New MES40 Sportsman Bluetooth review

krooz · Jun 23, 2015

Well, I missed the first sale but caught the latest at 349.99 and had enough Cabela bucks to buy the 40" 2.5 BT. Arrived today (yay!) and plan to assemble and season on Friday.

So, looking for tips/recommendation from other purchasers as to what to plan for.....

1) Foil drip pan for ease of clean up or drain into catch pan below?

2) Foil water pan or fill with sand or salt and then foil?

3) Future - Purchase Maverick temp probe - on wish list (but managed great smokes using cheapy meat probe in an old entry level Brinkman).

4) Future - Purchase AMZN 5x8 tray (or tube?). Again on wish list but won't have from the get go.

5) Get new phone - neither my Android phone nor my wife's iPad are current enough to use the bluetooth app - aaagh! Dinosaurs we are!

5) Something else to consider?

Thanks to all at SMF!!

Bearcarver · Jun 23, 2015

Krooz said:
Well, I missed the first sale but caught the latest at 349.99 and had enough Cabela bucks to buy the 40" 2.5 BT. Arrived today (yay!) and plan to assemble and season on Friday.

So, looking for tips/recommendation from other purchasers as to what to plan for.....

1) Foil drip pan for ease of clean up or drain into catch pan below?

2) Foil water pan or fill with sand or salt and then foil?

3) Future - Purchase Maverick temp probe - on wish list (but managed great smokes using cheapy meat probe in an old entry level Brinkman).

4) Future - Purchase AMZN 5x8 tray (or tube?). Again on wish list but won't have from the get go.

5) Get new phone - neither my Android phone nor my wife's iPad are current enough to use the bluetooth app - aaagh! Dinosaurs we are!

5) Something else to consider?

Thanks to all at SMF!!

Congrats on the new MES 40 !!

Sounds like you got good ideas already.

If I were you I'd just foil the water pan empty. Then if you have slow recovery, which I doubt, then try the sand.

Since you aren't at a high altitude, I'd go with the AMNPS Tray.

If you want ideas, check out my Step by Steps at the bottom of each of my posts.

Bear

mummel · Jun 23, 2015

I love my MES 40 BT. Very happy. Hardly uses any electricity. Great recovery times. You will be happy.

krooz · Jun 24, 2015

Yeah, can't wait to use it!

I appreciate the ideas link. I've typically only smoked butts but want to expand to other meats/cuts. (Tried a tri tip once but it didn't come out so great). Let the adventure begin!

Bearcarver · Jun 24, 2015

Krooz said:
Yeah, can't wait to use it!

I appreciate the ideas link. I've typically only smoked butts but want to expand to other meats/cuts. (Tried a tri tip once but it didn't come out so great). Let the adventure begin!

Just so you know---That link isn't just ideas. There's about 50 smokes on there that will take you through the whole process from prepping to completion. I designed them for anybody who never smoked anything before.

Just click on "Bear's Step by Steps".

Bear

krooz · Jun 24, 2015

I saw that. You put in a lot of effort compiling all that info! Great stuff.....

daricksta · Jun 25, 2015

mummel said:
I love my MES 40 BT. Very happy. Hardly uses any electricity. Great recovery times. You will be happy.

Very glad your smoker has worked out for you. My simple little MES 30 has performed really well. I can imagine how much better your MES 40 BT is.

mummel · Jun 25, 2015

Yeah there isnt much bad to say about this smoker. I still need to do a complete review, but I really really like it.

larry3d · Jun 28, 2015

Krooz,

Did you get the Cabela 40" MES? I'm looking to order one today. Interested to know your opinion if you did get it.

krooz · Jun 28, 2015

Larry - yeah that's the one I got. I'm impressed with the quality. I have a rack of baby backs going right now and some corn on the cob. As of now I'm relying on the MES itself for the temps. The firebox temp and meat probe in it's holder are reading almost exactly the same so I'm pretty confident in the temp.

I will say I see the need for the AMZNPS because adding a small hand full of chips every 45 minutes to an hour is a bit of a nuisance. Not so bad for the ribs but when doing a butt for a long smoke it would be a hassle.

Unfortunately I don't have any electronics current enough to test out the bluetooth. My Android is old and it requires 4.3 or better and my wife's iPad is the 1st generation and that won't work for it either....

basheirt · Jul 28, 2015

Lightsandsirens, I am looking to buy this exact model from Cabelas this weekend. Are you happy with their model? Any pros/cons you can share?

I had the Masterbuilt 30" w/remote for 6 months and it crapped out on me this week. The whole electronics thing just stopped working. Fortunately, the retailer took it back for a full refund (thanks QVC!), but I am hesitant to get another Masterbuilt, even though the whole world seems to think their electric smokers are the best things since sliced ribs!

Thanks...

lightsandsirens · Jul 30, 2015

I've used it 3 times since I got it. I really like it! The Bluetooth doesn't work very well. You have to be in almost direct site of the smoker for it to work. I bought the amazen smoker tray that is awesome! Smokes for 11 hrs without having to add chips. I think you will be happy with your purchase.

mummel · Jul 30, 2015

What phone do you have? I have the newest iPhone and the BT isnt too bad. I think the older iPhone 4 will have issues.

lightsandsirens · Jul 30, 2015

I have an IPhone 5. I can't go inside the house without it dropping. I can stand 5 ft from the smoker, by a window inside and nothing.

krooz · Jul 30, 2015

I recently picked up a Droid Turbo - I can get about 25' or so into the house. This allows me to monitor from our home office but was hoping to be able to follow from in the living room or kitchen but it just won't reach that far.....

greatcarman · Aug 4, 2015

I just picked up my bt 40 from cabelas today. I picked it up online on sale so I'm going to put it together tonight and have plans to use it on Thursday so I'll post what I think of it.

dcrosby007 · Aug 7, 2015

I had the 40MES 2nd gen with glass door. Which for the record was purchased from Sams club in July of 2014. Had multiple issues in the beginning but MB helped resolve them. 2 weekends ago it bit the dust lost heating element or something. Was about 4 hrs into a butt smoke when temp dropped off & never would recover. I tossed it & sought info from Bearcarver & after reading the post I may take another chance on another MES. I'm going to get one from Bass Pro I think this time but before I do I would like to follow up & see if y'all still feel it's a brand to go back with after all the issues prior units have had??? If the Sportsman is not available will any vouch for the regular model???

brickguy221 · Aug 7, 2015

Dcrosby007 said:
I had the 40MES 2nd gen with glass door. Which for the record was purchased from Sams club in July of 2014. Had multiple issues in the beginning but MB helped resolve them. 2 weekends ago it bit the dust lost heating element or something. Was about 4 hrs into a butt smoke when temp dropped off & never would recover. I tossed it & sought info from Bearcarver & after reading the post I may take another chance on another MES. I'm going to get one from Bass Pro I think this time but before I do I would like to follow up & see if y'all still feel it's a brand to go back with after all the issues prior units have had??? If the Sportsman is not available will any vouch for the regular model???

Dcrosby007, many people myself included had one problem or another with the Gen 2.0 regardless of where it was purchased. So far, most everyone is having good success with the new Bluetooth purchased at Sams as well as purchased elsewhere plus Sams includes legs with rollers and is $100 cheaper than Bass Pro. Sams also offers a 3 year warranty for $30

Like you, I had a problem with My Gen 2.0, but still stayed with Masterbuilt and purchased the 40" Bluetooth at Sams and so far (knock on wood ...lol ) my BT has been perfect with no problems to date.

dcrosby007 · Aug 8, 2015

Brickguy221 said:
Dcrosby007, many people myself included had one problem or another with the Gen 2.0 regardless of where it was purchased. So far, most everyone is having good success with the new Bluetooth purchased at Sams as well as purchased elsewhere plus Sams includes legs with rollers and is $100 cheaper than Bass Pro. Sams also offers a 3 year warranty for $30

Like you, I had a problem with My Gen 2.0, but still stayed with Masterbuilt and purchased the 40" Bluetooth at Sams and so far (knock on wood ...lol ) my BT has been perfect with no problems to date.

Thanks for the insight. After reading the other similar chat until I couldn't read anymore I think I'm in agreement that the newer model could be prone to issues but overall is better than the unit I just had. I've also seen SAMs club could be the best place to buy for warranty issues. Hoping they stand by there warranty we've all had that issue before I'm sure on extended warranties. Any thoughts on the Sportsman vs Regular. I've read there the same size just more racks which just shortens the space between the regular racks? But same thought we all know the bottom rack is pointless since it stays so much hotter than other areas so would having the extra racks give you more room in the safer areas???

brickguy221 · Aug 8, 2015

Dcrosby007 said:
Thanks for the insight. After reading the other similar chat until I couldn't read anymore I think I'm in agreement that the newer model could be prone to issues but overall is better than the unit I just had. I've also seen SAMs club could be the best place to buy for warranty issues. Hoping they stand by there warranty we've all had that issue before I'm sure on extended warranties. Any thoughts on the Sportsman vs Regular. I've read there the same size just more racks which just shortens the space between the regular racks? But same thought we all know the bottom rack is pointless since it stays so much hotter than other areas so would having the extra racks give you more room in the safer areas???

Four racks vs six racks is the only difference. Everything else is identical on them

New MES40 Sportsman Bluetooth review

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