Equipment Considerations

[kcquer]

For longer than I've been around this site I've been planning on building a smoker. All along that design has been a single generously sized cooker. With competitions to be considered this seems less than ideal as one would rather not be committed to a single flavoring wood or blend for all catagories.
My initial thinking is that a decent basic setup would be two cookers, one for butts, one for briskets. Butts and briskets would hopefully be wrapped (or very near ready) by the time chicken and ribs needed to go on so you could swap woods and have a cooker for each of those.

Does this two cooker setup sound like a workable system?

With this two cooker system in mind, I've been shopping for affordable, heavy gauge, medium sized pits. Having looked around, this pit
http://www.bandera-brethren.com/inde...d85d607492079b
seems like a pretty good deal, if it is, as I am guessing a 20"d x 40" pit (just guessing by the sq inches of cooking area given).
Post subject: Check out this Charbroil/NB model Posted: Jul 15, 2004 - 04:50 PM

Anybody know of a more affordable option in this class of pit?


Note-well aware of the WSM's reliable performance, affordability and track record in competition circles. I'd like to have one someday, but this is not the direction I want to go for this particular project.

[jminion]

If it were me based on your wishes I would consider doing a mobile pit. I would set it with two 24X 60 cookers side by side. This mobile would have a fajita grill and two turkey cookers. I believe in excess!

[jt]

I'm picturing a trailer with 2 pits mounted side-by-side as well. One straight & one queer - that way you either load the wood or food from the same location, depending on how you bolt them to the floor. Maybe put them on one side of the trailer then a long tabletop/storage setup on the other side?

[chad]

Take a look at the Lang 84 Twin at www.pigroast.com - dual chambers and dual vericle warmers. I think this could probably be done with his Model 60, too, which is a bit smaller. He can and will install a grill on the front of the trailer.

Just a thought!

[Bill-Chicago]

Originally Posted by jminion

If it were me based on your wishes I would consider doing a mobile pit. I would set it with two 24X 60 cookers side by side. This mobile would have a fajita grill and two turkey cookers. I believe in excess!

I saw that on Monster Makeovers or something on ABC a few weeks back.

Phil called, look at that cooker, turn to ABC, I want that thing.

It was awesome.

[jt]

Originally Posted by DFLittle

Take a look at the Lang 84 Twin at www.pigroast.com - dual chambers and dual vericle warmers. I think this could probably be done with his Model 60, too, which is a bit smaller. He can and will install a grill on the front of the trailer.

Just a thought!

Nice cookers. Are those tunable for even heat/smoke distribution?

[chad]

Nice cookers. Are those tunable for even heat/smoke distribution?

Oh hell yes!

You'll note the chimney is on the same end as the firebox -- it has baffles that run the smoke the length of the cooker and back.

Testimonials swear by the eveness of the heat for the length and width of the cooker.
I've seen these cookers but haven't used one -- one of his rigs is on my wish list - now if I just hit the lotto or get a catering job big enough to get the size deposit I need :D

[jt]

Originally Posted by DFLittle

Oh hell yes!

LOL

My neighbor supposedly built one several years ago - hardly ever uses it. He loaned it to somebody - when he gets it back I'm heading over to see it. Mobile pit like a bandera from how he described it.

[kcquer]

affordable

Seems we've missed this part of the original question :D fun, ain't it!

two 24X 60 cookers side

It is within the realm of reason to build this arrangement or something close. I have to work with the materials I can get at reasonable prices. Can't find 24" pipe that isn't nearly doulble the cost of the 20" I have acess to.
Anybody know the weight of 1/4" steel per square ft?

[jminion]

affordable

What the hell does that have to do with anything!

Affordable is buying 3 WSMs and forget building an offset.

[Trout_man22]

Anybody know the weight of 1/4" steel per square ft?

10.21#

Trout

[badger]

Originally Posted by DFLittle

Take a look at the Lang 84 Twin at www.pigroast.com - dual chambers and dual vericle warmers. I think this could probably be done with his Model 60, too, which is a bit smaller. He can and will install a grill on the front of the trailer.

Just a thought!

Is it just me being lazy? As nice as that smoker is, I don't think I would like walking back and forth to either side of the trailer. Am I that farking lazy? Or would this bother anyone else?

[chad]

Affordable is buying 3 WSMs and forget building an offset.

Amen! I've got ONE! :D

I was mentioning to the wife last night that I'm really trying to drum up the business and then buy or build the appropriate cooker rather than the other way around (Build it and they will come makes a great movie line!!)

If I have to muddle through with my one WSM and small offset for a while that's ok. I envy you guys that can afford the larger cookers. But that's the chef/caterer in me -- as a competitor I don't mind going in with tools I know and understand. Tim and I are planning on using his StudaDera, my WSM, a couple of other small cookers and grills will also be availabe if needed. In drag racing lingo we're gonna "run what we brung!" :D

Good luck, I wish I could be shopping for a big 'un, too. :D