Thinking About Keeping My PBC — Looking for Input from Long-Time Users

[Paul_H]

I've had my Pit Barrel Cooker for a while now and recently added a Hunsaker Vortex 55-gallon drum smoker to the lineup. I also have a Weber Kettle with the usual accessories (Vortex, Slow 'N Sear, etc.). I originally planned to sell the PBC once the Hunsaker arrived, but I’ve had little luck moving it — and now I’m starting to reconsider.

I’m curious to hear from long-time or former PBC users:

• What (if anything) does the PBC do better than your other cookers?
• Have you found it still has a role after upgrading to a larger drum or cabinet smoker?
• Are there specific cooks (chicken, ribs, smaller pork shoulders) where the PBC still earns its keep?
• If you moved on from the PBC, do you miss anything about it?

I love how easy the PBC is to run — light it, hang some meat, walk away — but now that I have the Hunsaker with controllable airflow and a Billows controller, I’m not sure if the PBC is worth keeping around or just redundant at this point.

Any insight from folks who've walked this path would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance,
Paul

[LA Pork Butt]

I am guessing that major advantage to keeping the PBC as to relying on the Hunsaker Vortex 55-gallon would be the size advantage for smaller cooks. I can’t think of any other advantage.

[jfmorris]

Yeah - I see the main advantage of the PBC being portability, if you need to smoke or even grill something away from home.

[Huskee]

What they said ^, plus extra capacity if you need two cookers for a party or something you're asked to cook for. Plus, well, more cookers, which gets you more bonus points of course.

[mrichie1229]

I agree!

[Paul_H]

That all makes sense. I don't think anyone has ever complained about too much capacity. Now to convince the finance director.

[Duanessmokedmeats]

I would miss my PBC and PBXs.
Ease of cleaning.
Ease of smoking.
Great tasting food.
Etc.....

[dpearce]

I personally would keep it. It would be nice, as Huskee said, to have the extra cooking capacity, if it's ever needed.

[TripleB]

My PBC has a place in my smoker/grill stable. And yes, I have quite a few pieces of equipment. Some are never used anymore and I lend them out to friends.

But my PBC is my Pork Butt smoker. That is the only thing I use it for anymore.

[Spinaker]

I use mine a few times a year. It is fantastic for big events. The resale was not worth the convenience of having a big cooker to rely on. I do not use it much, but it is worth it for me to keep around.

[Paul_H]

Thanks everyone. I'm already planning on how to use both smokers for 4th of July. I want to cook pulled pork and some ribs, and with the Hunsaker and PBC I can easily dedicate one to each cook. And to Spinaker's point, I think by the time I got the price low enough to sell, it would not be worth it.

[Spinaker]

Yep hang on to it. Use it when you need it and keep it in good shape. I had a friend that was looking for a smoker and I ended up selling him one of my old ones.

[xaugievike]

I got rid of mine a few years ago and I regret it.

[BKYDBBQ]

If you were in Virginia I would say sell it and only post it for sale here, I have a "friend" that might be interested...

But since you aren't in Va I would agree with what others have said - Keep It...

[Alan Brice]

She was my first.

[TomfromtheSoo]

This made me laugh. There’s always a special connection to “my first”.

[RichieB]

I'd keep it. I use exclusively for ribs, butts, and like hanging chicken. Hey, you alright bought it, keep it.

[Livermoron]

The only reason I gave up my PBC was to get the PBX. It's been a workhorse. I have a few cookers but if I ever ended up with a smaller patio and told to trim down to 2 cookers I would keep the weber kettle and the PBX.

(Don't tell the others...)