Big Gravity Fed Insulated Cooker...Should I, or Shouldn't I? #YourHelpNeeded

[PaulstheRibList]

As some of you know, I'm having big fun learning to BBQ, and the quality of the food and my willingness to spread the BBQ joy has me cooking bigger and bigger gigs. I'm at two 22.5 WSM's, a 22 inch Offset (like a Yoder Witicha), and a commercial dryer converted to a smoker (not as easy to access and use).

I'm absolutely going to build a big offset to smoke brisket's and such on, but for the many times I'm not going to be up for staying up all night tending a fire (or hiring someone to do so), I'm looking for an insulated pellet cooker or gravity feed cooker. I'd like to have a pit that will that can handle a lot of food and fit sideways on the back of a BBQ Concession Trailer . I want to be able to cook for big parties and such, and the insulated cookers seem easier to use if I don't want to tend a fire the entire time.

I found this one for $1650, and it has piqued my interest. I'd love some feedback from my Pit Peeps who have had the joy of cooking a lot of food on a big gravity fed insulated cooker. Or can steer me off the cliff if I need to go another direction.

This one is local build, modeled after a Stumps XL Stretch, but a shade bigger. Owner/builder says it's got 2" insulation, water pans, 6' tall and 6 foot wide, 3' deep. He says that 20 pounds of charcoal will last 16 hours at 250. Charcoal chute can hold 60 pounds. He also says the firepan/ash box is large enough to burn as a stick burner as well. Comes with an automatic temp control device with a 50 cfm fan.

Here she is:


Top door open:


Both doors open:


Exit pipe side:


Feed box and air intake side:

I'd love some feedback, and any questions I need to have answered before I take the next step.

Thanks!!
paul

[PaulstheRibList]

How about a more general question:

What are the significant differences in cooking outcomes in using an insulated style cooker?

Do the gravity feed's produce a different outcome than the charcoal bed ones that seem to be more prolific?

I'm a Mrs. Brown (aka Bark) fanatic, and I'm guessing that the stick burner, with it's high airflow, will be the king of bark, and these insulated cookers will be behind them. I'm super happy with the bark my WSM's put on my Ribs with Memphis Dust - will I have a different outcome with an insulated cooker?

[Jerod Broussard]

Paul, I would get it just for the insulation.

Waiting to add water until you have the bark you want is how you get bark in them things.

[PaulstheRibList]

Great tip, #JerodKingofBrisket

[PaulstheRibList]

I'm going to Houston to pick up this monster tomorrow!

So, of course, I agreed to cook 10 briskets for a pastor buddy in 2 weeks! He's got a bunch of kids from the neighborhood going to camp, and we are treating them and their parents to a meal together as they complete it. Way Fun.

I'll keep you guys informed

#BiggerThanAStumpsXL

I think it would fit in Jerod Broussard's new backporch!

[Jerod Broussard]

I'm 3 hours northeast of Houston if it needs a 20 year carryover.

Have a safe trip!!!

[PaulstheRibList]

Well, Houston trip was a success!

We got this (the HUGE cooker, six feet tall, three foot wide and 30 inch deep cooking chamber...


And this (14 month seasoned Post Oak)


Got it home, and the 50 cfm blower on the pit temp controller didn't work, so I'll have to wait a few days for the replacement fan, so, I got to looking at that blue paint, and, well...

I'm good with the Houston Texan's and all. I'm a Oilers fan from way back. But we crossed the Sabine River bringing this thing home, and, well, I'm a HUGE New Orleans Saints guy, and we cook #WhoDatRibs for every Saints game for 2 years now, so...OFF WITH THE BLUE!

The Texan's decal was the first to go.


Then I broke out the DA sander...did I mention yet that this thing is LARGE! And, that the guy who fabricated it used a GRINDER, not a sander, on the side panels and all over? And that the prior 2 coats of paint, well the last coat, blue, was not that good, and therefore Much sanding is needed.


Good thing we bought the big, 2-stage Ingersoll Rand Air Compressor last year. If you sand a Blue BBQ Pit for a few hours, you turn blue:

Then we cleaned it off, taped off a few things, and started putting down the High-Temp Black, that is Step 1 in the #WhoDat conversion process. This is my brother, Bill. He can do anything! My enthusiasm for smoking ribs has spilled over to him, and he did his first ribs on his new Weber kettle I got him last week!.

And the finished Black Coat:


And me and Bill


Bill is taping out a Fleur De Lis on the front door, and He's going to paint Gold around it for Step 2 of the #WhoDat conversion!

That's hopefully happening tomorrow.

Isn't this fun!

paul

[Huskee]

Cool! Reminds me of Jon Solberg's project too. You guys make The Pit fun.

[PaulstheRibList]

That's my job!

[Jon Solberg]

allright PaulstheRibList !!!!!! You da man!

[PaulstheRibList]

I've got her cooking outside. I'll start another thread called, "My Big Gravity Fed Learning Curve"

[_John_]

Awesome, interested to see how that monster cooks.

[PaulstheRibList]

I'm quickly learning!

[David Parrish]

Nice project PtRL. Can't wait to see some pics of cook!

[Jerod Broussard]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet!!

Currently moving across town. I got all the pits moved, so I'm good.