Considering PBC purchase

[hoovarmin]

You've received all the info from these wise postmasters you need. All I can add is that when you have a kettle and a barrel, you can do pretty much anything you want, short of smoking a whole pig.

[HawkerXP]

+1

[hoovarmin]

I might also add that it really doesn't matter whether you get a PBC or a Bronco, from what I can tell. The only exception to that is that the Bronco is twice the weight of the PBC. I love to load mine in the back of my truck and take it places and I don't think I could do that with a Bronco. But if that is not an issue for you, either would be great.

[Panhead John]

The Bronco would be mo greater. 🥸

[big_mack]

Panhead John I was checking in on this thread to see if Reds Fan 5 changed his mind and decided to get the Bronco before its too late. Its the better decision from what I learned here at the pit.

[Panhead John]

big_mack I agree. I was gonna wait a bit before I pulled out the big guns, to try and sway him over……😂

[Thomassen]

Using the PBC is a breeze. And I love it for its footprint. I'm smoking two racks of beef baby backs and three racks of Pork Baby Backs as I write. And I have room for more.

[Reds Fan 5]

Thanks for all of your advice. Still not sure which way I will go but the Bronco is now under consideration.

Two additional questions: My cooking space is on a stone patio, any concerns about heat?

Any issues with meat pulling off the hook and falling as it becomes more tender?

[fzxdoc]

Reds Fan 5 , your meat won't fall of the hook if you double serial hook pieces like brisket, chuck roast, ribs and pork butt. To double serial hook you place a hook lower in the meat and then thread a second hook through it into the meat at a high point and hang from that second (higher) hook.

When pork butts hit 160°ish, even though they're double hooked, I move them to the grate. With their high fat content, they soften up a lot at higher temps so I never want to risk a sacrifice to the BBQ gods.

You should be fine on a stone patio, but a barrel does get hot underneath. I cook on a Trex deck; I have a couple of those fiber cement grill mats from Lowe's underneath my PBC plus I slide three or 4 square pavers underneath for long cooks. I have the PBC on a rolling cart for barrels so it sits up a bit higher.

Fiber Cement Grill Mat:



Kathryn

[STEbbq]

These cement mats are excellent (I love mine and it is nearly 8 years old) but impossible to find at HD or Lowes now. I started a thread about them a while back. Someone found one at Amazon but it nearly immediately went out of stock.

[fzxdoc]

STEbbq , I just found some of those cement fiber mats on sale on the Menard's website

https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/grills-outdoor-cooking/grilling-tools/30-x-42-fiber-cement-grill-pad/gp-42/p-1444429240821-c-1461078035988.htm

Kathryn

[STEbbq]

Wow. What do you know? Thanks.

It is too bad it is Mernards which is one of the few stores I absolutely loathe.

[HawkerXP]

I place the PBC on a slate paver when cooking on the grass, nothing underneath when cooking on brick path.

[Purc]

I have the Bronco and Weber MT Kettle. I have recently moved and now I'm on a concrete patio with both and no issues for heat so far. I also have a grill mat under the Weber from when it was on a wooden deck but nothing under the Bronco yet. I have hung ribs and chicken using a single hook and no problems yet. In the Bronco or PBC, you can daisy chain or double hook the meat. In the Bronco, you can put in the deflector plate or a grate over the coals in case the meat does fall off. Not sure on the PBC but I'm sure it's not an issue and they have work arounds as well. Again, I think you would be pleased with either. I love my 3-month-old Bronco. I like that I set it up to smoke on hooks or a grate or with an accessory do both at the same time and also set it up to grill on the top grate. Tomorrow I am smoking 2 pork butts using the grate. Whichever one you purchase, enjoy and don't look back.

[BFlynn]

I'm a bit late to this convo - but my 2 cents -

I love my PBC. I would buy another one tomorrow.

I also have a SnS kettle. I use the SnS kettle more often, just bc I normally am cooking smaller quantities.

​​​​​​They're both grate (pun intended). Having both gives you a ton of flexibility. But I love the PBC more. Please don't tell the SnS i said that. It is also very good.

[Allon]

I’m not so sure. The PBC and Oklahoma Joe’s Bronco are the same price and the Bronco deal at HD includes a cover. Pound for pound, I believe the Bronco is a better deal for the money, IMO.

[Livermoron]

Portability was also a huge thing for me. Most of the time I cook out back, but for block parties I'm able to easily bring the PBC out front. When I cook for friends up the hill, I simply load the PBC up with everything I need and throw it in back. I can go where I need to go and feed a Super Bowl party...

[Reds Fan 5]

Thanks to all of your great advice and a great price offer from a pit member who lives in my area I have added a barely used Bronco to my cooker inventory.

Can’t wait to fire it up. Unfortunately, it is
too windy to attempt a first cook.

[Allon]

Bronco, Bronco, Bronco!

Your gonna love it. I have just a couple cooks on mine...

[Finster]

Congrats on the new cooker.
enjoy it in good health