Backwoods Fatboy or Gater

Spartan_Jeff · 11-07-2012, 12:33 AM

Can any Fatboy or Gater owners tell me how much capacity these models have? Are the capacities stated on the BWS website accurate or are they overstated by alot. Any info about them would be great as I am looking to buy one real soon. Thanks a bunch.

bizznessman · 11-07-2012, 12:53 AM

Spartan, We have a Competitor and I can attest that the capacities listed on the BWS site are accurate for it. I saw a Fatboy and a Gator at the KC Royal BBQ event two years ago and I would also agree that the capacities they list on their site are accurate on those as well. Mike makes one of the greatest lines of smokers around. If you intend to produce some quantity at some point I would suggest considering the Competitor. We had originally looked at a Fatboy but we are now very glad we went with the Competitor for the extra capacity.

NorthwestBBQ · 11-07-2012, 05:05 AM

PM Swamprb!

swamprb · 11-07-2012, 06:08 AM

I had 16 racks of BB's and that was only using 4 of the 5 cook grates. I think the capacity of the Gater as stated is pretty conservative.

The thing I wish I had done was to have the extra sliders for the cook grates option. I don't care for the standard sliders positioning and the extras will give you more flexibility. An extra water pan would be nice. The cover is a must have.

I wish the water pan was on sliders instead of the way its designed, but thats just me.

All in all, I'm happy with the Gater, it is definitely not what I'm used to cooking on, but with time I'll nail it down. Take a look at my Left Hand Smoke Facebook page for cook pics.

cpw · 11-07-2012, 07:08 AM

I would go with the Gater over the Fatboy, mainly because you can fit a full size foil pan in there. The fatboy is about an inch short so you have to bend and force the foil to get it to fit.

Ackman · 11-07-2012, 07:08 AM

I have the BWS Extended Party and it is accurately represented as to capacithy -- one comment I might make, it may just be me, but every cooker I have bought....at least up until this one...so far....I wish I had bought at least the next size up. Some how as you get going I find I just need to cook more meat.

cpw · 11-07-2012, 07:20 AM

I'll also say this: I have the extra grate slider option on my Fatboy, and I can easily fit 4 butts per rack, but the problem I have is the spacing between the racks gets too tight to fit the butts between the racks. I think if I only had 4 sliders instead of 5, this wouldn't be an issue.

Luckily, I've only tried to cook 16 butts on it one time, and I won't be doing it again.

smokinit · 11-07-2012, 07:23 AM

I personally like the Fatboy better I have cooked on both extensively.
If Full hotel pans are somthing you want to fit consider the G2 Party over the Gater.

Spartan_Jeff · 11-07-2012, 01:55 PM

Thanx for all if the great info.

11-07-2012, 12:33 AM	#1
Spartan_Jeff Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 09-28-12 Location: Lansing, mi Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Backwoods Fatboy or Gater Can any Fatboy or Gater owners tell me how much capacity these models have? Are the capacities stated on the BWS website accurate or are they overstated by alot. Any info about them would be great as I am looking to buy one real soon. Thanks a bunch.

11-07-2012, 12:53 AM	#2
bizznessman Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 03-20-09 Location: Hays KS Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Spartan, We have a Competitor and I can attest that the capacities listed on the BWS site are accurate for it. I saw a Fatboy and a Gator at the KC Royal BBQ event two years ago and I would also agree that the capacities they list on their site are accurate on those as well. Mike makes one of the greatest lines of smokers around. If you intend to produce some quantity at some point I would suggest considering the Competitor. We had originally looked at a Fatboy but we are now very glad we went with the Competitor for the extra capacity. __________________ Do I smell SMOKE?????

11-07-2012, 05:05 AM	#3
NorthwestBBQ somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-28-09 Location: Lynnwood, WA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	PM Swamprb! __________________ Michael KCBS/PNWBA Member, Cook, CBJ & Photographer Custom Engraved Wine Barrel Lids

11-07-2012, 06:08 AM	#4
swamprb somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-27-06 Location: Bothell WA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I had 16 racks of BB's and that was only using 4 of the 5 cook grates. I think the capacity of the Gater as stated is pretty conservative. The thing I wish I had done was to have the extra sliders for the cook grates option. I don't care for the standard sliders positioning and the extras will give you more flexibility. An extra water pan would be nice. The cover is a must have. I wish the water pan was on sliders instead of the way its designed, but thats just me. All in all, I'm happy with the Gater, it is definitely not what I'm used to cooking on, but with time I'll nail it down. Take a look at my Left Hand Smoke Facebook page for cook pics. __________________ Brian - Left Hand Smoke BBQ PNWBA 2010 Team of the Year BGE's/WSM's/BWS Gater/BDS Clones/Weber Performer w EZ-Que/Cajun Bandit/Rib-O-Lator Test Pilot/La Caja China/BBQ Guru/Weber 1000 RK Drum Coffee Roaster Follow Left Hand Smoke on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Left-H...462391?sk=wall KCBS CBJ/PNWBA CBJ www.pnwba.com

11-07-2012, 07:08 AM	#5
cpw is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 02-28-11 Location: Savannah, Georgia Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	I would go with the Gater over the Fatboy, mainly because you can fit a full size foil pan in there. The fatboy is about an inch short so you have to bend and force the foil to get it to fit. __________________ ________________ Backwoods Fatboy Lang 84 Deluxe UDS Savannah, GA Yes, Dear BBQ on Facebook

11-07-2012, 07:08 AM	#6
Ackman On the road to being a farker Join Date: 04-26-10 Location: New Canaan, CT Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have the BWS Extended Party and it is accurately represented as to capacithy -- one comment I might make, it may just be me, but every cooker I have bought....at least up until this one...so far....I wish I had bought at least the next size up. Some how as you get going I find I just need to cook more meat. __________________ Steve ----------------- WSM 18" CookShack SM025 Lang 36 BWS Extended Party

11-07-2012, 07:20 AM	#7
cpw is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 02-28-11 Location: Savannah, Georgia Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	I'll also say this: I have the extra grate slider option on my Fatboy, and I can easily fit 4 butts per rack, but the problem I have is the spacing between the racks gets too tight to fit the butts between the racks. I think if I only had 4 sliders instead of 5, this wouldn't be an issue. Luckily, I've only tried to cook 16 butts on it one time, and I won't be doing it again. __________________ ________________ Backwoods Fatboy Lang 84 Deluxe UDS Savannah, GA Yes, Dear BBQ on Facebook

11-07-2012, 07:23 AM	#8
smokinit is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 03-16-07 Location: Coxsackie NY/West Chester Pa Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	I personally like the Fatboy better I have cooked on both extensively. If Full hotel pans are somthing you want to fit consider the G2 Party over the Gater. __________________ BWS Pro Comp Hog Custom Battle Box Humphrey's Smokers and Accesories http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=154925 Authorized Backwoods Dealer http://www.purpleporkmasters.com http://www.facebook.com/SMOKENIT

11-07-2012, 01:55 PM	#9
Spartan_Jeff Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 09-28-12 Location: Lansing, mi Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanx for all if the great info.