UDS cart with prep area build

Elfmaze · Apr 6, 2013

Hey guys, I was inspired by colonel00's UDS cart(http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93365) and decided to try my hand at my own. I'm tired of hauling around drums by hand and not having a place to put my beer down!

What a lovely set of atv ramps... Problem is, I don't own an atv

Now, arranged like this gives me an idea

Making progress

Elfmaze · Apr 6, 2013

Best part is its all aluminum! when I started piecing together steel I quickly realized it was going to be heavier than Sin, defeated the purpose of a "mobile" cart. The aluminum frame I have there can be carried easily with one arm! Too bad the stuff is a PITA to Weld, I'm loving the weight savings.

I'm left with a "counter" space thats 24" deep by 28" wide. I was trying to fine a butcher block the right size at local resturaunt store but no luck. I'm not sure what direction to go with the counter right now. Instinct is telling me cutting board with a "trimmings" pit on the side

Smokin Ribs · Apr 6, 2013

Lookin good, cant wait to see finished pic

1911Ron · Apr 6, 2013

Looking good so far, if it were me i would put the trimmings area at the back, that way you could have a garbage bag under there.

colonel00 · Apr 6, 2013

Very nice start! Are you going to weld the aluminum? I would love to work with aluminum more but I just don't have the equipment or experience to do it.

A couple suggestions from my experience with my cart:

1. If you think you will be moving it around quite a bit, come up with a way that you can push the cart form the end without having to push the drums. This will come in handy when the drums are dirty, hot, etc.

2. For your setup, I would suggest a handy place to hang your lid(s) so you can work quickly.

3. I never really used the slide out rack as I had planned as it was too much of a pain. I have some plans for my next cart to be able to remove racks and have they either stand or be held out of the way so the UDS can be closed up quickly.

Just a couple things off the top of my head that I wish I would have done differently. Looking forward to watching the progress.

Elfmaze · Apr 6, 2013

colonel00 said:
Are you going to weld the aluminum?

Poorly but yes. I'll never be able to get that whole "stack of dimes" thing down. But I can join the metal and sometimes I don't even blow a hole in it first! Equipment I'm using an Eastwood TIG 200, Been working pretty good for the hobby stuff I'm playing with.

colonel00 said:
If you think you will be moving it around quite a bit, come up with a way that you can push the cart form the end without having to push the drums. This will come in handy when the drums are dirty, hot, etc.

I have thought about this but I'm not really sure how to make it happen yet. I'm using the two rubber wheels in the back and probably 4" castors in the front. Not sure how it will move yet.

colonel00 said:
2. For your setup, I would suggest a handy place to hang your lid(s) so you can work quickly.

I would love to figure out a hinged lid like you have but my one Weber lid doesn't even seal correctly yet much less be hing-able.

Elfmaze · Apr 6, 2013

colonel00 · Apr 6, 2013

Elfmaze said:
I would love to figure out a hinged lid like you have but my one Weber lid doesn't even seal correctly yet much less be hing-able.

Here is a link that shows the hinges I used. For the lid in general, you will either need to grind down the rim of the drum or flatten and reshapen the lip of the Weber lid. I have seen some people make hinges for flat lids too.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93253

Edit: Totally forgot the link

Also, here is a link to another cart I built. Way to heavy duty for my needs and I barely use it. Actually thinking about trying to sell it. Anyway, perhaps you can get some ideas from what I added to this one after building the first one.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115224

Tony A · Apr 6, 2013

I very much like where this is going:grin:

Pappy · Apr 7, 2013

I'm not allowed to bring my UDS in the house. :clap:

Elfmaze · Apr 7, 2013

After sleeping on the counter material. Maby the Wood is a bad idea. Hard to clean with paper towels and spray bottles. And pulling greasy hot grates onto it might mess it up quick.

The Plastic cutting board might suffer from heat.

Back to square one.

Bbq Bubba · Apr 7, 2013

Outstanding!

J-Rod · Apr 7, 2013

Elfmaze said:
After sleeping on the counter material. Maby the Wood is a bad idea. Hard to clean with paper towels and spray bottles. And pulling greasy hot grates onto it might mess it up quick.

The Plastic cutting board might suffer from heat.

Back to square one.

Have you considered Formica laminates? That's what I got on my prep table and it has held up very well over the years, even with hot grates, pots set directly on it. I don't cut directly on it though, that's what a cutting board is for.:thumb:

Elfmaze · Apr 7, 2013

Not too much progress today. Just 6 framing rails for the wheels to mount too.

bobaftt · Apr 8, 2013

maybe check with a granite shop in the area for a little remnant?

Elfmaze · Apr 10, 2013

I was wandering thru the scrap yard and ran across this stuff, Its an aluminum step riser for a set of dock stairs. I found a nice piece of rock I could use but it was very heavy and kind of defeats the purpose of light weight and mobile.

Maby this aluminum tread would work?

Elfmaze · Apr 11, 2013

The scrap guy turned out to be completly insane and not worth dealing with. So went wood! Ive always had a thing for aluminum and wood combinations

Oldbob · Apr 11, 2013

That Really Looks Good !! :thumb:

Richard_ · Apr 11, 2013

looks nice , thanks , you got me thinking

colonel00 · Apr 11, 2013

Looking good so far :thumb:

Another thing that I thought of, if you are using the table space for prep work and such, you might think about figure out a way to have it be expandable. Imaging trying to wrap a butt or brisket and that space gets small real fast. Just a thought.

UDS cart with prep area build

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