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Looking to add a bigger cooker to the family - $4,000 budget

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EggSmokeVa
EggSmokeVa Posts: 378
in EggHead Forum
Finally ready to pull the trigger on this big purchase... I have experience on BGE's and reverse flow stick burners.. will be using it for my growing catering business and eventual competitions. 

I know I posted a question like this a while back.. but I am now ready to make the purchase and want to be sure I do all of the necessary research and get some advice from folks with more experience.

Thanks
Large BGE
36" BlackStone
Backwoods G2 Party
Yard full of other stuff to cook on

RVA -> Chesapeake Va
Professional Drinker & Home Cook
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  • DoubleEgger
    DoubleEgger Posts: 17,174
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    Vertical insulated cabinet smoker. 
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  • EggSmokeVa
    EggSmokeVa Posts: 378
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    DoubleEgger said:
    Vertical insulated cabinet smoker. 
    Any particular recommendation? I have heard good things about LoneStar
    Large BGE
    36" BlackStone
    Backwoods G2 Party
    Yard full of other stuff to cook on

    RVA -> Chesapeake Va
    Professional Drinker & Home Cook
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  • SmokeyPitt
    SmokeyPitt Posts: 10,490
    edited May 2016
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    I don't know much about these but I agree with double...if I were ever to make the jump I would be leaning towards a vertical insulated like this:

    http://pitmaker.com/product/vin/?vin=23362368


    Which came first the chicken or the egg?  I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg. 

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  • EggSmokeVa
    EggSmokeVa Posts: 378
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    @SmokeyPitt thank you.. I will add them to the list and check it out. The real debate for me is between insulated cabinet or stick burner.. I will eventually own both.. just need to decide which one to get first lol
    Large BGE
    36" BlackStone
    Backwoods G2 Party
    Yard full of other stuff to cook on

    RVA -> Chesapeake Va
    Professional Drinker & Home Cook
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  • Firemanyz
    Firemanyz Posts: 907
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    Where in VA are you?  Check out meadow creek they are in Pennsylvania. They normally have an open house during the summer. 


    http://www.meadowcreekbbq.com/
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  • EggSmokeVa
    EggSmokeVa Posts: 378
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    @Firemanyz I am in Suffolk va.. hampton roads area.. i just saw a Meadow Creek water cooker used on sale for $3,000
    Large BGE
    36" BlackStone
    Backwoods G2 Party
    Yard full of other stuff to cook on

    RVA -> Chesapeake Va
    Professional Drinker & Home Cook
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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 22,967
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    EggSmokeVa said:
    DoubleEgger said:
    Vertical insulated cabinet smoker. 
    Any particular recommendation? I have heard good things about LoneStar
    Pitmaker vault. 
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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  • dougcrann
    dougcrann Posts: 1,129
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    Contact Paul athttp://www.shirleyfabrication.com/
    For a beautiful Reverse Flow built to your specs. I think they may be on a bit of a break...seen him mention something about going to New York for "Fleet Week" or something of that nature. Have never heard of one complaint about Shirleys cookers...
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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 22,967
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    SmokeyPitt said:
    I don't know much about these but I agree with double...if I were ever to make the jump I would be leaning towards a vertical insulated like this:

    http://pitmaker.com/product/vin/?vin=23362368

    cazzy and SGH both have one. I've been to the shop where they make them in Houston. Great cookers for the money. Shirley's are great- no doubt. They are sold out through November or something like that. If you are doing this for a job I highly recommend getting something you don't have to tend to every half hour (stick burners). The vault is like a giant egg in a way. Once it's set, it will cruise all night with no tenidng. It can run on a bbq guru so you can even control it offsite. If I were buying it for competition, as stick burner would win hands down. If I were buying it for commercial use, I would get a Vault.

    The vault guys win a lot of comps but I still think a stick burner would edge it out in most cases for pure bbq. I know SGH will more than gladly talk to you for hours about his vaults and stick burners to help you make the right call.





    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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  • Focker
    Focker Posts: 8,364
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    Depends on how far you'll go to pick it up.  
    Shipping alone would be a deal breaker.

    For me, it would be a Meat Monster in IL.  Best pit around hands down.  

    More than double budget though.

    Recently saw a meat monster with santa marie grill custom for 16Gs used.  Worth every penny.  Probably the best pit I've come across on CL.  You would build the business/menu around a pit like this, same as a commercial WFO.  Overkill for the backyarder like myself, but tempting.
    Brandon
    Quad Cities
    "If yer gonna denigrate, familiarity with the subject is helpful."

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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 22,967
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    Focker said:
    Depends on how far you'll go to pick it up.  
    Shipping alone would be a deal breaker.

    For me, it would be a Meat Monster in IL.  Best pit around hands down.  

    More than double budget though.

    Recently saw a meat monster with santa marie grill custom for 16Gs used.  Worth every penny.  Probably the best pit I've come across on CL.  You would build the business/menu around a pit like this, same as a commercial WFO.  Overkill for the backyarder like myself, but tempting.
    would love to have one. great cooker for sure.


    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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  • EggSmokeVa
    EggSmokeVa Posts: 378
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    @The Cen-Tex Smoker thanks.. Yes @SGH has been very helpful multiple times for me lol I've been having this discussion for a while but now it's time to pony up the cash and make a choice..
    Large BGE
    36" BlackStone
    Backwoods G2 Party
    Yard full of other stuff to cook on

    RVA -> Chesapeake Va
    Professional Drinker & Home Cook
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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 22,967
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    EggSmokeVa said:
    @The Cen-Tex Smoker thanks.. Yes @SGH has been very helpful multiple times for me lol I've been having this discussion for a while but now it's time to pony up the cash and make a choice..
    If you are thinking of a Vault I think Cazzy might be looking to move his to get a large stick burner. He's right there in Houston where Pitmaker is and you might be able to save a few $. It's bareley 2 years old if that.


    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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  • BamaEGG
    BamaEGG Posts: 170
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    Hands down without question get a Stump.
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  • HeavyG
    HeavyG Posts: 10,348
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    I was in the market for a new cooker for my birthday a few weeks ago.

    I looked at lots of makes/types but kept going back to look at the Lone Star Grillz vertical insulated cabinets.

    Ultimately I decided that I didn't need the capacity of even their mini so I went in a different direction but if I were actually wanting something with lots of capacity I would definitely go with the Lone Star Grilz vertical insulated cabinet.
    “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” ― Philip K. Diçk




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  • GregW
    GregW Posts: 2,677
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    I really want one of these:
    http://www.deepsouthsmokers.com/home.html
    I want the GC28
    These are gravity feed charcoal fired smokers.
    They have the easy temp control of the egg with much higher cooking capacity.
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  • shucker
    shucker Posts: 483
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    I have a couple of backwoods insulated reverse flow cabinet smokers I'm getting ready to sell if you're interested.  I'm only an hour from Suffolk. 

    Shucker
    Eastern North Carolina
    Go Pirates!

    http://facebook.com/oldcolonysmokehouse

    https://www.instagram.com/oldcolonysmokehouse/

    L & MM BGE/Blackstone 36" Griddle/Pit Barrel Cooker/QDS/Shirley Fab 50" Patio/BQ Grills Hog Cooker/Stump's Classic/Weber 22" OTG


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  • EggSmokeVa
    EggSmokeVa Posts: 378
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    I'm definitely interested to hear more about it.. Which ones do you have? Got pics? @shucker
    Large BGE
    36" BlackStone
    Backwoods G2 Party
    Yard full of other stuff to cook on

    RVA -> Chesapeake Va
    Professional Drinker & Home Cook
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  • beteez
    beteez Posts: 548
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    Stumps Gravity fed
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