Need to go bigger....so says the wife!

[crannells]

okay, currently I am running three basic masterbuilt gas smokers and have gotten to the point even the wife is saying I need to go bigger. Cut my teeth learning the basics of smokin while in Memphis for 20 years but now back home in San Diego and have gone from smoking for friends to doing a little catering on the side. Did 25 racks Saturday along with sides but just taking "to long". Having to work out deliveries with limited space is getting old. Tough to get decent wood out here without paying an arm and a leg so thinkin I’ll stick to gas and chips but does anyone know what’s the biggest out there and or anyone making them? Thanks for any info or ideas!

[Mr. Bones]

Reckon, in my experience, wives are never wrong, so have fun shoppin!
I don't know doodly squat bout gas cookers, but others here will doubtless help ya out.

[JimLinebarger]

Looking at the reviews on this site and there is a HUGE gap between the "large" gas smokers and the EXTRA large. The "large" is at most 1200sq" for under $400 to the next size that was reviewed which is 7560sq" for $18,000 (can use propane gas, charcoal, Natural gas, or logs). You should be able to get charcoal easily and there are places like Vaughn's Wood Products that sells chunks at very reasonable prices. If you keep the current gas models while you learn the charcoal method it should help with the demand and the learning curve. If you go charcoal/wood chunks, your options would be much greater. You can use charcoal in offset smokers also and if you can get wood then you are set. Or all of the other charcoal options. You need to know what your volume will be, and your budget, and what you would be cooking and then start looking at the reviews here on AmazingRibs for a smoker that will meet your needs. The request for gas smokers is limited even when doing a Google search. Charcoal will give you more options than you can shake a stick at. (A number of Pit Barrel Cookers would do lots of chicken, ribs, and a couple of briskets per cooker. But they would take up space and then there are the accessories like leave in probes and such.)

[Jared]

Full disclosure, I am the President and a shareholder at Southern Pride. Three factors that weigh heavily on a smoker purchase are budget, capacity needs, and available space. Our SC-300 ($9,495) is an electric smoker that burns wood chips for flavor. Our SRG-400 ($15,495) is a gas smoker that burns wood logs for flavor. Both provide a lot of capacity in a small footprint. Ventilation is one of the biggest challenges regardless of the smoker. We have a distributor in Costa Mesa, CA that can further assist you. We can connect you with them by filling out the distributor locator on southernpride.com Our competitors are Ole Hickory, Cookshack, and J&R Manufacturing. I trust that a mediator will let me know if this reply is frowned upon. Good luck!

[HouseHomey]

That first cooker is a workhorse! Used that one a bunch. Post seems fair to me. Full disclosure, no one listens to me.

[gcdmd]

I hope they leave your post up. Your full disclosure is appreciated, and you are responding to another member's question with a direct and targeted answer, not initiating a commercial thread on a non-commercial board. Besides, there's a good chance that you know a thing or two about it.

[mrteddyprincess]

I just ate at Trax BBQ in McCordsville, Indiana on Sunday. Ribs, pulled pork, and brisket were absolutely delicious. And sitting right out in front of the place was a Southern Pride! Great product!

[LA Pork Butt]

You are the envy of every guy in the Pit - a wife with MCS!

[Troutman]

You know all of this depends on what your budget is and how serious you are about catering. If spending $10k is in your plans then you need to look at some serious cookers similar to the Southern Pride units above. Shy of that; however, I'd consider a big vertical cabinet smoker. They burn charcoal and wood chunks which are available almost universally these days. A large model would set you back around $3500 or so and have the capacity you're looking for. Again a little more info on what exactly you're willing to spend would narrow it down. Good luck, I'd love to be in your shoes !!

[JimLinebarger]

I have been looking at Smoke Daddy pellet grills, especially the cabinet smoker (2304sq. in). I have also been looking at their pellet hoppers to convert my gas vertical cabinet smoker. We trying to check out reviews and found out that Gator Pit has converted 3 of their models to include pellets using Smoke Daddy's pellet hoppers.