Best Offset (Direct or Reverse) other than Shirley (2 years is too long of a wait)

[IFlyEm]

Buddy of mine is looking for an offset. We wants to only buy it once so I figured I would ask here.

If you could pick one smoker strictly on the quality of the the smoker and it's results what would it be? We have a couple builders around here like J.H. Smokers (Justin is going to be building mine) but they are fairly new to the seen and he's wanting something more "proven."

I was thinking LSG or maybe Klose? He keeps looking at Langs. But they don't seem overly popular on here.

Thoughts?

[SmittyJonz]

Plenty of Good Ones . Lone Star Grillz is Hot Right Now.
Klose, Pitmaker, Kat, Outlaw, Johnson, many more
J&H out there in Cali is a small timer putting out some Nice Pits.

[SmittyJonz]

Stare at this for a few Days......

https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/s...d.php?t=186946

[IFlyEm]

I agree. JH is doing mine soon.

[IFlyEm]

Originally Posted by SmittyJonz

Plenty of Good Ones . Lone Star Grillz is Hot Right Now.
Klose, Pitmaker, Kat, Outlaw, many more
J&H out there in Cali is a small timer putting out some Nice Pits.

Now you have to pick one.

[SmittyJonz]

Lang are Good but Not Higher End.....

There’s a Guy who split from R&O and making BadAzz Pits but forget the Name of his Brand.
Here it is - EL Rey - just South if Dallas Ft Worth

https://m.facebook.com/El-Rey-Smokers-550687375015393/
.

[SmittyJonz]

A Johnson double reverse flow T Pit is one of my Dream Smokers........

http://www.johnsonsmokers.com/20-t-pit/

http://www.johnsonsmokers.com/24-t-pit/
.

[BigThicket]

Originally Posted by IFlyEm

He keeps looking at Langs. But they don't seem overly popular on here.

Thoughts?

I've done a ton of research on this subject over the past few months and there are plenty of folks that love Lang Smokers, a bunch of winning competitors over the years, and at least one highly regarded Pitmaster/Restaurant owner (Bill Durney) who use them. I'm not sure why they don't get much love here, but I wouldn't disregard them for that reason.

[tnev35]

I have a Lang 48 patio. I highly recommend!

[SmittyJonz]

Originally Posted by BigThicket

I've done a ton of research on this subject over the past few months and there are plenty of folks that love Lang Smokers, a bunch of winning competitors over the years, and at least one highly regarded Pitmaster/Restaurant owner (Bill Durney) who use them. I'm not sure why they don't get much love here, but I wouldn't disregard them for that reason.

They Work. Cook Good but fit n finish is Not on par with the Nicer Ones. Warmers are Tiny and you don’t have the options/custom things Nicer pits offer. There was a Shirley thread the other day and a Brethren who cooks on both a Lang and a Shirley said Shirley by a long shot.
Cabinet style doors have become Real Popular- what I’d want.

[Rockinar]

I would get a Built Rite Smoker. Donnie Boston does a good job (just kidding, he's a crook and a thief).


After having a Klose for a year. Here's my opinion.

I would pick a properly designed and drafting pit over fancy welds. I think these traditional pits like Gator and Klose are well built, but poorly designed. By "poorly" I mean they do work, but there's better designs out there. They (gator/klose) just have not evolved. Going forward for me, any traditional flow pit with that needs tuning plates or has the exhaust on top is a deal killer. The tuning plates kill convection and draft so you're now cooking with radiant heat. Might as well get a reverse flow. At least with a reverse flow you would still get convection and a draft. Then, the exhaust on top sucks all your draft right out the top instead of evenly across. That might be OK on larger pits. I'm convinced its a bad on small backyard pits.

For backyard pits my choices would be:

Moberg (he quit making them just now), the new LSG (even though I think its ugly as hell), Pitmaker Hitman or Sniper, Jambo, Outlaw Smokers. Im sure theres others out there. Maybe even keep an eye out for the new Franklin pits. I'd look for topflow design with side exhaust. I have not seen a Lang in action, but think a poorly built Lang might perform better than a well built Gator full of tuning plates.

Just my opinion.

[ruger35]

I'd second waiting onthe Franklin pits as they could be coming or or look for a used Shirley.

[Big N Hot]

I've got a Lang 36 Stretch that I love!

[Inthewoods]

Originally Posted by Rockinar

I would get a Built Rite Smoker. Donnie Boston does a good job (just kidding, he's a crook and a thief).


After having a Klose for a year. Here's my opinion.

I would pick a properly designed and drafting pit over fancy welds. I think these traditional pits like Gator and Klose are well built, but poorly designed. By "poorly" I mean they do work, but there's better designs out there. They (gator/klose) just have not evolved. Going forward for me, any traditional flow pit with that needs tuning plates or has the exhaust on top is a deal killer. The tuning plates kill convection and draft so you're now cooking with radiant heat. Might as well get a reverse flow. At least with a reverse flow you would still get convection and a draft. Then, the exhaust on top sucks all your draft right out the top instead of evenly across. That might be OK on larger pits. I'm convinced its a bad on small backyard pits.

For backyard pits my choices would be:

Moberg (he quit making them just now), the new LSG (even though I think its ugly as hell), Pitmaker Hitman or Sniper, Jambo, Outlaw Smokers. Im sure theres others out there. Maybe even keep an eye out for the new Franklin pits. I'd look for topflow design with side exhaust. I have not seen a Lang in action, but think a poorly built Lang might perform better than a well built Gator full of tuning plates.

Just my opinion.

That's a very interesting opinion ya just threw out there...and know I'm not being sarcastic.

I'm assuming ya have experience with both "direct flow" and "reverse flow"? Please expand if ya could! It's these types of opinions and discussion that really bring out the experience and the "been there, done that" of the forum!

For example...
I'm getting ready to throw a deposit down on a traditional smoker, something around 72" long. I'm not interested in even grate temps hence..."direct flow".

With that said, ya seem to have some thoughts on the designs of such and I doubt I would be the only one who would like to hear yers and others.

-D

[locosmoke]

St louis bbq store has shirley patio models for sale now on website. https://www.stlbbqstore.com/shirley-...ation-smokers/