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Smokers, Grills, Pitts & More => Diamond Plate Smokers/Grills => Topic started by: TOPS BBQ on February 06, 2008, 05:35:49 pm

Title: FAT 50 mods
Post by: TOPS BBQ on February 06, 2008, 05:35:49 pm
I had some mods made to my FAT 50 and thought I would share them with you.  I found it difficult to fit certain items into the under belly cage and didn't find myself utilizing its full potential, so I had my friend cut the front cage out and put it on hinges with slide bolt locks at each end.  I had the taillights replaced and moved to the sides of the cage.  Some hooks were added underneath the front table to hang towels, tongs...etc.  I also replaced the tongue drop plate with a steel wheel, making it much easier to move around. :)  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a pic.  I get one soon.

Here are the hooks.  You'll also see the cage dropped below:
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s39/topsbbq/FAT%2050%20Ultra%20mods/Hooks.jpg)

Here is a relocated light and slide bolt lock:
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s39/topsbbq/FAT%2050%20Ultra%20mods/LightHinge.jpg)

I thought I would add a little food pron of a fatty 8):
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s39/topsbbq/FAT%2050%20Ultra%20mods/Fatty.jpg)
Title: Re: FAT 50 mods
Post by: force on February 06, 2008, 07:38:21 pm
That was slick......... like the idea.......
Title: Re: FAT 50 mods
Post by: Mike (AZBarbeque) on February 06, 2008, 08:02:04 pm
Looks great, I like the mods.  Has anyone else done any mods on their diamond plates??
Title: Re: FAT 50 mods
Post by: TOPS BBQ on February 06, 2008, 08:16:54 pm
Here's the steel wheel:
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s39/topsbbq/FAT%2050%20Ultra%20mods/SteelWheel2.jpg)

Another pic:

(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s39/topsbbq/FAT%2050%20Ultra%20mods/SteelWheel1.jpg)
Title: Re: FAT 50 mods
Post by: Mike (AZBarbeque) on February 06, 2008, 10:18:09 pm
That's normally what I have put on mine when I order them, but I have found that they do not hold up very well due to the weight.  It's not the wheel, it's the pipe between the rig and the wheel that typically gives out.
Title: Re: FAT 50 mods
Post by: The Gym 14 on March 09, 2008, 04:43:39 am
We are getting ready to add advertisement to ourFat 50 for The Gym Grill and Bar in a couple days, I can't wait to see it. Will post pics when it is finnished. We are new to competitions and actually got into our 1st comp. 10 days after purchasing  so what we brought to the 1st annual ass kickin, Avondale,was very generic. Thanks to Frank and The Gym we can now do advertisements on our smoker and whole setup. Have recieved sample pics of what everything is supposed to look like when completed and we are very excited.
Title: Re: FAT 50 mods
Post by: Mike (AZBarbeque) on March 09, 2008, 07:39:40 am
I'm looking forward to seeing what your new mods look like.  Post up the pictures when you get it back...  ;)

I knew you would all be hooked after your first competition..
Title: Re: FAT 50 mods
Post by: barbedQ on March 10, 2008, 05:43:27 pm
Mike, get a bulldog trailer jack put on your smokers.  You can get them all the way up to 10,000 lb friendly before it changes from a wheel to a plate.
Title: Re: FAT 50 mods
Post by: The Gym 14 on March 22, 2008, 12:01:35 pm
Our Fat 50 almost completed.
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/thegym14/BBQSmoker001.jpg)

(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/thegym14/BBQSmoker002.jpg)

(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/thegym14/BBQSmoker003.jpg)
Title: Re: FAT 50 mods
Post by: Mike (AZBarbeque) on March 22, 2008, 12:17:30 pm
WOW guys, that looks very impressive.  Nash does great work...
Title: Re: FAT 50 mods
Post by: VisionQuest220 on March 22, 2008, 04:59:35 pm
You'll be the toast of the next weenie roast!
Title: Re: FAT 50 mods
Post by: TOPS BBQ on March 22, 2008, 09:35:19 pm
That's looking really great Ken!  Damn you!  Now I'm going to have to do something like that.  Goodbye savings account. :'(
Title: Re: FAT 50 mods
Post by: TOPS BBQ on April 06, 2008, 10:09:28 pm
That's normally what I have put on mine when I order them, but I have found that they do not hold up very well due to the weight.  It's not the wheel, it's the pipe between the rig and the wheel that typically gives out.

Well if your words didn't just jump out and bite me in the arse!  I found myself delivering my unit to my friend to reinforce that pipe after I bent it today. :o  I'll post what changes I make to it, when the mods are made.
Title: Re: FAT 50 mods
Post by: TOPS BBQ on April 13, 2008, 08:53:45 pm
DONE!  And I don't believe the jack is going to ever bend again. >:D  Check it out:

(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s39/topsbbq/FAT%2050%20Ultra%20mods/ReinforcedJack.jpg)

(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s39/topsbbq/FAT%2050%20Ultra%20mods/ReinforcedJack2.jpg)
Title: Re: FAT 50 mods
Post by: Mike (AZBarbeque) on April 13, 2008, 09:41:03 pm
WOW, now that is Heavy Duty.  What exactly did you do and what did you get so we all can do that mod if wanted?
Title: Re: FAT 50 mods
Post by: TOPS BBQ on April 14, 2008, 10:20:47 am
Well, I haven’t the slightest idea on what was done.  All I do know is that my friend put a lot of reinforcement along the tongue end.  Looks like an angle iron along the tongue and then another crosswise.  He removed the swivel plate from the jack and slid the remaining part of the jack along the backside of the angle iron (It was raised, because it doesn’t swivel any longer).  He then cut six separate pieces of steel and welded them to the angle iron and jack.

That’s my best explanation, but probably inaccurate. ???  When I talk to him next, I’ll get more info and share it with you.  I was just happy that it works and still looks good.
Title: Re: FAT 50 mods
Post by: TOPS BBQ on February 23, 2009, 08:27:55 pm
I just had a few more mods done to my FAT 50!

I found the top storage basket was a little cumbersome to fit storage items inside "squarely", so I had it squared off. Also, being that I am short, I had a drop gate added to the top storage basket. It's a lot easier to load and unload items out of the top basket grate now. Last, I changed the serving table from expanded medal to a solid steel table. This keeps the sauce and other drippings off my feet.

Here are the pics:
Basket with the gate open
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s39/topsbbq/FAT%2050%20Ultra%20mods/TopBasketopen.jpg)

Inside basket (A lot more roomie)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s39/topsbbq/FAT%2050%20Ultra%20mods/TopBasketInside.jpg)

Basket with gate closed (Latches with locks on both ends)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s39/topsbbq/FAT%2050%20Ultra%20mods/TopBasketClosed.jpg)

Front steel serving table
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s39/topsbbq/FAT%2050%20Ultra%20mods/ServingTable.jpg)
Title: Re: FAT 50 mods
Post by: Mike (AZBarbeque) on February 24, 2009, 11:59:24 pm
Robert, I love the mods.  It's all about learning your unit and what works for you.

I always put foil on my Serving Shelf so I can change it out as needed, but the solid expanded metal is a great idea.

Keep them coming, I love to see what you keep adding.  It inspires me with mine..  ;)