Offset smokers aren't very efficient compared to some other types, but they have some advantages when properly set up. Some advantages include: It can double as a large or small grill; you can cook with wood only, charcoal only, set it up for gas; they look cool; etc. The drawback is, the cheaper it is the more modification it needs to work efficiently. Here are some of the mods I did to mine:
I bought this grill/smoker from Home Depot in May. I didn't know what I was getting into until I brought it home. I liked that it had a side firebox, although I had never used one. It had cooking grates in the firebox as well as a charcoal stand in the bottom, so I expected that if I was just cooking a few steaks I could cook them in there. And, if I was cooking for a crowd I could use the main chamber where there are cooking grates and charcoal grates for grilling. After I assembled it, I attempted to season it. The instructions said to get the temp up to 300? or so, but 250 was about all she would do. I turned to the internet and discovered a whole world I never knew existed, Smokingmeatforum.com. After some research, I determined that there were some modifications I could do to get it working correctly.
I made a charcoal basket for longer cooks where I don't want to use or don't have any dried wood (the large firebox is made for wood).
I added two 2 3/8" holes to the front and rear sides of the firebox to help it breathe. The factory vent is too small to get the fire hot enough to exceed 300 degrees.
I added cam locks to compress the lid into the wood stove gasket tape I glued around the lids of the smoker and fire box. I bent the hinge slightly on the firebox lid and it will close up tight with just a small bungee cord hooked to the handle.
I filled the seams with black high-temp silicone. The picture makes it look uglier than it is.
I added a dryer vent elbow to the stack, and it lowered it to about 1/2" above the grate.
I added a stainless steel sheet bent to divert the heat/smoke from the firebox to underneath the tuning plates.
The tuning plates are 3/8" aluminum. I cut them progressively smaller, wider ones closest to the firebox. The temp can easily be regulated to within about 10 degrees from side to side.
The RiverGrille. This photo is before I cut the vent holes in the firebox, which I haven't tested yet. See the bungee cord on the firebox handle. Also, notice how small the factory vent is. These mods have made it work a lot better. I can get it up to 300 fairly easy, if the wind is blowing and it is much easier to keep a constant temp up to 275. The new vent holes should help it get a lot hotter, wind or no wind, and hopefully I can get it to 350 and keep it there. I'll let you know after I test the new vent holes. ADDED: The additional vents will get it as hot as you want.
Now, with the mods it takes very little to keep it hot:
Oak wood splits only, and temp is holding at 275 degrees with this small fire. Always with the stack vent wide open.