Loading up my vertical smoker.....advice needed!!!!

[tlcpokertables]

Hi There,
Newbie from Long Island here!! Now that the weather is nice, I wanted to load up my smoker this weekend. I'm looking to make (4) racks of ribs and a pork shoulder.
My question is:
Is there any particular rack order I should stick too (Ex: ribs on the top racks & and shoulder on the bottom)? Should I circulate racks periodically?

Also, if there is anything that I should or shouldn't do, please let me know!!!

Any input would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!!

 

[northern greenhorn]

What I would do, and others may say different, I would put the ribs below the shoulder so some of the dripping goodness from the shoulder falls on to the ribs.

 

[smokin relaxin steve]

Im not sure it matters my man, but if anything I think Northern has a good point... if you have a water bowl or something between the wood and the haul the temp should be about even threw out...

 

[rbranstner]

I don't see any issues with the butt or ribs being on the top or bottom as long as the heat is pretty consistent throughout the smoker. Just make sure that you always put your poultry on the bottom. You don't want poultry to drip on your other foods.

 

[wingman]

How ever you pack that smoker, I suggest you leave enough space to cram in a few ABT's.

 

[pineywoods]

With what your smoking the order doesn't really matter much as far as rotating racks that would depend on whether you have even heat to the different racks personally I think I might swap the position of the ribs about half way thru each stage to assure they are all done at the same time. The butt isn't going to cook and finish the same so I wouldn't worry about moving it.

 

[tlcpokertables]

Thanks for the replies, everyone!!! I'm looking forward to getting started!!!!

Wingman - I didn't know what an ABT was, so I just looked it up.....YES!! I will have to make room for those!!!

 

[mballi3011]

I wouldn't think that it would matter what shelf what was as long as the chicken is always on the bottom. You don't want chicken juicey to be dripping on anything else. Other then that go for it.

 

[kaiser]

Good tip about putting the poultry on the bottom!