Fire up the smoker and weather turns bad...

dbhost · 11-13-2007, 12:30 PM

Last Christmas my fiancee gave me a New Branfels Bandera Smoker to replace my old, rusted up Silver Smoker, and I got it a few days early in order for me to... Can you guess? Smoke up the Christmas Turkey. Okay, no problem right? That's what I thought, until the weather turned COLD, RAINY, and WINDY after the bird went in the smoker and it was all I could do to keep any sort of fire going. What to do?...

Digging through my camping gear, a solution presented itself.

Take 1 EZ Up canopy that is, uh, inadvertently ventilated toward the top due to age, set up over the smoker, and use sandbags filled with topsoil from the garage (gardening stuff) to keep it from blowing away.

Next take 10x20 foot giant Poly tarp, and create walls on 3 sides facing the wind. Leave enough of a gap between canopy top and wall sides to allow smoke to escape. Anchor bottom of tarp to ground with heavy stuff. I used paver bricks from a ripped out patio project. The top was tied on with parachute cord from my hunting supplies.

I would like to figure out a better solution, but that is what worked for me and saved Christmas. Thanksgiving this year is coming up, and I have GOT to outdo her brother in smoking up turkeys. Any suggestions you might have would be greatly appreciated. (He takes as much pride in his BBQ as I do mine, and he volunteered to help cook for the wedding, then backed out leaving us to foot the bill for a $1,500.00 caterer. If I wasn't the groom, I would BBQ my own stuff for the party... So this is a big deal matter of pride here...)

HolySmoke · 11-13-2007, 07:10 PM

sound like you got it under control, as long as you still have all the same materials. Other than that, the only thing left to do would be to construct a more perm cooking hut.

good luck & snap some pics of what you do.

that's hot · 11-13-2007, 07:16 PM

you need an out door kitchen

M

Mitch · 11-13-2007, 07:21 PM

Cookers do what they have to in order to ge the job done! You're a Cooker!

Smokin J · 11-13-2007, 08:59 PM

I agree. You do what ya gotta do. I have put together some pretty sorry looking baracades out of old stockade fence, and plywood in a pinch. I set my WSM up in a pretty well protected area of the yard, so I will be using that for most of my winter cooks. I'll probablt still make a folding plywood baracade though.

Puppyboy · 11-13-2007, 09:49 PM

That's another reason I love my carport. I can Q year round.

Norcoredneck · 11-13-2007, 11:20 PM

I get the foul weather (by So. California standards) when I try a deep fried turkey. Windy every time. Last couple was rain also.

dbhost · 11-14-2007, 09:32 AM

Yeah, 2004 and 2006 were odd weather Christmas wise.

I am fixing to set up to smoke up a bird and a couple of roasts or a brisket for Thanksgiving for the family. Will take some pics of the set up. I pretty much use whatever gear I have from building materials and camping gear to whatever the previous owner of my house left in the garage... I make it work to the best of my ability...

Right now I am concentrating on making the best BBQ possible. I have a matter of pride at stake here...

11-13-2007, 12:30 PM	#1
dbhost Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 02-22-07 Location: League City, TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Fire up the smoker and weather turns bad... Last Christmas my fiancee gave me a New Branfels Bandera Smoker to replace my old, rusted up Silver Smoker, and I got it a few days early in order for me to... Can you guess? Smoke up the Christmas Turkey. Okay, no problem right? That's what I thought, until the weather turned COLD, RAINY, and WINDY after the bird went in the smoker and it was all I could do to keep any sort of fire going. What to do?... Digging through my camping gear, a solution presented itself. Take 1 EZ Up canopy that is, uh, inadvertently ventilated toward the top due to age, set up over the smoker, and use sandbags filled with topsoil from the garage (gardening stuff) to keep it from blowing away. Next take 10x20 foot giant Poly tarp, and create walls on 3 sides facing the wind. Leave enough of a gap between canopy top and wall sides to allow smoke to escape. Anchor bottom of tarp to ground with heavy stuff. I used paver bricks from a ripped out patio project. The top was tied on with parachute cord from my hunting supplies. I would like to figure out a better solution, but that is what worked for me and saved Christmas. Thanksgiving this year is coming up, and I have GOT to outdo her brother in smoking up turkeys. Any suggestions you might have would be greatly appreciated. (He takes as much pride in his BBQ as I do mine, and he volunteered to help cook for the wedding, then backed out leaving us to foot the bill for a $1,500.00 caterer. If I wasn't the groom, I would BBQ my own stuff for the party... So this is a big deal matter of pride here...) __________________ New Braunfels Bandera Smoker. Silicone Door Gasket mod. HD Alum Foil baffle. In door thermometer. 3 hanging thermometers. Weber Smokey Joe Gold portable BBQ Grill for those beach weekends! 152qt Igloo ice chest full of Jello shots and beer.

11-13-2007, 07:10 PM	#2
HolySmoke is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-14-07 Location: Long Island Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	sound like you got it under control, as long as you still have all the same materials. Other than that, the only thing left to do would be to construct a more perm cooking hut. good luck & snap some pics of what you do. __________________ -Joe Out of the Ashes BBQ Team "Keeping the Bar in Barbecue" JC'S BAR-B-QUE & CATERING http://www.jcbbq.com LANG 84-Deluxe warmer, Yard Pit, JC'S Bar-B-Que Roadhouse (SOLD), 18WSM 22.5WSM, Smokey Joe, Meadow Creek PR60

11-13-2007, 07:16 PM	#3
that's hot On the road to being a farker Join Date: 10-28-07 Location: Louisville KY. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	you need an out door kitchen M __________________ true Q char griller & side firebox weber 22.5 kettle custom built brute UDS

11-13-2007, 07:21 PM	#4
Mitch is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-22-07 Location: Lincoln NE Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Cookers do what they have to in order to ge the job done! You're a Cooker! __________________ Gator Pit Entertainer Stumps GF223 Lg. BGE

11-13-2007, 08:59 PM	#5
Smokin J Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-25-07 Location: Islip, NY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I agree. You do what ya gotta do. I have put together some pretty sorry looking baracades out of old stockade fence, and plywood in a pinch. I set my WSM up in a pretty well protected area of the yard, so I will be using that for most of my winter cooks. I'll probablt still make a folding plywood baracade though. __________________ Out of the Ashes BBQ Team "Keeping the Bar in Barbecue" JC'S BAR-B-QUE & CATERING http://www.jcbbq.com LANG #84 W/ DELUX WARMER MC PR-60 PIG ROASTER CGL-60 MagiCater Charcoal Grill 22.5" WSM, 22.5" WSM & Weber Kettle

11-13-2007, 09:49 PM	#6
Puppyboy Babbling Farker Join Date: 07-07-06 Location: Osage City, Kansas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	That's another reason I love my carport. I can Q year round. __________________ -Captain of Barkin Dawgs BBQ -KCBS Judge #21924 -36" Kingfisher Combo -New Braunfels Bandera (rescued) -Weber 22.5" Kettle (rescued) -A homemade trailer cooker -Concession trailer nicknamed "The Dawg House" http://www.facebook.com/BarkinDawgsBBQCatering

11-13-2007, 11:20 PM	#7
Norcoredneck somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-11-06 Location: Norco, Ca. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I get the foul weather (by So. California standards) when I try a deep fried turkey. Windy every time. Last couple was rain also. __________________ *Low and Slow.....* *The Prontologist is in...* *Ok let's see your Butt!*

11-14-2007, 09:32 AM	#8
dbhost Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 02-22-07 Location: League City, TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Yeah, 2004 and 2006 were odd weather Christmas wise. I am fixing to set up to smoke up a bird and a couple of roasts or a brisket for Thanksgiving for the family. Will take some pics of the set up. I pretty much use whatever gear I have from building materials and camping gear to whatever the previous owner of my house left in the garage... I make it work to the best of my ability... Right now I am concentrating on making the best BBQ possible. I have a matter of pride at stake here... __________________ New Braunfels Bandera Smoker. Silicone Door Gasket mod. HD Alum Foil baffle. In door thermometer. 3 hanging thermometers. Weber Smokey Joe Gold portable BBQ Grill for those beach weekends! 152qt Igloo ice chest full of Jello shots and beer.

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