Looking for an Offset Smoker

[MossburgTX]

Hey everyone! I know I’m about to open a major can and probably will get opinions from every which way. I currently have a Smokey Mountain 18.5 Smoker and love it! I have been smoking for about 3 years and truly enjoying the outcomes I am having! I am wanting to take my smoking to the next level. I want to get an offset smoker but do not know which one to get. The main factor in my purchase is QUALITY. I want something that is well built and will last for a super long time.

Other things I’m considering…
1. reverse flow vs regular smoke
2. I enjoy smoking meat enough I might enter local completions. This also means transportation of the smoker is something to consider.
3. Want the option for add ons if possible like (charcoal, burner, wood, etc.)
4. Decent size because I smoke meat for just my family of 5 to my extended family of 16.
5. anything else I’m not considering

I’m just looking for information before I spend some money. Thanks y’all!

 

[Displaced Texan]

Check out Bell Fab, outside of Tulsa.

BELL FABRICATIONS – BBQ Smokers – Custom fabrication

 

[Gonna Smoke]

The amount that you're willing to spend is important. Good quality offsets are easily in the $2000+ range and the lead time is months to get one, any one, and some like the Shirley is a couple of years. If you're interested in built to order, Lang, Bell, Shirley, Lone Star are all great choices, but there are plenty of others. These are all fabricated from at least 1/4" steel and are very heavy, but will last a lifetime and then some.

Most built to order smokers that I've looked at don't have anything that can be added after they are built. You'll either have to have it built that way from the start or be willing to send it back to the factory at a later date to be modified if the one you get even has that option.

A 36" model would fill your cooking needs nicely. The Lang 36" is a popular choice, starts at about $1800, but has several options available which will take the price right on up.

As for forward flow or reverse flow, I started out with forward and now have reverse. But the quality between the 2 brands that I own is night and day so no real comparison.

My suggestion is to first decide how much you're willing to spend and then look at a few of the brands. Pick one and get on their manufacturing list, it may take a deposit to do so. When I got on the list to have my newest one built, the lead time was about 16 weeks. I sent them half the cost as a deposit in order for them to start building it. When I went to pick it up, their lead time had almost doubled to about 30 weeks. I have a TMG Pits Copperhead, but it might have been a Lang if they would have just either answered the phone or at least returned my call.

Also, I don't do facebook, but I hear that that's a good place to find used smokers for reasonable prices.

 

[Displaced Texan]

My Bell Fab 24x48, 3/8" thick steel pit with modified triangular exhaust cost me $950. He built it within a couple weeks of initial contact.

Hard to go wrong with any big name brand, I'm sure.

Edit: He does customs on trailers, too.

 

[drunkenmeatfist]

Based on the size and mobility factors I would probably recommend the Shirley 24x36.

 

[tx smoker]

Bell Fab makes a great product. Never owned one but have seen them in action.

You may want to check these out. I have a custom version of the 24" T-Pit and absolutely love it!! I've owned a dozen or more smokers and this one is by far the best. So easy to use and so versatile...and reverse flow from both ends. Give Chad a call and ask some specific questions.

Johnson Custom BBQ Smokers

johnsonsmokers.com

Robert

 

[Chasdev]

As an ex-stick burner driver, my advice is to go gravity feed.
All the cool kids are doing it these days.

 

[Whiskey13]

After a lot of research I recently ordered a workhorse 1975. For me it was the best bang for my buck. I have been using cheap offsets for years and finally got the wife to ok an upgrade. Mill scale was my runner up. I like the Weber and my pellet smoker but I need that real offset, ha.

 

[smokin peachey]

As an ex-stick burner driver, my advice is to go gravity feed.
All the cool kids are doing it these days.

Really?? I know no one that has gone from an offset to gravity feed that became cool. The cool kids burn sticks like how bbq was intended to be cooked.

 

[yankee2bbq]

As an ex-stick burner driver, my advice is to go gravity feed.
All the cool kids are doing it these days.

I read that on Facebook. So true.

 

[smokin peachey]

I read that that Facebook. So true.

Definitely Facebook

 

[MossburgTX]

Check out Bell Fab, outside of Tulsa.

BELL FABRICATIONS – BBQ Smokers – Custom fabrication

Thanks for passing this along. I checked it out and they look pretty awesome! Thanks again!

 

[MossburgTX]

The amount that you're willing to spend is important. Good quality offsets are easily in the $2000+ range and the lead time is months to get one, any one, and some like the Shirley is a couple of years. If you're interested in built to order, Lang, Bell, Shirley, Lone Star are all great choices, but there are plenty of others. These are all fabricated from at least 1/4" steel and are very heavy, but will last a lifetime and then some.

Most built to order smokers that I've looked at don't have anything that can be added after they are built. You'll either have to have it built that way from the start or be willing to send it back to the factory at a later date to be modified if the one you get even has that option.

A 36" model would fill your cooking needs nicely. The Lang 36" is a popular choice, starts at about $1800, but has several options available which will take the price right on up.

As for forward flow or reverse flow, I started out with forward and now have reverse. But the quality between the 2 brands that I own is night and day so no real comparison.

My suggestion is to first decide how much you're willing to spend and then look at a few of the brands. Pick one and get on their manufacturing list, it may take a deposit to do so. When I got on the list to have my newest one built, the lead time was about 16 weeks. I sent them half the cost as a deposit in order for them to start building it. When I went to pick it up, their lead time had almost doubled to about 30 weeks. I have a TMG Pits Copperhead, but it might have been a Lang if they would have just either answered the phone or at least returned my call.

Also, I don't do facebook, but I hear that that's a good place to find used smokers for reasonable prices.

Thanks for taking the time to give me some really good information/advice. I checked out some of the ones you listed and they are pretty sweet! I am not a Facebook person either but I might just check it out to see what I find. Thanks again for everything!

 

[MossburgTX]

My Bell Fab 24x48, 3/8" thick steel pit with modified triangular exhaust cost me $950. He built it within a couple weeks of initial contact.

Hard to go wrong with any big name brand, I'm sure.

Edit: He does customs on trailers, too.

Thanks for the suggestion and putting the price down. This has been very helpful!

 

[MossburgTX]

Based on the size and mobility factors I would probably recommend the Shirley 24x36.

Thanks for the recommendation I have checked them out and they are pretty sweet!

 

[MossburgTX]

Bell Fab makes a great product. Never owned one but have seen them in action.

You may want to check these out. I have a custom version of the 24" T-Pit and absolutely love it!! I've owned a dozen or more smokers and this one is by far the best. So easy to use and so versatile...and reverse flow from both ends. Give Chad a call and ask some specific questions.

Johnson Custom BBQ Smokers

johnsonsmokers.com

Robert

This is awesome! I checked them out and they are pretty sweet! Thanks for passing along the info!

 

[MossburgTX]

After a lot of research I recently ordered a workhorse 1975. For me it was the best bang for my buck. I have been using cheap offsets for years and finally got the wife to ok an upgrade. Mill scale was my runner up. I like the Weber and my pellet smoker but I need that real offset, ha.

Thanks for sharing the purchase you made. I checked them out and they look pretty sweet! Haha, yeah I am the same way, I need that real offset! Hope the Workhorse is treating you well.

 

[tx smoker]

This is awesome! I checked them out and they are pretty sweet! Thanks for passing along the info!

I absolutely love mine!! It is the most perfectly balanced cooker I've ever used. As stated, it is reverse flow from both ends and the stacks are above the top rack so you'll get perfectly balanced temps end to end and top to bottom. Another cool feature is that the heat deflector plate at the bottom of the cook chamber is not secured to the smoker. You can move it to damp down temp on one and and have higher temp on the other end if you want. You can be running 275 on one end for a brisket and 225 on the other end for ribs. Lots of really cool features. The welding isn't as pretty as Shirley Fab but it's solid and functional. After all though, you're buying a smoker, not a piece of furniture Add to that, Chad is a great guy, very responsive, and super easy to work with.

Robert

 

[MossburgTX]

I absolutely love mine!! It is the most perfectly balanced cooker I've ever used. As stated, it is reverse flow from both ends and the stacks are above the top rack so you'll get perfectly balanced temps end to end and top to bottom. Another cool feature is that the heat deflector plate at the bottom of the cook chamber is not secured to the smoker. You can move it to damp down temp on one and and have higher temp on the other end if you want. You can be running 275 on one end for a brisket and 225 on the other end for ribs. Lots of really cool features. The welding isn't as pretty as Shirley Fab but it's solid and functional. After all though, you're buying a smoker, not a piece of furniture Add to that, Chad is a great guy, very responsive, and super easy to work with.

Robert

It is definitely not a piece of furniture, but equally as important I checked out the website more in depth and I think this is what I’m looking for. Because I am new to the process I am looking forward to talking to someone on the phone and walking through the process. So to hear that Chad is a good dude and responsive is definitely a huge positive for me! Also I love the creativity of the T pit, seems like a genius idea!

I also want some custom word and the fact that he does it free is pretty sweet to me!

 

[MossburgTX]

It is definitely not a piece of furniture, but equally as important I checked out the website more in depth and I think this is what I’m looking for. Because I am new to the process I am looking forward to talking to someone on the phone and walking through the process. So to hear that Chad is a good dude and responsive is definitely a huge positive for me! Also I love the creativity of the T pit, seems like a genius idea!

I also want some custom word and the fact that he does it free is pretty sweet to me!

Just a quick question. I noticed the smokers box was obviously below the smoking chamber on your T-Pit. Do you have a hard time bending down and setting it up/reloading it when time comes? I know some fire boxes are of decent height off the ground so I’m curious if this is something you encounter. I have a Smokey mountain and I feel like I’m constantly bending over and for a tall guy like myself back pain is the last thing I need.