Hybrid Bullseye Base Camp + Competition Cart (aka Bullseye "Base Comp")

Mannydog

Well-known member
Messages
271
Location
Alexandria, VA
Grill(s) owned
  1. Stampede
  2. Bullseye
I love my RT-380 Bullseye. However, since I need to move it out of the shed and across bumpy patio pavers, I wanted something a bit sturdier. After drawing inspiration from so many creative geniuses on this forum, I decided to try my hand at a competition cart for the Bullseye. While I'm semi-handy, welding and similar skills are outside my experience, so I knew I had to use something needing minimal structural modification.

I read the post from @kpjeep3 about using a Harbor Freight tool cart, cutting about 10" from the legs and adding the Base Camp stand to the cart. The dimensions of that tool cart and the Base Camp are both 16" deep (i.e. front to back). That's where my inspiration kicked in when I realized the RT-590 competition cart is also 16" deep at the top (i.e. where it typically holds the base of the 590). I took a chance and bought the Base Camp (shout out to a fantastic product! https://ba-s-bullseye-accessories.myshopify.com/ ) which as you can see from the pix, fits into the 590 comp cart perfectly. Obviously if you can get a comp cart during one of RT's half-off sales, that's ideal.

I figured the small black metal screws that hold the internal cart frame (angle iron) would probably need reinforcement in order to support the 380 and Base Camp, so I drilled out about half of the provided holes for those and added 1/4"-20 x 1" machine screws around the perimeter to help bear the weight, since I wouldn't be using additional 1/2" screws for support like the 590 does.

Side "shelf": Since the comp cart is 28" wide at the top and the Base Camp is only 21", I knew there would be some extra open space. I kept looking for an add-on shelf or something I could build (still might), but by complete accident realized an aluminum pizza peel (minus the handle) I wasn't using from the OnlyFire rotisserie/pizza ring kit fit almost perfectly across the internal cart frame and provided a makeshift "shelf" for grill tools, etc. Crude but useful.

Bottom shelf: Borrowing ideas from @orionkhan, @Uncle Bob and others, I cut notches into the standard cart shelf leftover from my RT-590 and used it for the bottom of the comp cart. It'll be perfect for storing my Grill Grates when not in use.

New height: The outside lip of the grill is now 38 1/4", putting the cooking surface level between about 36"-37", which is close to standard kitchen stove height. The original cooking surface height of the Bullseye was just under 30". I might have been able to do like @orionkhan did and install the Base Camp on top of the outside cart edges, but then the grill surface would have been too tall for me. It also feels much more stable nestled into the cart.

A couple of the pix show the Only Fire Pizza + Rotisserie Ring kit (occasionally on sale for about $100 https://www.amazon.com/onlyfire-Multi-Purpose-Stainless-Rotisserie-Grills/dp/B07XHFLXB6/ ) with the Bullseye lid removed.

STILL TO DO:
As psyched as I am to get this far, there's still more to work on.
  • I'll probably add screws to directly secure the Base Camp to the cart. Right now it sits snugly in the cart and doesn't move much, but I'd feel more comfortable with something producing that high heat being absolutely stable.
  • I need to paint several things like the plunge cuts in the bottom shelf, drilled holes, screws, "side shelf" (i.e. aluminum peel), etc. with high-heat black spray paint once it gets a bit warmer around here.
  • I'm still thinking of adding a front shelf, and hopefully some sort of additional handle to the cart itself, probably on the right end (many lawnmower handles just happen to be around 16" wide, so maybe something like that would work. Feel free to make other suggestions!)
Well, that about does it for now. I'm glad to be able to contribute to this awesome forum, and hope this continues the tradition of inspiring others to make creative modifications to already great RecTeq products!
 

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Looks great! So glad to join the recteqforum and run across this post. I bought a base camp the other week and I’ve been searching for a cart. After seeing this, I knew I had to buy the 590 comp cart. Thanks for the inspiration! This forum is awesome and hopefully I can contribute great ideas like you and other members.
 
Looks great! So glad to join the recteqforum and run across this post. I bought a base camp the other week and I’ve been searching for a cart. After seeing this, I knew I had to buy the 590 comp cart. Thanks for the inspiration! This forum is awesome and hopefully I can contribute great ideas like you and other members.

Hope it works well for you, too! Feel free to share pictures when you get done, as well as any other ideas you have to make it even better.

p.s. Welcome to the Forum!
 
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Thank you, I’ll definitely post some pictures of the final product. Cut some expandable metal at work for the bottom shelf so I’m painting that tonight. Still trying to decide on what I want to do with the top. I’ll keep you updated on the progress and post any ideas I come up with. Thanks again for this post - thrilled about this project!
 
Getting closer to completing my bullseye comp cart after some inspiration from Mannydog. I ended up cutting some expandable metal for the top/bottom of the 590 cart and reinforced it with several pieces of 3” flat bar steel. I used stainless 3/4” #8 self drilling screws, #8 locking washers, and 1” washers to secure the flat bar to the expandable metal. After installation, I coated the flat bar/screws with high heat spray paint (flat black). Just wanted to post some pictures to show the progress. Still trying to decide if I want to install a folding front shelf or build a side shelf/table to fill the open space (maybe both). Due to the measurements on the cart, I’ve found it quite difficult to find the right size shelves. Please post any ideas or suggestions.
 

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Very nicely done! Man that looks great. Thanks for posting pics, too. I like the idea of the flat reinforcement bars in addition to the expanded metal all the way across on both levels.

Probably my biggest concern with the whole idea of combining the RT380 + Base Camp + RT590 Comp Cart was that the entire 380/Base Camp was supported only by those stock small black metal screws holding up the internal cart frame (angle iron). That's why I added some 1/4"-20 x 1" machine screws around the perimeter to help bear the weight. Just something you might consider, too, especially with the extra weight from the reinforcement bars. Granted it may never become an issue for either of us, but wouldn't want a couple small screws to give out or rust through and then the frame+grill crashes down.
 

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