250 Reverse Flow w/ Trailer Build

Jlane21034 · 03-06-2011, 04:22 PM

I finally decided to try my first smoker build. I have been working on this project since Christmas, and needless to say, it was a bigger job than I thought it would be. For all of you who have tackled this type of project, you have my respect. For all of you who have tackled this type of project, and taken pictures, and posted informative threads, and answered questions, you have my sincere appreciation. I definitely could not have done this without your help.

My grandfather started a well drilling business in 1954. Luckily for me, his early rigs ran off propane. We have had a 250 gallon propane tank mounted on a trailer stuck in the weeds behind our office for at least 30 years. The tank had a stamped aluminum tag that put the date of manufacture at 1963. The wheels/tires were destroyed by weather and time. I had to find new wheels/tires before I could easily move the tank. I am also going to need to rework the tongue. I have had the intention of converting this rusting relic into a smoker for several years but haven't had the time. With the economy in the condition it is in I found plenty of free time this winter.

This build was actually completed this past weekend and I am going to attempt to show the build from start to finish but I didn't take near as many pictures as I wanted to. Thanks again for all your help. Most ideas for this build came from this very forum!!

landarc · 03-06-2011, 05:45 PM

Wow, that was just sitting there all this time? Nice.

Willie's Smokehouse · 03-06-2011, 06:30 PM

lookin forward to see pics of the finished project!!!

bluetang · 03-06-2011, 06:41 PM

Yeah Man, that's a big tank. Can't wait for the finished shots, and of course, the cooks

jawpaul · 03-06-2011, 08:22 PM

Looking forward to seeing the build!

Got any good Que joints around there? I live about about an hour to the east of yah neighbor!

Bama Q · 03-06-2011, 09:26 PM

When you build a rig from start to finish, It's a labor of love. Good luck

got14u · 03-06-2011, 09:44 PM

she's got some potential Good luck

Alan in Ga · 03-06-2011, 11:59 PM

Looking good want to see the project pics

Brewer · 03-07-2011, 12:32 AM

Great find - can't wait to see the progress.

Jlane21034 · 03-08-2011, 10:25 AM

Used the BBQ pit calculator to give me firebox dimensions. I built the box out of 1/4" plate and 1" tubing for framework. Really wanted to double-wall and insulate but the weight would have been crazy and I would have had to make some MAJOR changes to the trailer. This thing still ended up weighing over 400 lbs.

More to come. . . .

Big George's BBQ · 03-08-2011, 10:30 AM

Sounds Great Looking forward to seeing the pics

BBQ PD · 03-08-2011, 10:39 AM

Great canvas to start with. Can't wait to see the progress.

Jlane21034 · 03-08-2011, 10:43 AM

The tongue needed some TLC. I removed the old and added a new hitch and jack. I wish I had a longer piece of tubing to extend the length of the tongue and make the trailer easier to back but this is all I could find in scrap.

Next I removed all the extra "junk" off the tank (I want the final product to be nice and smooth) and marked the location of doors and firebox. I also had to move the axle back as far a possible to try and compensate for the additional weight of the firebox. The trailer was balanced perfectly before and I knew when I attached the firebox it would flip up.

More to come. . . .

kyle corn · 03-08-2011, 10:52 AM

Wow, very cool! Looks like you have some good welding skills. I have a tank similar to this that I need to get started on. Can't wait to see more pics!

el_matt · 03-08-2011, 11:33 AM

Looking good!

Matt

03-06-2011, 04:22 PM	#1
Jlane21034 Got Wood. Join Date: 01-11-11 Location: White Pine, TN	250 Reverse Flow w/ Trailer Build I finally decided to try my first smoker build. I have been working on this project since Christmas, and needless to say, it was a bigger job than I thought it would be. For all of you who have tackled this type of project, you have my respect. For all of you who have tackled this type of project, and taken pictures, and posted informative threads, and answered questions, you have my sincere appreciation. I definitely could not have done this without your help. My grandfather started a well drilling business in 1954. Luckily for me, his early rigs ran off propane. We have had a 250 gallon propane tank mounted on a trailer stuck in the weeds behind our office for at least 30 years. The tank had a stamped aluminum tag that put the date of manufacture at 1963. The wheels/tires were destroyed by weather and time. I had to find new wheels/tires before I could easily move the tank. I am also going to need to rework the tongue. I have had the intention of converting this rusting relic into a smoker for several years but haven't had the time. With the economy in the condition it is in I found plenty of free time this winter. This build was actually completed this past weekend and I am going to attempt to show the build from start to finish but I didn't take near as many pictures as I wanted to. Thanks again for all your help. Most ideas for this build came from this very forum!!

03-06-2011, 05:45 PM	#2
landarc somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-26-09 Location: sAn leAnDRo, CA	Wow, that was just sitting there all this time? Nice. __________________ [COLOR=DarkGreen][COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]me: I don't drink anymore Yelonutz: me either, but, then again, I don't drink any less [/SIZE][/COLOR][/COLOR][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed] [COLOR=Pink]SSS[/COLOR] [/COLOR][/SIZE]

03-06-2011, 06:41 PM	#4
bluetang somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-06-10 Location: Stuart, Fl Name/Nickname : Mike	Yeah Man, that's a big tank. Can't wait for the finished shots, and of course, the cooks __________________ Homey, the Homegrown frier, 22" WSM, 18.5" Elderly(but not retired) WSM,Homegrown Electric, Weber gasserrrr,Weber Performer, Gravity feed smoker, Blackstone, Indisputably Fastest [COLOR=purple]Purple[/COLOR] Thermapen, SAI Satay Grill Avatar by landarc, thanky!

03-06-2011, 08:22 PM	#5
jawpaul Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-21-10 Location: Backwoods of East TN	Looking forward to seeing the build! Got any good Que joints around there? I live about about an hour to the east of yah neighbor! __________________ 22.5" WSM - 18.5" Weber OTS - Hillbilly Pride going NationWide - Coleman Roadtrip LXE

03-06-2011, 09:44 PM	#7
got14u is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-07-10 Location: Phark-land WYOMING	she's got some potential Good luck __________________ Jerod ...................Life's hard; it's even harder when your dumb. John Wayne

03-06-2011, 06:30 PM	#3
Willie's Smokehouse On the road to being a farker Join Date: 12-04-09 Location: Brandon,Fl	lookin forward to see pics of the finished project!!!

03-06-2011, 09:26 PM	#6
Bama Q On the road to being a farker Join Date: 03-29-10 Location: North Alabama, Home of White BBQ Sauce	When you build a rig from start to finish, It's a labor of love. Good luck

03-06-2011, 11:59 PM	#8
Alan in Ga is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-19-09 Location: Macon,Ga	Looking good want to see the project pics __________________ NB Black Diamond, 57 Smokehouse BBQ Team [URL="http://www.57smokehouse.blogspot.com/"]www.57smokehouse.blogspot.com/[/URL] Certified GBA Judge/Competetior [SIZE=3]Golden Goose Egg(4 Times Certified)[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Stumps 223 ,2 UDS,NB Hondo[/SIZE]

03-07-2011, 12:32 AM	#9
Brewer is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-26-10 Location: Fall City, WA.	Great find - can't wait to see the progress. __________________ Phil [COLOR="Red"]Damn Straight BBQ Team[/COLOR] [url]http://www.facebook.com/DamnStraightBBQ[/url] KCBS & PNWBA Member, PNWBA CBJ Superior SS-2 Backwoods Fatboy Primo XL Weber Ranch Kettle

03-08-2011, 10:25 AM	#10
Jlane21034 Got Wood. Join Date: 01-11-11 Location: White Pine, TN	Used the BBQ pit calculator to give me firebox dimensions. I built the box out of 1/4" plate and 1" tubing for framework. Really wanted to double-wall and insulate but the weight would have been crazy and I would have had to make some MAJOR changes to the trailer. This thing still ended up weighing over 400 lbs. More to come. . . .

03-08-2011, 10:30 AM	#11
Big George's BBQ somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 02-07-08 Location: Framingham, MA Name/Nickname : George	Sounds Great Looking forward to seeing the pics

03-08-2011, 10:39 AM	#12
BBQ PD is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 10-17-10 Location: Livermore, CA	Great canvas to start with. Can't wait to see the progress. __________________ Dave CBJ, 15' custom BBQ trailer with a Backwoods Competitor, Pitts & Spitts off-set, & Santa Maria grill. Ole Hickory CTO, 1 BGE, 2 Weber kettles and 1 Smokey Joe, BWS Chubby, Sonoma gasser, and a BBQ store full of everything BBQ.

03-08-2011, 10:43 AM	#13
Jlane21034 Got Wood. Join Date: 01-11-11 Location: White Pine, TN	The tongue needed some TLC. I removed the old and added a new hitch and jack. I wish I had a longer piece of tubing to extend the length of the tongue and make the trailer easier to back but this is all I could find in scrap. Next I removed all the extra "junk" off the tank (I want the final product to be nice and smooth) and marked the location of doors and firebox. I also had to move the axle back as far a possible to try and compensate for the additional weight of the firebox. The trailer was balanced perfectly before and I knew when I attached the firebox it would flip up. More to come. . . .

03-08-2011, 10:52 AM	#14
kyle corn is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 08-20-09 Location: Denton, Tx	Wow, very cool! Looks like you have some good welding skills. I have a tank similar to this that I need to get started on. Can't wait to see more pics!

03-08-2011, 11:33 AM	#15
el_matt Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-08-09 Location: Turlock, California	Looking good! Matt

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