Can't Decide

[matts]

I have been contimplating on my trailer build. Mainly trying to decide if I want to go reverse flow or leave it open. If I leave it open, then I was planning on diffusing the smoke on the bottom so it gets a better coverage on the grate. The tank I plan on using is a 250-275 oval oil tank that will be mounted flat. So it will be 27tall x 40 deep x 60 long. I think it will be easier to build a diffuser (and cheaper) then to properly build reverse flow. But I am not sure if there are enough benefits to building a reverse flow in this tank. I plan on having a fire box around 24" sq. The calculators called out a 27" box at those dimensions above as a square smoker. So I figured taking out for the rounds would bring me down to 24"

What do you think? Is a reverse flow that much better of a design, or is it personal choice???

I am picking up a trailer tonight, so the build is about to begin.


Thanks
Matt

 

[bmudd14474]

From everything I have read the rev flow is worth it. I am building mine that way.

 

[corn cob]

Personally I've not been convinced that the reverse flow is a superior design. I do try to keep an open mind however to new innovations. Right now it does seem to be some what of a fad or "trendy" design. So IMO... it is mostly a personal choice based on what you think, and what you want...what you like...etc. HTH

Enjoy!

 

[mballi3011]

Now I know the reverse flow is really popular here and I'm sure alot of other smoker. The lang smokers are bye far the most popular and the best smokers that I know of. So I would mirror then as close as you can.

 

[matts]

I have never used a reverse flow and I am thinking I want to. I think on this build I might as well go for it. Thanks for the input.

 

[eaglewing]

YES, the idea is to get your heat source diffused and more uniform around your meat, like an oven only filled with smoke of course.

If you are building one, you might be able to accomplish the same thing without a true reverse flow solid plate but that's up to you and how you design it...

There are other ideas in here for types of tuning plates with a series of holes in them, etc.

Basically anything to get the heat from your firebox to not just flow right up on your meat and burn it.

 

[jdt]

Langs are good cookers but only on this forum are they considered to be the best, last year there was not one lang in the top 10 bbq teams in the world, there however were 3 conventional offsets, two jambo's and one horizon. Every weekend all over the country conventionsal are beating reverse flows and vice versa, cooker is only 50% of the equation IMO and either style has been proven to make award winning que.

 

[matts]

eaglewing, basically a plate with a bunch of holes in it was my other option other than reverse flow. But I am leaning more towards the reverse flow because of the ease of clean up.