Masterbuilt? smoke vault? Pitboss?

[cmcclora]

Man im sorry sure this has been asked day in and day out but any input would be awesome. looking for a 30inch propane smoker that i can use wood chunks in. Looking at the new masterbuilts the smoke vault or the pit boss. any input? trying to find the best one but seems from everything i read alot of people have different burner issues.

 

[bill1]

I hope you don't draw too negative a conclusion from your initial overview of what you read here. This forum is full of folks who make mods to their gear and as such, create new problems in search of perfection in another area. Plus we extend the life of equipment that "average" users would have trashed long ago. Or we solicit help in fixing "problems" that others wouldn't even notice.

But that applies to all cooker approaches, not just gas burners. I think the only cooker approach with more long-term reliability than gas is just simple charcoal burners like a Weber kettle. Remember propane smokers use the same heat-generating technology that are used in millions of gas grills, camping stoves, and yes, home space heating. Plus, when burners eventually rust out, replacement parts are readily available. So hang in there!

I'm going to assume by wood chunks you mean the kind that are sold commercially in plastic bags and not logs from a 100 acre orchard in your back yard, which the average propane smoker can't really handle. And since chunks take a bit more energy to get smoking than chips, or pellets, you'll probably want a model that makes it easy to get them pretty close to the flame.

And I think with that introduction you won't have much trouble getting folks to tell you their favorite. Plus a lot of customized approaches (e.g. using a cast iron skillet over the burner with chips or chunks inside) that you might want to try once you catch "the bug" we're all afflicted with...and which leads newcomers to think this is all nothing but hassle, when the truth is we're all having a great time!

 

[cmcclora]

I hope you don't draw too negative a conclusion from your initial overview of what you read here. This forum is full of folks who make mods to their gear and as such, create new problems in search of perfection in another area. Plus we extend the life of equipment that "average" users would have trashed long ago. Or we solicit help in fixing "problems" that others wouldn't even notice.

But that applies to all cooker approaches, not just gas burners. I think the only cooker approach with more long-term reliability than gas is just simple charcoal burners like a Weber kettle. Remember propane smokers use the same heat-generating technology that are used in millions of gas grills, camping stoves, and yes, home space heating. Plus, when burners eventually rust out, replacement parts are readily available. So hang in there!

I'm going to assume by wood chunks you mean the kind that are sold commercially in plastic bags and not logs from a 100 acre orchard in your back yard, which the average propane smoker can't really handle. And since chunks take a bit more energy to get smoking than chips, or pellets, you'll probably want a model that makes it easy to get them pretty close to the flame.

And I think with that introduction you won't have much trouble getting folks to tell you their favorite. Plus a lot of customized approaches (e.g. using a cast iron skillet over the burner with chips or chunks inside) that you might want to try once you catch "the bug" we're all afflicted with...and which leads newcomers to think this is all nothing but hassle, when the truth is we're all having a great time!

Awesome man thanks for the reply, i do mean the commercal chunks from stores like academy and walmart. Ive owned many smokers from electric to log burners but ive moved to a location that doesnt have outdoor power or room for my stick burners(divorce). Im living in a townhouse with a patio downstairs and a balcony upstairs. I dont have alot of space i use my weber 26 inch kettle for smoking but want a smaller cabinet type smoker with more room. looking for something that doesnt require power and doesnt weight like 600 pound lone star grillz smoker. Was thinking ive never owned a propane smoker and it may be a good time to try one out. Im open to options not just the ones ive named, really want to buy before the upcoming holiday.

 

[SmokinVOLfan]

I have a smoke vault 24 and love it. Had it 3 years and it stays outside under a cover and not one speck of rust. Not the thickest material but the temp dials in nicely. Usually can get an hour or two out of a few good chunks. Burnt stuff I have cut down out of my yard with no problems.

 

[cmcclora]

I have a smoke vault 24 and love it. Had it 3 years and it stays outside under a cover and not one speck of rust. Not the thickest material but the temp dials in nicely. Usually can get an hour or two out of a few good chunks. Burnt stuff I have cut down out of my yard with no problems.

Im see the smoke vault as a good option, may go that route just wondering was the pitboss or newer masterbuilt any better. dont like the chip tray for masterbuild but all the probes for temps are nice.

 

[SmokinVOLfan]

Most of the built in probes on the masterbuilts are garbage. I have one on my Mes40 that is notoriously off. I would invest in a good remote probe unit like a thermopro or inkbird. Makes life much easier

 

[bill1]

...Im living in a townhouse with a patio downstairs and a balcony upstairs...

You may want to make sure you have the homeowner/rental rules in writing if you plan on smoking on a balcony or even a shared patio. Frequently they'll say "electric cookers only" or something like that. Many folks in that situation run an extension cord to a MES or other electric smoker and seem to get by. But I'm afraid if your neighbors (do you have any above you?) see a propane bottle, they'll raise a stink--looks too much like a conventional grill, which they're usually trying to forbid. Hate to see you spend good money on something you can't use more than once.

 

[cmcclora]

You may want to make sure you have the homeowner/rental rules in writing if you plan on smoking on a balcony or even a shared patio. Frequently they'll say "electric cookers only" or something like that. Many folks in that situation run an extension cord to a MES or other electric smoker and seem to get by. But I'm afraid if your neighbors (do you have any above you?) see a propane bottle, they'll raise a stink--looks too much like a conventional grill, which they're usually trying to forbid. Hate to see you spend good money on something you can't use more than once.

Yeah they require us to have 100k in home insurance and they haven't said anything about grills. Been running charcoal for a while.

 

[Big Glenn]

I have the Pit Boss gasser and have been happy with it. I use chunks in it but some from a bag won’t fit in the chip tray. I just use a hammer and chisel to split them. Chips though always catch fire and give billowing white smoke So I never use them. I often use an Amazen tray so I don’t have to tend the smoke so often.

 

[cmcclora]

I have the Pit Boss gasser and have been happy with it. I use chunks in it but some from a bag won’t fit in the chip tray. I just use a hammer and chisel to split them. Chips though always catch fire and give billowing white smoke So I never use them. I often use an Amazen tray so I don’t have to tend the smoke so often.

gotcha i do have an amazen smoker from a electric smoker.