Need Suggestions picking out a Smoker

K

Knuckle Lickin Good

Guest
I am looking to get a new smoker for comps and would like suggestions on the best smoker at a reasonable price. I am looking to start competing in cook offs, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
If all you're looking for is some suggestions, let me save you a lot of time and sum up what you're likely to read in this post thread:

You can cook a whole competition on one WSM. three if you wanna get all expensive. They will pack in a minivan and cost around a grand total. Multiple teams consistantly win on them.

Build a drum! They're cheap and have great flavour. Multiple teams consistantly win on them.

Stick burner's rule! No need to sleep when you can put out flavour this good. Especially if it's a $12,000 Jambo. Multiple teams consistantly win on them.

Get an insulated charcoal cooker: Spicewine/Backwoods/Stumps/Superior/etc/etc/etc. Some have baskets, others use gravity. Paired with a Stoker or Guru, they let you get sleep, put out good flavour, and are mostly imune to the elements. Multiple teams consistantly win on them.

Get an FEC. Insulated, good flavour that won't over-smoke your meat. Imune to the elements. You get sleep, and these are super easy to clean. Multiple teams consistantly win on them.

I'm sure I've missed something, but the above covers 90% of what you'll read. Figure out what your budget is and what you wanna do, and go from there.

dmp
 
New smoker

You have to make a few decisions first. 1) stickburner or sleep? 2) water pan or no water pan 3)gravity feed or drawer style if insulated 4) what do you consider as a reasonable price?

With that being said, my favorite is Stumps Smokers. It has a gravity fed charcoal chute that will maintain your temperature throughout your cook. It has a wood box below the charcoal chute to add your favorite smoking woods for flavor. They have many different sizes and price ranges to fit your style and budget. I use a Stumps Classic. Alot of people use Backwoods Smokers as well. I also use a Backwoods Fatboy. If I had to pick one smoker to use from now on, i would definately use the Stumps. Dont have to worry about water getting low in the water pan and dont have to load more charcoal in the middle of a cook as I do with the Backwoods. Dont get me wrong, Backwoods makes a good cooker, but the Stumps is more user friendly and much better cooking racks to me. Good luck and keep us posted.

stumpssmokersinc.com
backwoods-smoker.com
 
I've gone back to my drums( and a chicken cooking WSM) which I think are awesome but do require some practice.

If budget is the issue coming out of the gate and you want a smoker that has proven itself on the circuit..WSM.

( if your interested in a gently used Backwoods Party..holla')

Just my .02
 
I'm personally fond of the drums. I use three of them for comps - 1 for brisket, 1 for pork butts, and 1 for ribs. The chicken usually goes in the pork drum. You can make all three relatively cheap. BTW, all three drums have produced award winning turn-ins.

The UDS's are fuel efficient and once dialed in the temps hold true. They allow you to cook different meats at different temps. with different wood selection.
 
dmprantz said:
If all you're looking for is some suggestions, let me save you a lot of time and sum up what you're likely to read in this post thread:

You can cook a whole competition on one WSM. three if you wanna get all expensive. They will pack in a minivan and cost around a grand total. Multiple teams consistantly win on them.

Build a drum! They're cheap and have great flavour. Multiple teams consistantly win on them.

Stick burner's rule! No need to sleep when you can put out flavour this good. Especially if it's a $12,000 Jambo. Multiple teams consistantly win on them.

Get an insulated charcoal cooker: Spicewine/Backwoods/Stumps/Superior/etc/etc/etc. Some have baskets, others use gravity. Paired with a Stoker or Guru, they let you get sleep, put out good flavour, and are mostly imune to the elements. Multiple teams consistantly win on them.

Get an FEC. Insulated, good flavour that won't over-smoke your meat. Imune to the elements. You get sleep, and these are super easy to clean. Multiple teams consistantly win on them.

I'm sure I've missed something, but the above covers 90% of what you'll read. Figure out what your budget is and what you wanna do, and go from there.

dmp
Click to expand...

Close but nobody says "flavour". :rolleyes:
 
18.5 WSM's work great but I would go with the 22 since you can fit a full rack of ribs on it and also a big brisket without having to fold the ends over or anything. We're cooking on an extended backwoods party and a pitmaker BBQ safe now. Much easier with the slide out racks and everything fits without having to monkey around with it. Only thing is that they are much more expensive than a WSM. Both the backwoods and pitmaker are great cookers but we find the pitmaker's quality to be a notch above the backwoods.
 
I am looking for a smoker, pit, cooker, not exactly sure of the correct terms. Some people say go with a Backwoods Smoker, others say to go with a off set pit. I want to make sure I do lots of research before spending a few thousand bucks.
 
You reallly need to decide is it an investment for the smoker or not. For the money the wsm I think is the best and easiest to use for the dollars I used them at home for years. For cometition though I bought a bbq vault from pitmaker. They have now come out with the safe a smaller version. When I upgrade I may get two safes so I can vary the temp as needed betwen the two.
 
Thanks for all suggestions, I am going to look into the Pitmaker.
 
Knuckle Lickin Good said:
I am looking for a smoker, pit, cooker, not exactly sure of the correct terms. Some people say go with a Backwoods Smoker, others say to go with a off set pit. I want to make sure I do lots of research before spending a few thousand bucks.
Click to expand...

If you're considering an offset, don't forget you also have to consider reverse flow!
 
I'm glad for post such as this,I don't have to ask the same question just read the results!!
 
dmprantz said:
If all you're looking for is some suggestions, let me save you a lot of time and sum up what you're likely to read in this post thread:

You can cook a whole competition on one WSM. three if you wanna get all expensive. They will pack in a minivan and cost around a grand total. Multiple teams consistantly win on them.

Build a drum! They're cheap and have great flavour. Multiple teams consistantly win on them.

Stick burner's rule! No need to sleep when you can put out flavour this good. Especially if it's a $12,000 Jambo. Multiple teams consistantly win on them.

Get an insulated charcoal cooker: Spicewine/Backwoods/Stumps/Superior/etc/etc/etc. Some have baskets, others use gravity. Paired with a Stoker or Guru, they let you get sleep, put out good flavour, and are mostly imune to the elements. Multiple teams consistantly win on them.

Get an FEC. Insulated, good flavour that won't over-smoke your meat. Imune to the elements. You get sleep, and these are super easy to clean. Multiple teams consistantly win on them.

I'm sure I've missed something, but the above covers 90% of what you'll read. Figure out what your budget is and what you wanna do, and go from there.

dmp
Click to expand...

Brilliant! :clap::clap2:
 
Knuckle Lickin Good said:
What brand of reverse flow do you recomend?
Click to expand...


The brand of reverse-flow that leads the way is Lang (http://langbbqsmokers.com/).

I had a local fabricator build me a reverse flow (www.spatulaman.com). Saved a ton on shipping and got something that was the exact size I was looking for. You may want to do a local craigslist/Angie's list search from welders and fabricators, you could save a ton.
 
The Pitmaker Vault looks like a really good cooker. You can see it on youtube...a very detailed look at it. It looks like the way a Backwoods should've been built with good strong racks. Price is pretty reasonable too. As someone previously stated, Lang sets the standard in reverse flow offset pits, but you'll be cutting and splitting (or buying) alot of wood and you'll have to feed it all night at comps.:bored:
 
What about DW's Kountry Cookers? I have been looking at their stuff and it looks very nice. Anyone have experience with it?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Z
Anyone with experience with a LSG El Patron
Replies
3
Views
284
InfiniteJester
I
S
If not a Shirley 250G trailer traditional flow smoker, who?
Replies
11
Views
591
Sid Post
S
S
Water Smokers?
Replies
4
Views
418
SmoothBoarBBQ
SmoothBoarBBQ
M
Looking for a vented outdoor Canopy
Replies
10
Views
604
Big George's BBQ
Big George's BBQ
D
Main smoker chamber grates. Slide out or not Yes or no ?
Replies
11
Views
302
Big George's BBQ
Big George's BBQ
Back
Top