No Side Door On Fire Box: Bad or Good?

[wtfsf415]

Just recently brought home new custom trailer with vertical water smoker and horizontal offset. Have a few questions regarding a couple things:

1. Horizontal offset fire box has front entry door to load wood, and side damper, but no side door. Bad or good?

2. Builder told me that vertical water smoker doesn't need exhaust damper. Wondering what everyones thoughts are on that?

Tested horizontal with one log and holds temp perfectly. Just worried that with a big load, I may need more airflow to increase the heat.

Here it is pictured below: 

 

1909510_686288108118375_7733472318215340322_o.jpg

• wtfsf415
• Aug 5, 2014

 

[themule69]

 
Just recently brought home new custom trailer with vertical water smoker and horizontal offset. Have a few questions regarding a couple things:

1. Horizontal offset fire box has front entry door to load wood, and side damper, but no side door. Bad or good? Side would have been a little better but not much.

2. Builder told me that vertical water smoker doesn't need exhaust damper. Wondering what everyones thoughts are on that? Run exhaust wide open. A rain cap would have been nice.

Tested horizontal with one log and holds temp perfectly. Just worried that with a big load, I may need more airflow to increase the heat. If you can controll heat and get the temp up where you like it you are good to go. If you find any air leaks seal them up.

Here it is pictured below: 

 

1909510_686288108118375_7733472318215340322_o.jpg

• wtfsf415
• Aug 5, 2014

Looks nice. I see many years of great Q in your future. Learn to control the heat and patience. The rest will fall into place with time.

Happy smoken.

David