Advice on purchasing a new smoker

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mtharvey75

Newbie
Original poster
Oct 17, 2013
6
10
MS
I have never owned just a smoker unit, usually a grill or grill/smoker combo.... I have been researching and reading reviews and have about decided on purchasing a MES 30 or 40. My only concerns is with electrical issues of the newer models that have the remote and also deciding whether I need the extra space in buying a 40..... Just trying to make sure I make an educated decision don't want to spend $350-$450 on a smoker that's going to have electrical issues and also want to make sure I don't regret not buying the bigger smoker... Any advice is greatly appreciated....
 
Rule #1...What ever you think you need get the next Bigger Smoker! (Thanks Bear)

The newest Gen 2 MES 40 has a lot of problems. Currently, the only places I have found that still stock the Gen 1 MES 40, Model # 20070311 is Academy Sports and Amazon, and it's all Stainless Steel. I have 2 Gen 1's, one almost 3 yrs and one new, no issues. I am not saying the Coil connectors will never go bad on this model but most of the issue you read about are on the '09 and '10 models...JJ
 
Thanks for the info.... Something that occurred to me on the eclectical issues, is it more of the heat getting to the components or "drippings" corroding them??.... Curious because I was wondering if there was someway to wrap them in electrical tape to prevent corrosion or failure to them...
 
I believe the breakdown is from poor connections and inferior connectors. Drippings can't get to that end of the coil...JJ
 
This is just my opinion only, and like an a****** everybodys got one. Unless you can find an old generation MES for a coupla hundred bucks I would not go near one. Do some serious comparisions before spending hard earned $$ on a MES. Try to find a store, like Home Depot or Lowes, that has them on display and do some tire kicking....Willie
 
IMHO you can't go wrong with a WSM....will last forever and you don't have to worry about any electrical issues. If going electric I would look at the entry level Cookshacks (US made and amazing cookers) but it is going to be a completely different price range the the MES or WSM. We use some large smokers for competitions here and no matter what I always bring a WSM with us just in case (even though our chicken is always cooked on one;)
 
IMHO you can't go wrong with a WSM....will last forever and you don't have to worry about any electrical issues. If going electric I would look at the entry level Cookshacks (US made and amazing cookers) but it is going to be a completely different price range the the MES or WSM. We use some large smokers for competitions here and no matter what I always bring a WSM with us just in case (even though our chicken is always cooked on one;)
+1
 
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