|
Q-talk *ON TOPIC ONLY* QUALITY ON TOPIC discussion of Backyard BBQ, grilling, equipment and outdoor cookin' . ** Other cooking techniques are welcomed for when your cookin' in the kitchen. Post your hints, tips, tricks & techniques, success, failures, but stay on topic and watch for that hijacking. |
|
Thread Tools |
02-15-2013, 07:09 AM | #1 |
Got Wood.
Join Date: 05-04-09
Location: Sebastian, FL
|
Anyone cook on Pitmaker's Vault?
I'm looking into getting a bigger smoker but don't want a true stick burner. I came across Pitmaker.com and like the Vault. Anyone have experience with it? Tell me what you think. How often do you need to add lump? On their video, they say about six hours, which is pretty good sleepwise for a little shut eye at competitions.
Their offset smoker looks pretty nice also but I don't really want to have to add wood all night. Thanks.
__________________
No, I'm not playing online poker. Yes I am looking up BBQ stuff. Yes I will come to bed now. |
|
02-15-2013, 08:30 AM | #3 |
Got Wood.
Join Date: 07-14-11
Location: Deer Park, Texas
|
I've had Vault for a little while. They're great smokers!
As for adding fuel (charcoal, wood, etc.), I haven't had to add anything during a normal smoke. Please keep in mind that I cook "dry", meaning I don't use the built-in water pan. I have no problem getting 14+ hours out of a single loading of fuel. If you use a weed burner to pre-heat the Vault/Safe, it will increase your cooking time(s) greatly. I hope this helps...... |
|
Thanks from:---> |
02-15-2013, 08:41 AM | #4 |
Got Wood.
Join Date: 05-04-09
Location: Sebastian, FL
|
Thanks for the input. Here's another question for you. Is yours on a trailer? I don't have a trailer and am wondering if it feasible to get it on the back of my truck to transport with a ramp and winch.
__________________
No, I'm not playing online poker. Yes I am looking up BBQ stuff. Yes I will come to bed now. |
|
02-15-2013, 09:29 AM | #5 |
Got Wood.
Join Date: 07-14-11
Location: Deer Park, Texas
|
No sir, mine is not on a trailer. As you may already know, Vault's are pushing a 1000 pounds. I can see getting one on/off of a utility trailer, but a pick-up truck, that might be a tall order.
|
|
02-15-2013, 09:39 AM | #6 | ||
Banned
Join Date: 02-07-11
Location: brenham, texas
|
Quote:
Make sure if you get one, get the ball valve design and not the slide dampers. Once heated and running dry they are super efficient and you gotta have good draft control. If cooking dry and manual slides, the air leaks will make your pit run away on temps. Once it gets up there, it's really difficult to get back down in temp. I cooked 75 chicken halves + 20 sausage links the other day on 10 lbs of lump in 4 hrs. Quote:
|
||
|
Thanks from:---> |
02-15-2013, 10:00 AM | #7 |
Got Wood.
Join Date: 05-04-09
Location: Sebastian, FL
|
Wow. Thanks for that pic. It is way too tall to put on the back of my truck.
You guys that own them, would the smaller version work for competitions? Or would you need one more smoker
__________________
No, I'm not playing online poker. Yes I am looking up BBQ stuff. Yes I will come to bed now. |
|
02-15-2013, 10:36 AM | #8 |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 06-06-11
Location: Sacramento, CA
|
I drool over there website often. I would love one of there trailers. But I do not have that much cash..
__________________
WSM 18, Weber Performer, Smokey Joe, 18 Kettle, Genesis EP-330 (I might have an issue.) |
|
02-15-2013, 10:42 AM | #9 |
Banned
Join Date: 02-07-11
Location: brenham, texas
|
You know the old saying goes, find a pit that you think is the size you want and need for your type and style of cooking, then buy the next size bigger.
I like the dry cooking technique of the vault . Different shelves have different cooking results. The top rack IMO is best suited for chicken. It browns the skin alot better from the malliard reaction. Bottom rack can be foiled to catch drippings to make a really dry environment if you want good bark formation. Keeps the juices from hitting the bottom drip pan. So many ways to cook with the vault. I still think a UDS cooks a better chicken from the direct coals. Never was a big smoked chicken fan, I like it BBQ'd and apparently the judges concur. |
|
02-15-2013, 11:52 AM | #10 | |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 01-13-13
Location: Central Tx
|
Quote:
Think a Pitmaker Safe (450lbs) on a cart would be feasible for a truck with a winch mounted on the bed and atv ramps? Edit- I meant for taking to cookoffs or comps on a regular basis- not just for the initial purchase Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
__________________
Backwoods Fatboy-profile for cart build link,Weber OTG,Weber Smokey Joe, Maverick 732,Tan Thermapen |
|
|
02-15-2013, 03:26 PM | #11 |
Knows what a fatty is.
Join Date: 07-14-11
Location: Texas
|
Think a Pitmaker Safe (450lbs) on a cart would be feasible for a truck with a winch mounted on the bed and atv ramps?
I own a Safe with the cart and although it could probably be done it would be way too much trouble in my opinon. A single axle utility trailer with a drop ramp would easily handle Vault or Safe. Could either buy one or rent from U-haul for about $16 a day. |
|
02-15-2013, 04:43 PM | #12 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 03-19-12
Location: Louisville,Ky
|
I'm waiting anxiously for the call to pick up my Long Rifle Sniper. Looked at the vaults, but all I've ever known is offsets, so sticking with that....easier to get in and out of the trailer as well...
|
|
02-15-2013, 06:03 PM | #13 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 08-30-10
Location: Rockwall, TX
|
What are some of the differences between what Pitmaker has versus a Backwoods?
__________________
Do not eat any of it raw or boiled at all with water, but rather roasted with fire. Exodus 12:9 |
|
02-15-2013, 06:28 PM | #14 |
Got Wood.
Join Date: 05-04-09
Location: Sebastian, FL
|
That looks like a good one also. I just don't want to have to add fuel that often. But I originally liked that one first, then saw the vault.
__________________
No, I'm not playing online poker. Yes I am looking up BBQ stuff. Yes I will come to bed now. |
|
02-15-2013, 06:56 PM | #15 |
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Join Date: 09-20-11
Location: Ohio
Name/Nickname : Allen
|
I've got the vault on an LT1 trailer. I can't imagine it being portable any other way.
|
|
Thread Tools | |
|
|