- Feb 9, 2014
- 7
- 10
I am going to purchase a new smoker, hopefully in April or May. I would like some information on what should I purchase. This is what I would like in an Offset Wood Smoker.
1. 1/4 inch metal wall
2. 20 inch to 24 inch wide main cooking chamber
3. 30 inch to 48 inch long main cooking chamber
4. Ability to cook with the fire box
5. Stander flow or reverse flow smoker does not matter
6. Double shelf food grates in main cooking chamber
7. Heavy duty removable food grates with the ability to slide out
8. Last, large shelf just in front of the main cooking chamber
I have been looking at the Old Country's, Gator, Lang, Horizon, Peoria, and few others. I would like to know good, bad, and the ugly of these smokers and some experiences that you may have with them and how you came to choose the smoker you purchased. I have been smoking and BBQing for 15 years now, mostly with homemade rigs and El Cheapo smoking rigs from chain stores that only cost a couple of hundred, and one electrical smoker, " hate to say it." Currently I have an El Cheapo Char-Broil smoker, made out of sheet metal. I have been able to keep the temps within 15 degrees from the firebox side to the opposite end of the smoker and always had good tasting products that are very tender, and my coworkers always seem to hit me up when they see my smoke going. So I think I know little of what I am doing. What I did notice is I am using twice the wood and charcoal in the winter than I did in the summer and I think this hobby deserves to get a real upgrade. I am not looking to go into any comps. just a backyard type of smoker and if I want to do a local comp, I will have the equipment to do the job right.
Currently I am budgeting $1200 on a new smoker, but would raise my budget up another $1k or so if the product is truly worth it and will wait another year for a new gun safe. I know this would be like going from a Segway to a Mustang compared to my current smoker and I would wonder why in the hell I purchased a cheap POS in the first place, when I finally get to use a good smoker. So what would be the best smoker for me?
Thanks, Stay Safe, Stay Free, and God Bless the Republic.
1. 1/4 inch metal wall
2. 20 inch to 24 inch wide main cooking chamber
3. 30 inch to 48 inch long main cooking chamber
4. Ability to cook with the fire box
5. Stander flow or reverse flow smoker does not matter
6. Double shelf food grates in main cooking chamber
7. Heavy duty removable food grates with the ability to slide out
8. Last, large shelf just in front of the main cooking chamber
I have been looking at the Old Country's, Gator, Lang, Horizon, Peoria, and few others. I would like to know good, bad, and the ugly of these smokers and some experiences that you may have with them and how you came to choose the smoker you purchased. I have been smoking and BBQing for 15 years now, mostly with homemade rigs and El Cheapo smoking rigs from chain stores that only cost a couple of hundred, and one electrical smoker, " hate to say it." Currently I have an El Cheapo Char-Broil smoker, made out of sheet metal. I have been able to keep the temps within 15 degrees from the firebox side to the opposite end of the smoker and always had good tasting products that are very tender, and my coworkers always seem to hit me up when they see my smoke going. So I think I know little of what I am doing. What I did notice is I am using twice the wood and charcoal in the winter than I did in the summer and I think this hobby deserves to get a real upgrade. I am not looking to go into any comps. just a backyard type of smoker and if I want to do a local comp, I will have the equipment to do the job right.
Currently I am budgeting $1200 on a new smoker, but would raise my budget up another $1k or so if the product is truly worth it and will wait another year for a new gun safe. I know this would be like going from a Segway to a Mustang compared to my current smoker and I would wonder why in the hell I purchased a cheap POS in the first place, when I finally get to use a good smoker. So what would be the best smoker for me?
Thanks, Stay Safe, Stay Free, and God Bless the Republic.
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