I need some help please!

[tallon713]

Hey all going to buy a new smoker this week.( if I can decide) Thought maybe you all could give me some info and make my mind up. Lol.

  I'm looking at the Char-broil Longhorn offset smoker, Can't find much info on it. I did read that it weighs in about 280 lbs. I am thinking that's a good thing, thick metal maybe? Do any of you know much about them? I can't find 1 any where around here to look at.

  2ND is the Brinkmann Trailmaster.I see a few of you have this one and seem to like it. I have seen it and seems pretty nice from what I can tell. The display model is up on the second shelf @ hd and just out of reach. I have read that the doors are made thicker then the body, can anyone confirm this? I know I will have to do some mods on it, lower chimney and such, which make me wonder if its worth the $300 and brings me to my third choice. I figure if I have to make a bunch of mods( I love building and fabbing stuff) then get the char-griller smoken pro grill. I already have the side fire box for it on another smoker I made so I'll just use it. I can get the cg for $100  so rather then spend $300 plus the mods for the Brinkmann I thought get the cg and use the $200 for the mods and I'd probably still have some cash left over.

 My question about this plan is, would the btml be a better smoker in the end? Or will the cg be just as good with all the mods you all talk about plus some others?

  Any info and opinions would be great! Please help me decide. Thanks all.

 

[bmudd14474]

Have you considered a WSM? They also have a 18.5" model.

 

[realtorterry]

I HAD the Brinkmann Trailmaster. I myself didn't care much for it. Yes the door is heavy but it also doesn't seal well! You won't need to lower the stack the chimney exhaust it located lower & on the side of the chamber. I agree with Bmudd on the WSM. When I did take the Trailmaster back I exchanged it for the WSM. Enjoying it so far.

 

[tallon713]

Thanks for the replys. I like tending the fire and drinkin beer so thats why I am going with a offset. I have a masterbuilt charcoal smoker that I did a couple mods on and can keep it @ 250 for 7 hours no prob. Just to boring for me, I like the offset I built, its to small.

 

[lostarrow]

Cheap offset smokers have made more people give up smoking than you would believe .
With that warning I have a friend with the longhorn , after buying a large charcoal basket , you can make your own it's a OK smoker, he can get 5 hours without Fiddleing.
An adjustable vertical smoker ( UDS,WSM, Kamodo) is a much better option for most , ( even my homemade mini WSM will go 8-9 hours without tending.

 

[lght]

I like tending the fire and drinkin beer so thats why I am going with a offset.

Not sure if many guys will be much help as it's almost like your looking for the most inefficient smoker you can find so you can spend more time tending the fire which will allow you to drink more beer. 

 

[tallon713]

Not sure if many guys will be much help as it's almost like your looking for the most inefficient smoker you can find so you can spend more time tending the fire which will allow you to drink more beer. 

No I'm not trying to spend more time drinking and tending the fire. I was stating that I'm not lazy, I don't mind doing mods, I like it. I do yard work and such while I'm smoking. And believei it or not I can do all that and have a beer and not get stupid.

  Thanks to those that responded, I bought the Brinkmann Trailmaster today, think I will like it.
 

 

[alblancher]

Nothing at all wrong with the offset smokers.  I have one and still use it as a backup to my Lang 36.  yes you have to tend the fire and yes you have to keep an eye on it but that was one of the things I like so much about it.    It produces good charcoal, lump, chunk smoked food for 300 dollars

If you really get into this hobby you will eventually move to a larger, more professional smoker but you'll still use the offset. 

good luck,  looking forward to your first Qview.

 

[alblancher]

A poorly designed offset will have a great variation in temps across the grate.  Nearest the firebox you will have higher temps,  further away you will have lower temps.  Many offset users will install tuning plates and will bring the stack down to grate level to better distribute the heat.  I just deal with it, moving the meat around on the grate so it cooks evenly and tending the fire as needed to keep steady temps.

The only smoker I am aware of that you can set and forget are the electrics and maybe the propane smokers,  maybe some of the pellet smokers. 

 

[alelover]

I have an offset smoker. A Chargriller Duo. I did mods to it and it works great. Even temps all the way across and I don't use a lot of charcoal. The mods were less than $20.