Size of propane heat source with chip tray placement

[xotlia]

Hello there,

First is I am building a smoker that is an old 250gallon fuel tank. It measures 60" x36" (width-diameter) I am splitting the tank in the center and making 2 sides the same for cooking. So question is what suggestions for a propane heat source to heat the ambient air to max of 250 degrees? I am plating the bottom so the heat plate will be 30"x30". Do I need double burn tubes or would a 10" cast round burner be enough which is a 70k btu rating.

Other is I have always used wood fired offset and not chips but with propane I need to learn soaking chips. What do I need to ignite, smoke chips? Can these start sitting on heat plate above burner or do I need to get them real close to the burner?

New build and sort of at a stand still... I have all the materials needed to build the new smoker, I just see I could spend big $$$ playing with the heat source when I'm not sure where to start and don't want to start cutting to have to patch all the holes when not necessary with a little more research.

THANKS ALL!!
Can't wait to flood my mind with alot more info

 

[gary s]

  Good afternoon and welcome to the forum, from another hot, hot, hot day in East Texas and the best site on the web. Lots of great people with tons of information on just about  everything.

Gary

 

[xotlia]

Thank you for the welcome Gary. I am excited to hear feedback on the build.