Rolling base and vent mods added to my PBC

[New2Cue]

So I went ahead and bought a rolling base and a vent mod for the lid of my PBC. All I can say is that they make life much easier.

For the rolling base, it's a bit of a pain to lug the barrel in and out of my garage for cooks. My back thanked me this weekend for rolling it around instead.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZC9MDN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also bought this vent for the lid. For years I've had problems with the PBC crashing in temps and would have to crack the lid for a few minutes, then run back outside to close it before temps got away from me, and repeat a dozen times over the cook. I installed this easily this morning (just needed a step drill bit), open the vent a bit and temps were steady over the course of the cook.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/574076426/uds-ugly-drum-smoker-bbq-smoker-exhaust?ref=yr_purchases

Not sure why PBC won't offer these mods as options (they seemed to pooh-pooh my idea when I posted them as recommendations a year or so ago). Anyway, just thought I'd share as I was considering selling my PBC and upgrading to a Hunsaker or Gateway because they had wheeled bases and vents. These relatively inexpensive mods mean that I can stick with the PBC a few more years instead.

[RonB]

Congrats on getting the PBC set up the way you want it.

[mountainsmoker]

Good for you.

[JimLinebarger]

Nice mods. Built my dolly outta wood. It works, but that dolly is nice and doesn't take up as much space.

[Jerod Broussard]

I was just rolling mine around to make a path from the pellet to the gasser.

[fzxdoc]

I bought that same dolly a month or so ago and am really happy with it. Makes pulling the PBC away from the house so much easier. Still haven't gone the lid vent route. Did you place the vent about halfway between the handle and the rim?

Kathryn

[HawkerXP]

I was thinking of doing something similar.

[HawkerXP]

Here is what a friend in Ga did with his.

[ColonialDawg]

Nice

[TheQuietOne]

That is brilliant!

[AverageJoe]

Outstanding. Looks like a cart might be in my future purchase list

[LA Pork Butt]

Necessity is the mother of invention. Good job to all posting solutions.

[au4stree]

Where did you install your vent?

[New2Cue]

I bought that same dolly a month or so ago and am really happy with it. Makes pulling the PBC away from the house so much easier. Still haven't gone the lid vent route. Did you place the vent about halfway between the handle and the rim?

Kathryn

Yep right in between. Plenty of space. Only thing I would say is check the template versus the vent. I used masking tape to hold the template down, then used a spring loaded punch to mark the center. But, the holes seemed slightly off once drilled. Could be that the step drill bit wandered a bit, but overall they were fairly in line. I doubt I would ever have the vent fully open anyway, I just wanted a little extra airflow at top to stop coals from dying.

[ColonialDawg]

My remark was meant as tongue in cheek. Sorry if it came across differently.

[phoccer]

I've only used my PitmasterIQ 110 on my PBC for two cooks but it worked perfectly. Almost felt like cheating.

[fzxdoc]

Oops, sorry, ColonialDawg , for reading your comment too literally. If only we could make our comments sound bites sometimes!

Glad to hear that there don't seem to be problems with adding a controller to the PBC. I'm sidling up to doing that just to see what all the enthusiasm is about, as much as anything else.

Kathryn

[New2Cue]

Where did you install your vent?

Midway between handle and lip. Plenty of space.

[OmegaDog12]

I got this also and haven't installed it yet. Between the handles and lip on the side or the top? How big did you drill the holes? Thanks!

[New2Cue]

OmegaDog12 - I'm a little confused by your question. I installed the vent on the lid, not on the barrel. The vent is completely flat, so there is no way you can install this on the barrel.

[ColonialDawg]

Rolling base. Genius.

[Mark V]

I have figured to get something like this, some straps through the handles (no heat problem) for stability. Big wheels to handle uneven pavement, etc. Minimal effort.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200737627_200737627

[New2Cue]

Does this picture better explain what I did?

[OmegaDog12]

Thanks much!!
The OmegaDog

[ColonialDawg]

I just added a vent on my PBC this past weekend and love it.

I also bought a rolling base and so glad a did. Best $30 I’ve spent.