My new toy! Peoria Custom Cookers 24x48 Backyard

[grandpax4]

The counter weight is not needed with the spring hinge system they have! Assuming you are referring to the meat monster? Stacks draw great on mine I just picked up and seasoned last week. I went with the smaller 24x48. The GURU kept the temp within one degree of where I set it. Started at 175 then up to 220 and eventually 300 for the seasoning. I moved the temp prob to the upper and lower racks throughout the 4 hour period and adjusted the stacks accordingly to see how well the cook chamber adjusted. Beautifully I must say. As soon as all this rain quits I will crank it up and cook a brisket over night.

 

[grandpax4]

 

[nwolfe88]

As mentioned I am talking about the 24x48 backyard cooker, not the meat monster.

 

[grandpax4]

I realized that once I took the time to read the thread after my posts

Sorry about that

 

[nwolfe88]

I realized that once I took the time to read the thread after my posts

Sorry about that

No problem. Does anyone know what the "dolly" option is for the 24x48 backyard? (or any of them)

 

[nwolfe88]

Got my peoria 24x48 backyard model on a trailer! A couple questions:

1) I had a hard time keeping the temp down. I have 2 x 2 1/2 x 14" hickory splits and had a hard time keeping a coal bed only throwing one of these on every 30 minutes. Suggestions? I had both stacks wide open.
2) Do you think the monster vent lets in enough air?

Thanks!

 

[papajoe92561]

i use low and slow bbq, for brisket, chicken, butts, ribs, and appetizers, like others have posted... but i have enjoyed ceramic cookers(big green egg) to smoke with. i cant do a small hog, and have interest in a backyard cooker for this. 1. i read that by clipping the legs, a 70 lb would fit? has anyone tried a whole hog? 2. the insulated firebox makes great commonsense, to conserve fuel and maintain more consistent temp's, but from my komoto style (insulated)cookers experience i would think the cooking chamber would also need to be insulated? otherwise on cold days the firebox won't keep up with the much larger cooking chamber, at least not consistently . i have never used or seen a PCC, but had a small steel offset also. it wouldn't work well in colder weather. i thought i seen a backyard photo with a full insulated version, but i guess not, or it was made custom for someone. i plan to do at least 4 to 6 hogs per year, new years eve, and march are certain times. also, i read about this reverse heat/air flow that lang has, curious if this is a desired feature? any advise would be welcomed.

 

[dr k]

Altorfer the Caterpillar dealership in East Peoria, IL had their huge trailered PCC with the high and low exhaust stacks at the Peoria, IL KCBS throwndown a few weeks ago. It may be the PCC I saw when mentioning it in post #46 painted Cat yellow. This was the first throwdown I went to go see but there was no one else walking around checking out gear that Saturday. Is this normal? There were over 40 KCBS entries and a dozen or more amateur backyard entries. It was a damn disappointment with no one out and about just the entrants sitting in silence next to their smokers waiting for turn in time. It seemed like I wasn't supposed to be there spectating as if I was trespassing. Is this normal? The amateur area was much more accommodating and listening to music and talkative. I heard about this throwdown 7.4.18 and the registration deadline was 7.6.18. I didn't hear any ads/promotions except right before the event because after the throwndown there were bands and food wagons, trucks and carts etc. in a different area at the river front park that was off limits till 4p.m. The weekend festival was somewhat promoted because there's an admission fee and the city/state is broke but the throwdown was uneventful. I guess you have to be in a throwdown to get info when the next one will take place. Now that I know this is a yearly event I can start researching a couple months beforehand because the local news stations were no damn help.

 

[grandpax4]

i use low and slow bbq, for brisket, chicken, butts, ribs, and appetizers, like others have posted... but i have enjoyed ceramic cookers(big green egg) to smoke with. i cant do a small hog, and have interest in a backyard cooker for this. 1. i read that by clipping the legs, a 70 lb would fit? has anyone tried a whole hog? 2. the insulated firebox makes great commonsense, to conserve fuel and maintain more consistent temp's, but from my komoto style (insulated)cookers experience i would think the cooking chamber would also need to be insulated? otherwise on cold days the firebox won't keep up with the much larger cooking chamber, at least not consistently . i have never used or seen a PCC, but had a small steel offset also. it wouldn't work well in colder weather. i thought i seen a backyard photo with a full insulated version, but i guess not, or it was made custom for someone. i plan to do at least 4 to 6 hogs per year, new years eve, and march are certain times. also, i read about this reverse heat/air flow that lang has, curious if this is a desired feature? any advise would be welcomed.

The insulation between the two 1/4 thick steel walls works outstanding in any weather. Referring to the PCC meat monster with internal firebox. I absolutely love the unit

 

[grandpax4]

 

[fcnich]

Sorry salukis, I haven't been on in a while and didn't see you question until just now. I love my PCC smoker. It is very easy to adjust and hold temperature. It is also very consistent from one end to the other. As for capacity two weeks ago I cooked six whole brisket packers that ranged 12-14 lbs. It was pretty tight and I did have to rotate because I was using every sq. inch all the way up to the firebox. I usually don't have to rotate the meat while I'm cooking because I leave the first 6 inches closest to the firebox wall empty. I have also cooked 10 racks of baby backs at one time. As for pork butts I could probably fit 8-10 if I needed too.

Hope this helps

Hello, north west Illinois here, just got my 24x48 backyard and did my first cook on it. I have the adjustable baffle in mine. I did have some trouble controlling temperature and getting it to hold. Any advice you have would be appreciated! Thanks