New Brinkmann Trailmaster Vertical Smoker

[clint24]

Thanks, I will try that. So far it's been extremely labor intensive for me to try and maintain temps. I have a competition this weekend and am hoping I can keep the traeger in the shed but we'll see.

 

[brick]

I was lucky. I bought the gasket kit but haven't used it yet. I have a short video showing it to be "smoke tight".

 

[remmy700p]

 
So I have sealed my smoker with a gasket kit and RTV sealant so that there is only smoke coming out of the stack. I built a charcoal basket for the fire box to help keep room for air to flow through the fire box. I put lump charcoal in the basket this morning leaving a hole in the middle for the hot coals I dumped in from my chimney. My fire box vent was wide open and so was my stack. The temp got up to about 260 where I wanted it and I threw some wood chunks on to start the smoke. Then the temperature began to drop....only 2 hrs after I started. There was plenty of charcoal in the basket still but it wasn't staying lit. I ended up having to set up a box fan about 2 feet from the fire box to keep my temp up between 250-275. Has anyone else had this problem or is there something I'm doing wrong? My basket is small enough so that I have about 5" of space between it and the vent and 5" between it and the crossover to the CC.

I would guess that, given your gap dimensions, your charcoal basket is just a bit too small for the volume of the cook chamber. A way around this is to 'cheat' the basket toward the intake side of the firebox and put your chunk wood (baseball sized or larger) outside the basket and up against the firebox's outlet side. This works great to keep the temps up and stable. Here's a pic of what I'm talking about (this is in my BTMLE horizontal). The flames are coming from three good sized pieces of citrus chunk (~softball sized). Notice the flame being sucked into the CC:

IMG_20130804_113757_489.jpg

• remmy700p
• Aug 5, 2013

 

[clint24]

I would guess that, given your gap dimensions, your charcoal basket is just a bit too small for the volume of the cook chamber. A way around this is to 'cheat' the basket toward the intake side of the firebox and put your chunk wood (baseball sized or larger) outside the basket and up against the firebox's outlet side. This works great to keep the temps up and stable. Here's a pic of what I'm talking about (this is in my BTMLE horizontal). The flames are coming from three good sized pieces of citrus chunk (~softball sized). Notice the flame being sucked into the CC:

IMG_20130804_113757_489.jpg

• remmy700p
• Aug 5, 2013

What do you use in your basket? I've been using lump charcoal but it's been burning so fast. Thanks.

 

[remmy700p]

What do you use in your basket? I've been using lump charcoal but it's been burning so fast. Thanks.

Ozark Oak lump started with Kingsford Blue in the minion basket (essentially just as a 'heat sink'). Most of the fuel after that is large chunk wood. I'll add a couple handfuls of lump every hour or so just to keep the heat sink stable.

 

[clint24]

Ozark Oak lump started with Kingsford Blue in the minion basket (essentially just as a 'heat sink'). Most of the fuel after that is large chunk wood. I'll add a couple handfuls of lump every hour or so just to keep the heat sink stable.

I will try that method tomorrow. I appreciate it Remmy!

 

[remmy700p]

I will try that method tomorrow. I appreciate it Remmy!

No problem! I think the Brinkmann TMLEs have such a large internal volume that lump/briquets just aren't enough fuel for them. They really want to be stick-burners. Here's a pic showing the typical size of the chunk I use (compared to a Kingsford briquet):

IMG_20150505_123418590.jpg

• remmy700p
• May 5, 2015

Note that when I have several of these chunks going in the FB, my intake grate is only open about 1/16"- 1/8" max at its widest spot (exhaust stack wide open -- always).

 

[clint24]

No problem! I think the Brinkmann TMLEs have such a large internal volume that lump/briquets just aren't enough fuel for them. They really want to be stick-burners. Here's a pic showing the typical size of the chunk I use (compared to a Kingsford briquet):

IMG_20150505_123418590.jpg

• remmy700p
• May 5, 2015

Note that when I have several of these chunks going in the FB, my intake grate is only open about 1/16"- 1/8" max at its widest spot (exhaust stack wide open -- always).

Yea I will try that. Do you always put the wood outside of your basket or do you ever put it on the coals?

 

[remmy700p]

Yea I will try that. Do you always put the wood outside of your basket or do you ever put it on the coals?

Depends on how they're burning. If they're real dry and catch well, I'll put them next to the basket. If they seem to not want to take off, I'll drop them right in the basket on the coals. I try to set them on top of the FB to warm them up before putting them in.

 

[clint24]

Depends on how they're burning. If they're real dry and catch well, I'll put them next to the basket. If they seem to not want to take off, I'll drop them right in the basket on the coals. I try to set them on top of the FB to warm them up before putting them in.

8 hours later I pull my pork butt and I finally have a nice bed of coals....hahaha. Go figure. Since I pulled it the smokers been holding about 250 for an hour and a half. Haha.

 

[leelee1269]

Since I do not have a charcoal basket, my firebox is very open.  I am going to try these fire bricks...

6f76284e-c218-4948-b524-318a7b423508_400.jpg

• campsmoke1955
• Sep 5, 2014

They are 1.25 inches thick and 4.5 inches wide and 9 inches long.  They can be cut/trimmed with masonry tools like any other concrete, using the appropriate precautions.  A single thickness of the brick blocking the fire/heat from the firebox endwall should be enough.  I figure the thickness of the fire brick is equal to maybe one charcoal briquet, so I would lose maybe a dozen or less coals.

I will report back after making this mod.

- Dave

I'm curious to know how did the fabrics work for you

 

[9ballpimp]

Hello all.  New here, but not new to smoking.  I'm curious, has anyone else tried the firebricks in the firebox of their vertical?  I was just thinking about this earlier today, and saw it here, so it must be a sign, right?  lol

 

[mrshep70]

I tried bricks in mine and I ended up pulling them out. I have better luck with a full charcoal basket pushed all the way to the left. Then I drop a full chimney of lit coals on the right of the fire box (FB) close to the cooking chamber (CC). This creates enough heat to get the CC up to temp, and it ignites the charcoal in the basket an allows it to work its way across the basket. I usually get 4-6 hours of good cooking time before I have to add more charcoal to the basket. 

I also use a Pitmaster IQ 120 to keep my temps right where I like them 225-250. I have never had much luck using the minion method with this smoker. I've found that a full charcoal basket is the way to go for me. I know it's an added expense, but the Pitmaster is worth the investment. I had wildly fluctuating temps before I started using it. Now my pit runs at the temp I set for hours. 

Hope this helps. If you do decide to use the firebricks, let us know how it works for you. Also, if you want to try a basket her is the link to a video that will show you how to build one without welding. 

Good luck,

Matt

 

[9ballpimp]

Yeah, I thought about making a basket...Lately, though, I've had good luck with starting with lump, and using oak throughout the cook, instead of burning through a whole bag of charcoal.  Keeps the ash down, so it doesn't choke itself out.  Gets a little tricky with long 12+ hour smokes, which is why I thought about the firebricks.  Stay tuned...

 

[mrshep70]

I use Royal Oak lump charcoal. I used to use Kingsford, but the ash was so bad that it would choke out the coals. I never have this issue with Royal Oak, and I have had brisket on for over 16 hours sometimes. It burns hot and clean.

On another note. When you use oak, how long has it been seasoned? I would love to use natural wood, but I'm always afraid it will be too green and not burn right.

I will be tuned in...

 

[94r2]

I just joined the party on Saturday.

I was originally trying to be thrifty and just looking for a replacment water/char bowl for my ECB (El Cheapo Brinkmann).  That led me originally to Home Despot (fail) but then to BassPro, which has replacement parts.  While browsing at Home Despot, I saw that vertical trailmaster for about 269 or so.  I refrained and went to BassPro.  There I had the bowl, was walking around, and saw a "Limited" version of the trailmaster.  It has heavier gauge doors for the CC and FB.  and the FB door also appeared to overlap the FB better.   It also has 2 toggle latches for the CC door, so the handle is just fixed, and doesnt rotate to secure the CC door.

It was onsale for 250, so I weakened.

I got it about 90% assembled, and the 2 lowest bolts securing a crossbrace above the axle to the bottom of the FB werent playing nice.  The next day I discovered this site, and the concept of some additional seals/gaskets to improve efficiency.  So things are on hold for a little bit.

Here is a shot showing the toggle bolts.

Limited CC toggles.jpg

• 94r2
• May 20, 2015

If it appears rotated, it is, I am not spending another millisecond fighting the forum software.

It closes perfectly and appears to seal very well.

 

[drewed]

I too have been looking really hard are the "limited Edition" version of these ( heavier gauge metal, extra toggles, etc) and weighing it against the WSM.  250 on sale at bass pro huh?

Bummer. Not listed online......

 

[94r2]

Yeah, I found no evidence that this model existed, either at the BassPro or Brinkmann websites.

So its either pretty new, or maybe a truly limited edition only for BassPro.

I guess you have to call.  When I was at BassPro, I think there was a 10% off Memorial Day Sale going on, naturally starting early.

If you need a model number or other number from my box, let me know.  But it sounds like you can pop into a local BassPro yourself.

 

[carl smith]

You guys are talking about the Trailmaster LE horizontal, right?  Different animal from the vertical in this thread, although they share the trailmaster name.   Here on some threads that may be more helpful on the LE

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/newsearch?search=trailmaster+LE

 

[drewed]

no, there is a Limited Edition VERTICAL smoker too.  Home Depot has them for order.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Brinkman...Set-Firebox-855-6304-S/205567688?N=5yc1vZbx92

I found one locally.  It looks like they hung a heavier gauge door on the CC and the FB.  The rest of it is still the same thin metal.  They also added a couple of toggles to the CC door and a "limited edition" name plate to it.