Brinkmann Trailmaster Limited Edition - Page 5

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalBBQ 

Trailmaster LE Cover

 

Hey for those interested, I contacted Brinkmann a couple weeks ago to see if they have a cover for the Trailmaster LE yet.  I think most of us are using the oversized 82".  Here is their response,

 

I apologize for the delay.  That cover is now available, and you can order it over the phone at 1-800-527-0717.

If you have any other questions, please let us know.

Sincerely,

 

The cover is not listed on the website, but according to the email above they are now available,

 

Best,

Awesome.

Been looking for one since I got my Trailmaster last Fathers Day.

Love my smoker; Now, I  need to do some mods...

Great thread!

Father's Day came early for me this year. I have a Trailmaster LE on the way! I have been reading the forums like a madman and I have already gotten the expanded metal to make the fire box and two extra high quality thermometers to install before burn in.

The only other Mod I want to make out of the box is to extend the chimney down to the grate. Unfortunately, I can't find anywhere where the dimension of the chimny hole is listed.

So... What size flex pipe/90 degree angle did you all use?

Thanks! I'm really looking forward to participating in these forums. I've been smoking on my Webber Genisis with makeshift chip boxes and water pans for several years now and my wife got sick of watching me drool over having a "real" smoker! I'm looking forward to a great summer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PvilleComp 

Father's Day came early for me this year. I have a Trailmaster LE on the way! I have been reading the forums like a madman and I have already gotten the expanded metal to make the fire box and two extra high quality thermometers to install before burn in.

 

The only other Mod I want to make out of the box is to extend the chimney down to the grate. Unfortunately, I can't find anywhere where the dimension of the chimney hole is listed.

 

So... What size flex pipe/90 degree angle did you all use?

 

Thanks! I'm really looking forward to participating in these forums. I've been smoking on my Webber Genisis with makeshift chip boxes and water pans for several years now and my wife got sick of watching me drool over having a "real" smoker! I'm looking forward to a great summer.

I used a 4' to 3' adapter and a 3' elbow. The hole on the cooking chamber to the chimney is oblong so that's why I used the 4' adapter. I put it through the hole from the out side, cut slits about 1' or so all the way around it, bent it flat against the end and then used Rutland high temp silicone between the cooking chamber and chimney. Sealed it just fine.

  The fire box is a must, I made mine for my old smoker so it is12" x 12" x 6",  have to snake it around to get it in, might wanna make yours a little smaller. Maybe a inch or so smaller.I might have got lucky but with the extended chimney I have only 3 degree difference from side to side.

  You will want to use the Rutland on the seams around the fire box, I had 1/8 gap between the top and bottom where it bolts together.

 Congrats on it! I enjoy mine, did a few practice burns to learn it first, now smoking on it and loving life!

Thanks tallon - I already bought a tube of high heat mill-pac black from our local chimney/wood stove guy. It's supposed to withstand 1050 degrees. I plan on sealing that bad boy up good! ;)

Thanks tallon - I already bought a tube of high heat mill-pac black from our local chimney/wood stove guy. It's supposed to withstand 1050 degrees. I plan on sealing that bad boy up good! ;)

I used a 4" dryer flex hose for mine. almost have the firebox sealed completely, have to seal the ash drawer, I bought a horizon convection plate and some flat stock to hold it up and about 1 3/8" from the fire box. Chimney side runs al ittle cooler than the firebox side.

This is killing me. I have the Firebox built and all the Mods ready to go, and the Trailmaster is in the back of a truck in Charlotte! Only a day or so more. ;) <<breathe in... breath out... breath in... breath out>> That's better.

In anticipation of the Trailmaster I did one last smoke on the Webber Genesis before it's reconciled to being a straight griller again. I smoked my first shoulder with some Stubbs Pork Rub, misted with apple juice and smoked with cherry chips and Sam Adams in a water box. (Sorry I forgot to take pics.) It was good, and now I'm even more impatient.

For those interested - I ordered the cover, I'll take pics and post them so you can see what it looks like.

It finally came in and my Son and I put it together today and did a seasoning run on it.

I tried to seal up everything I could but the Mill Pac I got was very thick and broke my caulk gun (I did not know that it was even possible to break a caulk gun!) Apparently I still have work to do. I had a real hard time getting temps down to 250 after the high heat burn time. 

The Chimney extension and extra thermometers were definitely the right move. My temps were dead on left and right through out the seasoning burn. The top thermo though read about 50 - 100 degrees higher than grill level? I tested all the thermometer's in boiling water and they tested out OK, so I'm not sure if this is normal or if it's just a lower grade thermometer.

I'm going to try some Spare Ribs tomorrow. I'll post some Qview.

Congrats!!! I love mine, have had it for a little over a year now.  I find it hard to keep temps below 250* also unless I have very little lump in the firebox but then I am feeding it quite often.  I am trying different brands of lump to see which one will burn the longest with the most even heat.

Have a great time tuning in your new "toy"  I am sure your family and friends will love it.
 

A little Qview... Spareribs after 2 hours on the smoker.

I had a much better time managing heat today. I used a full chimney stacked to the far right of the firebox/cage with 3 or 4 pieces of Cherry mixes in. Then I lit 1/2 a chimney in the charcoal starter and added it to the left hand side of the box. I left the vent fully closed on the firebox and it ramped up to 200 nicely. I've been able to keep it between 200 and 250 throughout the smoke.

I'll add some pics of the finished product.

Edit: I also used a small aluminum pan filled with Sam Adams to act as a heat sink/steamer. I think this helped a lot. I don't know if using good beer instead of water really makes a difference, but I figure if the ribs pick up a little Sam flavor along the way that can't hurt. 

Finished product...

Not the best ribs I've ever made, but I'm learning this thing. I thought my temps were good, but apparently the ribs closest to the firebox got WAY more direct heat then I wanted. 

As they say, bad Q is better than no Q!

For what it's worth - they would not win for Presentation, but only the first 5 ribs or so were completely crisped. The rest was great!

For those who were interested in the Brinkmann cover for the Trailmaster - here's a pic of the grill with the cover on. 

Quick question for those who have gasketed your smoke chamber door. Did you use plain gasket rope or the graphite gasket rope? I guess my real question is... is the graphite impregnated rope bad for the meat or the eater of the meat?

hey guys , quick question about the brinkman trailmaster limited edition . I bought one a couple weeks ago from home depot , I did some of the modifications that i seen on here like heat sealer/fire basket . Now I'm looking to get a convection plate , so my question is what size convection plate should i go with 16,20,24 ???
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Jr 

hey guys , quick question about the brinkman trailmaster limited edition . I bought one a couple weeks ago from home depot , I did some of the modifications that i seen on here like heat sealer/fire basket . Now I'm looking to get a convection plate , so my question is what size convection plate should i go with 16,20,24 ???
 

I'm going with the 16 , can't wait to get it !!!

Is that the one from Horizon?

yea , i bought a 16
 

Let us know how it works - I'm still tinkering with my tuning plate configuration.