Building a new smoker, need advice!

PinkbootfarmQ · 01-29-2013, 07:40 AM

Hey all, I'm finally getting around to getting a new smoker built! We've been using one we had built 11 years ago for a Carolina style pig roast for our wedding. I've been running a BBQ catering business for the past 4 years, and food truck for the past 2. We do a lot of fairs, fests weddings, and I have a few spots where we set up all day to vend. As much as I love my old smoker, its just not making the cut anymore... I want something i can use to smoke onsite for as many as 400 to as few as 40, ribs, chicken, pork butts, brisket and the likes. I'm unsure what direction to go in for a new smoker, I want a large capacity, wood smoker, that's mounted on a trailer. I've always loved the idea of a carousel smoker, but don't know if its the best bet. Is reverse flow the way to go? Any advice, pix., plans, and tips will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!

JimF · 01-29-2013, 08:34 AM

I would suggest looking around here for a smoker that would fit your needs. Once you have a faint idea of what you want, post a thread asking for more specific details. There are so many different builds out there, each one catered to the needs of the owner. You gotta find what would be best for you and take it from there.

CarolinaQue · 01-29-2013, 08:36 AM

What's your budget?

polishdon · 01-29-2013, 08:42 AM

As JimF said, you need to do some research and see what will work best for you. Do you want just a smoker, or a smoker\grill combo? Rotisserie, reverse flow, vertical?? There are so many designs, each with their own pros and cons.

Do some internet research and see what will suit your needs best, then you can look at building your own version.

CarolinaQue · 01-29-2013, 08:50 AM

These guys have some thing for every one:

http://www.holsteinmfg.com/

I know a few people that speak very highly of these cookers for commercial needs.

PinkbootfarmQ · 01-29-2013, 09:31 AM

What I'd like is a large carousel style smoker. I've used a few different smokers and I do know what I don't like. I'm not a fan of a smoke box on the back of the smoker, like southern Yankees smokers, I do like a smoke box further away form the meat, more of a gravity feed system. I'd like a smoker grill combo and a holding box, but they aren't a must have. But mostly I'd like to know what everyone likes and why and what they don't like and why. I've been looking at so many plans, and smokers, I'm overwhelmed at this point. My budget will sort of be determined by what I decide to go with. We have a friend who's a master welder, fabricator who's going to be building it for us. I'd like to give him some kind of a plan we can tweak to fit our needs.

01-29-2013, 07:40 AM	#1
PinkbootfarmQ Found some matches. Join Date: 03-01-12 Location: West pawlet Vt Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Building a new smoker, need advice! Hey all, I'm finally getting around to getting a new smoker built! We've been using one we had built 11 years ago for a Carolina style pig roast for our wedding. I've been running a BBQ catering business for the past 4 years, and food truck for the past 2. We do a lot of fairs, fests weddings, and I have a few spots where we set up all day to vend. As much as I love my old smoker, its just not making the cut anymore... I want something i can use to smoke onsite for as many as 400 to as few as 40, ribs, chicken, pork butts, brisket and the likes. I'm unsure what direction to go in for a new smoker, I want a large capacity, wood smoker, that's mounted on a trailer. I've always loved the idea of a carousel smoker, but don't know if its the best bet. Is reverse flow the way to go? Any advice, pix., plans, and tips will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

01-29-2013, 08:34 AM	#2
JimF Got Wood. Join Date: 06-23-11 Location: Olney, MD Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I would suggest looking around here for a smoker that would fit your needs. Once you have a faint idea of what you want, post a thread asking for more specific details. There are so many different builds out there, each one catered to the needs of the owner. You gotta find what would be best for you and take it from there. __________________ - Jim, Olney MD

01-29-2013, 08:36 AM	#3
CarolinaQue is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 06-23-07 Location: North Berwick, ME Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	What's your budget? __________________ Tim “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” - Mark Twain - Beautiful family - Home made trailer mounted reverse flow offset w/ vertical chamber, Weber OTG and an ECB

01-29-2013, 08:42 AM	#4
polishdon Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-07-09 Location: Buffalo, NY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	As JimF said, you need to do some research and see what will work best for you. Do you want just a smoker, or a smoker\grill combo? Rotisserie, reverse flow, vertical?? There are so many designs, each with their own pros and cons. Do some internet research and see what will suit your needs best, then you can look at building your own version. __________________ WSM; OTS; DPP Trailer Clone, Wood Fired Double Kettle Pizza Cooker

01-29-2013, 08:50 AM	#5
CarolinaQue is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 06-23-07 Location: North Berwick, ME Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	These guys have some thing for every one: http://www.holsteinmfg.com/ I know a few people that speak very highly of these cookers for commercial needs. __________________ Tim “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” - Mark Twain - Beautiful family - Home made trailer mounted reverse flow offset w/ vertical chamber, Weber OTG and an ECB

01-29-2013, 09:31 AM	#6
PinkbootfarmQ Found some matches. Join Date: 03-01-12 Location: West pawlet Vt Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	What I'd like is a large carousel style smoker. I've used a few different smokers and I do know what I don't like. I'm not a fan of a smoke box on the back of the smoker, like southern Yankees smokers, I do like a smoke box further away form the meat, more of a gravity feed system. I'd like a smoker grill combo and a holding box, but they aren't a must have. But mostly I'd like to know what everyone likes and why and what they don't like and why. I've been looking at so many plans, and smokers, I'm overwhelmed at this point. My budget will sort of be determined by what I decide to go with. We have a friend who's a master welder, fabricator who's going to be building it for us. I'd like to give him some kind of a plan we can tweak to fit our needs.