After about 25 cooks on the Gateway I'd like to give some honest feedback.
It's very well built. Being an OG PBC owner there is no comparison to build quality. The fact that you can buy two PBC's and have money left over doesn't make it worth the extra for a better build though. If you want a drum that'll last 25 years this may be it.
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It has more ability to control intake and exhaust than the PBC, but does it matter? I've found the PBC and Gateway want to cook at 300 regardless of what you do. SO, does the ability to adjust these things matter? I think its nearing diminishing returns though.
The paint on the higher temp version is horrible. It'll literally wipe off when cleaning or chip from an encounter with a fingernail. The low temp paint is more durable, but will stain from higher heat.
It has multiple cooking levels that the PBC doesn't have that you'll never use once you try it and realize you gotta unload the grill to flip meat. the lower levels work great for diffusers though.
Hot & Fast is nothing more than a marketing strategy on large fatty cuts likes brisket and butts. It will not deliver the results of pellet grill or off-set smoker cooking low and slow. I know they have championships to prove it, but I don't see it. I think people subscribe to this method because they bought into it and can't be wrong.
It will cook the sh%t out of ribs and chicken. You need to flip the ribs every 15 minutes at 300 on the dial, but it'll pump out some amazing chicken and ribs fast! Not faster or better than the PBC for $400, but it'll do it.
The Gateway user group on FB isn't very friendly or helpful. If the answer isn't "turn and burn" or "Needles up" don't even ask the question there because you'll get called stupid real fast by the mob.
All in all it does what a drum is supposed to do very well so I don't want to bash it too bad, but I do regret not looking into the OK Joe a little more. Not sure I would get a better cook, but I wouldn't have spent $1200 and got the same cook. I've learned in this that drums are drums and will cook like drums so don't get caught up in marketing and over spending when it isn't needed. If you're on a budget the Gateway is not worth it. If you want build quality over all else, buy the Gateway. Other than that drums all deliver very similar results.
It's very well built. Being an OG PBC owner there is no comparison to build quality. The fact that you can buy two PBC's and have money left over doesn't make it worth the extra for a better build though. If you want a drum that'll last 25 years this may be it.
​​​​
It has more ability to control intake and exhaust than the PBC, but does it matter? I've found the PBC and Gateway want to cook at 300 regardless of what you do. SO, does the ability to adjust these things matter? I think its nearing diminishing returns though.
The paint on the higher temp version is horrible. It'll literally wipe off when cleaning or chip from an encounter with a fingernail. The low temp paint is more durable, but will stain from higher heat.
It has multiple cooking levels that the PBC doesn't have that you'll never use once you try it and realize you gotta unload the grill to flip meat. the lower levels work great for diffusers though.
Hot & Fast is nothing more than a marketing strategy on large fatty cuts likes brisket and butts. It will not deliver the results of pellet grill or off-set smoker cooking low and slow. I know they have championships to prove it, but I don't see it. I think people subscribe to this method because they bought into it and can't be wrong.
It will cook the sh%t out of ribs and chicken. You need to flip the ribs every 15 minutes at 300 on the dial, but it'll pump out some amazing chicken and ribs fast! Not faster or better than the PBC for $400, but it'll do it.
The Gateway user group on FB isn't very friendly or helpful. If the answer isn't "turn and burn" or "Needles up" don't even ask the question there because you'll get called stupid real fast by the mob.
All in all it does what a drum is supposed to do very well so I don't want to bash it too bad, but I do regret not looking into the OK Joe a little more. Not sure I would get a better cook, but I wouldn't have spent $1200 and got the same cook. I've learned in this that drums are drums and will cook like drums so don't get caught up in marketing and over spending when it isn't needed. If you're on a budget the Gateway is not worth it. If you want build quality over all else, buy the Gateway. Other than that drums all deliver very similar results.
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