Fireboard drive vertical cabinet smoker recommendations

[wesir]

Looking for recommendations for a vertical cabinet smoker on the medium to higher end that can be used in combination with a fireboard drive to maintain temperature. I was looking at an Ironside CDR with the pellet assist but got a response to some questions I asked saying they're no longer making smokers :( so I'm back to researching. The other one I was looking at was the large IVS from Lone Star Grillz ($500 difference between the mini and large I'd prefer the extra capacity). Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Price range - preferably under $7,000 after upgrades (if it's something that requires welding/etc like extra shelf rails I'll probably get it since you can't order it later)

Requirements

• Ability to control with a fireboard drive/pit bull fan
• Decent capacity
  • I looked at getting a kamado joe a while back but couldn't justify the $$$ for how much capacity you have with the large joe
  • 3-5 Briskets?
• Ability to use it with water or dry
• Wheels that can make it through grass
  • I cook on the back patio and would prefer if it doesn't topple over and crush my helpers when moving it back there.
• Great customer service
• Good insulation
• Relatively easy to maintain

Major plus

• Ability to maintain lower temperatures for sausage/snack sticks/bacon
  • Using a modded MES40 right now for sausage/snack sticks but would like something that can do a 15-20lb batch without feeling super cramped
• Decent number of shelves
• Ability to work as a stick burner if I wanted to try my hand at it in the future
• Pellet assist
  • Doubt any other companies do it besides Ironsides but having the ability to use pellets for short cooks in combination with wood chunks adds a lot of versatility.
• Located near Indiana, shipping from Lonestar Grillz in TX was estimated at $700 alone
• 12 month 0% financing
  • Not required but would be preferred over having a $3-7k chunk disappear at once
• Short to no wait time
• D rings for transport

Thanks!

 

[wesir]

Probably going to go with the Lone Star Grillz IVS

 

[Fubar]

I went with the LSG mini IVS, ordered it on 11/30/22. Asked Chris if he could add a couple of sausage rods and he said no problem.

 

[BB-que]

Looking for recommendations for a vertical cabinet smoker on the medium to higher end that can be used in combination with a fireboard drive to maintain temperature. I was looking at an Ironside CDR with the pellet assist but got a response to some questions I asked saying they're no longer making smokers :( so I'm back to researching. The other one I was looking at was the large IVS from Lone Star Grillz ($500 difference between the mini and large I'd prefer the extra capacity). Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Price range - preferably under $7,000 after upgrades (if it's something that requires welding/etc like extra shelf rails I'll probably get it since you can't order it later)

Requirements

• Ability to control with a fireboard drive/pit bull fan
• Decent capacity
  • I looked at getting a kamado joe a while back but couldn't justify the $$$ for how much capacity you have with the large joe
  • 3-5 Briskets?
• Ability to use it with water or dry
• Wheels that can make it through grass
  • I cook on the back patio and would prefer if it doesn't topple over and crush my helpers when moving it back there.
• Great customer service
• Good insulation
• Relatively easy to maintain

Major plus

• Ability to maintain lower temperatures for sausage/snack sticks/bacon
  • Using a modded MES40 right now for sausage/snack sticks but would like something that can do a 15-20lb batch without feeling super cramped
• Decent number of shelves
• Ability to work as a stick burner if I wanted to try my hand at it in the future
• Pellet assist
  • Doubt any other companies do it besides Ironsides but having the ability to use pellets for short cooks in combination with wood chunks adds a lot of versatility.
• Located near Indiana, shipping from Lonestar Grillz in TX was estimated at $700 alone
• 12 month 0% financing
  • Not required but would be preferred over having a $3-7k chunk disappear at once
• Short to no wait time
• D rings for transport

Thanks!

I have an LSG and love it.

 

[wesir]

I was considering getting a welder for random smoker accessories (I spent $300 on the 3 tier rack for my ys640 and I'm guessing it cost less than $100 to make) and ended up going down a rabbit hole and think I'm going to try my hand at making my own with a buddy, it'll probably end up being an expensive failure but seems like a fun project and I can always sell it and order a LSG if it doesn't work out. The HOA complaints alone should make it a fun experience.

I already asked in the build forum but for smokers that are lower quality than LSG what's more forgiving between direct flow and reverse?