thanks for the quick reply guys..my story goes like this:my dad handed down his "trusty" $30 wal-mart grill to me when i moved out in '92..many,many burgers n steaks later,i made my 1st attempt at low n slow by placin bricks in the middle of that HUGE 24X24 cheapo grill and had charcoal on 1 side of the bricks n meat on the other..now i'm in the big time..my product was eatable enough(barely)..i blamed the holes in bottom of grill for taste quality..hey i was 23..many yrs. later,stepped up to the brinkmann smoke n pit..wore it out,got another 1..still usin it (via road signs,wire ties, etc,etc..) i know there is something much,much better out there,but,hey i'm turnin out really great product on this piece of junk..when i say i'm tied to this (semi) pit,i aint kiddin.. always workin to keep temp. up or down,coals tended,yall know the drill..i want somethin better,much better..easier to tend,hold temp.,all that..ready to spend big bucks,but,not if i dont have to..i just want a "real" pit that will not leak,hold temp and just let me turn out great product AND enjoy my crown n coke at the SAME TIME..when i dream,i dream big..