Smoker Differences & Why?

[meat hunter]

Hello everyone. Right now, I am held hostage by my Big Chief smoker. That will change this Spring. But I have some thoughts. Why do some have vertical smokers and some horizontal? I would think that vertical smokers give you more freedom as far as what you want to make don't they? By that I mean, if you wanted to make sausage. Also, what is the purpose of having a reverse flow and how does that work? Thanks

 

[rivet]

Probably for the same reason there are dozens of different cars out there to buy.

Seriously though, each type has its advantages and disadvantages. For instance, there is no way I could smoke say 3 turkeys in my vertical smoker as I can on my horizontal. Don't let popularity sway you....figger out what you like to eat, what you like to smoke and how you like to go about it. Then decide, but make it your decision, not someone elses.

 

[meat hunter]

Thanks Rivet. You know its only been a few days since that post but I have already learned so much. I was just curious why some choose one over the other, but then I realized, serious smokers do not have the hard decision of choosing. Why? Because they have both LOL. But yeah I understand, pick one that will cater to your individual type of smoking. Mostly, I am interested in making sausage, hence my decision to make a really nice smoker out of an old 1940's fridge. But I am also going to make a horizontal one as there are just toooooo many awesome things to make like ribs, brisket and so on that just would not be practical on a verticle, especaily if making a large amount for a larger crowd. Thanks for your input, it is appreciated.

Todd

 

[gooose53]

When I was looking to purchase my first large smoker I did alot of research. Like Rivet says, there's lots of them out there and you just have to figure out what it is you want to do. I finally chose a reverse flow custom made trailer smoker. The very first time I used it for cooking....took 4th place at a whole hog competition. When doing your research you will probably find out what it is you want to do.....that's basicly what happened to me. Good luck!!

 

[yankeerob]

I spent a couple of months last winter deciding what rig I was going to compete with. For me the unit needed to be light enough so 1 person could handle it and have enough capacity to cook 100lbs of meat. I came up with this:



Knowing what I know now I would have chosen a stumps of BWS but I've got plans to insulate the Caldera with Kaowool making it a lightweight version of these type smokers.

More and more teams on the KCBS circuit are using (and winning) with Stumps, BWS, Spicewines or their clones. Here is an interesting link on some custom clones:

http://www.phpbbserver.com/phpbb/vie...orum=smokinjim

My next smoker will be a Stumps.

-rob

 

[carpetride]

Recently bought the stumps and I promise I can do more than 3 turkeys!

Nothing wrong with either design, but currently favor the vertical just because it has more than one rack. My traeger only has one...I know a lot of horizontals have two or three. My Stumps is heavy but I can wheel it around with dolly...don't know about pulling it up the ramp on a trailer though I'm a small guy.