Enclosed Trailer layouts??

[BBQBeaver]

I am thinking of switching to an enclosed trailer for competitions next year, with a side man door and rear ramp door. Was thinking of lowering and leveling the rear ramp door with jacks and just leaving the cooker(s) parked on the ramp. If possible, could you guys who have these trailers post some interior picks of your layouts? Mine will be an empty canvas to start but would like to see how everyone else has laid theirs out for efficiency.

Also, anyone run RV batteries and an inverter for power?

Thanks.

[cpw]

I'm watching this thread with anticipation.

Edit: It would also be great to know what size trailers people are using.

[thillin]

I use to cook out of a 6x10. It was just tall enough inside. If I did it again, I would go with a 7x14 tandem axle. Might go for a V nose, but not sure if it is easier to pull or not. Only build out i did was a build out in the front. A workbench with underneath storage and an overhead shelf. The workbench was plywood cut to fit and I covered it with formica. ANd in Texas, the rooftop ac was a must.

[Smoke'n Ice]

Here is a picture of my 6 X12 vnose area. It is fully insulated with FRP walls and ceiling and garage floor tiles. Inline propane hot water, xantrax inverter 22 gal fresh water, shur pump & accumulator. Baskets are from IKEA. TV is on a swing arm.

[dmprantz]

Is there any carbon-monoxide concern from having your water heater inside the trailer?

dmp

[cpw]

Is there any carbon-monoxide concern from having your water heater inside the trailer?

dmp

Not to mention the heat? If that propane heater is anything like the one I have, it puts off a ton of heat + exhaust from the top.

[Smoke'n Ice]

Is there any carbon-monoxide concern from having your water heater inside the trailer?

dmpHence the co detector as seen in the left of the picture.

Have not had an issue with the heat as the use of hot water is intermittent and the AC keeps up. Long runs on the hot water do cause some odor but that is a seldom occurance. The water heater is a ventless one and the door and ramp openings are covered with freezer curtains.

The inverter is a 2500 watt unit and can carry the trailer and FEC100 for about 12 hours off a pair of deep cycle marine/rv batteries, just can't run the AC for more than 15 minutes and then the batteries die. Alas, no ac when on the inverter but can watch tv and charge my phonehttp://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/images/icons/icon10.gif

[QTEX]

I'm watching this thread with anticipation.

Edit: It would also be great to know what size trailers people are using.

Me too!

[QTEX]

Was thinking of lowering and leveling the rear ramp door with jacks and just leaving the cooker(s) parked on the ramp.
Thanks.

Been thinking about that one myself for some time. Already have a 16' utility trailer and a 5 x 10 enclosed so was thinking about doing that to the enclosed but it would still be small yet light to tow for longer hauls. Putting a roof on the 16 would just give so much more room. Just a lot more work too.

[Coz]

Heres our 7X14 .She is still a work in progress. Its a barn door type with an aluminum platform I made to fold down. When time permits I will have a slide out roof for the platform .For now its a bunch of conduit and tarps.

[Exe-que-tioner]

Here is what I did when I first started, have done much more since. Have more pics somewhere if I can find them. Have since added a stainless steel prep table next to the fridge and we also have the battery/charger/inverter set-up that works very well. Not as fancy as a lot of trailers out there, but it works. If you have buddies with some trade skills you can accomplish almost anything :wink:

[sdbbq1234]

I am loving this thread! Been thinking of gong the trailer route ever since last weekend when I was able to get a sneak peek at the folks trailers a the Woodstock, VA comp.

wallace

[danmaley]

I too am looking at purchasing a trailer and building it out myself. I thought that I might build it out as a modular design were the tables, sink and fridge might be removable in attempt to make it usable for other trailering use.

For folks that installed sinks, did you need to install a grey water tank as well as a freshwater tank or does it drain outside of the trailer? I would assume many contest locations have restrictions on draining it to the ground outside the trailer, but I have no experience with that.

Dan

[Smoke'n Ice]

Get a wheeled rv water tote and position it under the drain hose outside. They usually hold 20 to 30 gallons and some have a handle for attaching to a tow ball for moving to a dump area though I did not find this necessary.

Everything, with the exception of what you see in the front was on wheeled metro shelves cut down to work height and wooden counter tops from ikea cut to size and held on with L straps. Held to the wall for travel with straps.

Also modified a Sam's bin shelf system as a rolling item and used folding work tables. Made multiple configurations possible and also allowed for folding cots at night.

[TRS]

Here are a few pics of ours. It too is a work in progress. Its a 8.5x20'. Has 2 side windows and an rv door w/screen. I ordered it with AC, 30amp box, insulated ceiling, heavy duty ramp, awning etc. I am finishing the rest off myself. I installed the rubber diamond plate floor ( I did get the bubbles out!), 6 tie downs, insulated the walls, hung paneling, porti potty, adding cabinets and sinks this winter. We also go camping in this trailer thus the paneling!
We roll the smokers out and use a queen size blow up aero bed to sleep on. Works great so far. We are also looking at just cooking on the smokers on the ramp so I am looking at building a wall/divider just inside the ramp door as to keep the cold/heat in, bugs out and privacy for the wife. Some teams just hang the plastic cold flaps for their divider between the cookers and the inside of the trailer. The wife wants something a bit more private/secure.
I will say that trailers fill up and get crowed fast so get one bigger right from the start and "grow" into it. You will be happy you did!

Good Luck!

[White Dog BBQ]

Somewhat off topic -- over the years I have seen a few posts where BBQ teams prefer barn doors over ramps, sometimes emphatically. I would think for any kind of cooker on wheels a ramp would be a must. Or am I missing something?

[cpw]

Everything, with the exception of what you see in the front was on wheeled metro shelves cut down to work height and wooden counter tops from ikea cut to size and held on with L straps. Held to the wall for travel with straps.


that's a great idea...probably makes for easy cleanup too!

[mcbrew13]

Somewhat off topic -- over the years I have seen a few posts where BBQ teams prefer barn doors over ramps, sometimes emphatically. I would think for any kind of cooker on wheels a ramp would be a must. Or am I missing something?

I have heard the reasoning is that the barn doors take up less space when located on smaller comp sites. That said, I have a ramp to roll out my smoker as you described. Plan on using a winch/battery to roll up/down the ramp.

Thanks for the thread. I am looking to do more work this offseason.

[Big Poppa]

Waiting for mine to come from Trailer Innovations...ten ft kitchen with commercial fridge and one big sink with a bosch diswasher....10 ft smoker deck one Jambo and one new Mak 4 star.

[boogiesnap]

Waiting for mine to come from Trailer Innovations...ten ft kitchen with commercial fridge and one big sink with a bosch diswasher....10 ft smoker deck one Jambo and one new Mak 4 star.

winning the royal has some advantages eh? :thumb::becky:

congrats fella! :clap2:

[Big Poppa]

Actually it does in really strange ways....but I was on this earlier...going to the royal and seeing the rigs with these sleek heated kitchens and us with our california flea market setup with a uds to keep us warm sort of swayed me.

[cpw]

Actually it does in really strange ways....but I was on this earlier...going to the royal and seeing the rigs with these sleek heated kitchens and us with our california flea market setup with a uds to keep us warm sort of swayed me.

That's what got me interested too...we were just at a comp where everyone had fancy trailers and they were unpacked and packed in 5 minutes flat, we rolled up looking like Samford and son, took at least an hour to get setup. And we froze our butts off.

[boogiesnap]

Actually it does in really strange ways....but I was on this earlier...going to the royal and seeing the rigs with these sleek heated kitchens and us with our california flea market setup with a uds to keep us warm sort of swayed me.

i was being genuine, not a wisea**. :icon_blush:

great thread BTW.

[Big Poppa]

i was being genuine, not a wisea**. :icon_blush:

great thread BTW.
Hey I know thats how I took it...I was just answering sincerely too...I cannot wait for the trailer like the above poster said...no packing or unpacking controlled enviro...

[Three Star]

Does anyone have any pictures of fold down beds that they have made for an enclosed trailer?

[BBQchef33]

8.5x16 with a 3 foot vnose. wide side door, and ramp on the back. I prefer the ramp on the back because its easier on creeky knees9no stepping up all weekend. I roll the cookers out and off the ramp. Dont like cooking on the ramp because you cant close the back door in case of rain, or to sleep at night.


http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o45/bbqchef33/trailer/IMG_0941.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o45/bbqchef33/trailer/IMG_0942.jpg



http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o45/bbqchef33/trailer/IMG_0944.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o45/bbqchef33/trailer/IMG_0939.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o45/bbqchef33/trailer/IMG_0943.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o45/bbqchef33/trailer/IMG_0945.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o45/bbqchef33/trailer/pigpen.jpg

[Muzzlebrake]

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o45/bbqchef33/trailer/IMG_0941.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o45/bbqchef33/trailer/IMG_0942.jpg



http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o45/bbqchef33/trailer/IMG_0944.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o45/bbqchef33/trailer/IMG_0939.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o45/bbqchef33/trailer/IMG_0943.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o45/bbqchef33/trailer/IMG_0945.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o45/bbqchef33/trailer/pigpen.jpg

Wow time flies!

[swamprb]

Any of you ramp trailer owners ever consider an Extenda-Room to the rear or sides?

This one here looks like it would give you a place to kick back on the ramp.
http://www.aaarv.net/dometic_extenda_stay.htm

Decent price on fleabay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ADD-ROOM-DOMETIC-XTEND-A-ROOM-PERFECT-OPEN-END-RAMP-TRAILERS-NEW-BOX-/130744667903

Carefree of Colorado has a ramp room that allows you to open and close the ramp if needed, You need their awning for it, but I can't find the linky.

I have an Add-a-room that attaches to the awning of my Coleman pop up tent trailer that I've considered working into a comp trailer setup on my 6x10 Interstate.

[MikeSns]

We just started using a enclosed trailer,what a big help. I would think that you would still want to close it up, hard to keep the flies out when your working on prep. I found a damaged pop up camper for $345 and got the ac unit and other parts for less than the cost of the ac alone. With the end of camping season near keep your eyes open for deals.

[rksylves]

Can't remember if I ever posted this before.

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/rksylves/Trailer%20Pics/P1150162.jpg

This is an 8.5x18 tandem axle car trailer that was totally bare inside when I got it.

Not in this pic are the two Cambro 300s on a dolly that live on the left, just aft of the counter. Also, my Stumps Prince goes on the right just aft of the counter. This must be an early pic as the tie down rings aren't installed yet.

Just to the right of the sink and under the counter is the 6 gallon LP hot water heater. It serves the kitchen sink, shower, and lav sink.

The boxed in area further forward and to the left is my bathroom with head, shower, and lav. Definately made the whole trailer worth it. My bunk is the furthest forward. The top of the bunk lifts up and the shore battery is under there along with the charger/converter. The rest of the area under there is just storage. The black thing sticking out on the very top left of the divider wall is the LCD TV/DVD PLayer on a swing arm. I can rotate it all the way around and watch TV while in the back. In between the front and rear areas is a floor to ceiling curtain (you can just see the rod).

All of the lighting is 12vdc so if the power goes out, I can keep working. There's also rope lighting under the cabinet kick cutouts that I use at night.

The fridge, microwave, and A/C are 115VAC. Someday if the budget ever allows, I want to put a Honda 3000 gen out on the tongue. The Roof A/C is 15,000 BTU because Kap'n doesn't care for heat. Yes, I can run the A/C on a standard 15amp outlet as long as the compressor in the fridge and the one in the A/C don't start at the same time.

During competition the EZ/Up goes out over the gate with leg extensions. The stumps goes out on the gate. A 150 quart cooler on a dolly holds all my comp meat and goes where the Stumps was.

The rolled up thing along the back of the ceiling is one of those vinyl add-a-wall deals that can be bought at most any RV store. Works great and has built in screens.

Things I want to change? Putting an overhead cabinet up and to the left of the sink. Adding a second bunk above my bunk. A real mattress for the bunk. Re-doing the prep counter so that it's about 2-3 inches higher. The floor tiles 'drew up' after I installed them and it's driving me crazy. I want to have RV scissor jacks welded to the back of the ramp door at the top. I'm also starting to suffer badly from 2-foot-itis.

Sorry, I went on way too long
Russ

[cpw]

Can't remember if I ever posted this before.

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/rksylves/Trailer%20Pics/P1150162.jpg

This is an 8.5x18 tandem axle car trailer that was totally bare inside when I got it.

Not in this pic are the two Cambro 300s on a dolly that live on the left, just aft of the counter. Also, my Stumps Prince goes on the right just aft of the counter. This must be an early pic as the tie down rings aren't installed yet.

Just to the right of the sink and under the counter is the 6 gallon LP hot water heater. It serves the kitchen sink, shower, and lav sink.

The boxed in area further forward and to the left is my bathroom with head, shower, and lav. Definately made the whole trailer worth it. My bunk is the furthest forward. The top of the bunk lifts up and the shore battery is under there along with the charger/converter. The rest of the area under there is just storage. The black thing sticking out on the very top left of the divider wall is the LCD TV/DVD PLayer on a swing arm. I can rotate it all the way around and watch TV while in the back. In between the front and rear areas is a floor to ceiling curtain (you can just see the rod).

All of the lighting is 12vdc so if the power goes out, I can keep working. There's also rope lighting under the cabinet kick cutouts that I use at night.

The fridge, microwave, and A/C are 115VAC. Someday if the budget ever allows, I want to put a Honda 3000 gen out on the tongue. The Roof A/C is 15,000 BTU because Kap'n doesn't care for heat. Yes, I can run the A/C on a standard 15amp outlet as long as the compressor in the fridge and the one in the A/C don't start at the same time.

During competition the EZ/Up goes out over the gate with leg extensions. The stumps goes out on the gate. A 150 quart cooler on a dolly holds all my comp meat and goes where the Stumps was.

The rolled up thing along the back of the ceiling is one of those vinyl add-a-wall deals that can be bought at most any RV store. Works great and has built in screens.

Things I want to change? Putting an overhead cabinet up and to the left of the sink. Adding a second bunk above my bunk. A real mattress for the bunk. Re-doing the prep counter so that it's about 2-3 inches higher. The floor tiles 'drew up' after I installed them and it's driving me crazy. I want to have RV scissor jacks welded to the back of the ramp door at the top. I'm also starting to suffer badly from 2-foot-itis.

Sorry, I went on way too long
Russ

Nice setup! Looks like you have tons of room in there.

[The_Kapn]

I have cooked with Russ in his trailer and it is "cool" (pun intended :wink:).
He is an engineer by profession and the attention to details show throughout the rig.
Very well designed and constructed.

TIM

[rksylves]

Nice setup! Looks like you have tons of room in there.

Thanks. Before I started buidling, I talked to a friend of mine's wife who does home interior designs and she told me to keep it very light colored inside. It's some sort of visual trick to keep it bright and airy inside. It seems to work, I guess. Of course the downside to having a white wall is that when I'm injecting meat, I invariably get a 'squirt' that will hit the wall.

The other thing she told me was that it also helps to be able to see from one end to the other. She said it helps prevent a 'cramped' look. That's one of the reasons I used curtains instead of doors. Btw, I had the trim paint matched to the curtain colors so it all ties together.

Russ

[Ford]

A couple os suggestions. Decide what you'd like in the trailer. Then decide how big you like considering your tow vehicle. Then do a scale drawing and lay stuff out. You'll do a few. I probably did 30 or more. Finally get some blue painters tape and lay it all out in the driveway. Make sure to include inside wheel wells if going more than 7 feet wide. Walk around "inside" to make sure you have room. It looks like a lot of room for walking in the drawing but is usually a lot tighter. Also plan for what you want in it a year from now, not what you can afford today. Custom built trailers are a big expense and changing doors etc isn't going to happen.

[Balls Casten]

ours is a work and play and the sink is up front but heres the prep room in back. The top bunk we have covered with stainless as our prep table

[Balls Casten]

Now what I would really like to do is this ...

[rksylves]

Ford is absolutely correct. Paper is cheap and there are many free CAD programs out there that will let you 'build' a trailer before you buy anything. Google even has a 3D CAD that will let you build it and then fly through it. Sketchup, I think.

Never tried this before but here goes... This was my final drawing after MANY revisions.

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/rksylves/Trailer%20Pics/Visio-VisioTrailerv3-3.jpg

I guess I didn't even follow my own drawing accurately as I see stuff that never made it in.

Russ

[swamprb]

Interesting race trailer build: http://home.comcast.net/~ssauer40/cargomate/cargomate.html

[4uweque]

Great thread, I'm wanting a small toy hauler in the near future. I'm not quite as good at fabrication as you guys.

[The Cosmic Pig]

I found this while looking for ideas...

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l618/wearcd/ottawa2006100.jpg

[The Cosmic Pig]

This is the link to the article with the above trailer in "ThumperTalk." There are pics with the table set up, etc, but I can't remember how I found them... :roll:

http://www.ltr450hq.com/forums/general-discussion/24761-lets-see-your-race-trailer-set-ups.html#post405023

[The Cosmic Pig]

Heres our 7X14 .She is still a work in progress. Its a barn door type with an aluminum platform I made to fold down. When time permits I will have a slide out roof for the platform .For now its a bunch of conduit and tarps.

I love the platform! Is it hinged inside the trailer or what? If I don't go all out and into business with a porch trailer, I'm going this route! Thanks for the post!

[BBQBeaver]

Thanks for all of the posts and pics guys, greatly appreciated.
This gives many ideas and thoughts.

[diggin que]

i have a 8.5x18 enclosed trailer what do most of you do about the back door opening when you use the ramp as a platform for the smoker i want enclose mine for privicy plus keep in air heat

[esselle]

Here is what I did when I first started, have done much more since. Have more pics somewhere if I can find them. Have since added a stainless steel prep table next to the fridge and we also have the battery/charger/inverter set-up that works very well. Not as fancy as a lot of trailers out there, but it works. If you have buddies with some trade skills you can accomplish almost anything :wink:
Does that ever cause a wobble when you are towing....having the smoker strapped to one side?

[Candy Sue]

i have a 8.5x18 enclosed trailer what do most of you do about the back door opening when you use the ramp as a platform for the smoker i want enclose mine for privicy plus keep in air heat

I used a movers blanket that hooked on to the ramp's closing assembly rod. Most of the time, it worked well. One time one of my neighboring cooks spooked me and I ran bungies across the back (on the inside of the blanket) to keep somebody out. That also works in windy conditions.

[diggin que]

im wanting to make it more parmanent im considering building a wall out of 2x4s the put a household door in it the only thing with that i have to cut the door down to 73 inches from 80 inches and the widest i can get is 36 inches and thats actaully the width of my smoker but the problem the the door stop trim is only 35 inches so thats why im hesitate to go this route