The time has come! Need to add another smoker to the family

EggSmokeVa

whats up fellow eggers!

I haven't posted in a while but I am an avid BGE user..

the he time has come for me to get another, larger, smoker - to use for catering, competitions, and to host our annual family reunion..(50-75 people)

i am am debating between a gravity feed smoker like stumps or a stick burner... The true BBQ lover in me wants to keep it authentic and get a stick burner.. But the BGE has me in love with the "set it and forget it" style.. 

Looking for expert opinions and folks that maybe own both or have used both... I would like to stay around $3,000 in regards to price point for now.

as always! Thanks

Wardster

I don't own either, but others will chime in.  I'm responding because I grew up in Herndon!!!

YEMTrey

I would seek the advice of SGH and ThatGrimGuy.

EggSmokeVa

Wardster said:

I don't own either, but others will chime in.  I'm responding because I grew up in Herndon!!!

Nice! I actually just moved from sterling va to Hampton roads... 

johnnyp

I'm not sure what capacity you're looking for, but pellet smokers are the ultimate for set and forget it.  

Craig, don't you use a pellet smoker?  Any relevant thoughts on quality of results or capacity?  @Big_Green_Craig

@sgh Scottie seems to have a million different rigs, I'm sure he can share some insight and offer some value

bcsnave

@EggSmokeVa

STOP...wait until April 6th 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc72H4H-U80

Big_Green_Craig

johnnyp said:

I'm not sure what capacity you're looking for, but pellet smokers are the ultimate for set and forget it.  

Craig, don't you use a pellet smoker?  Any relevant thoughts on quality of results or capacity?  @Big_Green_Craig

@sgh Scottie seems to have a million different rigs, I'm sure he can share some insight and offer some value

Yes, I do. It's the Rec Tec 680. It holds 40 lbs of pellets in the hopper and has an optional cold smoke/warmer box. I've been able to fit a 30lb pig inside. I really like the rib and brisket results. 

Thatgrimguy

$3000 buys you a TON of options.  Here are my favorites in each category.

Set and Forget -

Pellet:  Yoder YS640 or even a 1500 if you found a good used deal

Insulated Verticals: Spicewinek, Pitmaker, Humphreys, Lone Star Grillz (all excellent)

Gravity Feed: Stumps, Humphreys

Stick Burners:

Reverse flow: Shirley Fabrication (what I chose)

Tuning Plates:  Lone Star Grillz

Straight Flow:  Jambo Backyard




For me it was the personal choice of wanting to BBQ not just eat bbq. I wanted the involvement of a stick burner. I wanted the flavor too. I will eventually also own a large Set and Forget though. Because it's hard to find a day or night I can fully dedicate myself to cooking.  I'll probably go with a Yoder YS1500 when that time comes. It's completely set and forget, gives a great flavor, and looks freaking cool.

littlerascal56

The Yoder's are definitely the "cream of the crop" for pellet grills.  I am on my 3rd Traeger, and these newer ones built in China are crap. Warranty is almost up, and it's been completely rebuilt in past 2 years.  My next pellet burner will be a YS640 w/competition cart.  One of my techs just purchased a custom 640 ...KC Chiefs power coat on comp cart...sweet grill!  And it will sear steaks as good as my XL.

Lit

You can run the verticals as a stick burner. I know Cazzy does it on his pitmaker and I do it on my Backwoods all the time. I preheat with lump then usually add around 1 smaller split per hour t hold 250-275 all vents wide open all the time. I can also fill with lump and wood and run 250 for 12 hours. I think I paid $2400 for my backwoods fatboy and it has 4 20"*20" shelves so a good amount of cooking space.

EggSmokeVa

Thanks guys! I want to add a vertical... Debating on Stumps and Lone Star.. And also want to add a stick burner.. Something like Jambo or Shirley... Basically want to cover all the bases lmao.. Just trying to decide which one to pull the trigger on first ya know

Thatgrimguy

EggSmokeVa said:

Thanks guys! I want to add a vertical... Debating on Stumps and Lone Star.. And also want to add a stick burner.. Something like Jambo or Shirley... Basically want to cover all the bases lmao.. Just trying to decide which one to pull the trigger on first ya know

Get the Shirley first. It's the most versatile. The warmer pulls triple duty as a warmer, a smoker, and a grill. I often cook over open flame in the vertical.  And for the money you can get it on a trailer and portability is AWESOME. 

You have an egg for set and forget. Get you a trailered offset. 

EggSmokeVa

I'm renting one this weekend for an event from CustomPits here in southern VA..it's not a Shirley but I'll see how I like it and probably will go that route

Lit

The Shirley backyard that I was interested in was $3500 and that was a year and a half ago. Can't believe you could get a trailered one for less.

Thatgrimguy

Lit said:

The Shirley backyard that I was interested in was $3500 and that was a year and a half ago. Can't believe you could get a trailered one for less.

They start at $2550 on a trailer.

http://www.shirleyfabrication.com/offer/smokers-cookers

Lit

One almost identical to the one in your link was $3500. Maybe the trailers are cheaper somehow. 

Lit

This was the one where they said $3500 range on the Facebook page I still have the pic.

dougcrann

Stick burner....love mine

tarheelmatt

You looked at Meadow Creek's stuff?  They're in PA, which isn't far from you.  They have dealers around as well.  

Thatgrimguy

Lit said:

This was the one where they said $3500 range on the Facebook page I still have the pic.

That has a lot of options. Cabinet door, 3 racks in main chamber, Hip roof on warmer. Larger warmer, stainless table, and the wagon wheel design. I also see probe ports, both baffles and insulated fire box. That's a really tricked out cooker. The options drive the price up fast.

SGH

@EggSmokeVa
Remember what I told you and chose wisely my friend. In the end you will be the one running, moving, storing, maintaining and tending to it. Always let your conscious be your guide and chose accordingly. Whichever way you go, good luck and enjoy. 

Thatgrimguy

Before you buy a stick burner I think you should buy Aaron Franklin's book. If you can read that whole book and enjoy it all. You are a stick burner. On the other hand, you will know if it's not for you by the time you finish that book.

bhedges1987

I'm new to a stick burner, as I've only had it since November. .. But the flavor is top notch. I also owned a traeger and yoder ys640. All the advice above is good. I've heard great things about Shirley Fab. 

I chose to get rid of my yoder as I wanted to be more involved with the fire and get the authentic taste. 

Your budget is very high. I'm sure you will choose something awesome. 

EggSmokeVa

SGH said:

@EggSmokeVa
Remember what I told you and chose wisely my friend. In the end you will be the one running, moving, storing, maintaining and tending to it. Always let your conscious be your guide and chose accordingly. Whichever way you go, good luck and enjoy. 

You're right..I am going to take my time and do it right.. 

EggSmokeVa

Thatgrimguy said:

Before you buy a stick burner I think you should buy Aaron Franklin's book. If you can read that whole book and enjoy it all. You are a stick burner. On the other hand, you will know if it's not for you by the time you finish that book.

Ordering it now 

Hans61

double xl maybe? don't know if ceramic grill store is doing anything to expand that monster yet. 

DoubleEgger

I didn't realize the options for $3k especially in regards to cabinets and offsets. The wife is gonna love me now...