That's a tank you have there @Stuarty84 🤣 that's the sort of thickness you need in a smoker, holds the heat. This is the problem with the cheaper makes...but you still had to use fire tape.
That was a brilliant idea, like you say weights on the other end..love the charcoal basket tell your mate he could sell those.
Not as such, the basket keeps whatever fuel your using in one place, so you can mound it at one end, build a snake or minion. The ash will always fall through the bottom of the basket (unless you have a solid bottom? but then ash buildup may be a problem)... and into an ash tray, or bottom of the firebox...that makes for cleaning it easier.
Ice.