Gravity Fed Smoker

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tjack

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I'm seriously thinking of getting a gravity fed smoker next year. I know that there are several out there and was wondering if any of you had the gravity fed charcoal type smoker. I just can't get real excited about a stick burner as all I hear that its an all nighter fighting with the temp. Whereas with a gravity fed smoker, you get even cooking temp for many hours and Q that is just as good as stick burners. (Although I'm sure that is up for debate also)

I was looking at a Stumps. Is that the cream of the crop? Or there others better? Worse? Best bang for the buck?

I'm not wanting to do competitions with it, I just want to do some killer Q with a quality smoker other then the cheap thin smokers out there that are fine for the beginner, but I'm ready to go to the next step.

Thanks in advance. :biggrin1:
 
I've got a Stumps Baby and love it. However, I see "Stump" has gone up on his prices quite a bit. I've had mine for five/six years. I know Assassin Smokers and Superior smokers are basically Stumps Smoker design with a different spin on them. I'm not sure if they are better or worse. But I'm sure you can't go wrong with any of those three. They come from the same family of smokers. They're going to be good.
 
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There's a bunch of people who ordered the Assassin 28 recently and are ecstatic about them. Do a quick search and you'll find a few threads.
 
How hot can you ramp that smoker up too? I like to use the hot and fast method from time to time and was wondering if these types of smokers are more lo and slo verses ramping it up to 325-350 and doing it that way.



mep said:
I can highly recommend the Assassin Smoker. Works great and has added features that you don't get without paying for a bunch of options with other companies, plus the customer service is great.

Check out my video and comments in this link about my Assassin:
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=166449

Also check this link and video regarding the Assassin 28:
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=167662
Click to expand...
 
325-350 is not a problem. I currently have a Stumps Platinum 5 and before that, I had a Stumps GF223 (that would be the classic today). I had my GF223 over 500 degrees.

Any of the cookers mentioned will do a fine job for you. I would check out all 3 and see which one you think suits your needs the best.
 
I just completed a ton of research and looked at Stumps, Superior, Rebel, Deep South and Assassin. All seem to be very well built pits with good reputations. All that being said I went with the Assassin 28. You could not beat the amount of cooking space for the money along with all of the things that come standard from them and are extra add ons with other builders, such as a slam latch and BBQ Guru. The turnaround time was also very appealling.
 
I should also say the customer service from Jeff and Robin has been great. I really considered the Stumps and they were also very attentive to all of my questions but you will pay more and wait longer for them, but they also build great pits. There were a few differences between the two such as charcoal chute placement, how far the door will open and how they drain grease.
 
After all my research on them, I ordered a Deep South Smoker. The patented baffle system for even heat was one of the major points for me. Also the willingness to customize it any way I wanted showed me he was building it just for me to my specs.
 
I found a Rebel 23 on Craiglist that was used and priced very reasonably. It has been great and is built very well. The support I have gotten from the factory has been excellent. I can recommend the Rebel products.
 
That is a loaded question. Everybody is going to have an opinion on every smoker. Those who bought Assassins will say they are the best, those who bought Stumps will say they are the best and so on and so on. You need to decide how much money you want to spend and how long you are willing to wait to get it. Ask the builders how thick of steel they are using inside and outside. Ask how thick is the steel used for the fire box and shoot. That is important because you don't want that to burn out. Good luck.

Eric
 
I have a Stumps Stretch and just got finished ordering a Stumpster XL. I love it and I cook low and slow and hot and fast all the time. But like others have written check them all out and see which best fits your needs and buy the next size up! :loco: :loco: :loco:
 
tjack said:
How hot can you ramp that smoker up too? I like to use the hot and fast method from time to time and was wondering if these types of smokers are more lo and slo verses ramping it up to 325-350 and doing it that way.
Click to expand...

I've only done one cook at 350 but it was not a problem. I have been cooking at 275 most of the time lately, which is like right in between low and slow and hot and fast.
 
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=167662

Assassin 28 OP, check out the features and my thread, all you need to know. I spoke to Jeff for awhile after getting it too, great family. I've cooked on stumps as well at pitmaker, assassin was my #1 after using it and quality of the build is second to none. Pm me if you need anything.
 
So, is there really any down side to owning a gravity fed smoker? There is always something in a design that lacks compared to others.

I'm not complaining, I'm running a cheap gasser smoker right now. But I learned on it and am ready to step it up. But, I'm will to spend some money next year on something that I want for years to come, so I'm trying to do my research.

Thanks
 
tjack said:
So, is there really any down side to owning a gravity fed smoker? There is always something in a design that lacks compared to others.

I'm not complaining, I'm running a cheap gasser smoker right now. But I learned on it and am ready to step it up. But, I'm will to spend some money next year on something that I want for years to come, so I'm trying to do my research.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I don't see a downside as I have cooked on several.
 
most gravity feds are heavier and harder to move around compared to other insulated cabinet smokers. I say "most" because I know pitmaker and spicewines are heavy, but compared to backwoods, humphreys and others, the gravity fed units are heavier and harder to move. If you plan on keeping it mostly in one place, its no big deal. If you want to move it around the yard, take it to competitions, then you need to consider how you are going to move it.
 
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