OK guys (and gals),
My pit is now "done". All the hard work has paid off and it is now sitting in the cook off area ready for me to fire some wood and cook! The specs on the pit are as follows:
cooking chamber is 38" round and 6'10" long 7/16" thick.
firebox is 24" round and 36' long 1/4" thick.
bottom pull out racks are 33" wide and 36 " long.
top pull out racks are 33" wide and 28" long
Cooking area approx. 30 sq ft.
air intake on the firebox is 8"
exhaust stack is 6" round 36" tall, 3/8" thick
opening into the chamber is 10" tall and 34" wide. I put an adjustable heat control baffle plate mounted on 3/4" rebar (its the handle you see sticking out of the firebox)
Used the 3/8" pipe for the legs on the pit.
Trailer is 12' x6'6" ft, tandem 3500lb axles.
Total weight of trailer with pit on it approx 3500-4000 lbs.
I fired it up and it kept pretty even temps. 10-15 degree difference from the two sides, so i can't complain. More pics to come later w/ q-view from the cook off. I have to cook 60lbs of chicken quarters, two racks of ribs, three briskets and a couple whole chickens for my part of the cook off!
Thanks everyone for the encouraging words about the pit, and if i can be of any help to anyone, please let me know.