Newbie Question

[jibsymalone]

Hi all!

Just getting started with the whole smoking thing, i am very excited to get going and make some excellent Q! i have read a whole bunch (i think i am still processing a lot of it!) of information from this site already and have decided i would like to get an offset horizontal smoker. I think the larger grill area (versus the verticals) will suit me a little better. I am looking at taking the plunge and getting my first rig. Of course i will love to get a Lang (especially as i am about 45 minutes from where they are based! or so i am to believe) but my budget is a long way away from Lang territory!! I am thinking a budget of about $350 is workable right now, got the keep the missus happy after all! 

What would be the "best" rig in this price scale (i understand there is a lot of differing opinions and subjectivity involved in this question)? I have been looking at the BTLE, seems they are pretty popular, and with the mods are more than doable on my budget.Any other suggestions or advice? I have looked on craigslist for a good used one but they all seem either way out of my price range or a little lacking!

Thank you all in advance for any advice!

 

[daveomak]

Jibsy, morning and welcome to the forum......   Heart set on a Lang.....  Well, if you get a "lesser" smoker, you will be kicking yourself for a long time to come....  Consider the original price of the "lesser" smoker, the mods you will have to make.... time, money etc...    Sooner or later, you will end up with a Lang Smoker.....  On the up side, there's no freight involved...  a real money saver.....      

Have you check to see if anyone has traded "up" and they have a used or demo smoker on the property that might get you a price break...  

I know this doesn't answer you question about "another smoker to look at"....  just trying to cover all options ...... 

I don't know what a BTLE is so I can look at it or it's revues....  

Dave 

 

[jibsymalone]

Dave,

Morning to you also sir!

No i have not even thought about seeing if they had any used or demo models that may be available, that is an excellent idea!!

Sad to say, right now and for the foreseeable future (wife, kids etc.) the budget is pretty much what it is. The BTLE i was referring to is a Brinkman Trailmaster Limited Edition. yes it is "lower end" smoker, but seems popular with some of the members on here, the mods i mentioned (which i also gathered from this awesome site!) should only run about $50 or so, so nothing exorbitant there.

I feel if i can get started on a lower end unit, get the family hooked to some good BBQ, then when it is time to replace this rig i am sure i could easily have saved up for, and talk them into a Lang! (well that's my plan anyway!)

Thanks for the idea, i will do some digging and see what i can find!!