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Stumps , Vault , Assassin ( so)

lkapigian
lkapigian Posts: 10,708
Looking to get a gravity feed vertical smoker....Large capacity ..any input is greatly appreciated. 
Visalia, Ca @lkapigian

Comments

  • DoubleEgger
    DoubleEgger Posts: 17,125
    edited June 2017
    In my opinion, Deep South Smokers makes the nicest vertical GF on the market. 

    http://www.deepsouthsmokers.com/gc-series.html
  • lkapigian
    lkapigian Posts: 10,708
    Thanks @DoubleEgger , I will check that out....
    Visalia, Ca @lkapigian
  • WeberWho
    WeberWho Posts: 11,008
    The guy I bought my Shirley from sold it so he could get an Assassin 28
    "The pig is an amazing animal. You feed a pig an apple and it makes bacon. Let's see Michael Phelps do that" - Jim Gaffigan

    Minnesota
  • lkapigian
    lkapigian Posts: 10,708
    @WeberWho thanks for the input , just looked at the deep south smokers, they are nice!! Its going to be a tough choice ..and being. On the west coast makes it tough 
    Visalia, Ca @lkapigian
  • lkapigian
    lkapigian Posts: 10,708
    In my opinion, Deep South Smokers makes the nicest vertical GF on the market. 

    http://www.deepsouthsmokers.com/gc-series.html
    I am liking these
    Visalia, Ca @lkapigian
  • lkapigian said:
    @WeberWho thanks for the input , just looked at the deep south smokers, they are nice!! Its going to be a tough choice ..and being. On the west coast makes it tough 

    get the pink one!
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
  • lkapigian
    lkapigian Posts: 10,708
    lkapigian said:
    @WeberWho thanks for the input , just looked at the deep south smokers, they are nice!! Its going to be a tough choice ..and being. On the west coast makes it tough 

    get the pink one!
    Ha!.......
    Visalia, Ca @lkapigian
  • DoubleEgger
    DoubleEgger Posts: 17,125
    lkapigian said:
    In my opinion, Deep South Smokers makes the nicest vertical GF on the market. 

    http://www.deepsouthsmokers.com/gc-series.html
    I am liking these
    The Deep South GF's are super nice. Great people too.  Like them on Facebook if you're into that. 
  • All these are super cool. I don't need the volume so I just use my BGE when I want to cook with charcoal and I have a Karubeque for burning sticks. All the room I'll ever need and I can do easy (eggs) or supervised with real wood (KBQ).  I like the KBQ a lot but a whole other animal to a GF cabinet. The food I had of SGH's vault was spectacular and it cranked out hundreds of pounds of food all day and night. They are badass.
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
  • lkapigian
    lkapigian Posts: 10,708
    All these are super cool. I don't need the volume so I just use my BGE when I want to cook with charcoal and I have a Karubeque for burning sticks. All the room I'll ever need and I can do easy (eggs) or supervised with real wood (KBQ).  I like the KBQ a lot but a whole other animal to a GF cabinet. The food I had of SGH's vault was spectacular and it cranked out hundreds of pounds of food all day and night. They are badass.

    I like those Karubeque. Seems that more and more my cooks are ranging from 50 to 200 people. I have a Klose Pit, but looking for something I can put a a lot of protein in and still allow me to sleep @ night. Right now If I want sleep, I put as many hours of smoke as possible, then set the warming oven to 225 and go to bed. And I'd like not to have this big trailer in my driveway while doing an overnighter, its more geared for "day of" cooks
    Visalia, Ca @lkapigian
  • DoubleEgger
    DoubleEgger Posts: 17,125
    lkapigian said:
    All these are super cool. I don't need the volume so I just use my BGE when I want to cook with charcoal and I have a Karubeque for burning sticks. All the room I'll ever need and I can do easy (eggs) or supervised with real wood (KBQ).  I like the KBQ a lot but a whole other animal to a GF cabinet. The food I had of SGH's vault was spectacular and it cranked out hundreds of pounds of food all day and night. They are badass.

    I like those Karubeque. Seems that more and more my cooks are ranging from 50 to 200 people. I have a Klose Pit, but looking for something I can put a a lot of protein in and still allow me to sleep @ night. Right now If I want sleep, I put as many hours of smoke as possible, then set the warming oven to 225 and go to bed. And I'd like not to have this big trailer in my driveway while doing an overnighter, its more geared for "day of" cooks
    Sounds like a GC48 is right up your alley. 
  • lkapigian said:
    All these are super cool. I don't need the volume so I just use my BGE when I want to cook with charcoal and I have a Karubeque for burning sticks. All the room I'll ever need and I can do easy (eggs) or supervised with real wood (KBQ).  I like the KBQ a lot but a whole other animal to a GF cabinet. The food I had of SGH's vault was spectacular and it cranked out hundreds of pounds of food all day and night. They are badass.

    I like those Karubeque. Seems that more and more my cooks are ranging from 50 to 200 people. I have a Klose Pit, but looking for something I can put a a lot of protein in and still allow me to sleep @ night. Right now If I want sleep, I put as many hours of smoke as possible, then set the warming oven to 225 and go to bed. And I'd like not to have this big trailer in my driveway while doing an overnighter, its more geared for "day of" cooks

    These are perfect for what you are after. Great food + low supervision. I had the horrible idea of opening another restaurant a few years ago and had a trailer all spec'd out with 2 Pitmaker Vaults for the same reason. I finally came to my senses and scrapped it. I love my life too much to do that again.

    My wife starts getting twitchy if I have anything that can fit more than 2-3 briskets at a time. She knows it will all just spiral out of control and we will end up in a 140 degree trailer working all our weekends and holidays
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
  • I love my Stumps.  I have the baby wish I would have gone with the baby xl but you can't go wrong with a Stumps smoker.
  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 22,951
    edited June 2017
    oh- and I would do gravity fed over any of the others for sure. superior fire and smoke profile (and the others are already really good).
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
  • billt01
    billt01 Posts: 1,523
    @lkapigian

    http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1197918/ot-it-aint-an-egg-but#latest

    Stumps...Stumps...Stumps...

    I've owned three, sold two....wish i would have kept the Stretch

    Still have the Baby XL
    Have:
     XLBGE / Stumps Baby XL / Couple of Stokers (Gen 1 and Gen 3) / Blackstone 36 / Maxey 3x5 water pan hog cooker
    Had:
    LBGE / Lang 60D / Cookshack SM150 / Stumps Stretch / Stumps Baby

    Fat Willies BBQ
    Ola, Ga

  • stlcharcoal
    stlcharcoal Posts: 4,684
    I had a Rebel 23......which is now the Assassin.  You could put a lot of meat in there.  Took a long time to change temps, and you had to keep an eye on the chute with big chunks, but it was pretty easy to let the temp controller run it .
  • lkapigian
    lkapigian Posts: 10,708
    @billt01 Stumps was the first one I looked at, watched a few videos and they are nice. Think I have only seen 1 on the West Coast
    Visalia, Ca @lkapigian
  • lkapigian
    lkapigian Posts: 10,708
    Looking @ the XL Stretch or the Stretch...my mind tells me get the XL Stretch  and be done
    Visalia, Ca @lkapigian
  • Photo Egg
    Photo Egg Posts: 12,110
    All these are super cool. I don't need the volume so I just use my BGE when I want to cook with charcoal and I have a Karubeque for burning sticks. All the room I'll ever need and I can do easy (eggs) or supervised with real wood (KBQ).  I like the KBQ a lot but a whole other animal to a GF cabinet. The food I had of SGH's vault was spectacular and it cranked out hundreds of pounds of food all day and night. They are badass.
    How loud/annoying are the 2 fans on your Karubeque?
    I only get this impression from the few 
    videos I have watched online. I know poor quality video microphones always seem to make these types of sounds seem even worse.
    Do you get much sparking and popping wood as the fire is stoked?
    Thanks for any insight.
    Thank you,
    Darian

    Galveston Texas
  • 20stone
    20stone Posts: 1,961
    The Cen-Tex Smoker said:
    My wife starts getting twitchy if I have anything that can fit more than 2-3 briskets at a time. She knows it will all just spiral out of control and we will end up in a 140 degree trailer working all our weekends and holidays
    You wouldn't want things spiraling out of control.
    (now only 16 stone)

    Joule SV
    GE induction stove
    Gasser by the community pool (currently unavailable)
    Scale (which one of my friends refuses to use)
    Friends with BGEs and myriad other fired devices (currently unavail IRL)
    Occasional access to a KBQ and Webber Kettle
    Charcuterie and sourdough enthusiast
    Prosciuttos in an undisclosed location

    Austin, TX
  • Photo Egg said:
    All these are super cool. I don't need the volume so I just use my BGE when I want to cook with charcoal and I have a Karubeque for burning sticks. All the room I'll ever need and I can do easy (eggs) or supervised with real wood (KBQ).  I like the KBQ a lot but a whole other animal to a GF cabinet. The food I had of SGH's vault was spectacular and it cranked out hundreds of pounds of food all day and night. They are badass.
    How loud/annoying are the 2 fans on your Karubeque?
    I only get this impression from the few videos I have watched online. I know poor quality video microphones always seem to make these types of sounds seem even worse.
    Do you get much sparking and popping wood as the fire is stoked?
    Thanks for any insight.
    You wouldn't want it in your house but for many reasons :)  It's not loud to me. I kind of like having the audible signal that the meat is getting smoke (the draft fan is a little louder than the circulation fan). I have no issues with it whatsoever. 
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX

  • 20stone said:
    The Cen-Tex Smoker said:
    My wife starts getting twitchy if I have anything that can fit more than 2-3 briskets at a time. She knows it will all just spiral out of control and we will end up in a 140 degree trailer working all our weekends and holidays
    You wouldn't want things spiraling out of control.
    He says 6 pigs later...
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
  • Grillin_beers
    Grillin_beers Posts: 1,345
    I've been looking into a GF smoker so I can hit the competition circuit.  I've pretty much decided on a Stumps.  It's between that and the Deep South smoker.  I just like the idea that I'm buying the original and the people I know with Stumps are super happy with them. 
    1 large BGE, Spartanburg SC

    My dog thinks I'm a grilling god. 
  • I've been looking into a GF smoker so I can hit the competition circuit.  I've pretty much decided on a Stumps.  It's between that and the Deep South smoker.  I just like the idea that I'm buying the original and the people I know with Stumps are super happy with them. 
    Believe me you will not be disappointed in the Stumps.  Besides my egg it was the next best decision I made.  
  • Foghorn
    Foghorn Posts: 9,795

    20stone said:
    The Cen-Tex Smoker said:
    My wife starts getting twitchy if I have anything that can fit more than 2-3 briskets at a time. She knows it will all just spiral out of control and we will end up in a 140 degree trailer working all our weekends and holidays
    You wouldn't want things spiraling out of control.
    He says 6 pigs later...
    That situation kinda rocketed out of control.

    XXL BGE, Karebecue, Klose BYC, Chargiller Akorn Kamado, Weber Smokey Mountain, Grand Turbo gasser, Weber Smoky Joe, and the wheelbarrow that my grandfather used to cook steaks from his cattle

    San Antonio, TX

  • billt01
    billt01 Posts: 1,523
    lkapigian said:
    Looking @ the XL Stretch or the Stretch...my mind tells me get the XL Stretch  and be done
    Be warned...unless you plan on cooking for a neighborhood every time you fire it up..you will be wasting a lot of real estate..

    IMO..this thing is 1,200 lbs of  hashtag WAYTOBIG..

    here is what one looks like loaded with a 12 year old, 6 year, and 4 year old...on just one of the racks

    from what he told me, this was just a warning shot across the bow...behave or ...well....


    Have:
     XLBGE / Stumps Baby XL / Couple of Stokers (Gen 1 and Gen 3) / Blackstone 36 / Maxey 3x5 water pan hog cooker
    Had:
    LBGE / Lang 60D / Cookshack SM150 / Stumps Stretch / Stumps Baby

    Fat Willies BBQ
    Ola, Ga

  • billt01
    billt01 Posts: 1,523
    another one of the delivery....


    Have:
     XLBGE / Stumps Baby XL / Couple of Stokers (Gen 1 and Gen 3) / Blackstone 36 / Maxey 3x5 water pan hog cooker
    Had:
    LBGE / Lang 60D / Cookshack SM150 / Stumps Stretch / Stumps Baby

    Fat Willies BBQ
    Ola, Ga

  • shucker
    shucker Posts: 483
    Most of the GF units on the market are great smokers.  I'm personally a Stumps guy.  I own 2 which I compete and cater with very regularly.  One thing nobody has pointed out that you may not be aware of if you're new to GF smokers is that there are temp variations in the cookers (NO MATTER WHAT ANY SALES REP OR FANBOY TELLS YOU).  My cookers can have as much as 20-30 degrees variance in the cooker from right to left/ top to bottom / front to back, etc.  I've cooked on Deep South, Assassin, Superior, and they all have some form of temp variance in certain locations.  Best I have seen for completely even temps is the Vulcan made by Myron Mixon Smokers but they still arent perfect.   If you're catering, the temperature variance isn't a big deal but for competition purposes you will need to know whatever smoker you choose and know how to use the temperature zones to your advantage.  Also, another manufacturer nobody has mentioned yet is Southern Q.  Give them a look, they are super nice.       

    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


  • lkapigian
    lkapigian Posts: 10,708
    billt01 said:
    lkapigian said:
    Looking @ the XL Stretch or the Stretch...my mind tells me get the XL Stretch  and be done
    Be warned...unless you plan on cooking for a neighborhood every time you fire it up..you will be wasting a lot of real estate..

    IMO..this thing is 1,200 lbs of  hashtag WAYTOBIG..

    here is what one looks like loaded with a 12 year old, 6 year, and 4 year old...on just one of the racks

    from what he told me, this was just a warning shot across the bow...behave or ...well....


    I agree, I have a few ceramics and an offset for smaller cooks.....the only reason I am looking @ the stretch is for larger cooks....typically 100 -200 people once a month.........Thanks for posting the great pictures and I value the great input
    Visalia, Ca @lkapigian
  • billt01 said:
    lkapigian said:
    Looking @ the XL Stretch or the Stretch...my mind tells me get the XL Stretch  and be done
    Be warned...unless you plan on cooking for a neighborhood every time you fire it up..you will be wasting a lot of real estate..

    IMO..this thing is 1,200 lbs of  hashtag WAYTOBIG..

    here is what one looks like loaded with a 12 year old, 6 year, and 4 year old...on just one of the racks

    from what he told me, this was just a warning shot across the bow...behave or ...well....



    Mmmmmm...humans
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX