Thinking about a new smoker

[alan Maples]

Got my eye on an Oklahoma Joe highland reverse flow smoker. Yes, a Lang would be better, but a Lang is also beyond my budget. What can people who own one tell me about the Oklahoma Joe?

 

[DougE]

I have an older Highland traditional flow and really have no major complaints with it. It is definitely a step above the old char griller offsets, and like any other, you just have to learn how to run it. I'd call OKJ a mid grade offset that runs better than the cheapest offset you can get, but it ain't a Lang, or Bell Fab.

 

[alan Maples]

I have an older Highland traditional flow and really have no major complaints with it. It is definitely a step above the old char griller offsets, and like any other, you just have to learn how to run it. I'd call OKJ a mid grade offset that runs better than the cheapest offset you can get, but it ain't a Lang, or Bell Fab.

I cut my teeth on a cheap offset. Question. Do you need charcoal and wood, or can I use a straight up wood fire?

 

[DougE]

I use lump to get a good coal bed going, then just splits after I have a good fire going. Mine is fairly easy to maintain temps adding a split every so often once it settles in. Dry splits and setting up the grates in a "V" the firebox so the fire gets more air help a lot in maintaining temps. You will have swings on any offset, but I can keep it within 50° each direction, which I think is decent for a cheapish stick burner.

 

[alan Maples]

I got to thinking that now isn't the ri go time to spend $600.00 on a smoker. Getting this instead. I first learned to smoke meat on a bullet style smoker and it's only $149.00

 

[bill1]

I got to thinking that now isn't the ri go time to spend $600.00 on a smoker. Getting this instead. I first learned to smoke meat on a bullet style smoker and it's only $149.00

A basic bullet style like that is exactly how I got into the hobby. Have fun!

 

[alan Maples]

A basic bullet style like that is exactly how I got into the hobby. Have fun!

Oh I intend to. Lol

 

[alan Maples]

I use lump to get a good coal bed going, then just splits after I have a good fire going. Mine is fairly easy to maintain temps adding a split every so often once it settles in. Dry splits and setting up the grates in a "V" the firebox so the fire gets more air help a lot in maintaining temps. You will have swings on any offset, but I can keep it within 50° each direction, which I think is decent for a cheapish stick burner.

Well, diue to budget concerns, I decided to get a traditional Oklahoma Joe highland smoker. I should have it in time for football season

 

[DougE]

Well, diue to budget concerns, I decided to get a traditional Oklahoma Joe highland smoker. I should have it in time for football season

Mine runs decent, you just have to learn the smoker.

 

[DougE]

If you want to mod it, This place has anything you'd want.

BBQ Smoker Mods & Parts | BBQ Smoker Mods | BBQ Smoker Mods

BBQ smoker mod kits smoker parts custom cooker pit barbeque modification parts. High temp FDA gaskets & adhesives, hinges, handles grill grates hardware fire box basket baffle plate charcoal basket

bbqsmokermods.com

 

[alan Maples]

If you want to mod it, This place has anything you'd want.

BBQ Smoker Mods & Parts | BBQ Smoker Mods | BBQ Smoker Mods

BBQ smoker mod kits smoker parts custom cooker pit barbeque modification parts. High temp FDA gaskets & adhesives, hinges, handles grill grates hardware fire box basket baffle plate charcoal basket

bbqsmokermods.com

Any particular mods that you would recommend?

 

[DougE]

I run mine as it came aside from running the grates in a "V" in the firebox. You could actually turn it into a reverse flow with parts from the site I just posted, you just need to move the stack to the firebox side.

 

[alan Maples]

I run mine as it came aside from running the grates in a "V" in the firebox. You could actually turn it into a reverse flow with parts from the site I just posted, you just need to move the stack to the firebox side.

I probably won't modify mine much. If nothing goes wrong, I'll have it in September.

 

[DougE]

I probably won't modify mine much. If nothing goes wrong, I'll have it in September.

They run decent as is for a mid grade stick burner. I would like to lower the stack to grate level, and maybe do the baffle plate for more even temps across the grate, but I use the Camp Chef more than the OKJ. The OKJ does turn out better Q, but the pellet is more hands off. It's a trade off.