- Sep 12, 2013
- 50
- 10
At the Fred's Super Dollar Stores I visited in Greenwood, MS and Indianola, MS, I saw a Backyard Traditions smoker that retails for $75 that looked like a cross between the ECB (Regular and Gourmet) and WSM smokers. If you aren't familiar with Fred's, they are a chain of discount stores like Wal-Mart but on a smaller scale with stores mainly in the Southeastern US and is headquartered in Memphis, TN. The store also had a grill with smoker box with the Backyard Traditions brand that is distributed by Char-Broil. I have a feeling these smokers I am about to show you may or may not be distributed or made by Char-Broil.
It is built like the ECB but it has a lid with a chimney, adjustable vent, and rods for hooks (which are included) for smoking sausages, jerky, salmon, etc. The lid also has a detailed numeric thermometer instead of the "WARM/IDEAL/HOT" the ECB's have. On the sides there are metal handles and has a door with a latch.
Don't worry about adding vents on the bottom of the smoker, there are three adjustable vents (like the WSM, except they have black handles) and the legs are located on the outside of the smoker instead of the inside that the ECB has. Another bonus feature is a small grate that goes on the bottom of the smoker that you can put the charcoal bowl on so that more smoke can circulate. It also has the water bowl and two large grates. As earlier mentioned, it also has hooks for the top of the lid.
Here are some pics to look at to see that you think about the smoker.
First, here are pics of the smoker:
Next, pages from the instruction book, including one for the address for Fred's.
In short, I'm leaning between this one and getting an ECB Electric Smokehouse converter so it can be used for charcoal or electric, or getting a Char-Broil grill with smoker box, or do like my sister and brother-in-law did, get a Char-Griller (I think they got a Wrangler) and add a smoker box.
Any reviews, comments, or questions are welcome.
It is built like the ECB but it has a lid with a chimney, adjustable vent, and rods for hooks (which are included) for smoking sausages, jerky, salmon, etc. The lid also has a detailed numeric thermometer instead of the "WARM/IDEAL/HOT" the ECB's have. On the sides there are metal handles and has a door with a latch.
Don't worry about adding vents on the bottom of the smoker, there are three adjustable vents (like the WSM, except they have black handles) and the legs are located on the outside of the smoker instead of the inside that the ECB has. Another bonus feature is a small grate that goes on the bottom of the smoker that you can put the charcoal bowl on so that more smoke can circulate. It also has the water bowl and two large grates. As earlier mentioned, it also has hooks for the top of the lid.
Here are some pics to look at to see that you think about the smoker.
First, here are pics of the smoker:
Next, pages from the instruction book, including one for the address for Fred's.
In short, I'm leaning between this one and getting an ECB Electric Smokehouse converter so it can be used for charcoal or electric, or getting a Char-Broil grill with smoker box, or do like my sister and brother-in-law did, get a Char-Griller (I think they got a Wrangler) and add a smoker box.
Any reviews, comments, or questions are welcome.
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