So We Begin!
Starting a large boiler/grilling trailer is always a challenging task because the first 2 weeks of the project consist of an all-out shopping spree for materials for the trailer. Because it is such a large-scale cooking trailer, the materials for the project are also extremely massive. The first thing that you buy is your actual trailer. R&R Rigs starts out with just a heavy-duty, 20′ trailer with up to 6500 pound axles, which is very important because this trailer is going to be sporting a heavy load of metal on top, and that trailer needs to support that weight. We picked up our trailer on Wednesday after July 4th, and hauled it out to the shop.
The first action taken on the custom cooking trailer is cutting and welding the steel frame that will support the roof and the I-Beams. Custom steel trusses for the roof are meticulously designed and leveled to ensure that the placement of the roof will be perfectly balanced for the trailer in transit. R&R Rigs uses only the strongest, most durable steel material for both the framework and the I-Beams. The I-Beams themselves are capable of holding up to 1 ton of weight. The I-Beams are attached to the custom metal roof trusses, giving the trailer even more durability. The roof of the trailer is built high enough so that the heat from the boiling pots, the grill, and the smoker will rise enough to keep the cooks relatively cool (depending on the weather at the Gulf of Mexico, of course) and also protect anyone who works boiling or grilling food on the trailer fairly dry from the elements.
After the framework, roof, and I-beams are installed, then the entire trailer is painted with a heat resistant paint. The heat resistant paint is designed to withstand temperatures of up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The top of the roof is not painted, but the underside of the roof is painted to help handle the heat and to make it so that the roof will not rust underneath.
Because every trailer has a different configuration of styles – this 20′ trailer has a roll bar that goes around the entire trailer bed – exact measurements must be made and then checked multiple times in order to place the aluminum and aluminum diamond plate order. The placement of the boiling pots, the grills, & smoker will be worked in around the two entryways at the front and rear of the trailer, so it is very important for balance and load that these units are placed strategically, also considering the tongue weight of the trailer.
Building a custom cooking trailer is all about precise measurements, accurate cuts, and clean welding as all of the metal pieces are fitted together. R&R Rigs excels at making sure that the finished product is a cohesive piece of machinery that will last for many years. Keep checking back to view our progress as we finish up Week 1.
