What to do 18.5 or 22.5 WSM

bacchus99 · 07-14-2012, 02:33 PM

I know there has been a million threads on this but my situation is a little unique. I know most folks will recommend the 22.5 but i have 80 bucks in gift cards to a retailer that only carries the 18.5 :(.

With that said the money isn't a huge factor but I love a deal so getting an 18.5 for $220 or so sounds nice.

I'm thinking the max i would ever need to cook would be 8 racks of ribs, 30lb of butts, or a full packer brisket or 2(maybe once a year). Most of the time i'd be cooking for just the wife and I or no more than about 8 people.

What would you do? Thanks!

touchdowntodd · 07-14-2012, 02:36 PM

then id get the 18 for sure .. i have an 18 and it seems able to hold more than ill ever need to put on it!

strategically placed i think you can fit all that on a 18 (unsure about the ribs, but possible depending on how you do it i think)

caseydog · 07-14-2012, 02:42 PM

I have an 18.5, and I don't think I could handle eight racks of ribs, at least not without some mods. The butts and brisket would work.

I do have a could of OTGs, though, for overflow.

With the gift card, and my tight finances, I would go with the 18.5 for $220. But, if money is no object, buy whatever you really want.

CD

HoosierTrooper · 07-14-2012, 02:43 PM

I have both and you should be able to easily do those amounts on the 18.5.

ksu1971 · 07-14-2012, 02:44 PM

Sounds like the 18" is the way to go. As it was mentioned with some creative placement you can get more on there then you think. I know some guys purchase a folding rack made for the BGE that sits nicely on the top rack for more room when needed. I am loving my WSM already and I am only on my first cook.

yakdung · 07-14-2012, 03:02 PM

Sounds like the 18 to me. Now go buy it and get smokin...

Smoking Westy · 07-14-2012, 03:14 PM

Will a full packer fit on an 18?

I was recently in this predicament and settled on the 22.5". Peace of mind of having the extra capacity finally made the decision,that and my wife looked at them side by side and say the 18 was tiny compared the 22.5". Sold...give me the big one!

I can get 4 ribs on each grill with my 22.5". If you wanted to do 8 on the 18 I would think you'd need to use rib racks or some other mod.

Big slick · 07-14-2012, 03:17 PM

Go bigger. It's always better to have the extra room. I find that I hate starting my smoker up for 1 butt so I usually smoke stuff for friends as well. It's nice having the extra room.

bacchus99 · 07-14-2012, 03:30 PM

I'm assuming the door on the 18.5 is too small to get beans into to catch drippings like some folks do on the 22.5?

I failed to mention i do have a 22.5 weber kettle as well that i have learned how to smoke on.

Bluesman · 07-14-2012, 03:35 PM

Get the 22.5. The day will come when you got...............Fark! I should have gotten the big one. Then you will buy the big one and have two. I suppose either way you can't lose.

LTG · 07-14-2012, 03:47 PM

Gift cards or not, I would still get the 22.5". More flexibility, especially for ribs and packer briskets.

caseydog · 07-14-2012, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bacchus99

I'm assuming the door on the 18.5 is too small to get beans into to catch drippings like some folks do on the 22.5?

I failed to mention i do have a 22.5 weber kettle as well that i have learned how to smoke on.

The doors on either one should not help you when it comes to adding beans. It is bellow the cooking grates. I'm not sure what "some folks" are doing.

CD

volfan411 · 07-14-2012, 03:52 PM

I just got a 18.5 to cook for a family of 4 and think I have plenty of room. I think with a rib rack on each shelf you should be able to do 8 racks of ribs. I used mine for the first time yesterday and loved it the temp control is amazing.

caseydog · 07-14-2012, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTG

Gift cards or not, I would still get the 22.5". More flexibility, especially for ribs and packer briskets.

I guess I have a different philosophy. To me, buying a bigger smoker for the three times a year you need it is like driving a super-duty pickup everyday because you tow a boat to the lake three times a year -- and I know people who do that.

I tend to buy what I'll use most of the time, and find a way to do what I need to do if I have to on rare occasions.

We are looking at 220 bucks vs. 400 bucks, and more charcoal wasted cooking most of his cooks -- and he has a 22.5 kettle if he needs it. That's something to consider.

CD

PatAttack · 07-14-2012, 05:22 PM

^^^As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with CD.

07-14-2012, 02:33 PM	#1
bacchus99 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-12-12 Location: Baton Rouge, LA	What to do 18.5 or 22.5 WSM I know there has been a million threads on this but my situation is a little unique. I know most folks will recommend the 22.5 but i have 80 bucks in gift cards to a retailer that only carries the 18.5 :(. With that said the money isn't a huge factor but I love a deal so getting an 18.5 for $220 or so sounds nice. I'm thinking the max i would ever need to cook would be 8 racks of ribs, 30lb of butts, or a full packer brisket or 2(maybe once a year). Most of the time i'd be cooking for just the wife and I or no more than about 8 people. What would you do? Thanks!

07-14-2012, 02:36 PM	#2
touchdowntodd Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-06-12 Location: milwaukee, WI	then id get the 18 for sure .. i have an 18 and it seems able to hold more than ill ever need to put on it! strategically placed i think you can fit all that on a 18 (unsure about the ribs, but possible depending on how you do it i think) __________________ 18.5" WSM & Black Stainless Performer (craiglist finds) ... :) ..rookie tryin to learn

07-14-2012, 02:43 PM	#4
HoosierTrooper Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-25-07 Location: Jeffersonville, Indiana	I have both and you should be able to easily do those amounts on the 18.5. __________________ 18.5 and 22.5 WSM's Old Country Pecos Certified MOINK Baller 11-9-08

07-14-2012, 02:44 PM	#5
ksu1971 On the road to being a farker Join Date: 05-03-12 Location: Chanute, KS	Sounds like the 18" is the way to go. As it was mentioned with some creative placement you can get more on there then you think. I know some guys purchase a folding rack made for the BGE that sits nicely on the top rack for more room when needed. I am loving my WSM already and I am only on my first cook. __________________ 22.5" WSM 22.5" OTS w/Smokenator [B][COLOR=Purple]Super Fast[/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR=Purple]Purple Thermapen [/COLOR][/B]Maverick ET-732

07-14-2012, 03:14 PM	#7
Smoking Westy is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 06-10-12 Location: Bloomington, IL	Will a full packer fit on an 18? I was recently in this predicament and settled on the 22.5". Peace of mind of having the extra capacity finally made the decision,that and my wife looked at them side by side and say the 18 was tiny compared the 22.5". Sold...give me the big one! I can get 4 ribs on each grill with my 22.5". If you wanted to do 8 on the 18 I would think you'd need to use rib racks or some other mod. __________________ WSM 22.5", One-Touch 22.5", Redhead 18.5" Smoke Joe Silver, Q200, "Mr. T"

07-14-2012, 02:42 PM	#3
caseydog somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-08-10 Location: Texas	I have an 18.5, and I don't think I could handle eight racks of ribs, at least not without some mods. The butts and brisket would work. I do have a could of OTGs, though, for overflow. With the gift card, and my tight finances, I would go with the 18.5 for $220. But, if money is no object, buy whatever you really want. CD

07-14-2012, 03:02 PM	#6
yakdung is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 04-12-10 Location: Houston, Texas	Sounds like the 18 to me. Now go buy it and get smokin...

07-14-2012, 03:17 PM	#8
Big slick is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 03-04-11 Location: Palatine, Il	Go bigger. It's always better to have the extra room. I find that I hate starting my smoker up for 1 butt so I usually smoke stuff for friends as well. It's nice having the extra room. __________________ 22.5" WSM, 22.5" Weber Kettle, Kenmore 6 burner Gas Grill.....Where's The Beef?

07-14-2012, 03:30 PM	#9
bacchus99 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-12-12 Location: Baton Rouge, LA	I'm assuming the door on the 18.5 is too small to get beans into to catch drippings like some folks do on the 22.5? I failed to mention i do have a 22.5 weber kettle as well that i have learned how to smoke on.

07-14-2012, 03:35 PM	#10
Bluesman Babbling Farker Join Date: 01-01-10 Location: Planet Krypton Name/Nickname : Jon	Get the 22.5. The day will come when you got...............Fark! I should have gotten the big one. Then you will buy the big one and have two. I suppose either way you can't lose. __________________ 2010 22.5 WSM Weber Q200 1983 WGA 2010 Brick Red Touch n' Go Performer Kitchen stove

07-14-2012, 03:47 PM	#11
LTG Take a breath! Join Date: 02-08-10 Location: OKC, OK Name/Nickname : Billy Bob	Gift cards or not, I would still get the 22.5". More flexibility, especially for ribs and packer briskets. __________________ Outsiders BBQ. Some homemade drums.

07-14-2012, 03:52 PM	#13
volfan411 On the road to being a farker Join Date: 05-01-12 Location: Knoxville tn	I just got a 18.5 to cook for a family of 4 and think I have plenty of room. I think with a rib rack on each shelf you should be able to do 8 racks of ribs. I used mine for the first time yesterday and loved it the temp control is amazing. __________________ OK Joe OS, WSM 18.5, OTS 22.5, BBQ Guru Digi 2, Vols Orange Thermapen

07-14-2012, 05:22 PM	#15
PatAttack somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-19-11 Location: In the Marsh	^^^As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with CD.