Bronco Too Hot

[Donw]

Welcome from Maryland

[Bogy]

I've got a Bronco, that's about a year old, but I haven't used it enough to give you any advice better than you have already received. Welcome from Iowa!

[jfmorris]

On all of my cookers I start adjusting vents when I am 75 to 100 degrees below the target temp, and creep up on it. If you get too much charcoal burning, as it sounds like you did, it will take a long time to drop the temperature back down once you overshoot.

[BourBonQ]

Welcome from the lowcountry of SC!

See below for some great info on starting and maintaining temps in a barrel cooker, thanks to fzxdoc

I have found that I need slightly less briquets and startup times than mentioned in this link, but essentially the same steps. Experiment a little and you'll be dialed in in no time:

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/forum/charcoal-drums-barrels-and-bullet-smokers/pit-barrel-cooker/12614-light-my-pbc-fire-tips-on-lighting-and-maintaining-temperatures

And some other excellent links for cooking in a barrel:

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/forum/charcoal-drums-barrels-and-bullet-smokers/pit-barrel-cooker

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/forum/charcoal-drums-barrels-and-bullet-smokers/oklahoma-joe-bronco

[Skip]

Hope you got some help from the Bronco Experts! Welcome from Minnesota.

[Redwng]

Can't help with the cooker but welcome from St. Cloud, FL.

[Clawbear57]

Welcome to the pit from Winston Salem NC.

[Carolyn]

My first thought when I read the post title was, "I guess your Ford Bronco would be hot in this weather."

Welcome.

[Reds Fan 5]

x_30day_58309_Frank M, welcome to the pit. It sounds as if you are starting too much charcoal. For low/slow cooks I light a tumbleweed starter in one or two places in a full charcoal basket. It takes about an hour to settle at 225-250 with clean smoke. For shorter cooks I light 1/4 chimney and pour the lit coals onto unlit coals in the basket.

I also recommend using fewer wood chunks. The Bronco produces a lot of smoke on its own. Through trial and error I’ve discovered one or two chunks is more than enough. I suggest starting with two. You can add more for your next cook if you want more smoke.

Finally, if you hang the ribs rotate the racks at least once. The racks near the exhaust stack will over smoke otherwise.

The Bronco is a great cooker. You’ll love it.

[mrichie1229]

Welcome x_30day_58309_Frank M!