Dry Run on New Bronco Observations/Questions

[Reds Fan 5]

Dry run on new Bronco. Some observations and questions 4 hours into run (observations relative to smoking on Weber kettle with SnS):

* Easy set up

* Impressed with construction

* Cooker responds quickly to vent adjustments

* Appears temp control requires managing both vents (only adjusted exhaust on kettle).

* Got to 250 and held within 50 mins, not bad on a chilly, breezy day

* Added wood 3 chunks to see how they burn in this cooker, wondering if I need more (see below)

* Held at 250 for 3 hours, into 4th hour temp dropped from 250 to 235, no smoke, no woodsmoke aroma

* Opened cooker, removed diffuser to see the coals were not progressively lighting. The two places I used firestarters were the only sections burning and they were losing heat. Using KBB.

* Wood chunks, including those on the fire starter spots barely burned (they were from a previously unopened new bag.

* Stirred the coals, smoke appeared again, temp shot to 250 quickly and is holding.

Questions:
* The burn/ignition of the charcoal is puzzling. Do I need more than two firestarers? Is there an art to stacking coals beyond dumping them in the basket?

* Given the lighting issues I’m not sure if 3 wood chunks is enough for a real,cook. Any advice on volume of wood?

* My temp probe is clipped to the grate but I am curious, where do folks clip/hang the probe when hanging meat and not using grate?

Overall, this appears to be an excellent, easy to use, well built cooker.

[Steve R.]

It seems like a lighting issue to me. The way I do it, and the way that works best with my Pro, is to get a half full (more or less, depending on my target temp) chimney starter going and then dump it on top of the unlit coals. Minion method, basically. I normally bury a couple of chunks in the unlit charcoal and put one on top of the lit ones before closing it all up.

I use B&B briquettes, so YMMV with KBB.

[Reds Fan 5]

That how the SnS lights. Was following Bronco lighting instructions. Had another drop from 250 to 234. This time I adjusted the vents. Got distracted, checked it 20 mins later and it was 280. Adjusted vents again and it came down quickly to 245-250. I’m used to the SnS which spikes the temp as it progressively burns. Perhaps the Bronco is the opposite.

I was hopeful the Bronco would allow me to skip the chimney.

Nonetheless, I am impressed with how easy it is to adjust and how responsive it is.

[LA Pork Butt]

I don’t have a Bronco, but I think the method I use on my BGE would work. Use Lump Charcoal. Put a layer of the largest pieces on the bottom. Fill. I fill with medium size pieces and top off with small pieces. Bury a lighter square on edge or a Weber lighter cube in the center and light it. Keep the vents wide open until you reach your target temp with the diffuser in. Then set your vents to hold the temp.

[Finster]

I've only done a few cooks on my bronco so far...
I also do the minion method.
I use cowboy briquettes mixed with B&B charlogs with 3 or 4 wood chunks mixed in (depending on size).
I pour half a chimney of lit Kingsford pro on top.
I leave both vents fully open until it gets up to temp (250-260), then shut down the intake to one. I usually leave the exhaust wide open, and only adjust the intake as needed..

[Reds Fan 5]

How do you place the temp probe when you use the hangers?

[Finster]

I let it hang down off of one of the hangers

[Reds Fan 5]

Just shut it down after an 8 hour dry run. Dropped again to 237 and held there for almost 3 hours. Then it dropped to 227. After 8 hours it had burned almost a full load of charcoal. Getting 12 hours seems like a big stretch. Then again, it was windy here with temps in low 50s, little sun, so not the most efficient fuel consumption.

Fun to learn a new cooker. Looking forward to a rib cook later in the week.

[Panhead John]

Reds Fan 5 I’m trying to figure out your lighting problem, 2 fire starters should have been plenty, sometimes I only use 1. Here’s what I’ve been successful doing with my Bronco when lighting coals for slow cooks. I always use B & B charcoal briquettes with a few of their char logs in the mix. I never try and stack the coals, just pour them into the basket filled all the way. B & B will give you longer cook times than the KBB. My preferred fire starters are Royal Oak Tumbleweeds, but wax cubes will work also.

I’ll start my coals about an hour before I want to put the meat on. It doesn’t always take that long though. At one edge of the charcoal basket, I’ll place 1 or 2 tumbleweeds near each other with a few coals on top of them to help the starting process. Once lit, keep both vents wide open and keep the lid open also. After about 15-20 minutes I’ll usually have at least 5 or 6 coals burning well enough to proceed with the next step. I’ll then place one of my larger wood chunks on top of the burning coals for immediate smoke. This will also help adjoining coals light as well. I’ll then place 2 or 3 more wood chunks into the mix…1 about in the middle of the charcoal pan and another across from it at the opposite end of the original wood chunk. This helps to create smoke during the majority of your cook.

Once this is done and that 1st wood chunk is burning, I’ll then close the lid…keeping both vents wide open. After about another 15-20 minutes you should be approaching your target temp, mine is about 250*. Around 200-225* or so, I’ll close both vents about 1/2 way to 3/4 closed. Once you hit 225* go ahead and place the meat in the smoker. Don’t worry about minor temp fluctuations of 20-30 degrees…it is not a big deal. Once the Bronco hits my target temp and settles in, I rarely have to make any adjustments for the first several hours. If it hits anywhere between 250*-275* I’m fine with that. Just try to keep it above 225* for your entire cook, which isn’t a problem with the Bronco. Mine rarely fluctuates more than 10*-15* for the remainder of my cook, once it’s settled in. If you switch to B & B charcoal briquettes, not lump, you won’t go back to KBB for slow cooks. Good luck and let us know if this works for you.

P.S. As Finster mentioned, when hanging meat in the Bronco, just loop your temp probe cable around one of the hangers, keeping it at least 3 or 4 inches from the meat. Let it dangle down in the barrel in the area of your meat. Also, 3 large wood chunks should provide plenty of smoke flavor, use a few more if they’re small in size. 90% of my cooks are done with Hickory, which has a little stronger smoke flavor than most other woods.

[Reds Fan 5]

And I am considering the switch to BB charcoal. Everything I've read about it is positive. KBB has been driving me nuts. The ash is out of control and I'm finding lighting is inconsistent. I'll use KBB for my first cook so I don't have another variable with a new cooker (and because that's what I have on hand).

[Panhead John]

Good deal! Yeah, when you switch to B & B I think you’re really gonna love it. Like you said, there should be a lot less ash….and you’ll get cleaner smoke as well. I didn’t learn all this either till I’d done a few cooks on mine. You’re doing good though, there’s always a little bit of a learning curve with any new smoker. It’s impressive how well they hold temps once you get the hang of it..👍

[CaptGreg]

I use Panhead John's method with a couple of variations, if you want a very long cook carefully stack the charcoal, faster cook I just dump it in. Based on personal experience with how long the cook times I was looking for I now ONLY use B&B briquettes and logs. Since I changed I have had zero issues. I can now solidly do a 12 hour cook without having to add anything.

[Alan Brice]

Easy! See if you can get a refund on the Bunko,
then get an easy peasy PBC, PBC, PBC!!!
set it n fer get it!😝
no fiddle fartin with this kinda coal n this piece a
wood here n a fiddle de Dee there. Just Smoke on brother. Also you don’t need yer seester ta hep ya put it in yer truck!

Just kiddin! I really wished I woulda won the smack down! Enjoy yer new Smoker!
pics or it never happened. Eh PJ?!?!?

[Panhead John]

What the hell you smokin?…..😳
😂

[Murdy]

FWIW, In my Bronco, I've used 2 or 3 fire starters. I used 4 once when I was in a hurry. Never used a chimney. And I just dump the coals in. No issues. Been using B&B briquettes.

[Sid P]

Sounds like a good day of testing, Joe, in far from ideal conditions. I’m sure you’ll have it dialed in very soon.

[Reds Fan 5]

Thanks, Sid. You definitely know what the weather conditions have been. Was planning rib cook tomorrow since I'm working from home. Another day in the mid-40s predicted so holding first cook until Sat when it will be 70/sunny.

[DTro]

If you want ribs by all means have ribs. 40 degrees won’t stop your Bronco. Cozy on up to a warm Bronco an have delicious ribs