/ |
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04-22-2011, 10:29 AM | #21 |
is Blowin Smoke!
Join Date: 04-14-07
Location: Lakeland Florida
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When towing a 7' will be much easier on the truck than 8.5. Calculate the sq footage of the front. There should be some info in your truck manual on this. And think maybe a vnose with a half ton pickup. And plan on at least 1000 lbs less than the max tow weight when fully loaded.
Having said that an 8.5 gives way more room and I love it.
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Ford Retired competition cook. BBQ mentor. |
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04-22-2011, 10:40 AM | #22 |
On the road to being a farker
Join Date: 03-01-11
Location: Valley, AL
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Thanks guys. The last two companies I spoke with also recommend the 7’ trailer for my truck. I’m leaning toward a 7x16 with many of the options mentioned here. This thread has been a great help.
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Hicktown BBQ Team - Superior SS2, WSM |
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04-22-2011, 11:29 AM | #23 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 06-27-10
Location: Louisville, KY
Name/Nickname : Drew
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Oh I know the truck didn't enjoy it. The 6mpg average for the trip told us that. It's far from ideal but we don't have a choice. A 3/4 Diesel is on the budget for next year. We only have 1-2 comps left that are over 150 miles round trip.
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www.ilovemeat.com |
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04-22-2011, 11:45 AM | #24 |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 03-01-11
Location: Mcleansboro, IL
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I seen you guys at Benton, I was wondering how you guys pulled the trailer that far with that little truck.
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"Rural Route BBQ competition team" |
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04-22-2011, 12:03 PM | #25 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 06-27-10
Location: Louisville, KY
Name/Nickname : Drew
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To be honest I'm not sure either.
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www.ilovemeat.com |
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04-22-2011, 12:09 PM | #26 |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 07-28-09
Location: Melbourne, Florida
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I didn't want the V-Nose because my bed runs across the front of the trailer and I couldn't make anything else fit in the 'V' area.
For the ramp, I cook with WSMs and don't really ever plan to switch to Stumps, anything heavy enough to warrant a heavy duty ramp. It's a big chunk of weight. Now that I have the trailer, I'm convinced that even the medium duty ramp is more than enough to handle even a medium size Stump's. It has a 3/4" plywood floor on it and I can jump up& down on it with no problem. Russ
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Lead Cook 'Second Star BBQ' using a Big Orange 'Prince', 22 OTG, SJS FBA & KCBS CBJ |
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04-22-2011, 12:21 PM | #27 | |
Moderator
Join Date: 12-09-04
Location: Wandering, but not lost
Name/Nickname : Captain Ron
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Quote:
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"Ron Rico, Boss. You can call me Captain Ron..." Naked Fatties Rock! PKGo X 2/PK360/ |
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04-22-2011, 01:01 PM | #28 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 08-27-07
Location: Eustis, FL
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If you don't want the v-nose, at least try and get the more rounded nose, stay away from the flat nose, it will have more wind resistance when pulling it.
Extra height is a must. I got a 6 1/2 ft interior and loved it. Tandem axles. Brakes are a must. Radial tires. Plenty of outlets... you never know when you need one, and it was already mentioned, one outside. Put Maxxair covers over the roof vents, you can leave the vents open year around. I loved mine. As far as a brand, I can only tell you which one to stay away from. They even told me that their warranty is no better than the paper it was written on, and that is how they stand behind their warranty.... way behind. I had two major issues with mine, and they refused to fix anything..... I will only mention they are out of Douglas, GA (Lark United). I had a 6x12 thinking it would be large enough.... Next time out, at least a 7x16. A 6ft wide is just a little too narrow. Hope all of these ideas from everyone helps. If you want more info on why not to by a Lark United, just send me a pm.
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KCBS Member Smoke-N-My-I's Competition BBQ Team 2 Chargriller SuperPros with SFB's(retired) 2 UGLY drum smokers Weber 22 1/2" & 18 1/2" Kettle Super fast RED Thermapen Screaming fast ORANGE Thermapen KCBS Certified Table Captain KCBS Certified Judge |
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04-22-2011, 02:11 PM | #29 |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 07-28-09
Location: Melbourne, Florida
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I can also tell you a trailer company to stay completely away from. Oh..... wait.... It's the same one! When I pulled out of that lot I swore I would never even go near that town ever again.
Isn't that a lovely bunch??? Russ
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Lead Cook 'Second Star BBQ' using a Big Orange 'Prince', 22 OTG, SJS FBA & KCBS CBJ |
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Thanks from:---> |
04-22-2011, 03:04 PM | #30 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 08-27-07
Location: Eustis, FL
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Yes, a lovely bunch..... If you call and want to talk to customer service abt warranty work, you have to talk to a salesman... duh, a salesman in working on commission and sales, not crappy workmanship that they screwed up....
Here is a link to my original post abt my trailer problems..... rather long.. so go get a large glass of ice tea, a sandwich before you start... http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ghlight=mildew
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KCBS Member Smoke-N-My-I's Competition BBQ Team 2 Chargriller SuperPros with SFB's(retired) 2 UGLY drum smokers Weber 22 1/2" & 18 1/2" Kettle Super fast RED Thermapen Screaming fast ORANGE Thermapen KCBS Certified Table Captain KCBS Certified Judge |
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