Old Country BBQ Pits Wrangler Smoker Review

[josephah2000]

Anyone know the actual weight of the Pecos (350 lbs) and Wrangler (275 lbs)? I don't see how Academy's specs are correct, especially since the Wrangler uses a thicker gauge of steel. I have a Wrangler and my brother-in-law has a Pecos. Both are great! Thanks.

 

[smokenfire]

In regards to the Wrangler; is it a 20 inch or 24 inch barrel?
Thnx...

 

[smokin emt]

After reading everything in this section, I'm fully convinced that the Wrangler is the smoker for me. A lot of great ideas have been implanted and a ton of useful tricks at the ready for when I get mine. This is a great section!! Thanks everyone for your input!!

 

[txsean]

About a cover for the Wrangler, I picked up the Char-broil heavy duty cover (NOT the XL) for my charcoal grill and put it on the Wrangler just to see how it fits. For comparison, here is a pic.

Perfect fit length and depth wise, just wish it came down a few more inches to the ground. I wonder if I kept wood on the bottom shelf if it would pick up moisture during a storm when the wind started blowing around a bit. I keep the grills in the garage for now until I finish (ok fine, I have to start first... :p ) my deck project for the back yard. Then they will have a permanent home

I plan to pick up the XL cover for the wrangler but just wanted to share this for reference.

 

[rotday]

Mister, sure do appreciate this review.  Been trying to decide if it'd be better to stick with my old rust riddled New Braunfels stick burner another season or drop the $500 on this Wrangler.  Probably will go ahead and have it ready to go by Thanksgiving. Have a good one.

 

[kingt36]

Does anyone use a basket in their wrangler? My biggest problem is temperature control. I just can't get it to run steady at 225-240 without a lot of baby sitting. I'm curious about how a basket might help.

I also need to find a good sealant to seal up some of the leaks.

 

[glocksrock]

I use a basket, but I normally can't get my temps to stay below 275, but now that it's getting colder out it should be easier. Not sure that a basket would help you much though, but it can't hurt to try.

 

[rotday]

Speaking of a basket, where is a good place to get one from??? Don't have many resources to fab the mods discussed on forum.  Will acquire them if need be but got to weigh the cost of purchasing and storing the equipment.  After getting the Wrangler smoker, want to get it set up right with tuning plates, basket, good thermometer, etc.

 

[glocksrock]

 
Speaking of a basket, where is a good place to get one from??? Don't have many resources to fab the mods discussed on forum.  Will acquire them if need be but got to weigh the cost of purchasing and storing the equipment.  After getting the Wrangler smoker, want to get it set up right with tuning plates, basket, good thermometer, etc.

Just buy a sheet of expanded metal from home depot and cut then bend it. Here is a step by step on how to do it. You won't need much in the way of tools to do this.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/89796/i-call-it-the-20-20-charcoal-basket

 

[rotday]

"GlocksRock" that's what I'm talking about!!!   

  The tutorial on building the basket is perfect.  This is the kind of info that hits a home-run.  So often somebody will provide a solution that requires a greater investment in supplies and equipment than what their original smoker cost.  Lookin for more....

Thanks.

 

[mickhlr]

TXSean, thanks for the pic of the cover.  I just ordered on through Amazon.   I’ve had a helluva time trying to find a cover for this thing, and have been using an Oklahoma Joe Longhorn cover.  It doesn't fit well at all, and I have all this fabric that would go over the little OK Joe smokestack just laying on mine, as our smokestack is a lot wider than the OK Joe.  And, already, the entire top of the cover is white…when it used to be black.   I have a black Weber cover on my Weber Genesis grill and it still hasn’t faded one bit…totally black and still looks new.   I had debated between the Char-broil heavy duty like you show in your pic, and the XL.  But, I thought the XL would be way too big, and I was worried about the one you have being too small.  I’m glad to see it isn’t.  Hopefully, someday, somebody will make a cover to actually fit the Wrangler. 

Glocksrock, that basket looks great…and looks very easy to make.   Thanks for that info…can’t wait to try it.

This site is the best informational site I've ever seen.  Loving it.  BTW...if any of you reading this have never spatchcocked a turkey, I just posted one I did this past weekend.  It was great...and so easy to do. 

 

[mickhlr]

Just wanted to report that the Char-Broil Heavy Duty Smoker Cover (not the XL) works great on my Wrangler.  I've been using it for a couple of months now, and it still looks like new...even through the winter weather we've had.  I just wrap a large bungee cord around it to keep it from blowing away.  It works great and looks good...and it was less than $20.  Can't beat it for the price.  That OK Joe cover I was using already looked terrible after two months of use, and faded from black to white on top.  And, since it didn't fit well, it looked like crap...and it was twice the price of this one.

Char-Broil Heavy Duty Smoker Cover.jpg

• mickhlr
• Jan 17, 2014

Plus, it matches my Weber Genesis grill cover pretty well.

Smoker and Grill Covers.jpg

• mickhlr
• Jan 17, 2014

 

[sammydlc]

Has anyone grilled in the main cooking chamber of the wrangler? I usually grill for 10-15 people when I bbq at home, and don't know if grilling in the firebox will do it for me.
I want to start smoking more and don't know if I should just buy the Wrangler and use the main chamber to grill rather than buying a Grilling pit like the cantina and a separate smoker.
I also got in contact with Old Country and they said they have a grilling pit like the cantina but the call it the cantina deluxe. Its 1/4 thick and same size. They have it for $600. Don't know if this is a good deal. Any suggestions?

 

[glocksrock]

I'd probably just stick with using the main chamber for smoking, and if the firebox isn't large enough for your grilling needs, just get a separate grill. Not sure how much having a thick metal matters when grilling, you may be served just fine with something like a chargriller charcoal grill.

 

[blkstallionbbq]

I was going to buy this smoker online but it says it is no longer available. Does anyone have any recommendations for something similar in the $500 range?

 

[glocksrock]

I was going to buy this smoker online but it says it is no longer available. Does anyone have any recommendations for something similar in the $500 range?

They are probably just out of stock, but if you check with your local store they may have one. The Pecos is similar, but it's a bit larger and doesn't have the upper rack, it's also a bit thinner, but should still work pretty good, it's also cheaper.

 

[kingt36]

Has anyone used their Wrangler, or any offset for that matter to cold smoke with an AMNPS? If so, how did you set it up?

 

[rburns]

Hello, Can you post a pic. of the mods you made?

 

[joshdaddyjoe]

Long time lurker first time poster here! I just bought my OC pit this last weekend and have been working on my fire management. A big thanks to everyone in this thread for all the useful info regarding their wranglers.

First up, St Louis pork ribs tomorrow night. Then hopefully a brisket this weekend.

 

[jcrevz]

Also a long time lurker - first time poster. My wife purchased this smoker from Academy last week, got the first smoke on it this past weekend. VERY impressed. I have been basically using a char-griller with no sidebox, cheap thermos, and chips thrown on top of coals. Believe it or not, I got pretty good at it. But using a stick burner for the first time? I cant even explain it. Night and day. I plan on using this every weekend I can. I have minor leakage around the lids, but nothing major I dont think. I plan on adding nomex gasket around the edge to seal it up better (or attempt to).

As far as the tuning plates for this, I went with OP's measurements, 4x15.75x1/4. I dont think this is the correct measurements. 4" is way too small IMO. Unless my barrel is larger, these 3 plates would only cover maybe 1/2 (not even, maybe 1/3rd?) of entire surface. Im going to go for another plate maybe 2 to see if i can get it closer across the grates, but i was at a 9 degrees difference so i may leave it be. A charcoal box is in the works, or maybe a maze. 

First set of ribs were gone before i could get a pic. For now, I have uploaded a few pics to my profile. 

Cheers!