gator pit reputation

oldbill · Jun 12, 2013

oldbill said:
If you haven't already, look into LoneStarGrillz.com. Chris Goodlander is the owner/operator and he or his wife answers the phone personally. Chris came from Gator and he builds a very comparable pit in materials and quality but is also less expensive. Check em' out!:wink:

I'm currently having a pit built by Chris at Lone star Grillz and he told me it would be about a 6 week wait. The avatar that I'm using is a picture of the pit that I'm having built which is a vertical offset. This pit comes stock in 1/4 inch steel with a 4000 sq. inch cooking capacity and with up grades that I have ordered it will be around 6000! That is more than most of the trailer pits that I've seen and it has a 2ft x 4 1/2ft footprint! I upgraded with a 1/2 inch firebox, a 30" wide cabinet instead of the stock 24" width and the warmer/oven over the firebox along with gas assist lighter and a charcoal basket. To get all of these options and this amount of capacity from Gator or Klose you will spend at least a grand or two more than I will at LSG for a name but not necessarily better quality. If you visit their website be sure to go to the accessories page and see all of the options and upgrades that are available and Chris also has a lot of good Youtube videos on his products to watch which will show you the quality and craftsmanship that goes into his pits.

Smoothsmoke · Jun 12, 2013

Maybe this might interest you?

Gator Pit $2,000 near San Francisco

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/for/3865255189.html

armor · Jun 12, 2013

Can't go wrong with a gator. I have an Entertainer which is the one he sells the most of. It is awesome!

jmoney7269 · Jun 12, 2013

I'm in the Pitmaker crowd. I researched all of these pits before I bought my vault and I'm 100% happy with the way my pit performs. I feel that it's the best vertical on the market hands down. If you want a offset, the gators are very high quality and worth the wait. 1/2" steel firebox 1/4 pit is gonna hold heat well The picture doesn't do it much justice, but the pitmaker magnum sniper is absolutely stunning in person. Everyone I know that has one loves it, can cook lots of food and this will be my next pit.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcKAv12Iguc&sns=em"]Pitmaker Magnum Sniper Smoker BBQ Brisket Test Cook and BBQ Trailer Walk-Around! - YouTube[/ame]

Lockon · Jun 12, 2013

Not to hi-jack this thread, but what are the vertical areas for on some of these pits?

Gator Pit · Jun 12, 2013

tubby384 said:
Hello fellow smokers. I consider myself a newbie to this forum, but been smoking things for the last 20 years. I know there are many reputable pit builders out there, but I decided on purchasing a pit made by Gator pit. I've emailed twice and called the shop and both times the receptionist took down my name and number and said her boss will call back. Needless to say no return call from them. Is that the normal way that company does business? I do understand my backyard pit I was going to order is small potatoes to them, but at least have the consideration of either email or call me to say so. Anyways, thanks for letting me vent and this is the best forum yet.

Hopefully, we spoke today, as I returned over 50 messages and voice mails, not including emails. Yes, since I personally handle all custom inquiries, it may take sometime for me to return your call or email. General inquiries can be answered, easily, by my Assistant, Angie. My job responsibilities can easily take me out of the office for hours and days with travel out of town or out of the state. With that said, hopefully, we spoke today.

One another note, Lone Star Chris Goodlander, has never worked for Gator Pit. I do not know him, nor don't think I have ever meet him. I address this, because I have read and have heard this before. So, I do not know where this misinformation is coming from and want to advise, that is not the truth or fact.

If we did not speak today, I will be in my office tomorrow morning and then leaving at 2PM to meet an Orthopedic on the elbow I broke yesterday at the shop. Which pretty much sucks. Ritch

tubby384 · Jun 12, 2013

Smoothsmoke said:
Maybe this might interest you?

Gator Pit $2,000 near San Francisco

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/for/3865255189.html

I wonder how come this is advertised as being in the bay area and in a separate ad it is listed as being in Roseville, CA? Scam maybe?:doh:

tubby384 · Jun 12, 2013

oldbill said:
I'm currently having a pit built by Chris at Lone star Grillz and he told me it would be about a 6 week wait. The avatar that I'm using is a picture of the pit that I'm having built which is a vertical offset. This pit comes stock in 1/4 inch steel with a 4000 sq. inch cooking capacity and with up grades that I have ordered it will be around 6000! That is more than most of the trailer pits that I've seen and it has a 2ft x 4 1/2ft footprint! I upgraded with a 1/2 inch firebox, a 30" wide cabinet instead of the stock 24" width and the warmer/oven over the firebox along with gas assist lighter and a charcoal basket. To get all of these options and this amount of capacity from Gator or Klose you will spend at least a grand or two more than I will at LSG for a name but not necessarily better quality. If you visit their website be sure to go to the accessories page and see all of the options and upgrades that are available and Chris also has a lot of good Youtube videos on his products to watch which will show you the quality and craftsmanship that goes into his pits.

I priced out a 24X48 with a larger vertical box and with all the added upgrades it was only 4500 with 1/2 inch firebox. You think Chris is trying to make a name for himself the kill us with higher prices when he get famous like the others?:caked:

GrillsGoneWild · Jun 12, 2013

tubby384 said:
Rich finally called and has a lead time of 20 weeks.

There goes the theory of him being overpriced for the market....

oldbill · Jun 12, 2013

Gator Pit said:
Hopefully, we spoke today, as I returned over 50 messages and voice mails, not including emails. Yes, since I personally handle all custom inquiries, it may take sometime for me to return your call or email. General inquiries can be answered, easily, by my Assistant, Angie. My job responsibilities can easily take me out of the office for hours and days with travel out of town or out of the state. With that said, hopefully, we spoke today.

One another note, Lone Star Chris Goodlander, has never worked for Gator Pit. I do not know him, nor don't think I have ever meet him. I address this, because I have read and have heard this before. So, I do not know where this misinformation is coming from and want to advise, that is not the truth or fact.

If we did not speak today, I will be in my office tomorrow morning and then leaving at 2PM to meet an Orthopedic on the elbow I broke yesterday at the shop. Which pretty much sucks. Ritch

Pardon me sir if I've helped to spread any misinformation.:redface: I actually read it in a post here on this forum some time ago and it seemed like genuine information. But as rumors or misinformation goes I guess it could have been worse, Chris seems like a pretty good guy and he builds a nice pit.

oldbill · Jun 13, 2013

tubby384 said:
I priced out a 24X48 with a larger vertical box and with all the added upgrades it was only 4500 with 1/2 inch firebox. You think Chris is trying to make a name for himself the kill us with higher prices when he get famous like the others?:caked:

I guess you never know about people or what they'll do once they have a bit of a reputation but in my emails and phone conversations with Chris he seems to be a pretty humble and genuine guy. But you make a good point and that's why we should all buy from him NOW!!!:laugh: My pit with all of the upgrades came to a little over $3200 and that's pretty good from what I've seen from other builders to compare to!

Billdanc · Jun 17, 2013

Ritch, hope that elbow gets better soon!

gator pit reputation

oldbill

is One Chatty Farker

Smoothsmoke

Babbling Farker

armor

is one Smokin' Farker

jmoney7269

Guest

Lockon

Full Fledged Farker

Gator Pit

MemberGot rid of the matchlight.

tubby384

Knows what a fatty is.

tubby384

Knows what a fatty is.

GrillsGoneWild

is one Smokin' Farker

oldbill

is One Chatty Farker

oldbill

is One Chatty Farker

Billdanc

Well-known member

Similar threads