What’s the deal with these huge pits on wheels?

rovster · 06-05-2020, 08:37 AM

Pardon my ignorance I am just a home cook but I’ve been wondering what all you with these huge pots are doing with them. I see many huge pits on trailers and monster pits out there. Are these being used for personal use, competition, catering? I can understand a trailered pit being easy to trailer for comps but the capacity on these things is unreal and as far as I understood you’re not cooking a dozen briskets at a competition. I guess catering I can understand.

Just curious here at what niche these large cookers are filling. I do know of one guy that flies back home to the Carolinas and he cooks an ungodly amount of cue for his family gatherings a couple times a year, is that what these are used for? Again, pardon my ignorance I’m from South Florida and that kind of stuff just isn’t part of the culture down here like I imagine it is in other parts.

Curiously yours

mytmouz · 06-05-2020, 09:18 AM

I had a 24x48 with a warmer. Take Thanksgiving for example. 2 turkeys, a ham, a pan of dressing, a pan of cabbage, and a peach cobbler takes up some real estate...

Kmm · 06-05-2020, 09:21 AM

Probably the same reasons some people Choose to live in million dollar homes when a 2 bedroom apartment would be sufficient. It is all about personal preferences and priorities. Personally, I am thankful to live in a country where we are all free to make those kind of choices.

rovster · 06-05-2020, 10:04 AM

Hope my question not taken as judgement. I can see if you regularly have pans of sides how the extra real estate could come in handy mover thought of that.

PatAttack · 06-05-2020, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rovster

Hope my question not taken as judgement. I can see if you regularly have pans of sides how the extra real estate could come in handy mover thought of that.

It's a valid question.

When I had my Shirley, I'd call up close friends to tell them I was firing it up to do a cook and they'd all come over with whatever they wanted smoked. Turned into a party.

Others, myself included use them to do benefits like cooking for Veterans and different VFW Posts. RIP my Brother, Diesel Dave. He did so many cooks for Veterans.

SonVolt · 06-05-2020, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatAttack

It's a valid question.

When I had my Shirley, I'd call up close friends to tell them I was firing it up to do a cook and they'd all come over with whatever they wanted smoked. Turned into a party.

Others, myself included use them to do benefits like cooking for Veterans and different VFW Posts. RIP my Brother, Diesel Dave. He did so many cooks for Veterans.

Just curious, why did you get rid of the Shirley?

blackdogbbq21 · 06-05-2020, 11:22 AM

I've got a 250 gallon offset in my backyard which is overkill for many of my cooks. However I've had a few backyard parties where I've loaded it up full too. I knew when I bought it that it was more room than i'd need most of the time. For what a well made backyard model costs it made more sense to me to buy something larger. Maybe one day i'll get a smaller backyard pit but otherwise I don't feel like i'm wasting wood cooking on a 250 all the time.

PatAttack · 06-05-2020, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonVolt

Just curious, why did you get rid of the Shirley?

Bought a house and used the $ to help with down payment.

Not only that, I work a lot of hours and I wasn't using it as much as I would have liked to. Didn't have much time to do as many cooks as I'd like, unfortunately. I'm in saving mode to purchase another one, though!

Blizzard · 06-05-2020, 12:24 PM

I’m also curious about these large smokers. Lots of the ones pictured are on tires. Do those tires ever go flat? I have a dolly out in the garage with pneumatic tires. What a royal pain in the behind. I absolutely hate having to put air in those tires every time I need to use it.

For example the Shirley smokers everyone mentions, they all seem to have pneumatic tires.

mytmouz · 06-05-2020, 12:30 PM

No more than any other tire I have...

SonVolt · 06-05-2020, 12:40 PM

I mean, they're on trailers and trailers have regular old auto tires. So should be the same maintenance as your vehicle.

robertm · 06-05-2020, 01:22 PM

I drive an F350 to work most days so..

rm41400 · 06-05-2020, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blizzard

I’m also curious about these large smokers. Lots of the ones pictured are on tires. Do those tires ever go flat? I have a dolly out in the garage with pneumatic tires. What a royal pain in the behind. I absolutely hate having to put air in those tires every time I need to use it.

For example the Shirley smokers everyone mentions, they all seem to have pneumatic tires.

Yup no real issues with the Shirley tires. I’ve added a little air maybe once a year

SweetHeatBBQnSC · 06-05-2020, 02:56 PM

They have the to make the rest of us jealous. Also, to give us something to aim for in the future!

WilliamKY · 06-05-2020, 03:05 PM

My Shirley is bigger than what I need but I like to have the option of a big cook if needed. A couple spatchcock chickens or a 90lb pig with sides. I can always do small cooks in a big cooker but cant do big cooks in a small cooker. I like the peace of mind with added real estate.

06-05-2020, 08:37 AM	#1
rovster Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 05-20-20 Location: Miramar, FL Name/Nickname : Daniel	What’s the deal with these huge pits on wheels? Pardon my ignorance I am just a home cook but I’ve been wondering what all you with these huge pots are doing with them. I see many huge pits on trailers and monster pits out there. Are these being used for personal use, competition, catering? I can understand a trailered pit being easy to trailer for comps but the capacity on these things is unreal and as far as I understood you’re not cooking a dozen briskets at a competition. I guess catering I can understand. Just curious here at what niche these large cookers are filling. I do know of one guy that flies back home to the Carolinas and he cooks an ungodly amount of cue for his family gatherings a couple times a year, is that what these are used for? Again, pardon my ignorance I’m from South Florida and that kind of stuff just isn’t part of the culture down here like I imagine it is in other parts. Curiously yours __________________ Love to cook, live to eat. Primo XL, Weber 22”, Hunsaker Orange garbage can....

06-05-2020, 09:18 AM	#2
mytmouz is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-09-11 Location: Pelahatchie MS	I had a 24x48 with a warmer. Take Thanksgiving for example. 2 turkeys, a ham, a pan of dressing, a pan of cabbage, and a peach cobbler takes up some real estate... __________________ I LUV to smoke 'em... Trailer mounted reverse flow stick burner. Rehomed Weber Kettle #1 Black. Rehomed Weber Kettle #2 Copper Weber Kettle #3, Dads old cooker. Rehomed Brinkman electric. Rehomed Weber Smokey Joe. Rehomed Small Sunbeam tailgater. Rehomed Brinkman vertical smoker. Rehomed Little Chief electric smoker. Rehomed And 2 UDS go to set ups... Rehomed

06-05-2020, 10:04 AM	#4
rovster Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 05-20-20 Location: Miramar, FL Name/Nickname : Daniel	Hope my question not taken as judgement. I can see if you regularly have pans of sides how the extra real estate could come in handy mover thought of that. __________________ Love to cook, live to eat. Primo XL, Weber 22”, Hunsaker Orange garbage can....

06-05-2020, 12:30 PM	#10
mytmouz is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-09-11 Location: Pelahatchie MS	No more than any other tire I have... __________________ I LUV to smoke 'em... Trailer mounted reverse flow stick burner. Rehomed Weber Kettle #1 Black. Rehomed Weber Kettle #2 Copper Weber Kettle #3, Dads old cooker. Rehomed Brinkman electric. Rehomed Weber Smokey Joe. Rehomed Small Sunbeam tailgater. Rehomed Brinkman vertical smoker. Rehomed Little Chief electric smoker. Rehomed And 2 UDS go to set ups... Rehomed

06-05-2020, 01:22 PM	#12
robertm is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-06-19 Location: DFW Name/Nickname : ROBERT	I drive an F350 to work most days so.. __________________ Camp Chef griddle, Anova, BGE, LSG

06-05-2020, 09:21 AM	#3
Kmm On the road to being a farker Join Date: 04-30-16 Location: Varna,il	Probably the same reasons some people Choose to live in million dollar homes when a 2 bedroom apartment would be sufficient. It is all about personal preferences and priorities. Personally, I am thankful to live in a country where we are all free to make those kind of choices.

06-05-2020, 11:22 AM	#7
blackdogbbq21 Take a breath! Join Date: 04-30-18 Location: Northern California Name/Nickname : Paul	I've got a 250 gallon offset in my backyard which is overkill for many of my cooks. However I've had a few backyard parties where I've loaded it up full too. I knew when I bought it that it was more room than i'd need most of the time. For what a well made backyard model costs it made more sense to me to buy something larger. Maybe one day i'll get a smaller backyard pit but otherwise I don't feel like i'm wasting wood cooking on a 250 all the time.

06-05-2020, 12:24 PM	#9
Blizzard Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-23-17 Location: Allen Texas	I’m also curious about these large smokers. Lots of the ones pictured are on tires. Do those tires ever go flat? I have a dolly out in the garage with pneumatic tires. What a royal pain in the behind. I absolutely hate having to put air in those tires every time I need to use it. For example the Shirley smokers everyone mentions, they all seem to have pneumatic tires.

06-05-2020, 12:40 PM	#11
SonVolt Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-18-19 Location: South of Nashville Name/Nickname : SonVolt	I mean, they're on trailers and trailers have regular old auto tires. So should be the same maintenance as your vehicle.

06-05-2020, 02:56 PM	#14
SweetHeatBBQnSC is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 03-21-19 Location: Johnsonville, SC Name/Nickname : Joedy	They have the to make the rest of us jealous. Also, to give us something to aim for in the future! __________________ Isaiah 41:10-Chunky Dunks BBQ-Competition Team Propane Whole Hog Cooker Grill Master Gasser--(Deceased) Weber Kettle 22"(Hoyt) WSM 22.5"(Bertha) RecTeq 590(Fancy) Blackstone 17" griddle O.G. Barrel Charcoal Grill--(Chicken Graveyard) [COLOR="DarkOrange"][B]Clemson Orange Thermapen Mk4[/B][/COLOR]

06-05-2020, 03:05 PM	#15
WilliamKY is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 02-18-18 Location: Louisville,KY Name/Nickname : William	My Shirley is bigger than what I need but I like to have the option of a big cook if needed. A couple spatchcock chickens or a 90lb pig with sides. I can always do small cooks in a big cooker but cant do big cooks in a small cooker. I like the peace of mind with added real estate. __________________ Shirley Vertical + Fire Pit Pit Boss 700 Weber 28 griddle Weber 26 WGA Old Smokey Electric. Go Cards!