New custom pit build

[NPayne1]

Hey y'all, new to this site. A San Antonion who has been tàking my sweet time to build my custom offset smoker but am now under a deadline. I started out with a 500 gal propane tank and a dream. Well now, after a year and a half, many mistakes, and lots of steel, I'm close. I'll pay pix later today.

[ChileFarmer]

Welcome to the forum, looking forward to your build photos. CF

[NPayne1]

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[NPayne1]

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[NPayne1]

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[NPayne1]

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[NPayne1]

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[NPayne1]

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[Americana Cookers]

Looking forward to the pics! Congrats on following through with the dream!

[NPayne1]

Will be working on the pit this sat. Hope to knockout a significant amount of work. Finish out the racks, attach the end caps, attach firebox, put on the smoke stacks, doors, and then get her securely mounted to the trailer. Then I can start building the wood rack and charcoal pit on the backside of the trailer.

[k.a.m.]

NPayne1, welcome to the forum. Your cooker project is looking fantastic I look forward to seeing some more pics and updates.

[NPayne1]

Kam, thanks, glad u think it looks good. Ur pits look awesome! Any ideas on a counter-weight system for doors? I don't think I can adapt ur cable pull system so mine need to be the big weld on ones that dbl as the door stop. Having a difficult time with the design and it's hard to test if it works. Pix of past successful designs would be awesome. Thanks to everyone and keep the advice coming.

[k.a.m.]

NPayne1, fixed counter weights are not that hard.
First draw a horizontal line 1/4 the way down from your hinges on both doors. Once this is done figure where you want the doors to stop and make some temporary props to hold the doors in this position.
You can take a couple of pieces of 1" x 4" lumber about 2' or 3' long and while holding them together either by hand or screws set them on the door to create an angle that works for you and touches the back of the cooker. You may have to trim the boards but they are easier to work with than iron and a lot cheaper.
Once you have the angles you like your miter cuts will need to be used on your arms.
Typically I weigh my doors and make my weights a little under half the weight of my door, they are assists not meant to carry all the weight. In your case since your doors are tall you may need to go heavier to hold the doors at a 1:00 or 2:00 position so you can reach your handles. Your actual weight can be 3" or 4" square tubing or pipe capped on both ends with a fill hole on top for sand. Make your arms from tubing or pipe and tack the weight to the arms once they are on a door then try the door, by adding or subtracting sand to get your desired weight and holding power.
I hope this helps and if you have any more questions feel free to ask.

[NPayne1]

Thanks kam, don't know why I didn't think of using wood. Prob just needed to step back and think about it. I'll knock those out this wknd, def need them cuz them doors are heavy!!! I'll post pix of the work we get done.

[NPayne1]

Howdy y'all, worked on the put for12 hrs yesterday. I'm sore as heck! She's really coming together now, got the end-caps on, firebox on, pit welded to the trailer. Today I'm going to try and revamp the doors, need to build 2 more racks, redesign my hinges (wasn't happy with store bought) and by tonight I'll be burning a hot fire to start my seasoning process. Still need to add a stack and rails for tuning plates, but she truly starting to look like a smoker. Pix to be added later today.