Comp trailer build: Will mounting a 400lb offset on one side of a 6x12 cause terrible sway?

[Longsword]

Hey everyone,

After doing a few local backyard events, I'm finally looking to put together a dedicated competition trailer. I'm completely done trying to wrestle my heavy offset smoker up a set of sketchy ramps into the bed of my pickup truck at 4 AM.

I'm currently looking at buying a standard single-axle 6x12 enclosed cargo trailer to use as a mobile prep kitchen and smoker hauler.

My plan is to bolt the smoker (which weighs a little over 400 lbs) flush against the driver's side wall so I have room to walk around, set up a prep table, and store coolers on the other side.

For the guys who have built out smaller trailers:

1. Will putting 400+ lbs permanently on one side of a single-axle trailer make it tow terribly or cause dangerous sway on the highway?
2. Do I need to perfectly counterbalance it with my heavy coolers on the passenger side, or is the trailer suspension stiff enough that I won't even notice the lopsided weight?

Appreciate any advice from the veteran pitmasters here before I start drilling holes in a brand new floor!

 

[luvcatchingbass]

I can tell you that how you center weight left/right and forward/back will make a huge difference. I have learned this the hard way a few times. If it was me the smoker would be centered between the wheels the best I can and then I would move the axle forward and back while hooked up to the vehicle to see what kind of load it puts on the rig.
Im sure there are better builders that will be along soon

 

[Elf@shore]

I can tell you that how you center weight left/right and forward/back will make a huge difference. I have learned this the hard way a few times. If it was me the smoker would be centered between the wheels the best I can and then I would move the axle forward and back while hooked up to the vehicle to see what kind of load it puts on the rig.
Im sure there are better builders that will be along soon

Trailer Weight:
Need to balance weight over the axle
And move it back and forth to lighter the Hitch tongue weight.
Had to do it
FYI: I would be very concerned about the smoker being enclosed!?
Both for Intake and Exhaust ventilation.
There was a fatal accident on a boat,
Had an open canopy on all sides.
But unfortunately they all died.
I MO: I would get a ramp to bring the smoker out!?

Hey everyone,

After doing a few local backyard events, I'm finally looking to put together a dedicated competition trailer. I'm completely done trying to wrestle my heavy offset smoker up a set of sketchy ramps into the bed of my pickup truck at 4 AM.

I'm currently looking at buying a standard single-axle 6x12 enclosed cargo trailer to use as a mobile prep kitchen and smoker hauler.

My plan is to bolt the smoker (which weighs a little over 400 lbs) flush against the driver's side wall so I have room to walk around, set up a prep table, and store coolers on the other side.

For the guys who have built out smaller trailers:

1. Will putting 400+ lbs permanently on one side of a single-axle trailer make it tow terribly or cause dangerous sway on the highway?
2. Do I need to perfectly counterbalance it with my heavy coolers on the passenger side, or is the trailer suspension stiff enough that I won't even notice the lopsided weight?

Appreciate any advice from the veteran pitmasters here before I start drilling holes in a brand new floor!

 

[JckDanls 07]

Yea, I'd be concerned about being in an enclosed trailer as well... Not just the smoke but the heat as well... Especially if your going to put the smoker right up against the wall...
If you insist on an enclosed trailer... Put some good terrain tires (golf cart tires maybe)... on the smoker then get a trailer with a ramp door and grab somebody to lend a hand and roll it out of the trailer...

 

[luvcatchingbass]

Yea, I'd be concerned about being in an enclosed trailer as well... Not just the smoke but the heat as well... Especially if your going to put the smoker right up against the wall...
If you insist on an enclosed trailer... Put some good terrain tires (golf cart tires maybe)... on the smoker then get a trailer with a ramp door and grab somebody to lend a hand and roll it out of the trailer...

Could always mount a winch to the front of a trailer to help load and ease it down a ramp. I am thinking more of an open trailer for that but I suppose a guy could rig something on an enclosed. Doesn't take much especially if you make a doubling pully.
One of the build ideas I have I wanted to build directly on it's own trailer but now I found a different tank that is probably makes more sense for what I "actually do currently" and it will get legs and some kind of terrain tires

 

[chopsaw]

I can tell you that how you center weight left/right and forward/back will make a huge difference. I have learned this the hard way a few times.

Had a buddy that bought a 12 ' trailor with a manual dump bed . He wanted me to drag it to the farm one weekend and I said no . The axle was so far forward it looked like a problem . I drove myself , and he took the trailoer . Loaded it up with firewood . Got back on the highway to come home ,, got up to speed , and the first dip in the road , that trailor rocked , and took the back tires off the ground . When they touched back down he shot across all 4 lanes , 5 if you count the shoulder . Up and back down , and shot back all 4 the other way . Did that 4 or 5 times before he got it stopped .
Can't believe no wrecks , no one got hurt .

 

[Smoke-Chem BBQ]

I'll echo the concerns about ventilation and heat. I doubt open windows (if any) and doors will be enough to mitigate the heat buildup in a trailer. The pit might be set for a hot-and-fast cook, while the pitmaster is cooking low-and-slow.

Carbon monoxide is the bigger concern. All smokers leak to some extent, and you'd have the firebox open a fair bit--a very bad idea in an enclosed space. I don't ever recall seeing a BBQ trailer with the smoker inside. A common design puts the offset sideways, across the back of the trailer on an open 'porch'. The smoker is covered, but it's it's wide open on three sides. The enclosed part of the trailer is used for storage, food prep, boxing the entries, etc. I've often seen additional smokers, usually WSMs or drums, stored on the 'porch' for transport, then offloaded and set up on the ground adjacent to the trailer while in use.

 

[luvcatchingbass]

Had a buddy that bought a 12 ' trailor with a manual dump bed . He wanted me to drag it to the farm one weekend and I said no . The axle was so far forward it looked like a problem . I drove myself , and he took the trailoer . Loaded it up with firewood . Got back on the highway to come home ,, got up to speed , and the first dip in the road , that trailor rocked , and took the back tires off the ground . When they touched back down he shot across all 4 lanes , 5 if you count the shoulder . Up and back down , and shot back all 4 the other way . Did that 4 or 5 times before he got it stopped .
Can't believe no wrecks , no one got hurt .

Yup even weight distribution is over looked all too often, I've been lucky on a few occasions from "thinking" I was good

 

[Florida Chris]

As others said, probably not a good idea. If you're set on it either have the smoker on wheels so you can center it with good tie downs when traveling or maybe fashion up something with locking slides to move it from the center to the side.

Add in openings with an overkill of powered ventilation while cooking. You could probably power with something like a portable power station with solar on the roof for recharging.

 

[Winterrider]

It's probably going to depend on what axles are under the enclosed trailer. 3500, 5000,7000. If its a lighter duty enclosed, may have some issues. I doubt if 5-7k axles you'd have any sway issues with 400# mounted permanently