BBQ Pro Deluxe Dome Smoker Grill

necron 99 · Posted: Jan 01 2009 Post subject:

Ian, I suppose it's all about who your target market is to begin with. IIRC, You'd mentioned something about anyone really serious about BBQ would buy your product instead, so a simple backyard cook like myself is below the point you're aiming for to start with.

Comparison points I've listed based on the info on the ProQ web site and the manuals at Fred's web site are

The Sears model has flat feet, not rounded, at an angle lower to the ground for greater stability out of the box. Bending the legs outward is a suggested mod on the ProQ web site for improved stability.

The Sears model has 2 air registers in the charcoal bowl out of the box, which I've been able to contro cook chamber temps from 200 F to 400 F, anywhere in between. If the Mark One Frontier was adequate with one air register in the charcoal bowl, why does the Mark Two Frontier have 3 air registers in the charcoal bowl? A true clone would retain only one air register in the charcoal bowl.

The can section handles on my Sears model have not bent, bowed, or changed angle nor shape whatsoever thus far in my use. The charcoal basket rests on internal ledges where the legs are, minimizing heat stress on the charcoal bowl in the Sears model.

So, in one person'e perspective, it's a cheap and nasty clone, while another's perspective it it's a model with additional desireable features at the common person's budget level, rather than a model targeted for the competition circuit cook. My turn-in box is the dinner plate, and I don't put a bunch of leafy greens for show around the meat on my plate - such greens if present are eaten as a salad as part of the meal. It's part of why I wouldn't personally enjoy cooking in comps - conditioning from my Depression-era parents shuns the thought of wasting food just for show. So for an average person like me, who does BBQ for fun and function instead of being really serious about BBQ, it works just fine.
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necron 99 · Posted: Jan 01 2009 Post subject:

ProBBQ · Posted: Jan 01 2009 Post subject:

I didn't mean to cause distress, there is definitely a place for it on the market, as there is for the ECB's.
The problems you mentioned with the original Frontier, have already been rectified, as we constantly seek to improve our products.
The major factor when Sears decided to clone our product was price, not improvement IMHO
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dj420 · Newbie Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 41 Location: Central MN

BBQMAN · Posted: Jan 01 2009 Post subject:

ProBBQ · Posted: Jan 02 2009 Post subject:

necron 99 · Posted: Jan 04 2009 Post subject:

No one has debated the 'cheap' or cost difference aspect - it's the 'nasty' aspect I'm trying to get better detail on.

I enumerated the main non-price points of difference between the Frontier Mark One and this cooker, and you've responded that you've addressed these issues with the Frontier Mark Two, which has even one more air register in the charcoal bowl. So, does that make the frontier Mark Two an expensive and 'nastier' clone of the BBQ Pro Deluxe dome smoker? You've already established adding one more air register didn't fall outside your definition of 'clone' vs. the Frontier Mark One.

The other troublesome issue for me is all the speculation posted earlier about the BBQ Pro brand name being too similar to your company's name, even though the BBQ Pro brand name has been an established retail name in the lower 48 here since the mid-90's at minimum. The simplest Google searches would have taken the same amount of effort to see that as the speculation BBQ Pro was following its name after your company. Heck, the Naked Whiz web site clearly showed they even have their own brand of charcoal.

It's just incongruous to me for someone to choose to try to promote their product by bashing their competiton with speculative info, and then further owners of such equipment who don't fit your personal definition of someone 'serious about BBQ' since they don't own your brand product, and aren't part of your target market.

But to help bridge misunderstandings, I'll extend you an open invitation any time Ian that you're in the greater New Orleans / Baton Rouge area to have a meal at my house of some BBQ cooked for fun and function, even if it's not so serious, so you can compare firsthand. Fair enough? We just need to give us a bit of heads up on your itinerary so we can make sure to have something ready to cook by the time you get here.
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necron 99 · Posted: Feb 19 2009 Post subject:

Fans of the BBQ Pro Deluxe Dome Smoker, I got news today they'll be back in stock in Sears stores around April 2009 again.

On a whim, I stopped by the Sears store in the San Jacinto Mall this afternoon, and they had a sale tag hanging on the assembled floor display model. When I asked, the helpful salesperson told me they didn't have any more in boxes in stock, but I could buy the already assembled floor model if I'd like to, at the sale price, or she could order one for me with delivery in April 2009 - so I bought the assembled floor display model!

I was fretting a bit about cooker space for a charity comp I'm entering that's going to be held the first weekend in March 2009. Problem solved for me, at about the same price as the flowers & such I bought for my wife for Valentine's day, so happy Valentine's Day to me! Cool

There should be sales at Sears on BBQ stuff around Memorial Day, Father's Day, 4th of July, etc. again this year I'd expect!

http://reviews.sears.com/2328/07115883000P/reviews.htm
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necron 99 · Posted: Mar 10 2009 Post subject:

It's baaaack! The links all work again. And it's on sale on line right now for $69.88, either for delivery or in-store pickup.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07115883000P

Sears still hasn't changed their on-line pics to really represent the legs with flat feet at a winder footprint angle for greater stability than the legs shown on the Sears web site, nor the cool touch wooden knobs added to the door handles, but there's plenty of actual cooker pics on The Ring here to see the actual cooker out of the box and in action.
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kingofcool · BBQ Pro Joined: 05 Dec 2008 Posts: 863 Location: Georgia

That link still isn't working for me. I'd love to be able to find that, looks perfect.

NaughtyNurse · Posted: Mar 10 2009 Post subject:

kingofcool, here's a pic of mine. It is one I took playing around putting 2 together to make it a 4 high stack, but it might help you get the idea of what it looks like. They do require a few simple modifications, if you get one let us know and we'll help you through them, they are pretty simple.

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necron 99 · Posted: Mar 10 2009 Post subject:

marleyman · Posted: Mar 21 2009 Post subject:

marleyman · Posted: Mar 21 2009 Post subject:

Here are some pics of it in various stages before giving it a seasoning treatment.

I should have paid someone for assembly though...it took a few beers to put together Laughing

marleyman · Posted: Mar 22 2009 Post subject:

Got a 7# Butt on and a couple fatties!

Holds temps very well right out of the box even though it could use some gaskets or foil tape in a couple places.

necron 99 · Posted: Mar 22 2009 Post subject:

Lookin' good marleyman! Your cook looks great so far, can't wait to see the finished results!

I have a picnic shoulder and a pork butt, both about 7 lbs. each, on my BBQ Pro bullet right now. I started about 7 PM yesterday, and I'm up to 182 F internal temperature, so it won't be long now.

There's 3 basic mods one might (or might not) want to do for this model cooker.

First, is to get a second grate to put in or under the charcoal basket to make a crosshatch pattern. This optimizes ember retention while still leaving big enough holes for ash to drop through. Here's what I did with mine.

http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=173334

Second, the doors and door knobs tend to be a problem - they tend to be poorly crimped leaving the factory. Use some slip joint pliers to hold the assembly together, then use a pair of needle nose pliers one at a time to pull and bend the tabs tight and away from each other. The typically come poorly crimped from the factory facing each other.

Last is if your doors don't fit well, use some aluminum tape as a sort of weather stripping.

Have fun! Cool

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marleyman · Posted: Mar 22 2009 Post subject:

Well here are the results, probably could have left the butt on a lil longer but still was tasty!

Good eats though for its inaugural cook

k.a.m. · Posted: Mar 22 2009 Post subject:

marleyman, congrats on your new cooker Very Happy

From the looks of that Butt and those fatties you got her dialed in right. Nicely done on your first cook Smile

necron 99 · Posted: Mar 23 2009 Post subject:

Great lookin' eats marleyman! Cool

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dj420 · Newbie Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 41 Location: Central MN