Thoughts on the best smoker for camping trips..?

[EricQ]

Planning on doing a lot of camping this year with the family and I would appreciate any suggestions on a good portable smoker that is easy haul. Need something that breaks down fairly easy because I have one of those truck bed covers that it needs to fit under.

Nothing like smelling Q in the campground- and what great way to meet some good folks...

Thanks in advance!

EricQ

 

[BBQchef33]

oh cmon!!! A Smokey Mountain.. and u just got one..

they take up nearly no room.. case u can stow stuff inside them.


And wait til ya see what we did to a Bandera.. Picked it up tonight.. gigglin all the way home.. One very portable bandera on the way.. Will post pics of that tomorrow.

 

[MilitantSquatter]

WSM - Weber Smokey Mountain....

light - 50 lbs..
breaks down into three sections.
no need to haul lots of wood logs... small bag of charcoal and a few wood chunks will cover you for many hours.

 

[EricQ]

Wsm

I am thinking that way- I would have to lay her on the side to get her in the back of the truck.. Just thinking compact. Not sure if an electric smoker (slap) is an option...

Thanks,

Eric

 

[QansasjayhawQ]

I am thinking that way- I would have to lay her on the side to get her in the back of the truck.. Just thinking compact. Not sure if an electric smoker (slap) is an option...

Well, I guess that depends on what you REALLY mean by the term 'camping'.

Where I go camping, there's no electricity at all - unless you hook it up to a car battery or a generator of some sort . . .

/Brother Dave

 

[JohnMcD348]

Definitely go the WSM route. You can collapse the pieces into them selves with a little work. Get a small garbage can to put it in to hold everything together if you don't want to get things messed up and still have room inside the chamber to tow things.

 

[Plowboy]

How about a spit over the campfire?

 

[EricQ]

Well, I guess that depends on what you REALLY mean by the term 'camping'.

Where I go camping, there's no electricity at all - unless you hook it up to a car battery or a generator of some sort . . .

/Brother Dave

Brother Dave,

I am on the soft-side of camping these days. I have one of those Trail Manors- hardtop popups. The electric idea came from reducing prep time, clean-up, more time with kids etc. I really appreciate your/everyone insight on this. From the excellent advice here- the WSM is the way to go…

Thanks to all!!!

 

[Single Fin Smoker]

When I go camping its usually in Vegas. Lots of room service and vodka tonics. Foodwise, we try to stick to sushi or south west.

I know this has very little to do with camping, but damn those warm showers are nice....

 

[Pyle's BBQ]

I'm with Plowboy, open fire cooking. A different use for wood. Not that there is anything wrong with that. It would be an excuse to get a new set of cast iron cookware

 

[Wayne]

I would get a cheap bullet type smoker. They make good Q and don't need a lot of tending. You can also put the fire pan on the lower rack with the door open and use the thing for grilling. We usually smoke a couple of chuck roasts on ours and it works great. Another good thing to take is a Lodge dutch oven or two. They are great for cobbler or pot roasts and stews.

 

[Trout_man22]

I'm with Wayne on this one an ECB is the way to go. You won't worry about it if it gets dented and scratched. You'll be able to grill and do just about everything that you can can on a WSM.

 

[Kung Fu BBQ]

you know, competing is alot like camping...cept diffr'runt.

 

[beerguy]

Ive used my "ECB" camping and it works great. Take a heavy duty large trash bag (like contractors bags) and put everything back in it when your done to protect your other gear from grease and smoke. Clean everything back up when you get home. The chimney starter, bag of charcoal and some wood chunks all fit down inside. Dont forget your spray bottle and temp probe. Just cause you are camping dont mean you cant do it right!

 

[qman]

Ive used my "ECB" camping and it works great. Take a heavy duty large trash bag (like contractors bags) and put everything back in it when your done to protect your other gear from grease and smoke. Clean everything back up when you get home. The chimney starter, bag of charcoal and some wood chunks all fit down inside. Dont forget your spray bottle and temp probe. Just cause you are camping dont mean you cant do it right!

We hauled an ECB around in a pop-up camper for years. Always worked great. The time spent tending it WAS quality time with my kids, as they both helped with the cook. I think camping and que-ing is what got both of them interested in cooking and especially que-ing.

But........Today, if I had a choice between the ECB and a WSM, I would go with the WSM, hands down.

 

[tjus77]

How about a spit over the campfire?

yup, that is my vote, I cook over open fire when camping.... hell I usually do that if it is not raining. Hate cooking in the kitchen.

 

[chad]

I've done the ECB and the WSM on camping trips in the past. The ECB is actually easier to pack and transport (I had the Gourmet model) since it packed up inside itside itself...ie. a bit smaller and fit perfectly in the shower of our travel trailer.:-D

The WSM, with those three legs is a bit more cumbersome.

Bothe got good use. I'm thinking one of those Lil' Chief electrics would work pretty well too. I found a couple of Luhr models here:
http://www.jtbuckonline.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=39

The "Old Smokey" electric smoker is anothe decent option. I found it at
http://www.barbecuen.com/

However, if you want to stay with charcoal and wood - I still consider going back to the ECB..it's just a cheaper option than the WSM...they make pretty good road warriors.

I know I never did butts or brisket while camping. I usually have too many other things to do...fish, play tourist in the area, hike, etc. -- I usually did ribs and chicken.

 

[boatnut]

portable smoker

I've got a small "smokin' tex" , aluminum smoker that measures approx. 16" x 16" x 16". it is powered by 1lb disposable propane cylinders. Comes in its' own carrying case. To be honest, I've never used it, but I think it would do fine for camping , depending on how many you would feed. could easily do a chicken or pork butt in it...even a brisket flat.
I bought the thing on ebay....probably sell it at garage sale this spring.
Doubles as an oven too.

 

[big brother smoke]

I use an ECB when camping. Who cares if it gets banged up a bit for $35 bucks.

 

[tony76248]

WSM or Little Smokey. Both are light enough to be mobile. I also have a Smokin-Tex/Cookshack that is very optimum for camping but only if you have electricity.

The problem with taking your smoker with you, is that they can be dirty and you need to be able to stow them without having the crud get on anything or make the vehicle smell like smoke. As much as we all like that, it will permeate everything in the vehicle and the wife will not like that.