Time for an upgrade

[chef jeff tx]

Howdy & welcome to the SMF!!

 

[treegje]

Welcome to the SMF Lee, We are glad to have you onboard

 

[crzylee]

After looking at Gator Pits website, I think I am falling in love with their Party model. I really want a smoker that I can put 6 - 8 boston butts on and still have room for a couple of racks of ribs for lunch. Usually when I fire up my smoker I make some phone calls and friends and neighbors bring food to cook.

As much as I like the way the Party Gator looks, I don't think I am ready to drop $1500 on it. Does anyone else have any good suggestions on where to go to look for something similar? Or is anyone upgrading and wanting to sell their older one?

 

[deltadude]

You already listed the New Braunfels Longhorn Smoker, you may want to consider to pay the extra $100 and get the OLD COUNTRY 20-IN. HEAVY DUTY SMOKER

Here is their actual website for that smoker, it is made from 1/4" steal and they normally sell for $900. I'm sure there are features left out of the Academy Sports model, you might want to call them and ask what is the differences.

 

[crzylee]

Just at the rough looks, the one from Academy is longer than the one from the website, and also has larger wheels.

Although the wheels don't matter much to me; whatever smoker I get, I am going to attempt to mount it to its own trailer to make it more portable.


Thanks for the links, I'll try to give them a call and find out all the differences.

 

[garyt]

Welcome to the forum, lots of info to be found here, friends also.
I have a Lang 48 Mobile, and love it, hook it up and go. Maybe more than you want to spend but will easily last a couple lifetimes

 

[crzylee]

As much as I would love to have it, I think my eyes and taste are bigger than my wallet and budget! I don't want to go cheap and have to replace it every 2 or 3 years. I would like to buy good quality on a budget price (I know it probably doesn't exist on my budget) and let it last 7 - 10 years.

 

[smoke itif ya got it]

Welcome aboard. So much to learn here.

 

[sprayking]

Lee, I am watching this thread because I am in the exact same boat as you. I've seen and read alot about the char griller, WSM, and such and I also wanted to get a good 1/4" thick offset for a good price. I know the steel prices and have a welder but I want quality hinges and cuts and such. So whats wrong with the New Braunfels 399$ model? it is 1/4" steel right? or no? I had a older one years ago but the one you posted from academy looks more sturdy. If I cant find something at a good price I will have to get the char griller and do all of the mods.

 

[crzylee]

The one from Academy looks to be 1/4" I just haven't put my hands on it yet. Not sure if my local store has it. That might be the way to go, I want to make sure whatever smoker I get will hold enough food. As I said earlier its not uncommon for me to throw 6 - 8 butts on or 6+ racks of ribs.

 

[jdt]

Academy formerly had this smoker as the OK Joes Longhorn, there is a massive thread about them on this forum. They were always at best 11 gauge sheetmetal, usually 12 gauge, the old country pits are good when you get one of the real ones in texas and pay big money, the ones at academy are between 10 and 11 gauge sheetmetal and slightly better than the one you linked IMO. If you plan on mounting it on a trailer you really need to talk to Bellfab, his 24 x 36 is $450 with legs wheels and t handle, if you lost the legs, wheels and handle could probably get it to your house for $450 or less. His thinnest gauge material is 5/16, pits that will last a lifetime.

http://www.bellfab.com/

 

[foreverirish]

I was in the same situation as you. I didnt want a BBQ that i had to replace every couple years, and i didn't want to go over a 1,000. Here is what i got.


http://www.amazon.com/Medina-River-O.../dp/B002VLZTXO

 

[crzylee]

That looks good. How well does it hold temp? Whats the most food you have put on it?

I e-mailed bellfab, I will see what he can come up with and make a decision. Thanks for everyone's input on this. I never dreamed I would get this much response.

 

[crzylee]

Well I got a reply from Bellfab, and he said he built a smoker for a guy on a different form for $650 2 years ago. The new price would be $750, but he was sending me to the other forum for a picture. I just registered and will post up mainly because I don't want to sift through thousands of posts to try and find a picture. If / when I do find the picture I will post it here.

 

[jdt]

here is a SMF members, his pics are way better than mine

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ad.php?t=75829


http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ad.php?t=75834


mine

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ad.php?t=74625

there is another guy here that has a 24 x 48 double door with stoker

his name is rlbloxom here, but I don't think he ever did any pictures on this forum, there are bellfab pits represented on most forums

 

[crzylee]

Man thats awesome! and an even better price! I e-mailed Bellfab back to see what he can quote me. I told him I wanted slide out racks and didn't need legs or wheels, just maybe some bracing where I can weld to a trailer.

 

[crzylee]

Ok, so he wanted me to call him, but I got his voicemail. Anxious to see what he can do for me.

 

[crzylee]

Well I just got off the phone with him and I am now on the order list!!!

Got the 24 x 48 and he said it will about 3 - 4 weeks out before he can get started on it, and then 3 day build time so I can't wait!!

 

[crzylee]

Hey guys, who do y'all recommend for shipping a grill? I was thinking I could get it shipped for under $200 using a discount through my local Jeep club, but they quoted me $300. I looked at FedEx and it was going to be $1600 OUCH!

I was told the smoker weighs about 900 lbs, and its worth it to me to pay the $300 to ship versus driving 9 hours One Way to pick it up.

 

[sprayking]

take a picture of it and post it on Uship.com, You will get a reply from someone who can freight it for you. shouldnt be that much.