Making One Of My Gas Grills A Tailgater

Spurshot · January 8, 2010

I'm taking my older gas grill and converting it to a hitch mount for a tailgater for my truck. I'm going to do a swingout mount with a propane bottle hanger that allows me disconnect it to transport the propane bottle inside the bed. I have enough outings to want a grill on the truck. Any of you have a hitch mounted grill and find it fun and useful?

I've got the gas grill tailgater conversion figured out, but I'm looking to replace it with a good slow smoker.

I'm considering either a traditional Texas sidehung firebox horizontal barrel wood burning type or one of those digitally temperature controlled wood pellet burners from Traeger. I'm pretty sure what to expect from a traditional wood burning Texas smoker, but I'm not sure about the wood pellet burner smoker. But not having to tend a smoker every 1/2 hr during an overnight smoke would be great. Anyone use a pellet smoker?

grayghost7 · January 8, 2010

I'm taking my older gas grill and converting it to a hitch mount for a tailgater for my truck. I'm going to do a swingout mount with a propane bottle hanger that allows me disconnect it to transport the propane bottle inside the bed. I have enough outings to want a grill on the truck. Any of you have a hitch mounted grill and find it fun and useful?

I've got the gas grill tailgater conversion figured out, but I'm looking to replace it with a good slow smoker.

I'm considering either a traditional Texas sidehung firebox horizontal barrel wood burning type or one of those digitally temperature controlled wood pellet burners from Traeger. I'm pretty sure what to expect from a traditional wood burning Texas smoker, but I'm not sure about the wood pellet burner smoker. But not having to tend a smoker every 1/2 hr during an overnight smoke would be great. Anyone use a pellet smoker?

I don't have one yet but I am very interested to see how yours turns out. I am a smokin' fool when it comes to BBQ'ing outside. I have two smokers on the back deck and a third at a friend's house I can bring in as a back up. I'll watch this thread for your pics!

PS....I'd go with the traditional wood design....love the smell of Hickory!!

99silveradoz71 · January 8, 2010

Y'all are killing me talking about some 'cue after I just got in from doing family's driveways after working a 12hr shift last night. Hmm, may be on the menu later.

Spurshot · January 8, 2010

Bill,

It's BBQ season all year long here. The only weather that puts a damper on it is rain, and we don't get much. I'm going to have a patio cover installed pretty soon and even rain won't matter. It's been in the 70's lately. The weather here is great, the population density, traffic, crime...not so much.

Yeah some good Q, maybe some babybacks, would be good right now. Hard to find good Q in the city. I stopped by a place a couple days ago that the newspaper raved about in an article. It was crap. The best Q around here comes from the really bad areas of the city. I usta go to Compton for some, but quit going because I was risking my life to get BBQ.

Kelley,

What kinds of smokers do you have?

I was pretty much not interested in the pellet smokers until I read more about them. The pellets are pure wood chips/sawdust compressed to the pellet form. No binders. The controlled pellet smokers have thermostats that keep the smoker at a temp very closely. The large pellet hoppers will supply fuel for 12 hrs or more without tending. They are very efficient and don't use a lot of fuel. Besides, Terry Bradshaw is their spokesman (Traeger) and he's funny as hell. http://www.traegerindustries.com/

I'm thinking the old gas grill will be great for some of the day quail hunts I do up at a friend's place. Better'n eatin a cold sandwich...

grayghost7 · January 8, 2010

Bill,
It's BBQ season all year long here. The only weather that puts a damper on it is rain, and we don't get much. I'm going to have a patio cover installed pretty soon and even rain won't matter. It's been in the 70's lately. The weather here is great, the population density, traffic, crime...not so much.

Yeah some good Q, maybe some babybacks, would be good right now. Hard to find good Q in the city. I stopped by a place a couple days ago that the newspaper raved about in an article. It was crap. The best Q around here comes from the really bad areas of the city. I usta go to Compton for some, but quit going because I was risking my life to get BBQ.

Kelley,

What kinds of smokers do you have?

I was pretty much not interested in the pellet smokers until I read more about them. The pellets are pure wood chips/sawdust compressed to the pellet form. No binders. The controlled pellet smokers have thermostats that keep the smoker at a temp very closely. The large pellet hoppers will supply fuel for 12 hrs or more without tending. They are very efficient and don't use a lot of fuel. Besides, Terry Bradshaw is their spokesman (Traeger) and he's funny as hell. http://www.traegerindustries.com/

I'm thinking the old gas grill will be great for some of the day quail hunts I do up at a friend's place. Better'n eatin a cold sandwich...

I have a Southwest Smokers vertical chamber and a homemade unit my buddy made back in 2004. His design outflows every other one I have ever seen, but that said I love the tower for a big dinner. We're a big fan of some traditional BBQ like Turkey, Hot Links, Ribs for the wife and such, but I like the more interesting stuff I come up with like Smoked Lobster Tails, Smoked Pork Tenderloin, Smoked Swordfish Steaks, etc.

Yeah I am a die hard....it's 20* for the high today and I'll be BBQ'ing in a few hours. Going to smoke some Venison if my buddy makes it over.

We sometimes smoke baked potatoes, the veggies that go into our salsa [i make our my own]....I even did Dover Sole one night [probably the most delicate fish filets you can cook]. Oh yeah and smoked breakfast sausage....damn you got me started and now I am hungry again.

I also converted an old toolbox into a BBQ box to hold all my Hickory and chips!

amtz.zero · January 9, 2010

Bill,
It's BBQ season all year long here. The only weather that puts a damper on it is rain, and we don't get much. I'm going to have a patio cover installed pretty soon and even rain won't matter. It's been in the 70's lately. The weather here is great, the population density, traffic, crime...not so much.

Yeah some good Q, maybe some babybacks, would be good right now. Hard to find good Q in the city. I stopped by a place a couple days ago that the newspaper raved about in an article. It was crap. The best Q around here comes from the really bad areas of the city. I usta go to Compton for some, but quit going because I was risking my life to get BBQ.

Kelley,

What kinds of smokers do you have?

I was pretty much not interested in the pellet smokers until I read more about them. The pellets are pure wood chips/sawdust compressed to the pellet form. No binders. The controlled pellet smokers have thermostats that keep the smoker at a temp very closely. The large pellet hoppers will supply fuel for 12 hrs or more without tending. They are very efficient and don't use a lot of fuel. Besides, Terry Bradshaw is their spokesman (Traeger) and he's funny as hell. http://www.traegerindustries.com/

I'm thinking the old gas grill will be great for some of the day quail hunts I do up at a friend's place. Better'n eatin a cold sandwich...

Where in SoCal do you live? There's a lot of traffic, population density, crime...

00_Extended · January 9, 2010

Go with the side hung box. tempature control is very easy. I have these from chargriller.

The outlaw;

http://www.chargriller.com/store/product_i...9747228d3b9b920

With the portable hung on the side the firebox:

http://www.chargriller.com/store/product_i...ba3bb50ac3b7b2a

What very cool about these are the grates are cast iron. The side box can be used as grill since it has grates (cast iron also) and the side box also slides out for easy clean up of ash or coals. I bought mine from walmart online and it was $200.00 shipped!!

I have a number of smokers and the barrel side box untits are very easy to control heat. I belive the meat stays moister and has tendancy to be more tender in these also. I have meet up the Nealys once in memphis and indirect is the chosen method because moisture is picked up as the smoke travels from the box to the smoke chamber.

The above grill could be used a tailgate model but I think you need something more heavy duty but the parts you might be able to like grates or even the side box might help in your contstruction. The pull out on the side box is very cool for clean up.

About wood, the real wood is the way to go, the pellets create a very dry smoke, it's akin to smoking with electric or gas and trying use water to make up for it. Slow and easy is what BBQ is all about.

grayghost7 · January 9, 2010

Go with the side hung box. tempature control is very easy. I have these from chargriller.

The outlaw;

http://www.chargriller.com/store/product_i...9747228d3b9b920

With the portable hung on the side the firebox:

http://www.chargriller.com/store/product_i...ba3bb50ac3b7b2a

What very cool about these are the grates are cast iron. The side box can be used as grill since it has grates (cast iron also) and the side box also slides out for easy clean up of ash or coals. I bought mine from walmart online and it was $200.00 shipped!!

I have a number of smokers and the barrel side box untits are very easy to control heat. I belive the meat stays moister and has tendancy to be more tender in these also. I have meet up the Nealys once in memphis and indirect is the chosen method because moisture is picked up as the smoke travels from the box to the smoke chamber.

The above grill could be used a tailgate model but I think you need something more heavy duty but the parts you might be able to like grates or even the side box might help in your contstruction. The pull out on the side box is very cool for clean up.

About wood, the real wood is the way to go, the pellets create a very dry smoke, it's akin to smoking with electric or gas and trying use water to make up for it. Slow and easy is what BBQ is all about.

The Brinkmann I have at my buddy's house cost about $150 from Wally World. Only problem with these smokers is the pipe location. The flue needs to draw from the bottom of the sausage style smokers to be really effective. I found that the one I had had a much colder spot on the grill on the right side away from the fire. Neither one of the others have that problem.

The one you have addresses that problem with a bigger smoker chamber and is works fairly well. Got another friend who has one and it works well.

Spurshot · January 10, 2010

Kelley,

I found a forum for the pellet Traeger smokers. There's a problem forum and I read all I could stand. Like I suspected, way too many problems with the electric parts. There was some sad, sad, stories about holiday dinner's gone wrong. Overnight smokes that died or some other malfunction that resulted in some hideous looking gray smoked meat that apparently was inedible.

BBQs shouldn't have parts that can't be fixed with bailing wire and aluminum foil in the middle of a smoke.

I'm getting a traditional Texas smoker with side hung firebox and a horizontal smoke barrel. I'd like to have one of those verticle boxes, but don't really do enough to warrant it. Maybe if I get to a BBQ Zen Master level like you, I can add a verticle box at my friend's fab shop..

grayghost7 · January 10, 2010

Kelley,
I found a forum for the pellet Traeger smokers. There's a problem forum and I read all I could stand. Like I suspected, way too many problems with the electric parts. There was some sad, sad, stories about holiday dinner's gone wrong. Overnight smokes that died or some other malfunction that resulted in some hideous looking gray smoked meat that apparently was inedible.

BBQs shouldn't have parts that can't be fixed with bailing wire and aluminum foil in the middle of a smoke.

I'm getting a traditional Texas smoker with side hung firebox and a horizontal smoke barrel. I'd like to have one of those vertical boxes, but don't really do enough to warrant it. Maybe if I get to a BBQ Zen Master level like you, I can add a vertical box at my friend's fab shop..

I wondered about that. Not much substitute around for cookin' on real wood. I tried a gas smoker once and the results were dismal. We were in Canton Texas at the giant flea market 'selling' [actually NOT selling anything] and where we were did not allow open flame cooking. I sold it the next day after only one use.

You'll do fine with that configuration, just remember about the pipe flue design if you have a choice. My buddy is going to modify the Brinkmann I am letting him use.

I don't know about Zen, but I do know we enjoy our cooking. I spent time as a "self taught/able to memorize real chef's dishes easily" chef back during my restaurant biz years. Also worked for a guy who specialized in smoking meats from steak to exotics...learned a ton from him.