OT - Pit Barrel

Brisket_Fanatic

Does anyone have any experience with this Pit Barrel Cooker? I am looking for something a little more portable and can easily be moved to and from a minivan.

lkapigian

Not that one, but I have used Barrel Cookers, they work great, slight learning curve as with other pits, play with it at home for a couple cooks- Look on CL, in many areas guys custom build and paint them with a lot more features

Brisket_Fanatic

lkapigian said:

Not that one, but I have used Barrel Cookers, they work great, slight learning curve as with other pits, play with it at home for a couple cooks- Look on CL, in many areas guys custom build and paint them with a lot more features

I know UDS's have been around a really long time but I'm looking specifically at this brand and their method of hanging meat. I would think we ribs get tender and pass the bend test they would just fall off the hooks into the fire.

DMW

I think @lousubcap has one.

Brisket_Fanatic

Thanks @DMW

lousubcap

I acquired a PBC last December.  It definitely comes ready to quickly set up and use.  I got it as a different method to produce smoked/grilled proteins.   It behaves very much like mentioned in their videos and their video recipes are pretty close,time-wise (usually my cooks run a little longer than their estimates).  I did not buy it for portability so no comment there, other than it is easy to move around as it is light-weight compared to a BGE.
It produces top-quality results.  
If you decide to get, I would buy the attachable ash pan as that makes clean-up a whole lot easier.  Happy to answer more ?'s.  Shoot me a PM if you want.

lousubcap

posts passing in the ether -  never have had ribs over-come by gravity and fall into the fire.  I go with the toothpick test and they turn out fine.  

Focker

Might want to consider the HOF 22 WSM for $400.  Weber makes hanging racks, I've got one for bacon in my 18 WSM.  Could easily make your own with rebar and S hooks.

Install an Unknown BBQ hinge for a premium upgrade IMO.  Breaks down to 2 or 3 pieces with the hinge, easy to remove the pin if needed, but I don't.

Brisket_Fanatic

@Focker - I've seen them on craigslist quite a bit and have looked. I know you've said numerous times they produce superior flavor but what's the difference. Easier to add charcoal/lump/wood or just more capacity. My son is in 2nd grade and is wanting to join Scouts so I am thinking of something more portable for camp outs.

HeavyG

I hang ribs in my ten year old 18" WSM using Weber's hanging rack. Have never had any fall off the hooks into the coals. Not yet anyway.  

I do place a grate on top of the fire ring just in case one did fall it wouldn't make as much of a mess. I made my own hooks out of 1/8 inch stainless steel rod.

While I have never transported my WSM I think it would be easier to to carry around than a PBC since the WSM is sectional. A WSM also seems to be a lot easier to clean than a PBC/solid drum cooker.

Eggscuses

Have you thought about an akorn? Just bought one for camping,but haven't used it yet.seems pretty decent.Only thing I'm not to fond of is the cast iron grate or not so great. Seems a bit cheesy, saw a bunch in walmart broken. Could just be rough handling by customers. Also walmart had them on sale for $200 in Connecticut.

Jeremiah

I've been eyeing it too. Aside from all the other reasons for wanting one, I really like that that the company was started by a veteran as well. 

Thatgrimguy

@SGH has one.  I hang LOTS of stuff in my Shirley and I hung lots of stuff in my uds. I had some falls but one you get the "hang" of it it's not a problem. If you like fall of the bone ribs, just pull them and put them on the grate and finish them there. The PBC still has a grate you can use.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=210239

Focker

Never really understood the desire to hang ribs creating an uneven cooking environment.  Seems like a PITA for no gain.  I do like hanging bellies with a little to no heat generating Pro-Q cold smoker.  Sausages smoked and hung indirect?  Hail yes.

Why stray from even cooking going raised direct vertical?  At least it's more even heat horizontal raised direct.

@Brisket_Fanatic,
The design is similar, both are vertical smokers.

The 22 WSM is a beast, eats one big bag of kingsford.  Two racks could easily do 8 8lb butts, 6 racks layed out.  Should be ideal for the troop.  You can also easily add a third rack to increase capaity.  I did this with my 18 WSM.  Really fun and feels good adding mods to the cooker to make it better too.  

22 WSM being gently used.  The extra real estate is nice for ribs and brisket.  Like the LBGE, sometimes you have to shoehorn things in the 18 WSM.  Now that I have both, the 22 is less fuel efficient, but much more convenient.

Brisket_Fanatic

Thatgrimguy said:

@SGH has one.  I hang LOTS of stuff in my Shirley and I hung lots of stuff in my uds. I had some falls but one you get the "hang" of it it's not a problem. If you like fall of the bone ribs, just pull them and put them on the grate and finish them there. The PBC still has a grate you can use.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=210239

That is a heck of a thread to read through - Thanks @Thatgrimguy - hope to have a setup like yours when I grow up.

Brisket_Fanatic

@focker - very persuasive Brando!

Now I just have to tell the wife how expensive scouting is going to be.

WeberWho

How about a Big Steel Keg for the hitch?

Brisket_Fanatic

@weberwho Minivan doesn't have a hitch. ☹️

Focker

The WSMs are set and forget cookers, versatile.  It is a great raised direct grill for things like chicken.  
 
Comb craigslist, something will pop up.  Found my 22 for $225, have put $75 into mods at this point.  Worth every penny.   

NC_Egghead

Brisket_Fanatic said:

@focker - very persuasive Brando!

Now I just have to tell the wife how expensive scouting is going to be.

You have no idea. I hope your son enjoys Scouting and stays with it. You'll be buying light weight camping gear and portable stoves before you know it. All this translates to $$$. I've been looking at the PBC's as well but haven't pulled the trigger yet. While I can see the application in the camp ground, don't forget that Boy Scouts means being boy led. The patrols should be doing their own cooking with minimal adult supervision. The adults have their own patrol and do their own cooking which is where the PBC would be nice to have. 

konablue50

I have owned one since January. I was in line for a BGE but fund issues came up and ended up with a Pit Barrel. I honestly haven't had any complaints, it produces very good results and the customer service is outstanding. It literally is set it and forget it once you get your lighting process down. I light my coals, wait 12 minutes, hang my meat, lid on and that's all she wrote. Being able to hang 8 racks of ribs in such a small footprint has been great for large cooks. It works like a convection oven and truly does cook the food evenly. These are just a few pics of food I've produced with the product...

Jeremiah

I should add, I really want one of these damn cookers. Stupid foundation.  

Ozzie_Isaac

Jeremiah said:

I should add, I really want one of these damn cookers. Stupid foundation.  

What was the outcome of the crack?

Jeremiah

I dunno yet. I've called three foundation companies to come and do estimates. Then depending on what they say, I'm going to have a structural engineer look at it as well to make sure I'm not being who-doed. Either way, it's gonna suck. Lol. 

Ozzie_Isaac

Jeremiah said:

I dunno yet. I've called three foundation companies to come and do estimates. Then depending on what they say, I'm going to have a structural engineer look at it as well to make sure I'm not being who-doed. Either way, it's gonna suck. Lol. 

Dang.  I would make a joke, but that is no laughing matter.  Hope its nothing a little foundation epoxy can't fix.

flexfusion

I very curious to know if lump charcoal can be used as the fuel source in these barrel cookers?  I find Kingsford briskets so dusty and nasty to work with.  

Brisket_Fanatic

@flexfusion Yes you can use lump charcoal. I've used them in my WSM with no difference 

tbru

Can you set up a BGE to act like a Pit Barrell, hanging the meat, doing Brazilian Churrasco style?