What should be my next PBC?

[tlfillingim]

OK. I know all questions of this type always can be answered, "It depends."

For the past 3 years, I've been saying "this is probably the last cook" on my 2014 PBC because the bottom is rusted out and I've put a plate steel circle in the bottom. One day the stand is just going to come through the bottom and that'll be the end.

So, I'm thinking of what I do when it is finally time to replace my PBC. To me, the PBC is mostly a chicken & ribs cooker. For pork shoulder and brisket, I use my Weber 26" with a SNS. But the PBC does so well with ribs & chicken that it is worth it to replace. Given that, I feel like I have 4 viable options:
1. Buy another PBC original. Stick with what I know works.
2. Get a PBC Junior. I rarely do more than 4 racks of ribs or 2 whole chickens at once. And a PBCJr would be easier to take to football tailgates.
3. Get a PBX. If I'm buying a PBC Original, it isn't that much more money for a PBX. This is probably way overkill for me, but bigger is always better, right?
4. Get a WSM. I've always wanted to try a Smoky Mountain. I can get an insert to hang ribs from and (probably) do what a PBC will do. A WSM 22 with the insert is probably the most expensive of these options, though.

What are your thoughts? Cost is always a factor, but I'm interested in the positives and negatives of each of these.

[au4stree]

Having owned an original PBC and a WSM22, one of the benefits I liked was that taking the sections apart to clean was handy. Cleaning the PBC can be somewhat cumbersome when compared to the WSM. All that said, I ditched the WSM cuz I found myself always cooking on my PBC, no matter the protein. I guess I just stayed with what I knew and was comfortable with. I did have the hanging apparatus for my WSM and I turned out some good eats, but just like my original PBC.

[au4stree]

Clean out the ash and what not. I ain’t talking about spic and span the thing

[fzxdoc]

Cumbersome??? Before each cook I put a double layer of heavy duty aluminum foil in the bottom of the barrel. I shape it by laying the sheets on top of the barrel and making an impression of the barrel rim on them. Then I just fold along those rim impressions to shape the foil sheets to fit the bottom perfectly.

When the ashes have cooled, I take out the rebars, shake the basket to dislodge stuff, set it aside, and then reach in to enclose the ash in the foil. Wrap and toss. Done.

Kathryn

[fzxdoc]

...continued from the previous comment:

P.S. I don't use an ash catcher with my PBC. It trapped grease underneath (between its underside and the barrel bottom) whenever I smoked a brisket or pork butt, so I still had to clean the grease out of the bottom of the barrel. Yuck. I took it off. Haven't used it since.

The double layer of aluminum foil, shaped to fit the bottom of the barrel works so perfectly that I'd never go back to that darn ash catcher.

Kathryn

[Purc]

Well.... I considered both the PBC and the WSM and ended up with the OKJ Bronco. Love the Bronco. I just hung a rack of ribs and smoked a pork butt at the same time this past Sunday. Uncle Bob Panhead John and others convinced me on the Bronco. Also are pictures of the OKJ Triple Grate and an older photo of smoking 2 racks of ribs, a pork butt and several full chicken wings. Also by turning the deflector plate upside down, the Bronco can be used as a grill.

[jfmorris]

Except he won't be able to haul that anywhere for tailgating, which sounds to be a requirement...

[tlfillingim]

Tailgating was really just a nice-to-have. Not really a requirement. I'm adding the Bronco to my list. I'll check it out. Thanks!

[Troutman]

Nice looking rack of ribs partner 👍

[Steve R.]

I'm a happy Oklahoma Joe's Bronco Pro owner who has previously owned a PBC, PBC Jr. and WSM 22". Given what you said about actual capacity needed and mobility, the PBC Jr. seems like the right call.

If being able to easily haul it around was not a factor, I'd go with the Bronco (It wasn't, so I did).

[tlfillingim]

I'm unfamiliar with the Bronco. I'll check it out.

[Spinaker]

I think I would get the PBC Jr. That is all your need. The PBX is huge and really only needed for large cooks. If you only do about 4 racks at a time, I would pull the trigger not he Jr.

The PBC is simple, and that is what I really like about it. . Just the rods, a basket and some hooks. You dont have all those swinging bars, grates and plates. While the WSM is a great rig, I tend to get annoyed with the sections. (Bottom, mid-section and top)

In the future, make sure to clean the ash out of your PBC after cooks. This will go a long way in prolonging the life of the barrel. Ash is corrosive.

[tlfillingim]

Yep. I'll have an ash pan from the beginning on this one.

[Alan Brice]

A dbl layer of heavy duty foil works just fine and saves the bucks.

[Jessterr]

tlfillingim, if you do get a replacement PBC with the ash pan, I highly recommend not storing it with the ash pan sitting in the bottom. That’s how rusting got started on mine, condensation takes place and the water becomes trapped between the barrel and the ash pan. Perfect recipe for corrosion, especially in places with high humidity, like here in Myrtle Beach and where you are in Mississippi.

[jfmorris]

If you want to take this tailgating, I would stick with a PBC of some sort for sure. WSM is too many pieces that won't stay together in your trunk or back of your pickup, and the Bronco is too heavy to tailgate with. For the same reason, that PBX is a *LOT* bigger than the PBC you have been using, and will take up more tailgating space. And use more fuel...

So that puts it in my mind down to the PBC and PBC Jr... Good luck!

EDIT: it is kinda funny in my mind how for so many years part of the marketing story of the PBC company was that they had tried like 50 barrel sizes and designs to come up with the optimal size and design, and that 18" was the magic size. Then they came out with 14" and 22" barrels years later... . That 22" PBX is pretty much the same size as most UDS smokers...

[tlfillingim]

PBC or PBJ is what I was originally considering. I'll likely go the PBJ route. If I need more capacity I can buy something bigger later, right?

[RobertC]

The claim that 18" was the best size always seemed to me to be post hoc marketing rationalization--so it made me question all other claims. Then they brought out other sizes, and that just reinforced my scepticism.

[jfmorris]

RobertC I think the PBC does a great job - and the "vertical rotisserie" claims and such are all well and good, but I think the barrel shape and hanging on hooks will work about the same for any size barrel. What probably matters most is the air flow and fire size - so I am sure they had to work out the venting and such.

[J-Melt]

I concur with most here that OJB is best if mobility is not a need. PBC Jr. sounds like a winner for only ribs and chicken.

[Kascon11]

If I had to replace my PBC, I would be considering this.

https://badgerbarrel.com/

[tlfillingim]

I feel like I heard about the BB a while back. After watching a few YouTube videos, I think I'll put it on my options list. Can't beat the price!

[BFlynn]

If fzxdoc switches away from a PBC, I'll consider it.

Until then, I'm committed to this barrel.

It does everything I need it to do .... And a bunch of stuff I haven't even gotten around to

Pbc pastrami is the BEST pastrami

[fzxdoc]

I'm not going anywhere, BFlynn , and neither is Pretty Baby, my PBC. She's in it for the long haul, looks like, unless she gets hit by lightning or something like that.

K.

[tlfillingim]

I haven't looked at the OKJ Bronco. I'll add that to my list.

Tailgating is just a nice extra on the PBJ. If I'm going to smoke for a tailgate, I usually do the ribs at home on the PBC, wrap in foil about an hour before they are done, refrigerate and reheat on a grill at the tailgate. But a PBJ might be nice for chicken done at the tailgate start to finish.

I have a neighbor with a PBJ and another neighbor with the WSM22. I'm going to test them both out in person before I buy something.

[Uncle Bob]

look at the Badger in the above comment. It's 16" so is slightly bigger than PBJ, and (imo) has better features. It's short of all the features a Bronco has included (better temp management, side shelf, lid gasket, domed lid, ash pan, wheels, temp gauge, etc.) but it's very affordable right now as Amazon has it on sale at $200. To me, the domed lid alone makes it better than a regular PB.

[Michael_in_TX]

If I had to replace my PBC, I would be considering this.

https://badgerbarrel.com/

I had totally forgotten about this. It is some weird marketing, to be sure....but there are some nice things about it, primarily the price, which right now is $200 with free shipping. That is a steal for a barrel-style smoker!

(For those not familiar with this, it is make by Noah's company so it is a PBC product.)

Some things I noticed:

• It's 16" and not 18" like the PBC.
• Seems powder-coated rather than porcelain.
• The rack seems versatile, yet a bit crowded.
• It looks like you can easily lift off the top portion to add fuel, unlike a traditional PBC.
• It may be top vented only. (The vents are those jalapeño shaped things which are covered by a sliding mechanism. I don't see any bottom vents, but it would be weird not to have them.)

[hoovarmin]

I'm in the PBC Jr. camp, based on what you have said about mobility and size of your typical cook. Hmmm, maybe I need one of those?

[PNWsmoke]

I recently bought the PBX on sale and have cooked pork belly on the grate .
Another separate cook 2 beef rib racks, 1 pork butt on hooks then chicken breasts on grate.
I have PBC and the PBX seems more finicky to me. ymmv
I will probably gift the PBX.

[Duanessmokedmeats]

Sorry to hear about your PBX.
I have 2 and the one runs @270- 290, now that it is seasoned. The other runs hotter, due to it being damaged during shipping (the other PBX is its replacement), it has been my dedicated chicken and turkey cooker.

[Troutman]

I’m still a big fan of the WSM. Most barrel cooks tend to be just that, converted painted steel barrels . The porcelain on the WSM has withstood the test of time for me, 6 years and no sign of quitting. Tons of after market add ons. Pay $200 now and replace it in 3 years or pay more and have it last a bunch longer. Just sayin’

[tlfillingim]

I'm a fan of Weber kettles for that very reason. But my PBC has lasted nearly 10 years even though I didn't really take care of it.

[jfmorris]

I'll second the finish on most Weber grills is top notch. My old 2002 Genesis looks great for the lid. The cast aluminum firebox has been repainted several times, but that porcelain lid is still nice and shiny, as is the body on my 2007 Performer, and the 1997 Weber kettle I gave away a couple of years back. I would imagine a WSM will last 20+ years if you just halfway take care of it.

[Duanessmokedmeats]

I vote for the PBC. You can still do small cooks, but if you have company you can do a little more.

[BFlynn]

If youve put a steel plate in the bottom, it's gonna keep running for a while. I put a 1/4 inch steel plate to replace the bottom of mine.


Not sure which PBC to get, but definitely get another.
Skip the WSM.
There's nothing wrong with them but everytime I use my dad's WSM..... I just miss my PBC.

pbc
Pbc
PBC!!!