Is a used Texas Original Pit (Pearsall) worth $750?

[AKMIMNAK]

Greetings from Minnesota - been looking low and slow all year for a good offset smoker but I'm not yet to the point in my smoking ability or interest to drop $2k - $3k, thus all the major brands are not in play for me.

This week, a Texas Original Pit popped up for sale near me in MN. I've never heard of them before, but after about 90 minutes of digging, reading, and watching, they seem like a pretty good smoker. What do y'all think?

This Pearsall model s exactly the same as their Luling model, but with the vertical smoker added. This smoker retails for $1849 and he is asking $750. He claims it is in good shape and used about a dozen times over the past two years. Claims he keeps it covered up when not in use, and that the only rust is some surface rust starting on the heat plate which can be sanded and painted pretty easily.

What do y'all think? What questions should I be asking him?

They claim 1/4" steel on the cooking chamber and firebox, and 3/16" elsewhere. The seller says it weighs over 600 pounds, so it sounds pretty solid to me but I value y'alls feedback more than my own tiny smoker knowledge and there's precious little on them on YouTube. Regardless, I'm in Minnesota where the smoker pickings are pretty slim, especially in my price range (under $1,000). So this could be just the thing if it checks out OK with those of you who know Texas Original Pits better than I do.

Thanks for your help!

PS It's the single door version of this with no add-ons:

https://www.texasoriginalpits.com/c.../products/vertical-smoker?variant=39319116749

 

[SmittyJonz]

Probally - I just don’t like those style smokers. Cook chamber is Small and the Warmer doesn’t get Hot enough to cook in.

 

[SmittyJonz]

Road trip:

https://desmoines.craigslist.org/for/d/bbq-smoker/6358254336.html

https://appleton.craigslist.org/grd/d/professional-bbq-pit-smoker/6345851125.html

I’d Probally just get a Ok Joe Bandera or Longhorn from Walmart or Lowe’s.

OR order a Old Country Brazos from Academy. The Brazos is 1/4” and they don’t have the QC issues the Pecos and other lighter gauge OCs......they ship for like $150 but Warning - it'll show up in a bobtail truck with NO Liftgate so have some friends or a forklift ready.

 

[Czarbecue]

That is the exact model I find in front of my local Cabela's. It is decent quality and heavy as fark. The vertical chamber is only 17" in diameter or so. For $750 it is worth it if there are no welding/rust issues. Or you can pay twice the amount for the Old Country All American Angus which have a similar build but squared up:

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/old-country-bbq-pits-all-american-angus-smoker

 

[SmoothBoarBBQ]

Doesn't look like you've got an Academy Sports anywhere near you so I think you're probably OK with picking up the Texas Original Pit. $750 seems like a really good deal and as long as everything is good to go it will give you a very good start in the world of offset smokers.

-Make sure if there's any rust that it's only surface rust ; if you see large amounts of deep pitting I'd walk.

-make sure both the racks in the smoking chamber are there and in reasonable shape

-make sure you've got a grill grate in the firebox which is serviceable

-move the pit around a bit and make sure the wheels aren't messed up... it should move pretty smoothly

-check the doors to both the smoking chamber and the warming box and make sure they make a reasonable seal... doesn't need to be perfect but make sure there aren't large air gaps.

-This is a personal thing for me but I would request the owner fire it up before you get there and have it running on some wood. This way you can see exactly how well it drafts and you can play around with the dampers a bit and make sure it works the way it should. You should be able to keep a nice thin, blue smoke running with the firebox door closed and all dampers open. You should be able to have a nice, bright orange, energetic fire running in the firebox.

-Overall, be prepared to walk away if you're not comfortable. Good luck!

 

[SmittyJonz]

Of course an Old Country Smokehouse Vertical won't be affected by cold/wind As Much being Direct firebox vertical even tho it's only 14 gauge.......:heh:

 

[AKMIMNAK]

Thanks guys! This is all very helpful. I appreciate the feedback and edumacation and will definitely refer to this thread when I head over to check it out tomorrow.

 

[Rockinar]

My neighbor across the street has that exact one. The fit/finish is kinda half ass, but seems to draft OK and does the job. As mentioned the firebox is on the small side. You don't NEED a larger firebox, but nice to have to stoke the coals, move things around, etc.

Might be worth $750. No way I would pay $1800 for a new one.

 

[CptKaos]

Looks a lot like a Lyfetime pit, not real pretty but functional

Larry

 

[WeberWho]

Make an offer on it. He probably will go $50-$100 off the listed price. I'm in Minnesota myself and smokers/pits don't necessarily fly off Craigslist. You have the hand in this negotiation. Grills/smokers for some reason hibernate here in the winter. This pit is probably no different. I bet he sells it for less than asking if you make an offer. There's a reason why he's selling now. He doesn't want to store it another winter. Just my 2 cents

 

[rudomundo]

I have that exact model. The 16" barrel is on the small side. I moved from a 20" cheap offset to this and in future I would pay the difference for the 20". That said, I love it and I cook in the vertical part almost all the time. They advertise a 100 degree difference between the horizontal and vertical, but I put a heat plate in there and I get a difference closer to 50. Very, very easy to run the vertical at 250. If you want it hotter, just add more wood. Firebox fits standard 18" firewood. Longer pieces go in at an angle. Since it is a smallish firebox, you do have to add wood every 15 to 20 minutes, but I like playing with fire so it suits me. I just leave mine outside all the time uncovered. Not at all worried about it rusting through. If I were buying a used one, I would check the bottom of the firebox for rust. I've heard if you leave ashes in there and they get wet, that can cause rust. It weighs over 500 lbs, so delivery might be an issue. Ask if the asking price includes delivery. In sum, it is a worthy smoker.

 

[Czarbecue]

I always wondered about these cookers but get pulled away before I make any hasty decisions. Thanks for the pics.

 

[frognot]

Sounds like a pretty good deal to me if no rust issues.

 

[Bratylten]

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/for/d/offset-smoker/6402062616.html

Looks to be in nice shape and appears to include a charcoal basket.

 

[rudomundo]

LOL, he should have said "Limited Edition Shiner Version," because five were re-branded for a sweepstakes in Oct, 2015. I know because I have one of them. (Keep in mind, what he paid for it has absolutely nothing to do with its value and sales price.) If I can repeat what I said in my previous post, the 16" horizontal chamber is tiny, but I love the vertical part (also 16" obviously, but much more useful). I have done two 15-lb turkeys at once in the vertical. I don't think you'll be able to get a bigger bird in there. I did steaks last night in the fire box. Did a brisket in the horizontal last week. Works for me.

 

[AKMIMNAK]

I have that exact model. The 16" barrel is on the small side. I moved from a 20" cheap offset to this and in future I would pay the difference for the 20". That said, I love it and I cook in the vertical part almost all the time. They advertise a 100 degree difference between the horizontal and vertical, but I put a heat plate in there and I get a difference closer to 50. Very, very easy to run the vertical at 250. If you want it hotter, just add more wood. Firebox fits standard 18" firewood. Longer pieces go in at an angle. Since it is a smallish firebox, you do have to add wood every 15 to 20 minutes, but I like playing with fire so it suits me. I just leave mine outside all the time uncovered. Not at all worried about it rusting through. If I were buying a used one, I would check the bottom of the firebox for rust. I've heard if you leave ashes in there and they get wet, that can cause rust. It weighs over 500 lbs, so delivery might be an issue. Ask if the asking price includes delivery. In sum, it is a worthy smoker.

Do you mainly cook in the vertical side because of the ease of keeping it at 250? Or is there another reason you don't prefer the main chamber? I've never even shopped for a stickburner with the vertical chamber because I thought it was more than I needed, and would force me to use twice the fuel to keep the monstrosity heated when all I need is the main chamber. Should I think of the vertical chamber more positively? Thank you for your post, it was very helpful!

 

[AKMIMNAK]

LOL, he should have said "Limited Edition Shiner Version," because five were re-branded for a sweepstakes in Oct, 2015. I know because I have one of them. (Keep in mind, what he paid for it has absolutely nothing to do with its value and sales price.) If I can repeat what I said in my previous post, the 16" horizontal chamber is tiny, but I love the vertical part (also 16" obviously, but much more useful). I have done two 15-lb turkeys at once in the vertical. I don't think you'll be able to get a bigger bird in there. I did steaks last night in the fire box. Did a brisket in the horizontal last week. Works for me.

That is crazy! Where in the world did you win yours? Was this just a Minnesota promotion? I just moved here and have never heard of Shiner Beer. He told me he won it but I didn't ask further details.

 

[AKMIMNAK]

Update

Went and saw it in person today. Looks like everything it's cracked up to be. The guy selling it clearly knew his BBQ as well, and was able to answer every question and even add quite a bit I didn't think to ask. Super nice guy and very well-built smoker, with tight seals. He is thinking over my offer of $650 but I'm not too hopeful on him coming down. He sounded pretty firm and even seemed a bit sad to be selling it. I'm gonna take a few days and think it over since there's no one else beating down his door to buy it. Thanks for your help, everyone.

 

[Czarbecue]

Never heard of Shiner? It’s a great beer made in Texas!

 

[AKMIMNAK]

Never heard of Shiner? It’s a great beer made in Texas!

When a buddy from Dallas told me Texans drink hot Dr Pepper with their BBQ instead of Sweet Tea, I sort of stopped looking into TX beverage options