Cheap And Easy Tub Rotisserie

As part of my Jeep build thread, I have been asked a few times both in posts and PMs as to how I did my rotisserie. I thought it worthy of its own thread to make it easy to find later. Basically it's all made from wood, cost me about $85 to build and took about 4 hours to build whilst it designing it on the fly. It's made from 2x6 and 2x8 lumber, screws and two 1" metal rods. Black iron pipe was my original choice for the 'axle', but it was the same diameter as the drill bit I used to bore the hole (1 1/16") so it didn't work out. I wanted to use black iron since a nipple and threaded two floor flanges for the upright and the crossbar would make a captive axle.

I took a bunch of photos and marked up the lumber with dimensions rather than make up a drawing. Y'all are handy folks so it should be good enough - I hope.

It has some limitations though. It really doesn't have a good 'locking' mechanism for any angle other than horizontal - using screw on legs which I'll show in the pics - or for vertical, a hefty screw to lock the cross pieces with the uprights. It's gotten me by the way it is but someone more ambitious may choose to invent a better way especially if you'll use it more than once or for the long haul.

To rotate the tub, it's probably best to have two guys on hand (or a spouse who'll help - if he or she is not too bent about how much time ya spend in the shop), one with a screw-gun on hand. I do it myself with screw-gun in one hand and tub in the other (I don't recommend that but mention it to say that it's possible.) Since the tub is heavier on the side with the toolbox (passenger side), it tends to want to naturally rotate in that direction. For either horizontal or vertical, I drive a long #14 (on the heavy side) screw thru the cross piece and the upright. For horizontal, then I install two legs. For vertical, drive the screw in low on the upright and the tub doesn't move around. For horizontal, the screw can only go in close the the 'axle' so it's only good to hold it long enough so that you can install the legs down to the base. With the legs installed, it's rigid as all heck.

But, it is dirt cheap to make, especially if you have the lumber around. Oh, did I mention it's cheap to build?

Basically, it consists of two uprights held together by a base. Two cross pieces bolt up to the tub. The rear cross piece is bolted to the tailgate latches. The front cross piece is bolted to the firewall fender mount (tapped holes).

Some words about safety for the liability lawyers who seem to permeate every aspect of our lives... hehe. Don't work underneath the tub without otherwise supporting the tub. My rotisserie is plenty solid and I wouldn't hesitate to go underneath, but your mileage may vary with the quality of your construction and lumber. Also, thoroughly understand how rotating it works and methods of securing the tub vertically or horizontally. Also, always make sure the cross piece is screwed to the upright after repositioning. This makes the tub part of the overall structure preventing the uprights from having any chance whatsoever of spreading outwards - not that they really can if your axle hole is a close fit to the rods.

Don't get hurt! Be smart, use your noodle.

Pictures are worth 1000 words, so here goes....

Notice the note about the grain direction... The doubled upright really should also be this way so it can't split longways. I figured two pieces doubled would have a low chance of having the same split point and a 1" shaft wouldn't be a good log splitter. But, if you're concerned, add a third layer - a square piece set with the grain crossways.

These bolts really need to be counterbored since they rub on the uprights. I just force mine past... The big flat fender washers ARE absolutely needed to spread out the clamping load.

Two legs between the cross piece and the base are used to lock it horizontally.

Have fun and be safe!
John

 

This is a great illustration of how to make a rotisserie out of standard lumber, and if the darn prices for wood products would ever go down, it would be an even cheaper deal than it already is. Thanks for sharing!

Do you think it would be valuable to do it in pressure treated, since that wood being so wet might limit the potential for a garage fire?

 

Thanks! I want to build a rotisserie for my next jeep project, this is perfect.

 

The two screws that are holding the wood piece at the tailgate. I do not know what type of screw you used, just make sure it is not a "drywall screw". These screws are brittle and will break.

 

Good point. They are "blue screws" not drywall screws. They're pretty beefy.

John

 

OK. So I'm done with the rotisserie and have broken it down. Anyone in the NY metro area want it? Free of course. It's up for grabs, else it'll get cut up and be in the woodstove...

John

 

I'm all done with the Rotisserie if anyone in the NY Metro area wants it, come and get it! Else, apart from the two sides (8 footers) it'll all end up as kindling... Space is at a premium here.

John

 

Wish you were closer, but ny to va is a bit too much of a haul. I'll just take a run 10 miles down the road to home depot

Hopefully someone can use it!