The Texas BBQ Forum

Hello y'all!
Been saving and scrounging materials for a while and finally decided to start on my smoker. It'll be a traditional offset build. Nothing fancy, just nice and simple. Please feel free to give any input that you see necessary! I am currently working 12 hour days at my day job, and also running my own small business when I'm not at work so time is very hard to come by. So be patient with me because this build could take a while!
I started off with a 150 gallon propane tank that I bought for $50 and an old utility trailer I got for free more or less. I used it as a donor just for the axle and leafs. I own a metal shop (mostly cnc plasma work) so I've been saving drop pieces in hopes I'll have almost no money into this build besides the rectangle tubing I'll use to build the frame.
Here is the tank after I cut off one end, and the axle after cleaning and replacing bearings and seals.

In my humble opinion... the 150 is a perfect sized smoker. Not too big... Not too small. Please keep posting your build. Very interested in watch your progress.
b

is there a sticky anywhere on posting photos? Mine are coming in upside down.

After much debate, I decided to make flat doors, rather than just using the tank for the doors. I figured I'd use the drop from the door frame for the doors to ensure a good fit since technically it's all be the same sheet of steel.

Very nice work Scott. I look forward to following your progress. My current build in my signature ( Competition trailer #2 ) is being built pretty much the same way. Mostly drops from my shop and what ever I had racked in the back.

Thanks! I'll be following your build very close! It looks pretty similar to mine. Already giving me a few new ideas!

Hoping to make a little progress this weekend if time allows. Trying to get a list of materials together of things I don't already have laying around. For the trailer frame, I was thinking of going with a 2x4 rectangle tubing, 1/8" walls. Does that sound about right? I'm thinking the 150 gallon shouldn't be all that heavy.
Also, what are y'all using for grate frames and grate tracks? 1x1 angle?
What thickness expanded metal is heavy enough for the grates?
Thanks!

The tubing will work fine for the trailer frame 4" up and 2" across for strength.
I prefer 1" x 1" x 1/4" angle iron for grate frames.
I use #9 x 3/4" flat expanded metal for the grates.

Thanks for that info! Didn't make as much progress as I'd hoped to but at least it's something. Got the frame built, minus the tongue and the door frame mounted.

I really like the way you've installed the door frames. I think its a good idea. Cant wait to see it with the doors installed. The project is really coming along well! Please keep posting!
b

Nice looking pit…now tell us about the Chevy.


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Hopefully the doors seal decent. I'm using the drops from cutting the door frame so they'll fit snug.
The Chevy.... Where do I start? Built it when I was 17. The plan was to fix the rust and drive it. Well, it snowballed to a nut and bolt resto. I did everything but paint it.
Tons of small mods that usually go unnoticed.

Punched out 396, headers, high rise, 750 double pumper, big valve heads....,and so on.

Plan to put cragars on the pit and pull it with that truck.

It's beautiful. Had a cherry red 69 Chevy p/u when I was younger. To this day it is still my favorite.

It'll be a head turner hauling that pit behind it!


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Twitter handle @bsooner75

Please excuse the messy shop. Got a little more done today. Firebox tacked up and hung. That thing is a lot heavier than I thought! Still gonna cut caps to close up the rectangle tubing on the frame today.

It's not much progress but I did get the firebox door mounted and the hinges built for the bean cooker and main doors. The long rod in the firebox hinges is just there to help me line them up, it'll be replaced with pins.