What kind of off set smoker would you get\or have?

[BigdaddyMatt]

I need your help in trying to find a new smoker. A offset smoker. I would like to get one under $350. And if you have bought one what modifications have you made to your smokers. Would love to buy a bigger one but not practical right now. Any help would be great. Thanks!!!!!!!!!

[BigdaddyMatt]

I’M SORRY I FORGOT SOMETHING. I would love to be able to put a water pan in it. Thanks

[Smokin Tiger]

This is what I have.

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=67069&hvarTarget=search

Holds up to 75 lbs. of meat, has water pan, and can be found at the Bass Pro Shop in Lawrenceville.

The only thing I did was to raise the wood grate up a little to allow for the ashes to fall and for old ashes to be removed more easily while cooking, thus still allowing good air flow.

Team that up with one of these
http://www.partshelf.com/maet73.html

With two probes, one for the smoking chamber and one for the meat, you can monitor both from inside while doing whatever else you need to do. You can set alarms for low and high limits and when they are reached, the alarm goes off and you can adjust your heat accordingly.

[Smokin Tiger]

I also fashioned a couple of extra racks for the smoking chamber so I could load up more meat.

[Robert & Keri C]

If you're looking at a smoker in that price, most offsets that you'll find will bring you nothing but heartache. In that price range, try a Weber Smoky Mountain. Outstanding design, excellent temperature maintenance, excellent reputation, and an all-round outstanding cooker for beginners OR competitors. I have two, and absolutely love them. See www.virtualweberbullet.com for more information (NOT a Weber-supported site, BTW - just a bunch of WSM-lovers). You'll see me on the boards over - Keri C over there, as here.

Keri C, still smokin' on Tulsa Time

[mding38926]

I have the bbq galore bar-b-chef offset. It sells on their website for $249. It is a bit heavier guage steel than you get with the chargriller which is helpful. I have had it for a while and have no problems getting it to temperature and keeping it there. That being said, I am also planning on picking up a WSM as a second smoker.
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Dinger

[adolpho]

[Thomas P.]

Look online for "Oklahoma Joes" and "New Braunfels" Both have good models in the $350 range.

Brinkman makes a decent offset if you get an expensive one, but stay away from their cheap models.

Char-griller is a GA company that markets through lowes. They have a really nice pit for $150 with an offset firebox add-on for $50 more. You have to assemlbe it, sometimes, but I've been abusing mine for 6 years and it's still going strong.

Good Luck!
_________________
Leading the quest to abolish propane from Que'dom...
Big Tom, Hillbilly Ambassador to flatlanders everywhere!

GO VOLS!

[chileman]

http://www.backwoods-smoker.com/patio.htm

[Thomas P.]

[BigdaddyMatt]

Thanks so much for all the input. I believe I have got it down to 2 smokers. The Super Pro BBQ Grill Or the bbq galore bar-b-chef offset Package. Can anyone me the good, bad, and ugly of the two. And If you have one of these any mods? Thanks

[Jeff]

I got one of these last Thursday and LOVE it !!!! It's 3/8 steel and is very easy to maintain an even temp with. I grilled steaks and chicken on it last Friday night and then smoked a shoulder all day Saturday and it was a joy to use !!!!! I'm very pleased with it thus far.

http://academy.com/index.php?page=content&target=products/outdoors/grills/smokers&start=0&selectedSKU=0263-40125-3320

[mding38926]

[Smo-Ken]

I've had one of the Bar-B-Chef offsets for a couple of months now and have done some great Que with it. Much heavier steel (12 Ga.) than most of the smaller offsets. Weighs a couple hundred pounds, easily. Plus, all of the typical "small offset mods" are already incorporated as well!

The mods I did on mine were to add some 2-1/2" long carriage bolts to each corner of my fire grate to raise it (as opposed to rotating it 90*), I built a charcoal basket out of some scrap expanded steel I bought from a local welding shop for $4, and I just recently went to a wood-stove dealer and bought some of the fiberglass packing used on the wood-stove windows in order to better seal up the smoke chamber door.

I have two roasting pan sized water trays on the lower grate and have EXCELLENT temperature control and only one time have I seen my side-to-side temp difference greater than say 5*. It mostly is within 2 to 3* different from firebox side to smokestack side! With the heavier steel this pit holds it's temperature well, even in the wind!

Here's some pics of my "mods":

My Charcoal Basket:



My Fire Grate:



The seal on my smokebox door:



And now, some finished product:

First Butt:



Some Ribs:



Check the BBQ Galore website for any deals or coupons - your local store may even match the price!
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Bassin, Blues & B-B-Q's... Nuthin's Finer!!!
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Bar-B-Chef Offset Smoker
BBQ Pro Bullet
22" Weber kettles (Red & Blue)
'05 Skeeter TZX190/175 Yammi HPDI

[abingdonrowes]

[mrcustomsteel]

Jeff, you must mean +/- 1/8". That is a nice smoker. I wish we had Academy up here.

You just can't beat an offset for real old school smoking. They are designed to burn logs on top of a bed of coals. With all the mods, you just can't go wrong with most of those $300 smokers. You just have to tend an offset. That's part of the charm. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

For ease of cooking, you can't beat those Backwoods styles. They are more of a coal fired oven than a smoker. Put a Barbecue Guru on one and you won't even have to look at it for 5 hrs.
_________________
D. Tillery
Texan transplanted in Billings, MT
www.mrcustomsteel.com

[abingdonrowes]

[abingdonrowes]

Get the Bar-B-Chef over the Char-Griller without question! No mods needed plus thicker steel equals better heat management for a price that is pretty close! Gotta buy the thermometer seperately I believe so don't forget to add one.

[BoilermakerFan]

[abingdonrowes]