Who Cooks on a ProQ Frontier? UPDATE: I did. Read Inside.

[rprata]

I just got one, ordered it from Fred's Music & BBQ, it arrived Wednesday, and I started assembly last night and finished this morning. Did a test burn for the heck of it, some lump, very little lit, for a minion start. Water in the pan, no food on the grates. Put my ET73 meat probe through a potato on the middle stacker, and the smoker temp probe on the top. Supposedly these things run ~10 degrees between the grates, but I was seeing ~40F difference between the center and top (with the extra stacker installed, total of 3 racks). The sections did not fit together very well, they were sort of out of round, and the lid was/is a pain to get on, as it doesn't fit very well. So far, I'm not impressed with the quality of this thing. It seems that once all the sections are buckled together, it's fairly air-tight, but if there's ~40F difference between the grates, this thing won't do me any good.

Still, I have 2 butts and a packer that are going on tonight, and we'll see what happens.

Unfortunately, Fred's Music & BBQ does not issue refunds, and I'm afraid shipping it back for a replacement would be too much of a hassle. I really hope I didn't make a $250 mistake.

Anyone else cook on one? I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong. For reference, I've had a WSM for 2 years, and cook on it all the time.
_________________
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Weber 18" Kettle
Orig. WSM
Pre-ordered 22" WSM
ProQ Frontier w/ extra Stacker
Genesis Silver "B"
Bar-B-Chef Offset, Modded to Hell! (Thanks Skidder!)

[T00lman]

where is these pro q.s made !!!
_________________
1 bad azz d.o table
weber 22 1/2 x 2
some of its magic some of its tragic
#37 liar
1 wsm 18 1/2
1wsm 22 1/2

[Bbq Bubba]

Looking forward to hearing more of your opinions on this unit!
_________________
2013 BBQ Person of the Year
Pitmaster at Lockharts BBQ in Royal Oak Mi.
I cook the best brisket north of Dallas.
Northern midwest director for Operation BBQ Relief

[rprata]

Stay away from these pieces of junk. Buy a WSM instead. I'm going to drive this POS down to Fred's and shove it up his $%#%%. Loaded it up with lump around 2AM, went to bed. Got up at 6, lump was all burned out, fire was out. Probably got 2 ruined butts and a brisket. The WSM would have gone 15 hours on the same amount of coal. This smoker is the biggest mickey mouse POS I've ever seen. I think I could get better results with an out-of-the-box ECB for $35 from Walmart.

When I went to pick up the smoker by the handles to add more lump, one of the handles snapped right off (Screws are crap) and I dropped the whole thing.

The sections don't fit together very well without a LOT of effort, as it seems they're all poorly manufactured and out-of-round. I had to bang on and manhandle the lid just to get it on. The whole thing reeks of Made-in-China cheap manufacturing.

Sorry Ian, but either I got a dud, or these smokers are just poorly manufactured. From all the good reviews I read on the web, I thought I had a bad one, but I'm not so sure. I had really high hopes, and I'm very, very disappointed.
_________________
--
Weber 18" Kettle
Orig. WSM
Pre-ordered 22" WSM
ProQ Frontier w/ extra Stacker
Genesis Silver "B"
Bar-B-Chef Offset, Modded to Hell! (Thanks Skidder!)

[lantern]

Wow!

This kind of bad manufacturing BEGS for pics! That way owners of the ProQ can comment on whether there are differences to the units they own or if it's something they have learned to deal with.

[rprata]

Unfortunately, the pics I've taken paint a far different picture than what I've experienced. Once the sections are buckled together, they seem to hold, but it's getting them together and buckled that's the problem - you literally have to man-handle each section to get it to jam into the one below, before you can "buckle" it. I've already had 2 of the "buckles" almost break on me. This is all with less than 24 hours of use, and the damn thing is falling apart, and breaking all over the place.

I've sent an email to Fred to see if anything can be done, but I'm not holding my breath.
_________________
--
Weber 18" Kettle
Orig. WSM
Pre-ordered 22" WSM
ProQ Frontier w/ extra Stacker
Genesis Silver "B"
Bar-B-Chef Offset, Modded to Hell! (Thanks Skidder!)

[BBQMAN]

Interesting, to say the least!

From what I have heard, you are one of the few that has had a review that harsh of the Pro-BBQs.

Not that it is not warranted in your case, just that it may well be that you received a unit that had been "dropped on it's head" a few time during shipment. ( I worried this with the new Yamaha generator I just purchased from a dealer in Ca., but it was 2 large, not $250)

Before you go nuts on Fred, from what I have heard he does a great job of keeping his clients happy. So does Ian.

I would consult with Fred about your issues before getting much further bashing everyone in sight.

I'd be willing to bet that one or both of those parties will make good on your damaged unit!
_________________
BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

[rprata]

I have been in touch with Fred. He actually emailed me back this morning, and he is going out of his way to fix this. I can't say enough good about Fred's customer service. I know my review was harsh, but I am going out of my way to let everyone know that Fred has been in touch and is working with me to make it right.

I guess my frustration with the unit stems from all the positive reviews I've read, seems like everyone loves these things. I have to give it more time before I can decide for sure.
_________________
--
Weber 18" Kettle
Orig. WSM
Pre-ordered 22" WSM
ProQ Frontier w/ extra Stacker
Genesis Silver "B"
Bar-B-Chef Offset, Modded to Hell! (Thanks Skidder!)

[ProBBQ]

rprata, I'm sorry to hear that you've had a bad experience with one of our units, like Fred, we stand by the products we sell and will do everything within our means to make sure you're happy with your purchase.
Please feel free to contact me directly on ian@probbq.co.uk.

Ian

Ps. Any images you have of the damage would be helpful, so I can pass them on to the Quality Control.
_________________

Stacked & Smokin Hot!
www.macsbbq.co.uk

[T00lman]

[BBQCZAR]

[Tater_68]

Its great that the guys are providing good customer service, really kind of shocked at that unit as I have heard nothing but great things up to this point. Like was said above maybe you just got one that was dropped on its head or something.
_________________
Don�t worry too much about it. Just do all you can do and let the rough end drag.
______________
WSM

[T00lman]

[lantern]

[Doc1680]

Wow!

I'm sorry to hear about this as I have been one of the biggest proponents of the ProQs. It's good to hear Fred (and Ian) have offered to get you right. I would chalk the "out-of-round" to possible mis-handling. My top is slightly off (nothing major) but that is due to my stupidity. Everything else is fine. The latches are tight. The handles are solid and everything fits nicely.

I don't usually burn lump but I can get 8-10 hrs on a full load of rancher. Remember the charcoal basket in the frontier is smaller that the WSM so you're never going to get 15 hour burn times.

I love my unit and hope that after you have a chance to work with it you will enjoy yours as well.
_________________
Love the voodoo that Q do.

Doc

[Doc1680]

[lantern]

[jrb03]

I try to warn people to stick with the trusty American made WSM. At least they are working with you to get it corrected. Hopefully you can get a refund and another WSM.
_________________
Pitmaker Vault
Pitmaker Grill-Meister
Backwoods Party
Weber Performer - Blue
WSM

[T00lman]

[lantern]

The winking emoticon implies that I was kidding.


No need for excuses, just pointing out the funny in such a statement while owning a china product.