Bought a Camp Chef Smoke ProDLX

[stargate823]

Hey gang... I've been away for a long time and I'm finally coming back to my cooker obsession. My deck currently has a 14", 18" and 22" Smokey Mountain. I have a 26" Weber kettle with a Smoke EZ expansion ring, and I also have an older stainless performer with gas assist.

Long story short, I've found that my 26" rig takes the brunt of my cooking but it's a bit of a pain to set up on the regular. I decided to supplement my equipment with a pellet cooker so I had something to use when I didn't feel like all the work that goes into setting up the charcoal rig.

I bought a Camp Chef Smoke ProDLX from WalMart, which is pretty much a PG24 with a stainless lid. I've already got some nomex gasket to seal the lid, but I was curious if anyone was out there modding these things at all. This is obviously all new for me, so I'm looking for any tips you fine experts could provide.

Thanks in advance! I'll post some pics soon... she gets delivered tomorrow!

 

[jjjonz]

Congratulations...I know you are going to love it. Mine has turned into my go to cooker.

 

[stargate823]

Congratulations...I know you are going to love it. Mine has turned into my go to cooker.

That's good to hear. To be honest my purchase of this unit was fueled by the overwhelmingly positive reviews, but all it seems to take is reading the handful of negative ones to burst my bubble. I only read about PID controllers after I forked over the cash.

I have a turkey I plan on testing it out with this weekend for Mothers day. Really anxious to see how it turns out!

 

[stargate823]

Well, I promised pics so here goes.

I had an almost 14 lb turkey and a 7 lb turkey breast to smoke for Mothers day. Obviously I had to pull the breast early. The second shot is the finished bird, glazed with sauce. I smoked these for 2 hours, then finished at 325. I used cheap Pit Boss competition pellets, which seemed to dust a lot but got the job done. I had feedback from 2 people specifically that this was the best turkey they had ever had.

I'm not ready to give up on my charcoal rigs after one cook, but let me tell you. I'm already starting to wonder if I should just give it all up and go ham on a Yoder. I'll make another post to that effect. I'm simply stunned at the result.

More to come as I complete more cooks.

PS: I've included a current shot of one side of my deck. Can I really replace all this with a pellet pooper?

 

[gtsum]

Congrats on the first cook! I used to kind of "look down" on pellets....now that I have the Yoder, my views have changed a bit. Definitely more of a learning curve than I expected...especially with reverse sears etc, but I really like it


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[HoytFlinger]

I tried a pellet pooper and got rid of it after a week. Just could not get the flavor I was after. Hopefully your pallet is different and it works for you.

 

[rwalters]

I agree! I get more compliments when I cook on my MAK's then any other cooker I have ever cooked on...and I have had my fair share of cookers

 

[Woody1911a1]

I tried a pellet pooper and got rid of it after a week.

well at least you gave it a fair chance

 

[16Adams]

I actually kicked the tires on one at W this morning. Camp Cef Pellet model??$367
Was surprised at engineering. It was tight. Bride saw me open the lid, I swear blood spurted out of her left eye. Brides with leaking eyes not good. So trekked 200 F'n yards to the meat and dang Smitty Jones- they had Choice Briskets $2.65#. Only yellow tags were lamb. No thanks. Mary can have them.

I left with shaving soap puck, vitamins supplements and an 18 pack of brown eggs.
I'll be watching for season closeouts. I'm a buyer in the 2 range.

Right now I'm On fishing guide paid IRS more than expected double secret probation. Cash only.

 

[Notorious Q.U.E.]

After April 18, I started counting how many cookers I could buy with taxes paid to IRS