Charcoal GOSM modification

[TysDad]

I was given a charcoal GOSM by my neighbor who used it once and gave up. The stock charcoal tray fills up with ash and chokes the fire, so of course he had trouble. I made a raised charcoal basket for it and it is just fine. This is a good pig candy machine because it has so many rack locations.

But to me, the stock air adjusters are annoying. I have trouble with good fire control. I was thinking that this is really like a square UDS with a door --- and that I would close off the adjusters and add some pipe nipples and a ball valve down near the bottom and the typical 8 x 1/2" vents in the top.

I was going to add a side fire box, but this is certainly cheaper. I can't leave it stock......

Sound smart or a waste of time? The wife thinks I'm nuts as it is with three smokers. This mod would fly under her amazingly sensitive radar.

[ams14]

nice! you could get one of those rope stove door gaskets and put it around the door also. I have a similar one, it actually runs pretty consistent at 225 with a load of charcoal. If I do some form of the minion method i can get it to go about 4 hours without touching it. then i'll need to shake the basket and load more unlit coals.

[BobBrisket]

I have a gasser model so whole different beast, but I leave the top vent all the way open. Do you try to regulate using the top vent at all? I'd try to leave it open and then regulate with the bottom vents only. What's the inside look like in one of those. Maybe that can help us figure something out. Maybe it just needs more tweaking at the coal bowl. The Minion idea will help too. You may only need to just crack the bottom vents open to reach and keep the desired temp. On my UDS, I have 3 intakes, but only need to crack each one the smallest bit for it reach a temp and stay there.

[swamprb]

Put a Char-Griller Side Firebox on it and make it a Faux-Bandera. @ $60 + nuts and bolts and you'll be set.

[TELL YOU WHAT BBQ]

I've had my GOSM for a few years. I elevate the coals in the box. I found the biggest difficulty in maintaining 220- is H2O pan -- if it's 'full' -- MUCH lower temp.

I foil the pan - leave it slightly open for moisture. This gets me to a higher temp. I have filled GOSM with pork/brisket numerous times...EVERY YEAR for a Daytona party -- which is COLD OUTSIDE in NEW YORK!!

I put a 'blanket' over unit during that February cook --

The GOSM is my FIRST LOVE....perhaps a Traeger will be my MISTRESS!!

[NelsonC]

I tried to mount a chargriller sidebox to my charcoal GOSM a few years back. I bought the sidebox, brought it home, and after mocking it up, I ended up deciding not to do it (bought the chargriller body and mounting the sidebox to that instead). Because of the angle of the legs on the GOSM, I would have had to mount the sidebox so high on the smoker that I was sacrificing cooking space. Furthermore, I was concered about the additional weight on one side may make it unstable.

Instead, I ended up making a charcoal basket out of expanded steel that fit inside the stock charcoal tray. A few bolts for "legs" allowed it to sit a couple inches above the charcoal tray to allow ashes to fall though instead of smothering the fire.

-NelsonC

[SmokeWatcher]

I have a GOSM that I added a side firebox to, along with a more "rainproof" exhaust (I've since shortened the chimney). I put sand in the water pan as a heat sink (and a counter-weight) and I also added a charcoal basket to the SFB that holds 10 lbs of charcoal. I can get about a 6 hr burn. On this is where I first learned what real BBQ was about.

[BRBBQ]

Here's my old Smokey Mountain Propane smoker that I modified. Can't see much but I put a firebox on the back side of it, used the welders blanket in the winter, that helped.

[TysDad]

Originally Posted by swamprb

Put a Char-Griller Side Firebox on it and make it a Faux-Bandera. @ $60 + nuts and bolts and you'll be set.

Still a possibility. Anyone have an SFB taking up space in their garage? Do they ever go on sale?

Originally Posted by SmokeWatcher

I have a GOSM that I added a side firebox to...

I saved your pictures from a while ago. Your mods got me thinking down this path. I don't think I want to deal with the balance/safety issue. Do you still love it?

Originally Posted by NelsonC

...Instead, I ended up making a charcoal basket out of expanded steel that fit inside the stock charcoal tray. A few bolts for "legs" allowed it to sit a couple inches above the charcoal tray to allow ashes to fall though instead of smothering the fire. -NelsonC

The raised charcoal basket I made for it and using the Minion Method is the only way to make it work at all. I got those ideas from this forum- that's what made me join this illustrious group!

Originally Posted by TELL YOU WHAT BBQ

I found the biggest difficulty in maintaining 220- is H2O pan -- if it's 'full' -- MUCH lower temp. I foil the pan - leave it slightly open for moisture. This gets me to a higher temp. I have filled GOSM with pork/brisket numerous times...EVERY YEAR for a Daytona party -- which is COLD OUTSIDE in NEW YORK!! I put a 'blanket' over unit during that February cook -- The GOSM is my FIRST LOVE....perhaps a Traeger will be my MISTRESS!!

It's going to be cold here today, low was 46 and high will be 69. Got my jacket on. Really cold and rain tomorrow - only 62 for the high . I have a Harbor Freight welding blanket - helps with temperature stability. I fill the water pan about 3/4 full with water straight out of the water heater and don't have trouble with 220 -- but the temp swings are higher and require more fussing than in the Stainless Pool Filter Drum with the ball valve control. I haven't tried sand in the water pan or the foiled flower pot yet. ams14 --I bought the stove rope for the door and just haven't put it on. BobBrisket--I run the top vent full open and have the intakes cracked - but control is poor.

The Pool Filter Drum temp control is so good and the fuel consumption so low that I have been spoiled! I think that I will drill the GOSM for the intake nipples and ball valve at least -- I can always just cap them if I put the side fire box on later, right? The intake/exhaust ratio and total flow for a volume about this size has been worked out by all the drum heads and the ball valve has to be more precise than the stock vents.

I appreciate everyone's help! I love the ideas that come out of this place....keep them coming!

Merry Christmas!

[SmokeWatcher]

Originally Posted by TysDad

I saved your pictures from a while ago. Your mods got me thinking down this path. I don't think I want to deal with the balance/safety issue. Do you still love it?

Balance hasn't been a problem since I've always kept a either a cement paver or sand bowl inside it. It is my first smoker, so it will always be loved...but I hardly use it since I discoved the UDS. It's about to be turned into a gift for a friend.