Weber Smokey Mountain 18.5 or 22.5?

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ks8829

Newbie
Original poster
Mar 16, 2017
19
10
San Francisco
I am trying to decide between the 18.5 or 22.5

I have a family of 4 and we do bring food to my daughters volleyball tailgate and weekly family dinners.

Thanks in advance for your replys
 
Do give yourself a chance at regrets go 22.5. I have the 18.5 and don't really need it but want to move up,spend once not twice!
 
The 22" is the more versatile, especially if you want to do long smokes in it or cold smoke. The larger volume inside makes it easier to maintain a stable temperature too over the longer smokes. We cook our Christmas turkey in one of our 22" Webers but we would not be able to in the 18"

Below you can see a pork joint being cooked in a 22". There is more space to keep the joint away from the heat source.

 
OOPS - Yes we were - sorry. I was trying to reply using my phone and I misread on the tiny screen... I am back on my main PC now. In that case my advice would be slightly different.

I have used both the WSM 22" and 18" and I initially thought that the 22" would be the best to go for. I actually found that the 18" would cook pretty much everything I threw at it for some reasonable size groups of people. The biggest advantage was that the 18* uses considerably less fuel than the 22"

Nothing wrong with the 22" but if I was to buy another one I would probably go for the 18" as there are not many occasions that it would be filled to capacity.
 
I have had the 14, 18, & 22.

Sold the 14 & 18.

Yes the 22 will use a little more fuel, but it will also run for 22-24 hours on a single load of charcoal & wood.

I would definitely buy the 22.5.

Al
 
It looks like the jury is split and it will come down to what you are prepared to pay. Take comfort in that whichever one you go you will be happy with it 
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I have 18 and I love it!  But always wish I had the 22.  But then again, I have more cookers than any sane person needs.  It ultimately comes down to what you can afford and how much room you need.  With creativity, you can jam a lot of food on the 18.
 
I appreciate everyone input, thank very much again, you guys are great to take the time to reply,  all the best, enjoy your weekend, smoking!
 
Just found a 22.5 for $320 out the door about an hour away and considering driving up to pick it up?
 
Picked up the 22.5 and smoked a brisket and pork shoulder on Friday, both turned out better than expected for my first smoke!

Thanks everyone again!
 
I like to try smoking turkey legs in the near future with a salt cure injection just like Disneyland!
 
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