Input on New Comp Rig Needed

The Giggler said:

I am happy and a little sad. Big Tilly (Matilda), our big Klose Offset, has found a new home.

So, I call on the collective experience of The Brethren for input on the new Comp Rig:

Enclosed Trailer - brand/size, single/double axle, drop down door
Cooker(s) - Backwoods, Spicewine, others, like/dislikes, ease of use and cleaning, options, etc.
Grill - ?
Rolling Cabinetry - for storage of utensils, etc.
Folding Stainless Steel Table - for prep and turn ins

Thanks.

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With the price of gas I suggest two of the smallest cookers you can get by with and a small fuel efficient 4 cylinder pickup truck. That's the way I'm thinking of heading.

What is your budget?

TIM

I am in denial when it comes to the gas issue. . I'll just take out an other mortgage.

My recommendations.

Drop down ramp in the back is a must. Unless you go with a permanent platform. how are you gonna unload thru barndoor style back?

double axle torsion flex..... don't wast your time with a single. They squirm, and you will quickly exceed weight limits on a 5k. I got dual 3500 and wish I went with the dual 5K. I went with a car hauler, but had it built without the beaver tail. The car hauler is built for extra weight with 12inch on center floor beams.

minimum 30 amp service box.. spread 5-6 outlets around inside and put one on the outside. Set the box HIGH up!!

forget the SS table. unnecessary weight and expense. I took mine out and replaced it with heavy plastic tables from costco. Much better.

Cooker.. your call..Mine carries the cooker of the day, from a big honkin Klose, a spicebox, or a bandera and WSMs. I had the a mounting system fabricated so the cookers bolt thru the floor with 1" threaded rods to the cross members in the floor.

if your cooking inside the trailer, why do u need rolling cabinetry? Lowes, HD and sears has heavy duty, PVC type cabinets that are lightweight and bolt to the walls. Anything that you can rollout, can also roll around during transit.

A craftsman toolbox is a great utensil draw.. top draws are for cooking stuff, bottom ones are tools and hardware. They lock and cna take the abuse.

Grill? A kettle.. why need anything else, unless u have other plans for it besides crispy skin or dinner. ??

Get the luan or vinyl covering on the walls. The aluminum covering gets banged up easy.

Line the walls with wire racks, they are inexpensive and lightweight. SS stuff is nice to look at, but adds alot of weight. I pulled my SS shelves down before i even complete the project and replaced them with wire closet organizer type stuff where ever one fit.

Flooring. Commercial grade tile. NOT single sheet. That way when a tiles gets ruined, you can replace it. the single sheet, is easier, but your screwed when your cooker or whatever cuts a tiles. Also, the floors flex. i made a mistake of gluing directly to the plywood. it seems there is something that i should have put on top of the plywood to allow the tiles to give a little. A few of my tiles have cracked where the plywood seam is underneath.

Heres a look at mine.. 8.5 x 16 with a 2 foot v-nose.

The Giggler said:

$6-7000.00

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including the cooker?

Final question, I think.

How much weight will your current tow vehicle pull?
Safely pull, not just a "rating". :lol:
Are you prepared to buy a larger tow vehicle in addition to your current budget $$ ?

The two limits I had to work with were the budget ?? and the towing capacity.

TIM

The_Kapn said:

Final question, I think.

How much weight will your current tow vehicle pull?
Safely pull, not just a "rating". :lol:
Are you prepared to buy a larger tow vehicle in addition to your current budget $$ ?

The two limits I had to work with were the budget ?? and the towing capacity.

TIM

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uh... yeah.. what he said.


answer that before ya read mine..

The Giggler said:

A farking Caddie for a tow vehicle? I guess you guys from LI know how to roll in style!

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Don't be so sure. I nearly got seasick going to Harpoon in it.....

Mike,
You have lots of towing capacity--that was a real limiter on my CheKeeta project.

Here is what I would do.

#1--Select the cooker YOU want and need. That will give you the weight, dimensions, and "budget $$" remaining.

#2--Price and select the "furnishings" you need. Estimate room required and "budget $$" remaining.

#3--Take "budget $$" remaining and see if you can find a trailer that meets your needs.

If not--return to step #1 and start all over.
Or, find a way to increase "budget $$" :lol:

You HAVE to have a cooker that works for you, and the "furnishings" are needed in some form.
Those are the areas to start the planning to see where the $$ lead you.

Just some thoughts.

Good luck.

TIM

The Escalade can tow it, but sometimes you wonder who's in charge. Until I put the sway bars on it, and learned how to distribute the weight, it was definitively and adventure towing it. It's real cool when you see the entire side of the trailer facing you in the read view mirrors.

Im not 100% sure but i think the trailer ran about 6000-6500 and the inside was under about 2-3K in materials and supplies. Theres gotta be a thread in here with the details from last year.. I'll start lookin.

but why would you want to unload and cook outside?

With these, you pull in, plug in and your ready. Unloading is so much easier and theres no unloading when your home. Just replenish supplies and your ready for the next round.

I found that this past season, i started preparing the day before the contest with some easy shopping, instead of taking a week off to shop and load the trailer.

i went 16 foot so i had a place to hang out and to sleep. If thats not a requirment a 10-12 foot is probably big enuf and costs less.

BBQCHEF that is absolutley one of the nicest trailers I have seen. That is sweet!

The Giggler said:

$6-7K total.

E350 Super Duty Van.

I would like to downsize the vehicle too - F150, F250 max.

The goal with the enclosed trailer is to be able to unload a couple cookers, a couple tables, the shelter, and a drawer unit. And have it double duty as a H-D hauler.

I don't want to cook or prep inside.

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You have a lot of good info to go with.... I use a F150 with tow package... 7700gvw.... no problems pulling the trailer loaded with all of my junk... I pull a 6x12 with barn style doors, no side door.... when I buy mine, it will be ramp door. After I set up the tent, put out the tables, unload the 2 small offsets I use, and the rest, we have a queen size mattress we lay in the trailer... works great for a quick shut eye, and for the wife and daughter to crash on.

I have a co-worker that has let me use his until I decide for sure what I am doing. And he loves the left over brisket... I figure that is cheap rental payment. When he found out I was going to rent one, he told me to come and get his as he never uses it... so, for now, it is real handy. I am still deciding on an enclosed or open... but leaning more toward enclosed for the protection and also security to be able to just shut the doors, and lock it up... I am thinking for a little extra room, maybe a 14 footer, and yes, tandem axles... with brakes.

ok.. All i will add regarding Multi Use, is that nothing inside is permanently mounted except the one wall cabinet. Thats also why i ditched the stainless steel stuff. The table was originally going to be mounted to the walls on a piano hinge and folded in. It was built with transporting or storing my wrangler in mind. Then I never did it anyway and it stays assembled.

Fridge is on wheels, sink and H/W heater (2 fittings and 2 bolts), futon(unattached), toolbox(2 bolts), racks pop off the clips. Everything comes out easily. I can strip it down to the walls and floor tiles in under 30 minutes. Problem is where to put everything when its out.

The Backwoods Fatboy or Competitor with casters are very weight friendly if you are going to be whelling it in and out of the trailer. Thats what I do now for catering and comps.

I'm renting a 4x8 utility trailer from U-Haul this year to take the Spicewine to comps. It has a ramp. Places to tie down the smoker. Room for tables other stuff that doesn't fit in my trunk or the back seat of my car.

$16.95/ day. Right in my price range.