Verticle pellet smoker?

[Ultramag78]

I am looking to get a new smoker between $500 and $1000. Currently have a smokey mountain and wanna upgrade to electric pellet. Was thinking of getting a vertical pellet smoker just for the fact of hanging summer sausage, and beef sticks. My question is any pros/cons, . Ive looked at Louisiana vertical and the pit boss 7 series, any other suggestions? Looking for just a smoker, not smoker/grill.

 

[meskc]

I have the louisiana vertical. I got it just over a month ago and like it. It is huge. Best price is at Costco in the store. Paid 449.00 came with a cover it is 599.00 online but free shipping. I upgraded from a mes 40" electric.

 

[oldsmokerdude]

I would also suggest the Louisiana smokers. I've had one for a couple years, very well made and have had no issues even though it is left to the elements 365 per year with just the cover.

 

[tropics]

I have the PB #4 it is dead on accurate
Richie

 

[ksmith9]

I have the one from Costco. Got it last year. It sat outside all winter with the cover and fired right back up. Temp seems to run a little low. I cook at 250 when the recipe calls for 225. Otherwise it works great. Doesn't pack a crapton of smoke flavor though. I feel that would be the case with all pellet smokers, maybe that's the difference with real wood. Customer support for the Louisiana grills is great as well

 

[meskc]

For more smoke flavor I run 100% hickory pellets and I also run it on the smoke setting for an hour or two. You can also add an amazen tube.

 

[Winterrider]

Don't have any experience with a pellet vertical, but can temps stay low enough to avoid fat out? I've only used my electric or my big propane smoker. Other owners may be able to answer more accurately.

 

[JWFokker]

Camp Chef makes a very nice vertical pellet smoker, but the controller is pretty primitive and out of date compared to the competition.

 

[Mack40]

I too just purchased the Louisiana vertical smoker from costco, can't beat the price anywhere. Mine comes to temp quickly and is pretty accurate temp when I measured and compared to internal probe. I too want to smoke sausages as well havent done it yet, but Ive had great results with ribs whole chicken and brisket.
Just to address some others complaints or issues, here are some tips passed onto me from friends about pellet smokers,
Pellets will expand and turn to dust if they get wet, so I do not completely load my hopper and empty it after use, there is a door at the bottom of the hopper, but I also vacume the auger tube with a shop vac. An ounce of prevention here eliminates issues.
Pellets when they get wet turn to mush then dry and harden like a rock, you don't want your auger system to get seized up, this is the number one reason people have auger issues,
Another tip is to use a spaghetti strainer to pour your pellets into and shake out all the dust as you load the hopper.

 

[K9BIGDOG]

Camp Chef makes a very nice vertical pellet smoker, but the controller is pretty primitive and out of date compared to the competition.

I have the Camp Chef XXL. I really like it. Yes the controller is very basic, but they have hinted on their website that there will probably be a next Gen controller coming out for it in the future. They've already released upgrade WIF PID controllers for their grills and I think most of their new ones will be shipping standard with WIFI PID. Just a not on the Camp Chef, the controller heat settings don't do as high as on the grills because this unit is really intended to be a smoker, not so much a multi-purpose unit like the grills.