Recommendations for PBC improvements

[New2Cue]

I posted this as part of another thread, but as a happy PBC owner for the past three or so years, just wanted to pass along a few recommendations for improvements/options for the PBC:

1. Offering a stand that has caster wheels. It's a pain for me to have to lift it to move it out of my garage on cooks, and so a stand on wheels would be very nice.

2. Adding a second rack lower in the unit. Not sure if there's a reason why the PBC only has one rack level, but I think a lower rack would add to the versatility considerably.

3. Add a damper to the lid. I'm sure it's user error on my part, but I have a lot of issues maintaining temp stability in my unit. Adding a damper to the lid would help with not having to crack the lid, then run back outside before temps got way too hot, and repeat multiple times on cooks. Sometimes I'll leave one rebar out of one or both holes, but then you lose hanging space. Would be much cheaper than buying a DigiQ or similar device.

All these are mods I've seen others make, but for me I'd feel more comfortable buying them as factory installed options than buying the tools, etc. to do it myself.

Anyway, I love my PBC and just wanted to pass this list along in case Noah reads these boards

[tdimond]

Pit Barrel Cooker Co. has an account, so it's worth tagging them.

[Steve R.]

I don't disagree with any of those recommendations, but I think they are better as mods than as standard features. As it is, the PBC's appeal to a lot of people is its simplicity and relatively low price, and adding a lot of bells and whistles would change that. Just one man's opinion, and I sold my PBC several months ago, so take it for what it's worth.

[TBoneJack]

I have a PBC and love it. The only difference I'l like to see is a better design for the air intake.

The current design has a screw (that strips easily; just ask me), and can easily get knocked out of place while moving it around.

[fzxdoc]

I don't disagree with any of those recommendations, but I think they are better as mods than as standard features. As it is, the PBC's appeal to a lot of people is its simplicity and relatively low price, and adding a lot of bells and whistles would change that. Just one man's opinion, and I sold my PBC several months ago, so take it for what it's worth.

They could offer them as accessories--optional barrel stand with wheels, optional lid with damper, sturdy stand for fire basket to move it closer to the grate.

Kathryn

[aladdin4d]

Well it's a moot point since you already sold it but I think I would look at something like this instead of a planter caddy.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DD6B9/ref=s9_acsd_top_hd_bw_b2Jjc_c_x_4_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-3&pf_rd_r=BFCXG3V4D1DST4E69CQ1&pf_rd_r=BFCXG3V4D1DST4E69CQ1&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=ec01ab51-389b-5483-86d5-d578bc56f3c1&pf_rd_p=ec01ab51-389b-5483

[jecucolo]

Love the idea of a stand in the pbc to raise the charcoal basket ! On the hunt!

[fzxdoc]

jecucolo I raise the basket by setting it on two lengths of galvanized stovepipe, set side by side, that I got at Lowes. Works fine because the basket sits pretty sturdily on them, especially if you have the ash catcher. If you don't, it still works fine. It's still sort of unwieldy to reach down to the grate to flip burgers with a spatula, but it can be done.

Kathryn

[JimLinebarger]

This is my PBC with PartyQ, roller cart, 2 additional shelves, and top vent:

[JimLinebarger]

tlfillingim I use it to raise the charcoal up.

[tlfillingim]

JimLinebarger Ahh. Makes sense

[Timcee]

Would love to see the inside of that.. JimLinebarger

[jecucolo]

fzxdoc I just purchased a plant stand from Lowe’s. Fits good but not sure how it will hold up to heat. $10 experiment!

[JimLinebarger]

fzxdoc That is a good fix. The only time I have had issues with heat out the bottom was when my pork butt fell off the hook onto the coals (now that's a fire!) or when I used it for grilling porterhouse steaks. Glad I had the cement board underneath or it could have caught the wooden deck on fire.

[GrillinNC]

Please be careful unless you know what material that is made from and whether it has coatings on it. You could be introducing toxic fumes into your food. These items intended for other uses always make me nervous.

[Timcee]

I borrowed this idea (and pics) and had wheels welded on to the plates at the bottom (without the screws like the 2nd pic) .. Best decision ever.. Never have to lift again and very easy to move around..

[hogdog6]

Great idea

[BriggsBBQ]

WSM has all these from the factory just no wheels but Cajun bandit sells them. Plus if you need to reload fuel you can just take the top off.

[surfdog]

I was kinda thinking the same...
I've not owned or used a PBC...but it seems that the simplicity/set-n-forget nature of it is a big selling point. The WSM is an awesome cooker...but it's far from set-n-forget. (At least until one has it dialed in.)

Didn't realize this was an old thread...found it looking for something else. Doh!
We Now Return You To Your Regularly Scheduled Shenanigans.

[New2Cue]

They could offer them as accessories--optional barrel stand with wheels, optional lid with damper, sturdy stand for fire basket to move it closer to the grate.

Kathryn

That's exactly what I meant. These optional accessories would be nice improvements to a cooker that is already great.

[JeffJ]

I disagree with the premise of this thread. the PBC is what it is. It's beauty is it's simplicity and it has plenty of versatility given all of the accessories that are available. It was engineered to cook with the ubiquitous KBB. Simply changing up the variables that are built in (removing 1 or both of the rebars while using the grate, shimming the lid with foil, plugging one or more of the rebar holes, etc, etc) results in a lot of versatility without 'improving' it. Heck, some of the mods that are being suggested basically try to turn it into a WSM. The PBC is a thing of beauty due to its simplicity, ease of use and predictable results. If you want to turn it into a WSM - just buy a WSM.

[jecucolo]

I am sorta in your way of thinking. I have not done any mods just manipulate the some of the variables. I did add the lavalock and have been wondering lately have I created too tight of a seal. The cooker is designed to run without a thermometer to huff and puff it’s way through the cook. Once I became obsessed with temperature that’s when I became concerned about leaks. I love the PBS.

[fzxdoc]

There certainly is something to be said about the "keep it simple" approach, JeffJ and, judging from the PBC folks response to suggestions for options such as these (zero--ask me how I know), that is their approach as well. The PBC runs sweet right out of the box, but that's not to say that some optional accessories wouldn't be nice. Who wouldn't love the convenience of having a stand with wheels, for example, if they're willing to pay for the add-on.

Many of us (diehard or casual) PBC users have made simple modifications (like my putting lengths of galvanized stovepipe under the fire basket to move it closer to the grate for getting a good sear on burgers, steaks, etc.) and some have, like JimLinebarger , customized their PBCs with more invasive mods. To each his/her own. We all want the PBC to function and perform at its best for our own needs. By offering options, the original PBC design wouldn't be touched, but would offer those of us who want a bit more flexibility with the cooks some good ways to go. It would be a win-win for the company, I would think.

Kathryn

[Nate]

I agree that the beauty of this thing is the simplicity. It was designed to just let it do it’s thing without a lot of bells and whistles.

That simplicity is also reflected in the price. People tend to want bells and whistles at a base unit price.

If you start to add all these things it is no longer the original PBC... It turns into something else like a Gateway... which incidentally has all of what you are looking for at a much increased price that reflects those options and conveniences.

[JeffJ]

To be fair, I was looking at this from a personal standpoint. In addition to the PBC I have a 14.5 WSM plus 3 different-sized kettles. So, with one of my other cookers I can achieve the desired outcome without having to mod my PBC. If I only had a PBC and a gasser I probably would look to mod-it-up to maximize what it can do.

[Brookie]

I enjoy the simplicity of the PBC. My only mods so far are: 1 adding a gasket on the lid after spending a year or so slowly spinning the lid a bit to find a good seal. The seal is a nice improvement for less than 20 bucks. And 2: buying two 1/4” steel rods at Lowe’s to replace the 1/2” rebar when I want to run a hotter fire. With the smaller diameter rods the set it and forget it temp is about 400 degrees. Brookie

[jecucolo]

Wow it makes that much of a difference?