Backwoods vs Spicewine

[Dale P]

I have seen a Backwoods in action and they are great. I own a Spicewine and I am pleased to say, that I am glad I chose it over all the other cabinet style cookers. Built to last. We have a trailer with a fold down door, and we just roll it up and tie down. No problem.
Either way, you win.

[ThomEmery]

Originally Posted by Norcoredneck

Shameless plug.

Understandably :)

[ThomEmery]

Originally Posted by ZBQ

Hey Thom, what is "the optimal option"?

Never heard of it.

It makes cooking optimal
Just messin :)

[Bigmista]

I've cooked on both, side-by-side, more than once. Both are great cookers. Both have advantages over the other. One that hasn't been mentioned is the Spicewine has a much larger water pan. THe Backwoods comes up to temp faster because it has lighter metal. The Spicewine will hold temps longer because the metal stays hot. You can keep cooking in a Spicewine an hour after the charcoal has burnt out. That is not a guess. I have done it.

[CivilWarBBQ]

I'm looking at the Competitor in the Backwoods, possibly the medium Spicewine.

I'm aware of the obvious differences in finish and features, the things I'd like to hear from owners are things like:

• Mobility loading and unloading on a truck or trailer
• Any rust or leakage issues
• Ease and method of cleaning
• Manufacturer support and warranty claims
• Unattended cook times
• Hot spots or other idiosyncrasies

Thanks for your help! I like to get as many opinions as possible before buying...

-gf

[Muzzlebrake]

This really is a Dodge vs Chevy, Remington vs Winchester, Bud vs Miller argument.

I have BWS and had the privilege of cooking on a SW this past weekend actually. Either are very good, well made cookers.

I can get a good 5-7 hour burn in my cooker using just the vents and without any charcoal pan mods. I dont have a removable water pan but would recommend getting one.

I like the BW for the mobility it offers, I can easily move it myself on wheels or using a handtruck. Hard to do that with the heavier SW

I didn't like the shelves on the SW, or at least the way they came apart. I also don't know if the heavier material is needed in the shelves. That being said, I don't think you may ever have to replace them. The BWS uses a lighter oven type shelf that I have yet to max out or have a problem with.

The thing I don't like about the BWS is the ergonomics. It is set up so the door swings open to the right making it perfect if you are a lefty but kind of a PIA for us right handed people. I bought mine used, so I am not sure if you can order the door on the other side, but I have never seen one.

I know that these seem like small chit things but I think thats all you can find wrong with either of these fine units.

[ole'e]

I own a backwoods competitor. Either one that you decide on you will be getting a quality piece of work. The inner frame of a backwoods is all steel with the outside being a light wt. sheeting. I can cook on my backwoods for 12hr on 10lbs of lump charcoal. However on a backwoods competitor you can not get a full pan in unless you bend the tabs on the end. The BWS competitor weighs 350lbs, so it would be better to roll it up on trailer. Shipping will be closer to you in GA from LA. Mike is a very gook guy and stands behind his product. He will build the cooker as you like. As you can tell in the south the BWS is very popular. The BWS in the south is like the Goodone is in KS. I have been very pleased by my cooker and have no regrets.

[butts a fire]

Originally Posted by CivilWarBBQ

I'm looking at the Competitor in the Backwoods, possibly the medium Spicewine.

I'm aware of the obvious differences in finish and features, the things I'd like to hear from owners are things like:

• Mobility loading and unloading on a truck or trailer
• Any rust or leakage issues
• Ease and method of cleaning
• Manufacturer support and warranty claims
• Unattended cook times
• Hot spots or other idiosyncrasies

Thanks for your help! I like to get as many opinions as possible before buying...

-gf

For Mobility I would give it to the Backwoods based on weight since it is much lighter making it easier to move around and lift.

I do not have any rust on my Backwoods But I think either as long as they are properly maintained would hold up well to rust. I am not sure what you men by leakage but I do not have any leakage issues with my backwoods.

I would think that cleaning either would be about the same since they are essentially the same shape and the shelves are held on the same the backwoods shelves might be easier to clean but I don't think it would be much of a difference.

I bought my Backwoods used so I have not had any need for factory support but from what I have read from the owner of both smokers that have needed it you can't go wrong either way.

On my Party I run water so my unattended cook time is limited to approx 4 hours before I need to add water, without water I would have no problem leaving it unattended for as long as the charcoal was burning I easily get 12 hour burn times using Briqs in a charcoal basket and just the vents this could be increased by using a stroker or guru. But I see no need for one since it will cruise along all night for me with out messing with it already.

Hope this helps both are such great smokers it is hard to choose between them, the good thing is you can't go wrong either way.

[smokinit]

I have a Competitor that I use in my catering business and I have the convection fan on it which makes it cook even from top to bottom an option the spicebox does not offer and if you want that top rack to finish chicken you just turn the fan off. Add a Guru to it and I can get 10 plus hours of burn time and along with the convection just set it and walk away. Plus I give Brethren discounts

[ThomEmery]

We are getting 20 hours of heat out of the U Shaped basket with no guru or fan ust dont need it
We also built "David Klose Style" racks for ours (We clean with a Weed Burner)

Jimmy has a few in stock at a Move em out price Looks like your lucky day

[Countryhb]

Originally Posted by Bigmista

I've cooked on both, side-by-side, more than once. Both are great cookers. Both have advantages over the other. One that hasn't been mentioned is the Spicewine has a much larger water pan. THe Backwoods comes up to temp faster because it has lighter metal. The Spicewine will hold temps longer because the metal stays hot. You can keep cooking in a Spicewine an hour after the charcoal has burnt out. That is not a guess. I have done it.

I would be the owner of the BW on the left in this pic...I have had the opportunity to cook on both of these boxes. Your choice is really going to come down to what specifically is more important to you. That Spice is HEAVY...600+ lbs. My BW is ~200 lbs. You can put full pans in the Spice...you can't in the BW. I was able to cook 18 racks of spares with a little room left over in the Spice...I was pushing it with 10 in the BW. For some odd reason, the Spice would leak when I moved it around the driveway, but the BW wouldn't. The Spice has a nice, huge water pan...the BW is only good for about 4 hours without refilling. The wheels on the Spice look like they've been through a war, while the BW wheels are fantastic, and the wheel locks are easy to use and work well on the BW (the BW is actually a little older than the Spice). I can't understand why the BW has larger, more sturdy wheels than the Spice.

They both are FANTASTIC cookers! If money were no object, I'd have a Spicewine at home and a Backwoods to take with me.

[ThomEmery]

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=42955

Jimmys Construction Sale in Progess

[Muzzlebrake]

Originally Posted by ThomEmery

"David Klose Style" racks for ours (We clean with a Weed Burner)

Thom,

what do mean by that? never heard of them.......

[ThomEmery]

Originally Posted by Muzzlebrake

Thom,

what do mean by that? never heard of them.......

Oh we have a Klose and the cooking shelves are expanded metal
very sturdy Maybe I should have said expanded metal cooking shelves :)

[CivilWarBBQ]

Thanks for all the great input folks!

By "leaks" I mean the nasty black tar dripping out of the bottom of the unit. I've heard some reports of this occurring with the Spicewine.

Interesting observation on the left hand doors on some of the Backwoods models. I wonder why some open to the right and some to the left? The racks seem a bit flimsy on the Backwoods - any problems when you stuff the smoker full with cases of butts?