The Texas BBQ Forum

Which would be better in the long run? Trailer 1 or Trailer 2. I want to say trailer 1 because of space and storage, but trailer 2 because bigger is always better. If you guys had a choice which would you prefer? I am going to get a trailer this weekend or going to build one around my pit, I can't decide, please help. By the way, if I go with Pit 1 style it will have a canopy as well.

There are more knowledgeable members here that can offer first hand experience, however, I never liked a single axle rig, especially if the goods it was carrying were heavy. To me tandem is the better way Good Luck and keep us updated on your build

One of the top pits out there is Jambo. Single axle.

CC,

You have to decide what your needs are going to be. If you go with the walk on pit it will give you room to add sinks and prep counters and burners and such. If you go with the walk around pit then it looks like you will be somewhat limited on amenities that you would be able to add.

As an old truck driver, I always got a kick out of folks trying to back a single axle ANYTHING into a space. The little walk around rig will be a lot easier to store somewhere though.

Thanks for all the advise, I have decided to go with a walk on trailer. Now I have to decide 16' or 14'. I am leaning towards a 16'ter, I want to mount a refrigerator and don't want to be all cramped up while working.

Get at least a 16 footer, but 18 may be better. Would allow you to build it out pretty nice.

16' is as big as I can go due to storage issues.

Are you going to be storing it at your house? I am lucky to be able to keep mine here at the house with me. But I would sure hate to see you limit yourself then wish you would have went bigger. I have a walk around and it is 22.5 ft from the bulldog hitch to the end of the fire box. So I can only do cookoffs that offer at least a 30 x 30 spot. If you do a 16 footer you should be able to get into a 20 x 20 spot at a smaller cookoff.

outlaw wrote:As an old truck driver, I always got a kick out of folks trying to back a single axle ANYTHING into a space. The little walk around rig will be a lot easier to store somewhere though.

My kids still can't get how I reverse a trailer just using my mirrors,lmao. Without turning my head.

But back to the subject, I like them both.

Russ

Im going to keep in a lean to (i think thats how its spelt) at my shop. I was aslo keeping in mind about smaller events, this way i will be able to fit in spaces. I usually sleep in my truck so i will be able to keep both on site at events.

I have both a walk on which has a 13' 6" deck with tongue about 18' long and a walk around which is about 14' tongue to firebox. I love both but for competitions the walk around is hands down my go to because of the size and I am not heating up a lot of real estate for one brisket three racks of ribs and two chickens. Now in bad weather the walk on is hands down where I would rather be cooking. We use two 10' x 10' popups which we can manipulate to any spot we are in. we also sleep in our truck.
Big difference in size.


Big cooker set up.


Little cooker set up.

how big is your walk around? That was my first choice, but it seems to me like I would get rid of a lot of my frustrations with a walk on. By that I mean clutter, mess and also the elements. I feel like when we work on a table under the pop-up we make a never ending mess. Also I cant remember a cook off where we didn't get rained on or the wind pick up so bad we chased tents all night. Anyway I got to get after it, I want to be smoking in time for Shotgun Fred cook off in February.

As KAM said, there have been occasions where I wish mine was a walk on. Although my fold up sides are very accomodating, its the romping around in the mud at times I could do with out. I am limited on size with my set up to at least a 30 x 30 because I go with an RV as well. Good luck with your build.

CrushCity wrote:how big is your walk around? That was my first choice, but it seems to me like I would get rid of a lot of my frustrations with a walk on. By that I mean clutter, mess and also the elements. I feel like when we work on a table under the pop-up we make a never ending mess. Also I cant remember a cook off where we didn't get rained on or the wind pick up so bad we chased tents all night. Anyway I got to get after it, I want to be smoking in time for Shotgun Fred cook off in February.

My walk around is a 24" x 55" with a 22" firebox. I have a 20" x 36" grill on the passenger side with a 24" x 36" x 30" storage box in front of it. The front of the trailer is a storage deck that holds two rolling job boxes and canopies. If you buy canopies look at the commercial grade canopies at Sam's they are heavy and come with walls. To get everything I use at a competition on a walk on I would need a 20' x 8' trailer easy.