Narrowing New Pit Choice - My experience so far from Canada

[Northsmoke]

Hey Guys,

Been lurking a long time and signed-up in Jan. Happy to be here!
I have been looking to pull the trigger on a proper pit since 2014 (Wish I did then prices have gone crazy) at which time I was looking at Horizon because they had product in Canada. Lately I been ramping up my search and will be ready in the next few weeks. So far here has been my experience as I have been narrowing things down:

US Builders:
Horizon - looking at an Icon multiple emails no response - Icon is the best price of the options
LSG - 20x42 - responded to multiple emails but doesn't ship to cda - still need clarity on crating costs but freight quotes been on the lower side to my surprise but more leg work needed from me - 3-4mo wait ($4-5k ish CDN all in)
Shirley - Responded to emails answered all my multiple questions - Shipping by Kevin at Legendary wasnt the cheapest BUT they take care of every damn detail. 8-12 wk wait ($5k+ish CDN all in)
Yoder - Lots of distributers up here, one close to my house - pits look amazing but drafting reviews and price give me pause, in fact i was real close on one till I did my research, not to mention the Wichita Loaded is $5100 after Tax which makes the above options much more desirable.

In general crating costs with pit builders vary but they aint cheap!

CAN Builders:
Alberta BBQ - Emailed No Response
Bulldog BBQ - Responded - Not sure if they will have a production run in 2022 due to supply issues
SmokeNorth - didnt contact but prices are very high for me (more than US pits even with shipping and conversion)
Multiple localish folks build like this guy - (https://www.kijiji.ca/v-bbq-outdoor-cooking/norfolk-county/custom-bbq-smokers/1593602114?undefined) but when I read comments from his FB like "let me know how it performs" etc. I get slightly nervous.

At this point I really value manufacturing experience and extensive customer feedback. I'm sure these Canadian builders are awesome but my personal comfort level with this $$ involved is to go with a well known and used US Fabricator. Which brings me to Shirley 24x36 and the LSG 20x42. Im leaning hard towards the Shirley but I also like the look and options on the LSG, T-roy makes cooking on it look real easy and it is efficient.
I need a lifetime product I cant be chucking it in 10 yrs. anyone have thoughts on the LSG pit in that regard? The options are awesome seems fuel efficient, I know the steel is thinner but hard to gauge sturdiness in pics.
Appreciate any thoughts experiences/maintenance from owners on both LSG or Shirley owners, and from any Canadians that have shipped a US pit up and have suggestions on carriers/process.
Thanks for any input and sorry for the lengthy post wanted to get it all out there been in my head for too long on this purchase

 

[Nash]

Buy a Workhorse :wink::-D

 

[SmoothBoarBBQ]

Few notes :

1. This is the most important : DO NOT waste your time with Yoder when it comes to offset smokers. They have no idea what they're doing and even when presented with a mountain of evidence they did nothing but put their head in the sand for years. It wasn't until a Brethren started beating them up pretty much on all forums / social media, that they decided to actually listen to the customer. Waste of time and money due to the drafting issues, as well as just about every one of us had issues with the pipe leaking at the welds.

2. You can't go wrong with a Shirley and their 24x36 might be the best priced + high quality smoker on the market today. Granted there's competition, but when it comes to Paul and pride / quality, there's just no comparison.

3. Have you considered Meadow Creek? My only reason for asking is because they have a distributer in Ontario right on the border with NY. This might save you a good amount of cash when it comes to shipping + customs. I'm leaving the link here in case you're interested.
https://www.kendale.ca/home
https://www.meadowcreekbbq.com/catalog/

Final Notes :
-Horizon makes some quality stuff and their Icon package is a great showcase of their willingness to meet the demands of the market. They have a fantastic reputation and you can't go wrong with them at all. I wish I had seen them before I wasted my money on my piece of junk Yoder.

Good luck and I hope you love whatever you choose.

 

[okiej]

I think you have it narrowed down pretty good. I have the Shirley 24x36. I looked at most of the ones you mentioned. Especially the LSG and Horizon. Thought real hard about the Horizon since I am about 45 miles from them. Ultimately I wanted reverse flow, and the quality of the Shirley is unbeatable. So thats what I got. I think the LSG or Horizon would either one be awesome also.

 

[WhiskyJoe]

SmoothBoar makes some good points. I had a LSG shipped to NJ and the final costs were much higher than I planned on. However, still thrilled that I chose it (even after looking at Meadow Creek)

 

[Northsmoke]

Thanks for this Smoothboar I will certainly look into Meadow Creek, on that horizon not a very vocal fan base but I've honestly not come across 1 bad review

 

[Northsmoke]

Buy a Workhorse :wink::-D

They are awesome looking pits for sure- did they manage shipping for u? If not who did u use?

 

[thedude9999]

Workhorse ship to Canada - they mention it on there site. Worth giving them a call.

Cabela’s/Bass Pro is/was a dealer in Canada for Horizon. I’m not sure if they still are - but it would also be worth contacting them. I have one and it’s a great smoker.

 

[SmittyJonz]

I’d talk to that local kijiji guy and see if he has anything to look at or more pics and get prices. stuff in pics look pretty good - of course I can’t see the firebox to cook chamber hole, baffle, welds etc and I might want larger diameter exhaust. - some pics exhaust is high and others it’s near grate level - I’d prefer grate level and probably upwards baffle on traditional offset. I’d prefer a wide collector box and smoke stack coming off of it - but it’s more of a looks thing. In my brain - a rectangular exhaust hole 2” tall (so box is 3.5/4” tall), 75-80% depth(or width depending on how you look at it) into a collector box that narrows as it moves out from smoker and then a fat stack with adjustable damper/cover.

https://hankstruebbq.com/offsetsmokers/hankstruesmokers-2/

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/filedata/fetch?id=474344&d=1522352100&type=medium


3rd pic - hard to tell exhaust diameter - might prefer slightly bigger and drop it to between the grates, if the firebox to cc hole and baffle look right. Be more cool with an exhaust collector box.

9th pic looks like LSG 20” clone

.

 

[gtsum]

I have a workhorse and love it. I’m pretty sure they ship to Canada.


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[Kevin James]

I would look at Big Phil's Smoker's new simple back yard pit he is doing under his new brand, Blue Collar Smokers. It's a 24x48 constructed of 3/8 steel tube on the cook chamber and fire box, with 1/4" end caps and stack. The base model is $1,700.00 and upgrades are available with very reasonable pricing. I doubt you will find a better value on a quality built pit. I have one on order myself.

https://bluecollarsmokers.com/

 

[Chester]

A fellow Brethren had an Alberta BBQ pit made and it looked really well done. I am sure you can find the old posts. Some of these smaller shops have a hard time getting to emails. I’d reach out to them again, maybe by phone if possible.

The Meadow Creek suggestion is also good, and I do like the Workhorse pits quite well.

 

[Northsmoke]

I would look at Big Phil's Smoker's new simple back yard pit he is doing under his new brand, Blue Collar Smokers. It's a 24x48 constructed of 3/8 steel tube on the cook chamber and fire box, with 1/4" end caps and stack. The base model is $1,700.00 and upgrades are available with very reasonable pricing. I doubt you will find a better value on a quality built pit. I have one on order myself.

https://bluecollarsmokers.com/

This is an unreal price for that thickness , nice looking stuff for sure

 

[Northsmoke]

A fellow Brethren had an Alberta BBQ pit made and it looked really well done. I am sure you can find the old posts. Some of these smaller shops have a hard time getting to emails. I’d reach out to them again, maybe by phone if possible.

The Meadow Creek suggestion is also good, and I do like the Workhorse pits quite well.

I have seen those posts , honestly Great looking cookers, although ur right doesn't hurt to call just something not really pulling me in that direction

 

[Northsmoke]

A fellow Brethren had an Alberta BBQ pit made and it looked really well done. I am sure you can find the old posts. Some of these smaller shops have a hard time getting to emails. I’d reach out to them again, maybe by phone if possible.

The Meadow Creek suggestion is also good, and I do like the Workhorse pits quite well.

I have seen those posts , honestly Great looking cookers, although ur right doesn't hurt to call just something not really pulling me in that direction

 

[Chester]

I would look at Big Phil's Smoker's new simple back yard pit he is doing under his new brand, Blue Collar Smokers. It's a 24x48 constructed of 3/8 steel tube on the cook chamber and fire box, with 1/4" end caps and stack. The base model is $1,700.00 and upgrades are available with very reasonable pricing. I doubt you will find a better value on a quality built pit. I have one on order myself.

https://bluecollarsmokers.com/

For the price, these are hard to beat. Big Phil builds a premium smoker. I didn’t realize they made a separate offshoot brand for this standard pit. This should be a big hit for them.

 

[ChrisBarb]

The Icon has me intrigued. Does Bass Pros Shops still carry Horizon? That might be the cheapest way to get one.

 

[Northsmoke]

The Icon has me intrigued. Does Bass Pros Shops still carry Horizon? That might be the cheapest way to get one.

It is a nice pit at a good price, unfortunately they no longer sell in Canada through Bass Pro according to the people i spoke to there. Even checking the Bass pro website on the US side doesnt look like they offer anything other than the base models and they look like special order, I will call them though and update here what I found out may help someone in their search in the future.

 

[Nash]

They are awesome looking pits for sure- did they manage shipping for u? If not who did u use?

I don't have one, shipping is way too insane these days. I was just putting in a plug for their great pits. I'd think shipping will be pushing at least $2k CAD on a pit from one of the US builders, possibly more expense depending on requirement for a broker and so on.

There are more local options around, in my experience most builders, even with a set design, will usually custom build whatever you want. That said I completely understand the magnetism of wanting the real (branded) deal, so-to-speak.

Have you looked at Capo Cooktops in your hood? That's a great price on a great looking smoker almost next door to you, in CAD, although his website may not be updated to reflect current crazy steel pricing. From the looks of their Insta, he builds 'em all though, customize them as you please!


https://capocooktops.ca/product/80-gallon-smoker/
https://www.instagram.com/capocooktops/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/657162955669035/


There's also Smith Steel:
https://smithsteel.ca/smith-steel-products/smokers-grills-firepits


Smoking Canadian:
https://smokincanadianbbq.ca/menu


Midwest Pits:
https://www.instagram.com/midwestbbqpits/?hl=en


From The Ashes:
https://aweldingshop.ca/tundra.htm


R&R in Saint John, NB
https://rnrsmokers.ca/smokers


Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[Beentown]

I highly recommend a Shirley or LSG. My only experience with Horizon was terrible. They had units in the BPS and they looked like a child welded them together. Booger welds.

Our Shirley's have been outstanding in every way. The Lang 60 was a decent cooker but it doesn't draft or have forward thinking upgrades (cabinet doors, large warmer, etx...) like the Shirley's. Friend has an LSG and another has an Outlaw. All quality rigs.

So many great builders now.

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