View Full Version : Offset smokers
chrisr
07-27-2014, 08:11 PM
Ok if any of you had your choice between buying a offset smoker which one would you buy? A Lang reverse flow, Jambo pit, or Gator pit which one would you go with and why?
buttburnersbbq
07-27-2014, 08:25 PM
Lang Reverse Flow. I am a low and slow kinda cooker. Reverse flow can get a even temp from side to side. Also reverse flow are made for the low and slow people.
HarrynVegas
07-27-2014, 08:33 PM
whole lotta Brethren gonna say call T-town and get a Shirley.
aks801
07-27-2014, 08:42 PM
Out of those choices I'd say Gator. I've seen a number of guys using them and all have high regard for Gator. Plus their shop is about 5 miles from my house.
nucornhusker
07-27-2014, 08:48 PM
Of those three choices, I'd personally go in order of Jambo, Gator, then Lang. I'd get the Jambo no doubt, Jamie's a great guy. However, when I do buy a stickburner again, it's 99% likely to be a Yoder.
Bludawg
07-27-2014, 08:50 PM
Given choices I'd go Gator. If I was in the market I'd plunk my dollars down on a Pitmaker Long rifle Sniper
Piggysquealers
07-27-2014, 08:55 PM
I have a bubba grills 250r on a 5x10 trailer. It's a lang type reverse flow offset but a little cheaper. It has a 3500lb axle and goes 90mph no problem. It has a gas assist in the firebox to get the fire going and two fish fry burners on the front. I looked at all of the pits you mentioned and I am happy I chose the bubba for just over 3 grand. Oh and it won MIM ribs...
Blythewood BBQ'er
07-27-2014, 09:00 PM
I too own a BG and love it. If I was pinned to those three I would go lang just because its a reverse flow.
SmokeHouse Blues
07-27-2014, 09:37 PM
Great question Chrisr! As far as reverse flow offsets go, I've used a Lang for years and love it. It puts out great tasting food. Bubba Grills makes smokers that are also very good reverse flow offsets and I have friends on the competition circuit that do quite well with them. Those two are very similar. I know that Jambo make good offsets and they have a good reputation from a lot of people, but I've never used one. They are of course, a sleek looking cooking machine. I can't speak with any knowledge on Gator Pits, although they are a good looking pit. So, with that said and without researching any other smokers, I'd go with a Jambo if I wanted a great smoker AND looks or a Lang if I'm only concerned about putting out great food. You'd win either way. I look forward to reading input from other brethren.
pjtexas1
07-27-2014, 09:45 PM
Another vote for Shirley Fabrication.
On your list I'd go with the Jambo, but look at a Shirley and even a Pitmaker sniper.
Clint
Diesel Dave
07-28-2014, 06:05 AM
I'd go with a Shirlet Fab pit.
I have a Lang and love it!! But last weekend at a cook we did I got to check out a Shirley.
Side by side with my Lang the quality of the SF and workmanship were a bit better than my Lang. Also Paul and Ty add some small extras to their pits.
Grease zircs on every hinge is one that truly impressed me.
I also like their draft opening for the fire box and it's location better than mine.
That cooker ran rock solid and produced some fine Q
Not to say the Lang didn't kick out the same quality Q, but my next cooker will be a SF for sure!!
DaveAlvarado
07-28-2014, 07:53 AM
If money was no object, a Jambo. People bag on his pits for the paint jobs, but the fact is he figured out *exactly* how to make a great cooking pit. It doesn't hurt that they're pretty too.
If money *is* an object (isn't it always?) then a Lone Star Grillz for a traditional offset, or a Shirley for a reverse flow. As far as I can tell those are the best value for your money--you'll get a top notch pit for a great price.
Sevengoals
07-28-2014, 07:54 AM
It would have to be a Shirley Fabrication.
From what I have read and seen in SF threads on this site they only have very happy customers who all love and rave about their work and the fine experience when dealing with the gents at Shirley Fabrication.
oldbill
07-28-2014, 09:58 AM
Well it depends on exactly how much control you want over your cooker. All of the pit builders you mentioned make a great pit but one stands out to me for giving the cook more options and that is the Gator. The reason I say that is because of the three, Gator has tuning plates whereas the Lang and the Jambo don't. Now some people want even temps ALL the time in their pit, which Lang and Jambo give you but others want the ability to adjust heat on one side or the other depending on what they're cooking at the time and that is what tuning plates allow you to do.
In a large offset you can create a cooler area in the cooking chamber with the adjustment of the tuning plates that you can use as a holding area or as a secondary cooking area, which comes in handy if you are having to cook more than one kind of meat or if you're cooking a large quantity and need the ability to hold some of the meat while the rest is finishing.
With that said however, I agree with others that there are other good pit builders out there to look at. Shirley has already been mentioned and also for a Texas built pit you should look at Lone Star Grillz in Conroe. Their quality is every bit as good as Gator and is considerably less expensive, my pit is an LSG and I couldn't be happier.:wink:
http://www.lonestargrillz.com/
luke duke
07-28-2014, 10:04 AM
Out of those, in order:
Gator
Lang
Jambo
However, I would pick a Klose over all three.
Aggie98
07-29-2014, 09:11 PM
FYI (my first post here by the way), I spoke with Jamie Geer (Jambo) today, and he won't be building any of his "backyard" model until 2015. He's filled up with larger trailer builds. BUMMER.
Jambo was the first on my list. I'm also in the hunt for a stickburner. I feel like my top 3 choices are now Lang, Lone Star, and Gator. As far as I'm aware, Gator is the only one of those 3 who offers an insulated firebox; however, Gator is also the most pricey of the 3. I'm still waiting on all of them to call me back.
FYI (my first post here by the way), I spoke with Jamie Geer (Jambo) today, and he won't be building any of his "backyard" model until 2015. He's filled up with larger trailer builds. BUMMER.
Jambo was the first on my list. I'm also in the hunt for a stickburner. I feel like my top 3 choices are now Lang, Lone Star, and Gator. As far as I'm aware, Gator is the only one of those 3 who offers an insulated firebox; however, Gator is also the most pricey of the 3. I'm still waiting on all of them to call me back.
Lone Star offers an insulated firebox.
tulocay
07-29-2014, 09:21 PM
I'm new here, so take it easy on me. Would any of you consider a Peoria cooker? Perhaps one of their MMIF models?
Aggie98
07-29-2014, 09:31 PM
Lone Star offers an insulated firebox.
Thanks! Yep, hidden on the accessories page.
SmittyJonz
07-29-2014, 09:48 PM
Which One comes in Camo?
I'm new here, so take it easy on me. Would any of you consider a Peoria cooker? Perhaps one of their MMIF models?
Nothing wrong with Peoria custom cookers. Actually they are top notch. I was considering one until I changed my mind when I decided to go with the Lone Star vertical offset. LSG vertical is smaller footprint, huge capacity and frankly TX is closer to me than IL.
Blacksheep-Joe
07-29-2014, 11:38 PM
I agree with oldbill. The tuning plates are a nice option to have.
Mark M
07-30-2014, 07:24 AM
I'm new here, so take it easy on me. Would any of you consider a Peoria cooker? Perhaps one of their MMIF models?
I sure would consider a Peoria Custom Cookers Meat Monster or MMIF. Those are well built and completely insulated (fire box and cooking chamber). Set and forget. The Meat Monster has 2 stacks to control the flow of heat/smoke (high and low).
But all of the pits mentioned in this thread have great reputations. I'm a reverse flow guy so if I were to buy again it would be hard to resist a Shirley product.
sasbbq
07-30-2014, 07:44 AM
Hello!
I'm in New Jersey so to avoid shipping charges am considering a Meadow Creek TS70P - anyone have one and can offer any recommendations?
Thank you,
Scott
tulocay
07-30-2014, 03:03 PM
I sure would consider a Peoria Custom Cookers Meat Monster or MMIF. Those are well built and completely insulated (fire box and cooking chamber). Set and forget. The Meat Monster has 2 stacks to control the flow of heat/smoke (high and low).
But all of the pits mentioned in this thread have great reputations. I'm a reverse flow guy so if I were to buy again it would be hard to resist a Shirley product.
I have looked at the MMIF video and I'm very impressed. I hate to ask such a rookie question, but what are the advantages to Reverse Flow versus something like the MMIF?
rustyn1964
07-30-2014, 04:24 PM
in this order
Shirley Fabrication
Shirley Fabrication
Shirley Fabrication
veryolddog
07-30-2014, 04:57 PM
I currently have 3 Yoder Offset Smokers: the Cheyenne in Texas; the Santa Fe and the Loaded Wichita in New Mexico. Everyone, performs very well. Pound for Pound, the Cheyenne, the smallest in the line of backyard smokers, is the most versatile if you are cooking for 2 to 10 people. Each one include the heat management plate for even heat distribution which is the key to any kind of smoking food.
We all have our personal preferences and experiences so all of the above mentioned choices within this thread would be more than satisfactory.
Any of the 3 mentioned in the OP, as well as others mentioned, are great cookers, and folks tend to be very happy with any of those.
I would be thinking about how much cooking space you need and what options are available for the money and see what's right for you, because you most likely won't be disappointed with any of these builders - you just have to figure out what size and features are important to you. Do you want even temps all across or zones? Do you want a warmer (I love mine on my Klose)? How much capacity to you need? Does it need to be a trailer rig? How important is fuel efficiency? etc. and so on. Will you be cooking whole hogs and what size? Diameter would be a big consideration for that.
Shinka
07-30-2014, 06:31 PM
Hello!
I'm in New Jersey so to avoid shipping charges am considering a Meadow Creek TS70P - anyone have one and can offer any recommendations?
Thank you,
Scott
Wouldn't trade my TS120 for any other mentioned (especially taking shipping into consideration)
Hornalum
07-30-2014, 07:28 PM
My order of preference would be Jambo > Gator > Lang.
The Jambo pits are really really high quality (the trailer pits are...I can't speak for the backyard pits). I wish I had considered one when I bought my Klose, which I've grown to dislike for a number of reasons. A friend of mine has a 24" Gator Pit and the build quality is better than Klose in my opinion. It's a solid pit with nice attention to detail. I haven't seen a Lang up close but if you're considering a reverse flow, Shirley Fabrication seems like the better choice. Good luck with whatever you decide on.
Piggysquealers
07-30-2014, 09:19 PM
Bubba grills, the new models have the counter going the full length, the older models had the lower door option so you could shovel some coals in while it was lit. (If you were smoking and grilling) The gas is for the two burners up front and the fire starter in the firebox
jjrkegler
07-30-2014, 09:37 PM
I think the first decision is reverse flow or not. Besides the ability to vary temps, a straight offset gives you the option to grill in the main chamber (the Party Gator is an example). Without seeing any of these first hand but doing lots of research, I would put Gator first.
That said, my 24x48 Lone Star Grillz ships tomorrow. I'm not doing competitions and there is a definite price difference between LSG and Gator.
i have to go with lang mine is a great cooker
sasbbq
07-31-2014, 05:09 AM
Thank you!
Scott
Wouldn't trade my TS120 for any other mentioned (especially taking shipping into consideration)
Diesel Dave
07-31-2014, 05:18 AM
You can vary your temps from end to end on an RF cooker.
It'll take some playing around to figure it out. But by raising or lowering the front of the pit, if it's a trailer model, can give you much different heat zones.
Just tossing that out there
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