If anybody is still reading: if you feel a little clench in the backside at dropping a Benjamin on the original model, if you drill down, they have a combo unit. it's a little smaller, but two baskets and water trough, which back to back could serve as a "vortexy" type device. Support dude told me the smaller one would burn about 5-6 hours with blue briquettes plus you can add during the cook.. $52-ish delivered from
Amazon. Steel seems sturdy. will find out Sunday.
here's a link:
https://snsgrills.com/products/slow-n-sear-firebaskets-water-pan-kit