my new BBQ adventure

Over the winter I became unemployed and decided this would be the perfect time to follow my dream. The last few years I've been catering and because of the job I could only do 2 jobs a month. Seems I turned down more jobs then I did.

My new gig will be vending at events at our local fair grounds starting with the Anything Equine Expo and in June the Will Nelson Experience.There are also RV gatherings, car shows and 4 wheel jamboree among other things.

During the week I'll vend at a local motel from the parking lot. I have an old snow machine trailer that I'm going to use as the base. It's pretty beat up the steel is solid under the surface rust. Due to the boatload of snow we had this winter I couldn't get the trailer out till last Friday (it has been parked about 300 yards out my side yard for the last 15 years).

I have the approval of the town (PIA) and have been in constant communication with my HUD.

The trailer will have VCT flooring and RFP walls. Also a 40 gallon holding tank and 46 gallon gray water tank. The water will flow with a Shurflow pump and will be heated buy an Atwood instant water heater. I have a 15 sq, ft. non NSF refrigerator (NSF nor required in Vermont) and will use electric food warmers. The electric will be by a 5K Honda generator.

My menu will be PP sandwiches, rigs, chicken drumsticks, smoked sausage and hot dogs.(the motel owner loves hot dogs and he's not charging me). I'll have beans and slaw and other side specials like chili and mac and cheese. And well finish it off with canned drinks and cookies and brownies.

I started last Friday striping but got rained out on Monday, today i painted some things and cut the rafters, (I'm an old broken down carpenter)

Here are some pictures of the start,
#

More to come, all the parts are in my garage.

Rich

__________________
Rich Decker

Pick link didn't work  #

sorry don't have enough posts to enable link to work'

Lost, 
welcome to the crowd...sounds like were on the same path here !
yea, 30 days/30 posts.....if you want, ide be glad to post them if you want to email them to me, i love seeing projects under way....
ive got a thread here (official NC build thread) im converting an old step van (77 model p20 aluminum) and so far its been a labor of love, weather has had me at bay several times since i started, we just had a rash of tornadoes around here a few days ago.....i barely saw any rain, and just a little wind, but my friends house got ripped from the foundation 5 miles down the road
looking forward to following your work, sounds like were looking to hit the same sort of places as well........ this is a great forum 99.9% of the time, lol
 
i pm'd you my email addy

Rich, welcome fellow vermonter!!I am originally from White River, That Boat load of snow is what drew us down here 18 years ago my friend!Welcome aboard sounds like you know what you want, so have fun, and have at it. keep us posted with all the updates.And yea I was surprised at how relaxed VT.was when I got the wild hair about moving back there maybe. Good Luck If you need anything holler.This is a 'WICKED"good site LOL.

Good luck. We started to work out a deal last year with a local BBQ caterer to vend pulled pork at a local Home Depot. We didn't follow through because of our commitments to festivals we had already booked. Now that City of Atlanta is a little more food truck friendly we may look into it again.

Thanks for the inspirational words. I'm off to insulate the last wall then cover it with OSB. Next is painting the trailer, painting the trim then painting the trailer again then repeat. The rough siding eats paint. (hoping to bump up my post count so I can post my picks).

hey Lost.....
if your up for it, try priming that thing with some k2000, its a high build primer that will fill, seal, and build up a nice smooth surface for ya...
 
the links# didnt come through on the pm.....youll need to email it

https://picasaweb.google.com/103200304792624046939/2008_05_05#5595140601961757618
 
all i can say is OMG !!!
lol, i looked at that first pic and was like this guy is insane !
i am highly impressed with the work you have done so far, excellent job, i really need to get off my but now and get some stuff done !!

hahahaha..... your co-kitchen managers are a riot !
www.lostnationvt.com

Thanks for posting the picks, It's raining so I think I'll work on the RFP's today.
I almost forgot about the "meat the team", I wrote that stuff in 2005

Outstanding! You completed an incredible amount of work, in really short time. Anyone that owns a baker staging, has the knowledge and ability to do it correctly!! I would suggest using a high grade sheet of commercial vinyl as opposed to VCT. Vinyl is continous with no place for dirt to get trapped and build up.
 
Cant wait to see the completed project!

I'm an old broken down carpenter so I still have a bunch of tools. I thought about building Masons staging around the entire trailer but decided on the baker.
 
I thought about other flooring but my HD really liked the VCT, she mentioned it a couple times while we talked about the build.

This week I painted  2 more coats on the trailer and primed the trim. Installed the roof trim to get ready for the red metal roofing. Again rain got in the way, yesterday we had thunder and lighting so I installed the FRP's on ceiling.
 
*****TIP**** don't try to glue these panels to ceiling by yourself you will get mastic on everything. Had wife help me with other two today then strapped the roof for metal tomorrow. Tomorrow is a big day, After the roof is on it gets easier, less climbing. I'm to old and fat to climb the way I have been.
https://picasaweb.google.com/103200304792624046939/2008_05_05#
 

have you thought about putting water heater and various other things up in the attic ?  maybe vent it out a little smokehouse style chimney.....

have you thought about the hight of the trailer? thats looking like it might be a little top heavy?? maybe just the way the pic shows, looking good tho! I couldn't do wood working to save my life, in fact when in jr. high the shop teacher gave everyone a piece of pine rough board and the instructions were to hand plane all 4 sides smooth 12x6x1.......well when I finished the board look just like an airplane propeller!!in fact later in life I went to work for this mans son as a mechanic .. I spoke to him about it on day he said" that was you" ??! come to find out he kept that piece of wood many years to show how not to plane a board.. In high school I was failing wood shop miserably and was transfered to prevo drafting where I found my nich so to speak............. Sorry for the memory lane trip

BackAlleyBurger


have you thought about putting water heater and various other things up in the attic ?  maybe vent it out a little smokehouse style chimney.....

 
Never thought of that. On the back wall will be the hand wash sink then 3  25" wide sinks as per HD.  Under will be the 40 gallon fresh water tank (it's around 45" long) pump then water heater. It's tight but will fit. I'm going to put a movable maple  board over the 3 sinks for more counter space.

It looks like you put a new axial under your frame, or not?
Will your state force you to have fenders if not they may be a good idea since you'll throw water/road junk all over your building. But if your going to put them on people use them for a seat, foot rest or to climb on so make them strong.
 
On your sink cover figure out a spot to hang it when not in use or it'll get stuck here there and every where but always in your way. The water heater needs to be in a well (air) circulated area, they tend to freeze easly. And it's fun and creative to stick things in tight places when your building but later if it needs maintenance (and everything does) they are a pain in the ass to fix if it's below and just behind the what ever. And things never break, fall apart, or stop working until your three hours from home or doing a big crowd in less than an hour with little or no tools.
 
Your a very handy guy and that's a neat skill to have in the food business.
 
Make sure your electric, water, and drain hookups are all easy to get to so your not laying on frozen concrete, mud,  or in a puddle of water when you set up or after your done with a gig. 
 
Good job soon you'll be a fellow traveler, and your friends on the BBQ team will of course expect you to pull it to ALL the cookoffs so they have a neat clean professional kitchen to compete out of.
 
Good luck.
Jack
PS you'll soon find that the folks that eat at your stand in your local area will notice your gone for a day or two and ask where you went. When you tell them to a competition they'll ask if you won. If you didn't win it makes their small minds whirl and they begin to question if your Q is as good as they thought it was. This is so very true. I can't offer any advice on how to prevent this but everyone I know that vends BBQ and takes a trip to compete agrees that it happens. Maybe you just went fishing/drinking and only went to the competitions that you won or placed in the top 3 in???? LMAO

 

Dr of BBQ


It looks like you put a new axial under your frame, or not?
Will your state force you to have fenders if not they may be a good idea since you'll throw water/road junk all over your building. But if your going to put them on people use them for a seat, foot rest or to climb on so make them strong.

On your sink cover figure out a spot to hang it when not in use or it'll get stuck here there and every where but always in your way. The water heater needs to be in a well (air) circulated area, they tend to freeze easly. And it's fun and creative to stick things in tight places when your building but later if it needs maintenance (and everything does) they are a pain in the ass to fix if it's below and just behind the what ever. And things never break, fall apart, or stop working until your three hours from home or doing a big crowd in less than an hour with little or no tools.

Your a very handy guy and that's a neat skill to have in the food business.

Make sure your electric, water, and drain hookups are all easy to get to so your not laying on frozen concrete, mud,  or in a puddle of water when you set up or after your done with a gig. 

Good job soon you'll be a fellow traveler, and your friends on the BBQ team will of course expect you to pull it to ALL the cookoffs so they have a neat clean professional kitchen to compete out of.

Good luck.
Jack
PS you'll soon find that the folks that eat at your stand in your local area will notice your gone for a day or two and ask where you went. When you tell them to a competition they'll ask if you won. If you didn't win it makes their small minds whirl and they begin to question if your Q is as good as they thought it was. This is so very true. I can't offer any advice on how to prevent this but everyone I know that vends BBQ and takes a trip to compete agrees that it happens. Maybe you just went fishing/drinking and only went to the competitions that you won or placed in the top 3 in???? LMAO

I don't know how any one can do BBQ and stay sober. Jack, maybe thats why you are a good pit man...........It's good to have the Doctor back in the house..............

TY Chef.

Buck & Vi's


have you thought about the hight of the trailer? thats looking like it might be a little top heavy?? maybe just the way the pic shows, looking good tho! I couldn't do wood working to save my life, in fact when in jr. high the shop teacher gave everyone a piece of pine rough board and the instructions were to hand plane all 4 sides smooth 12x6x1.......well when I finished the board look just like an airplane propeller!!in fact later in life I went to work for this mans son as a mechanic .. I spoke to him about it on day he said" that was you" ??! come to find out he kept that piece of wood many years to show how not to plane a board.. In high school I was failing wood shop miserably and was transfered to prevo drafting where I found my nich so to speak............. Sorry for the memory lane trip

I tried to keep the trailer as low as possible. I wanted a drop axle but with the width of the trailer I couldn't use one. I'm 6'5" so I needed a little hight inside. I don't plan to go far with the trailer and will drive slow.
 
Dr of BBQ   I do have fenders, I'm waiting to put them on later when all the painting is done.

Nice job on the trailer....looking good.
 
Don't know if this would work with your set-up or not, but the cover for my 3 compartment sink is attached to "arms" on each end and hinged so that it will swing up against the wall. Works pretty well. You just have to remember to put it in the down position when traveling so that it doesn't fall down and smash hell out of your faucet. DAMHIK.
 

 
Good luck with your venture!................Best..........John
 

Had a busy week, got final approval from planing commission ans today I got the water running. Two small leaks, one a PEX clamp I didn't tighten and a small drip to the inlet to the hot water heater. Just had to tighten it.
 
https://picasaweb.google.com/103200304792624046939/2008_05_05#

Nice looking job! gotta be a labor of love

Not to put a damper on your great work, But weigh it after your done completly with your build and look at the tire rating   height x weight x width of the trailer. Trust me when i say that the first time a side wind catch's the side of that building at 35 mph that it will put it on it side or jack knife your vehicle in a flat sec. Also take a bathroom scale and take a toung weight and balance your weight evenly. If your to heavy you will peel the tread off the tires from heat generated. You'll like to have the toung weight at about 100 to 130 LBS just enough to not have it ride to where it's not lifting  weight off the rear axle of the tow vehicle. You may know all of this and I just don't want to see you harm yourself or your BBQ team sir. It's just the truck driver in me. And seen it with mobile homes being tow. Mike, The Barbeque Barn/ Not trying to bend your ear.

BB thanks for the concerns and advice. I think I have the weight figured out. The axle is rated at 3500#  and the tires at 1760# each. 95% of my build I bought at Lowe's and came in under 2K pounds so I think I'm OK. I won't be driving far with the longest at 5 miles round trip.
 
 I am concerned about the ground clearance, it is pretty low in front at the holding tank.
 
The toung wright will be heavy, I can still lift the front but it will be heavier with the gray water tank and refrigerator.
Thanks again I do appreciate the advice.

Yea speed bump and sloped driveways can take out or take off anything to low.  One way around this is get a 3" drop hitch and turn upside down and put the tow ball on the the bottom, slide it in the reciever and pin. May give you the extra height you need. This is what i did on my van towing my bbq behine it.

Hey, Thats a great idea.  My post count is getting there too. 

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/information/tongue-weight.htm
found this site will help with tongue weight.

I just thought of something that may give you concern is the small gap in between your sinks and that you don't have a drainboard even if you caulk your going to have water run all over the countertops and sepage under your cabnets. I thought of your trailer as I was washing my hotel pans and I have a small bar 3 sink with 2 12" drain broards on ea end. Its has a 15" back splash. Mike