I know I have seen a few recommendations in the past. Also, are there good smokers that can grill also?
1. What's your budget? @ Least give a price range...Sub $ 300.00 $ 301.00 - $ 500.00? $ 501.00 - $ 750.00? $ 751.00 - $ 1,000.00? $ 1,000.00 +? 2. Do you want a stationary unit, or do you like the idea of taking it to tailgates & showing off to family with lesser quality smokers? 3. How many do you want to smoke for if you were to jump on a grenade for a large gathering? 4. Do you have any intention of using the same rig for frying? 5. Do you want one with a built in wood box or cooler tie down location? How about a 'mini kitchen' of sorts? Fold down shelf in front of the pit area? 6. Do you want a 2 chamber or 3 chamber rig (1-fire box / 2-smoke box / 3-smaller warming box)? A warming box is nice because you move the food up there for keeping it warm & don't have to kill the built up heat in the primary smoking chamber with constant opening & closing. 7. One smoke stack or two? How many longhorn emblems will be on it? Where will they be? 8. How much & where do you want your stainless steel? 9. Will it be large enough / heavey enough that your smokebox might have big 'ol doors & need weights or pulleys (if a horizontal smoker)? 10. Want a tapered base to the smoke box with a grease drain plug? 11. Give that firebox a non flanged base & sides so that ashes can be scraped or swept out without hanging up. 12. Are there size limitations due to a homeowner's association or desire to park it in a location that will keep it out of the rain? An association will give you hell up until you host the block party... 12. If you do want one on wheels (trailer type), are there limitations to the type of vehicle you'll be towing or pulling it with? 13. Where are the temp guages going to go (proper placement is KEY). 14. Do you like a grease pan (if a smaller unit) & do you ascribe to the theory of vaporization (or are you a skeptic & rely on chemical engineering to tell you that water has to hit a much higher temperature before it will actually penetrate the meat(s)...). 15. If you DO go custom, are there any guarantees as to longevity & quality? 16. If it is a custom rig, do they have any guarantees as to whether or not the temperature guage placement is accurate? 17. Do you like or want a gas powered kicker to get your wood started? 18. Is there going to be a flat spot on top of your fire box so you can heat up beans or sauces & other good stuff that comes in a pot? All of these are questions you might want to consider...
Got damnit. I saw the thread title and thought it would be fantastic. I want a smoker too but nooooo, questions galore. Now I have to think about it.
I highly recommend Lyfe Tyme. They are out of Uvalde. In Austin, the distributor is Magnum Custom Trailers. Lyfe Tymes pits are made of a thicker steel than, say, the New Braunfels smokers. I'll post a picture of mine eventually. I got a single-lid smoker (has the firebox, grill, and the vertical smoke stack). I shopped for about 3 months before I bought this. I reallly couldn't find anything else that compared.
Oh, and here is a cool article from the Austin Chronicle about Lyfe Tyme. It is from their Day Trips section. Give it a look.
I'm picking up my Christmas present on Wednesday. I already have several things lined up to smoke during the rest of the week. (Sorry for the ad - Klose decided to turn their web pages into pictures instead of html?????)
If you're on a budget, need something that is patient with your cooking habits and has a firebox, go with the CharGrill proThe Link This thing has done us nothing but greatness. It was less than $200 with the side firebox for smoking. It has a shitload of cooking area on the grill side. Many a brisket we have made on this with no complaints. Granted, it's not the nicest most high-end, but, if you have even a general idea of what you're doing, it's a pretty good and forgiving grill. You can find them down at Lowe's.
I have a LifeTyme rusting in my backyard. The pipe is too narrow for my tastes and it tends to dry out whatever I'm smoking. The guy that made my pit is Wylie. He's in Buda (or Manchaca). I've got his number around here somewhere.
I'd like to put in a plug for Gator Pits out of Houston. I shopped most of the big names Klose, Lyfe Tyme, New Braunfels, Oklahoma Joe and settled on these guys. The quality is absolutely great. But what sold me is that the guys are super friendly and will customize your pit with anything you can possibly dream of. I called and bugged them several times on the phone and they always seemed glad to hear from me and were excited to hear about any ideas I had to make my pit "mine" and would add them on enthusiastically. Great people. The Link
Craig, that's one helluva schweeeeet rig you got ^ there... what was the price? I like the paper towl holder & that's sure a great shelf - the L side around the stack is allsome. The only thing I see missing is a Longhorn emblem or logo. How much can you do (or have you done) if you're going all out for a gathering?
If you're not ready to shell out some ching, take a look at New Braunfels brand @ Academy. They have a good range of products/price points. Not the Cadillac IMO, but can definitely hang with Toyota.
Craig, Do you have one meat directly beneath another with that design? If so, how does that affect the bottom piece of meat? I can see the benefits of adding the rendered fat, but can also see how it might screw things up. Nice design though.
Hmmm, look what Steel Shank found on Craigs List.... No wussy smoker This one is similar to mine. If you're going to go, go long.
I want something bigger like craig's eventually, but my little smoker that could gets it done for this broke *** law student right now: It was a Christmas gift 2 years ago, and if I recall my mom got it at the PX on Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. It's basically a new braunfels knock off.
I have a Tejas Smoker and a Big Green Egg. Both are pricey, but nice. If I want to do a real all day BBQ cook, then firing up the Tejas rig is the way to go. If I want to do something simpler, the Egg is preferred. That's not to say that the Egg can't do real BBQ, but I haven't had it long enough to try it.
