- Apr 2, 2013
- 3
- 11
Well after 6 years with a WSM I'm aiming to move up in the world. I think I've decided on either a Pitmaster Safe or Vault but I can't decide between the two. Currently I cook mostly ribs/briskets/pork shoulders for friends and family but we have a big family gathering (60 people) twice a year 2 hours away that I may be cooking for eventually. I do not compete and don't plan to. Thoughts so far are the following:
1: Cost per square inch (Vault)
90% of my cooking will fall into what the Safe can handle and it will be a huge improvement over my WSM. However, for only an extra $600 bucks I can more than double the capacity and allow for huge cooks should the opportunity present itself. If I go with the Safe now I am afraid I will be kicking myself down the road wishing I had just spent a bit more.
2: Transportation (Safe)
Most of my cooking is at home, but should I end up cooking for the aforementioned gathering I would need to be able to move the smoker. Transporting a Vault is nearly impossible without loading equipment or an extremely big ramp setup. (Although the Safe may not be big enough to feed 60 people?)
3: Long term use (Vault)
I'm never going to outgrow the vault and some day when my kids graduate I can use it to feed everybody for an open house or for my parents 60th wedding anniversary and if anything I could always put it on a trailer if I want to haul it around.
4: Efficiency (Safe)
If I get the Vault but I mostly cook a few shoulders or racks of ribs at a time, I'm heating unnecessary space so my lump would stretch further with a Safe. (Although I reckon I use more charcoal with a WSM than I would with the Vault.)
So I feel kind of stuck. Part of me says to go with the Safe as it will meet most of my needs and be cheaper in the long run. If down the road I really feel the pinch and want more space I could opt for a Vault trailer setup. The other side of me says to just get the Vault and consider putting it on a trailer later without having to buy another smoker as I will already have "the big one."
Thoughts? Suggestions? Something I haven't considered? Please help!
Side note: Does anybody know if Pitmaker will put a Vault on a smaller trailer other than the 15 footer they currently sell? I wouldn't mind springing for a Vault on a shorter trailer like Spicewine does with their large. Perhaps somebody out there has already done something like this. Don't get me wrong, I like Pitmaker's trailer but I simply wouldn't need all the extra room.
1: Cost per square inch (Vault)
90% of my cooking will fall into what the Safe can handle and it will be a huge improvement over my WSM. However, for only an extra $600 bucks I can more than double the capacity and allow for huge cooks should the opportunity present itself. If I go with the Safe now I am afraid I will be kicking myself down the road wishing I had just spent a bit more.
2: Transportation (Safe)
Most of my cooking is at home, but should I end up cooking for the aforementioned gathering I would need to be able to move the smoker. Transporting a Vault is nearly impossible without loading equipment or an extremely big ramp setup. (Although the Safe may not be big enough to feed 60 people?)
3: Long term use (Vault)
I'm never going to outgrow the vault and some day when my kids graduate I can use it to feed everybody for an open house or for my parents 60th wedding anniversary and if anything I could always put it on a trailer if I want to haul it around.
4: Efficiency (Safe)
If I get the Vault but I mostly cook a few shoulders or racks of ribs at a time, I'm heating unnecessary space so my lump would stretch further with a Safe. (Although I reckon I use more charcoal with a WSM than I would with the Vault.)
So I feel kind of stuck. Part of me says to go with the Safe as it will meet most of my needs and be cheaper in the long run. If down the road I really feel the pinch and want more space I could opt for a Vault trailer setup. The other side of me says to just get the Vault and consider putting it on a trailer later without having to buy another smoker as I will already have "the big one."
Thoughts? Suggestions? Something I haven't considered? Please help!
Side note: Does anybody know if Pitmaker will put a Vault on a smaller trailer other than the 15 footer they currently sell? I wouldn't mind springing for a Vault on a shorter trailer like Spicewine does with their large. Perhaps somebody out there has already done something like this. Don't get me wrong, I like Pitmaker's trailer but I simply wouldn't need all the extra room.
