Bronco vs WSM

[Mister C]

I'm looking at adding a fairly compact smoker to the lineup and I'm sure either of these two bullets would do a very good job filling my needs.

The advantages I can see for the WSM (18") are that it's been around for ages and it has a longer warranty. Also I can find the WSM down here easily, a Bronco would have to be imported. From that standpoint the choice would be easy, but functionally it just seems the Bronco has way more going for it - especially the 2.0...

- Fuel supply access is way more convenient
- Vents are easier to access and manage
- Appears a lot tighter in terms of leaking
- Hinged Lid
- Wheels
- Storage for hooks and grates etc.
- Build quality overall looks more solid

Probably missing a thing or two, but given they price pretty close, it's surprising that the Bronco has all these apparent advantages. Sure I could get the WSM to match up close feature wise with mods, but then that will blow the price way out. At that point a Bronco + import fees would probably cost about the same, maybe even a little less.

I poked around on the site and haven't seen any conversations around this comparison, which seems odd and makes me think I've missed something for sure. I'm genuinely curious why you might have picked the one you did. Thanks for your thoughts, keep it friendly! 😉 Cheers

[Richard Chrz]

I can only speak for wsm, and i only had the 22. It’s an awesome smoker and can lock in on temp so easy,

with that being said, it needs some cleaning after and between cooks. I dont know the dimensions of the other, if its me, i want a 22 wsm, not the 18. I also do not want a 18 kettle for same reasons. I want space on a smoker, the 22 is a beast, but maybe more than you are looking for...

[Mister C]

Thanks, I am pretty sure the Bronco is an 18", and I'd probably do same size with the WSM. I'd be happy with a WSM even though I kind of wanted something with a few more features out of the box. The Bronco seems to have several of those that I'd want, plus the new fire box access seems super handy. Sort of tilted things towards maybe being worth the importation hassle.

I have read a lot about WSM's excellent temp management, not much about the Bronco's to be fair.

[J-Melt]

I LOVE my 18” Bronco! You can also get it in 22”, which is better if you want the higher capacity.

It is really good at temperature control and you get the built in hanging capability like the PBC.

[Mister C]

Thanks, I didn't see the two sizes. Is that the difference between the regular and the pro?

Curious, have you got the new model from a year or so ago, or the previous one?

[J-Melt]

The Pro is 22” while the normal one is 18”. I have the older one and have had it for 3 years. I have seen the new version, but never used it.

[Panhead John]

Mister C I have owned a OKJ Bronco and a WSM in the past. My Bronco was the 1st version, not the current 2.0 and my WSM was the small one. While OKJ still has their 22” Bronco Pro, it’s not the newer 2.0 version the 18” is….so you wouldn’t get all the newest features with the Bronco Pro. I can say this, the Bronco is built like a tank and holds temps better than any smoker or grill I’ve had. Once you get your cooking temps where you want it, very little adjustments need to be made. One of the features the Bronco has over the WSM is you can grill on the Bronco also, and hang meat in it without buying extra parts like you would with the WSM. The WSM is a great smoker too, lots of people here have em and love them. You really couldn’t go wrong with either one but, with all the features the Bronco has over the other drum/bullet smokers…..I’d take the Bronco all day long.

[Mister C]

Thanks for all of that. good news for me as I don't need the larger chamber. Surprising they upgraded the base model first!

Looks like they will both grill, they take a similar amount of jiggering to raise the charcoal basket / ring up a level. I really like this feature in general.

[Panhead John]

Another thing the Bronco has that I like is the shelves! You don’t know how much you appreciate them until you don’t have em. When I had the WSM I had to drag a table out by it when using, kind of a pain.

[Mister C]

Agree. I think my biggest gripe with the WSM is the price. It's basically a tall kettle, built like a kettle, but costs the price of almost 3 kettles. I don't mind the build of the regular kettle, I've got two, but I'm a little salty that they didn't increase the value proposition on the WSM.

They know what they have, a great cooker with a huge following. I may become one of them! We'll see what OKJ says about shipping first, then I'll have an actual decision to make. Thanks for your input!

[Purc]

+1 on the Bronco. I too considered the WSM but on the advice of The Pit, I got the Bronco. Love it. Here are pics with the OKJ Triple Grate accessory.

[Mister C]

That is a very impressive spread. Thanks for your thoughts!

[DTro]

I have the first version 18-inch Bronco and have been using it since 2021. With all the features listed above and the rock solid temperatures it holds, the Bronco would be my vote. However, I have never used a WSM and it would be nice to hear from someone who has purchased the new Bronco version. I would like to know how well the new fire access door works and if there are any air leaks. The access door is a nice feature, but I have never I really needed access to the coals once the fire is rolling. If packed properly you can get a burn for 14 or more hours.

[Panhead John]

Mister C Just curious, if you go with the Bronco have you been able to see how much shipping and import fees would be on it?

[DTro]

Mister C - PJ makes a good point there. You are not going to go wrong with either cooker. Time and cost may play significantly in your decision. Though the options a Bronco offer weigh heavily in its favor.

[Mister C]

Panhead John I am going to ask them if they're willing to ship it, but generally it can add about 25-30% to the total. I don't have an import/export contact down here but I have a service in Texas that does smaller things for me. Haven't asked them yet.

[HawkerXP]

PBJ, PBC, PBX!

come on, you knew it was coming..

[Mister C]

😂 of course

[Sid P]

Have you looked at HomeDepot.Com? They show 300+ in stock online. If they’re willing I bet they could get it to you for less than Oklahoma Joe’s.

[Mister C]

I'll bet they could, unfortunately I'm ordering from Mexico. Home Depots down here don't carry the same stock.

[Sid P]

I only mentioned it because they don’t stock them up here, either.

[Murdy]

I have a first generation, 18 inch Bronco and really like it. It holds a steady temp very well.

[Mister C]

Thanks, that does seem to be the general consensus around here. Apparently the 2nd gen changed the lid to more of a dome, which I think detracts a bit from the look, but they say it generates better airflow and more flavor.

[yakima]

It looks like you are some distance from the US border. But, is it possible to drive to USA, buy cooker, ad bring it back in duty free? Combine a vacation road trip with an acquisition.

[Mister C]

It's a plenty good idea, but yeah I'm about 11 hours by car. And I don't own a car. 😅

[Uncle Bob]

I've worked with all three; OJB, PBC, and the WSM. If you need easy portability the WSM or PBC has the advantage because either are made from lighter/thinner material (unless you count the concrete block to hold the PBC lid down ). They enjoy a big part of their popularity to either cult following or brand recognition, not critical comparison. After that neither of them give the versatility and ease of use of the Bronco. Even the early version of the Bronco without the side door has more setup options and flexibility in configuration. While I agree that the side door has marginal value for in cook refueling, I can imagine it also makes cleanup of the bottom of the cooker easier than reaching down into a fixed barrel.