A large rotisserie pit BBQ for a large gathering! Learn how to build this DIY project in your backyard for some delicious turkey and other BBQ favorites!
Don’t be fooled by the word ‘large’! This DIY rotisserie pit BBQ is a dry-fit project which makes it easy to build. Yes, that means no mortar. :)
And with that said, it is also a low-maintenance outdoor cooker. You can easily replace broken blocks if needed. You can also relocate the BBQ pit anytime and anywhere you want!
Plans are provided by the owner-builder below, and you can use it as a reference for building one in your yard. The design is simple, so you shouldn’t have any trouble with scaling it to fit your space!
Is this going to be your next outdoor project? :)
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Building a Rotisserie Pit BBQ
Materials
FOR THE BBQ BODY:
- 25 pieces – 8″ x 8″ x 16″ Standard Blocks
- 15 pieces – 8″ x 8″ x 16″ Cap Blocks (or standard)
- 4 pieces – 8″ x 8″ x 8″ Half Blocks
- 22 pieces – 12″ x 12″ Patio Stones (optional)
- 4 to 8 pieces – Wood/Metal Stakes
- Flagging Tape or String
FOR THE PIT:
- 16′ x 12″ Wide Expanded Steel (optional)
- 6 to 8 pieces – 24″ Rebar (optional)
- 2 to 3 Cubic feet – Sand or Gravel
- 2 pieces – 4′ x1.5″ Metal Pipe
FOR THE TOP / LID:
- Food-grade steel drum
- 20′ x 1.5″ angle iron (bed frames are great)
- Wooden hockey stick
- 4 pieces – 5″ x 5/16″ Bolts (with nuts & washers)
- 2 pieces – 2′ x 1/2″ Threaded Rod (with nuts & washers)
- 7′ x 12″ (1/8″ thick) Steel Plate
- High-heat Flat-black BBQ Spray Paint
FOR THE GRILL (optional):
- Expanded Steel 30″ x 48″
- 2 pieces – 1″ x 64″ Steel Pipe
Tools
- Shovel
- Gloves
- Hammers
- Long Level
- Short Level
- Safety Glasses
- Measuring Tape
- Old Chisel or Axe
- Permanent Marker
- Carpenters Square
- Hand-held Grinder
- Metal Cutting Discs
- Masonry Cutting Discs (optional)
- Wheelbarrow (optional)
- Friendly Welder Person
Instructions
Using standard concrete blocks – aka “Cinder Blocks” – the rotisserie pit BBQ design is easily scale-able. Make it any size you want. The blocks are found at most hardware stores (Home Depot, Lowes, etc.) but I was able to save money by buying “seconds” from a wholesale distributor at $2.00 apiece here in Ontario, Canada.
The standard block is usually sold as 8″ x by 8″ by 16″. This is not quite true. The specs refer to a block in a completed wall WITH mortar. The block itself is actually closer to 7.5″ x 7.5″ x 15.5″. I also chose blocks with squared/finished ends for the corners. I was happily surprised to find “cap” blocks for the top surfaces.
Here are my rudimentary rotisserie pit BBQ blueprints:
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