Need a new smoker

[Cougar281]

I've had a Masterbuilt Gravity 560 for several years that, while it has several things that I consider to design flaws, overall, I've liked it and it has done well. The things that I consider to be design flaws are the temperature probe placement and quantity - it only has one probe for sensing the chamber temp, and it's directly in line with the flow of heat from the firebox. There should be more than one in different locations for averaging and sanity checking. Then there's the huge slot in the back that doesn't allow for any control or prevent ambient air from entering. I've found that when it's really cold out, it's pretty much impossible to smoke anything because cold air comes in through the slot, the heat from the firebox is blowing on the temperature probe, so it's thinking everything's peachy while the temperature in the chamber is much colder than it should be. IT really should have some sort of stack that allows you to control the flow and prevents a ton of outside air from entering. I think those are my main gripes.

That being said, when I went to smoke some wings yesterday, I discovered that the tunnel under the grates had collapsed, and I then found that the lip on the back that holds the grates is mostly gone, so it's not far from dropping the grates, so it's not worth replacing the tunnel.

So I need a new smoker. Like I said, overall I've liked this smoker, and am considering replacing it with either a Gravity series 800 or 1150, but I'm curious about other possible options. The main points are I like the gravity feed, the fact that I can use briquettes or lump charcoal (I've only ever used lump) and that I can crank it up to 700* for reverse searing. I'm not interested in pellets.

Does anyone have any thoughts on other options to consider, or is Masterbuilt more or less the best option for this type of smoker?

 

[912smoker]

I have the 1050 and love it....even with the flaws. I have to replace the tunnel and fire box but less than $100.
If I were to replace it, I would go with their new XT model.
Beefier version with a lot of the bugs worked out.

Keith

 

[SmokinEdge]

I’ve never owned one but I have cooked on a master built 1050. Great smoker but all the sensors are troublesome. But if it were me I would also look at the Char Griller gravity fed. Do your research but both are good options in my view.

 

[Cougar281]

I have the 1050 and love it....even with the flaws. I have to replace the tunnel and fire box but less than $100.
If I were to replace it, I would go with their new XT model.
Beefier version with a lot of the bugs worked out.

Keith

The XT looks nice, but unfortunately it's well over my budget. The 1150 is about the max. The newer revision DOES seem to appear to maybe be a little better than the 560, at least with regard to the venting. And the 1150 does appear to have the temp probe in a slightly better place.

I’ve never owned one but I have cooked on a master built 1050. Great smoker but all the sensors are troublesome. But if it were me I would also look at the Char Griller gravity fed. Do your research but both are good options in my view.

That's the one. I remember hearing about something similar, but couldn't recall who made it. Not sure if there are more than the Char Griller. The Char Griller does have a few things I like, like the adjustable damper and porcelain coated grates, but it also holds about half the lump charcoal... Oh, and yes, the door sensors are a pain... they croak all the time. I ended up bypassing the one for the lid as I was replacing them too often...

 

[waterdawg]

For off the shelf gravity feeds , I still think Masterbuilt is the best. You have LSS Mods that offers aftermarket parts to beef up the stock units. I would also look into replacing the stock controller with a Fireboard 2 Drive, a plug n play upgrade that is a much more reliable control unit and you can place the ambient temperature probe wherever you see fit.

This was the route I was going to pursue when upgrading from my WSM, but I found a great deal on a Mixon G9 gravity fed that I couldn’t pass up.