How to Make an Offset Trailer Smoker

Smoking gives meat a tender, juicy flavor.

Smoking meat has a long tradition in the United States, and many backyard hobbyists build their own smokers. You can make a smoker out of any metal container that can hold a fire and support a rack to hold the meat. Smokers cook the meat slowly, infusing it with a smoky flavor. Offset smokers are cylindrical in shape with a second chamber for burning the wood. Smoke flows from the fire chamber into the cooking chamber. Many hobbyists build their own offset smokers on small trailers to transport to competitions or events. Does this Spark an idea?

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2 drums, 55-gallon
Blow torch
4 hinges
2 metal handles
Drill
Screws
Diamond plate metal sheeting
Small two-wheeled trailer
2 coffee cans
Scrap metal fencing
Wire cutters
Bolts, washers and nuts
Wrench
Cinder blocks
Mortar
Welder
2 feet of chain

Instructions

- 1
  
  Cut a 55-gallon metal drum in half lengthwise using a blow torch. Add hinges and a handle by drilling holes and screwing two hinges on the rear of the drum and the handle on the front. Drill three holes horizontally near the center of the bottom of one drum half.
- 2
  
  Insert two 4-inch long bolts and secure in place with nuts. The smoker's racks will rest on these bolts once assembled. Repeat with three more bolts and nuts on the opposite end. Cut a layer of wire fencing to use as a rack. Cut a 1-by-2-foot rectangular hole in the side of a second 55-gallon drum with the blow torch. Set the 1-by-2 metal piece aside to make a door for the fire chamber.
- 3
  
  Prepare the trailer. Take an old trailer and cover any wood or flammable surface with metal diamond cut plating to prevent scorching or fires. Secure the plating with screws. Place the bottom fire chamber in the center of the trailer, front side facing the end of the trailer farthest from the hitch. Place cinder blocks around the fire chamber, leaving room for access to the fire chamber's opening. Add two hinges and a handle to the 1-by-2 metal piece and attach to the fire chamber. Secure the cinder blocks using mortar. Let dry.
- 4
  
  Cut two holes in the top center of the fire chamber the diameter of a large coffee can. Cut the bottoms of two coffee cans off using a blow torch. Place a coffee can in each hole and weld in place. Cut two matching holes on the bottom half of the cooking chamber. Lift the cooking chamber into place, lining up the coffee cans with the holes. Weld the cans in place inside the cooking chamber. Build an additional layer of cinder block around the cooking chamber to hold it in place.
- 5
  
  Drill a small hole in the bottom half of the cooking chamber two inches below where the chicken wire rests. Insert a small 2-foot chain and secure using a nut, washer and bolt. Repeat on the top half, using the chain to connect the two drum halves. This will prevent the top half from jerking open.