Kbq or pellet smoker what should i buy

[ComfortablyNumb]

king kielbasa As to hanging, you could put dowels. Or you could just put one rack in the top slot and hang from it.

[king kielbasa]

Spinaker spinaker whats up man love your posts of the kbq good job man. If you had to choose one smoker would it be a kbq or pellet smoker?? Yeah i will probably be using the grill fur shure anyway but then i saw the son of hibachi what do you think son of hibachi or sportsman lodge. the sportsman will fitprobably perfect for the kbq fire box. not really going to camping and using the cast iron charcoal grill portable so i think maybe the sportsman would be beter. what do you think?

[Spinaker]

I would take the KBQ and a YS 640. That is what I decide between. Ultimately, I went with flavor over convenience. And I think the Sportsmans Grill is a great fit.

[hogdog6]

king kielbasa Welcome! I own a KBQ and have friends with pellets. In IMHO, the flavor and bark is just as different as the way you run the two cookers and in my world hands down the KBQ flavor and color wins every time. However I still enjoy meat cooked in a pellet cooker and do see the allure due to pure convenience.
I hang 2 chickens from a rack slid into to the top slot and it works great. Also I have both the sportsman and KBQ grill either one works great for grilling on top of the fire. ("Love me some fire grilled meat snacks while cooking meat"). Based on your above responses you’re a perfect candidate for a KBQ. Like has been said above be sure and check out the "KBQ has landed" thread it has a huge array of info with excellent photos. It is what caused me to feed my MCS and purchase one.
You’ve received great information from those who’ve chimed in and we look forward too your decision (with pic of course).

[EdF]

For me, that thread was just reinforcement of something I'd decided, but hadn't committed to yet. Strong reinforcement, though!

[king kielbasa]

hogdog6 i read the kbq has landed 89 page post about over and over addicted to that thing haha. In one of your post you said your food came out dry you think that was the kbq fault or maybe you just held the meat on to long? In terms of jucyiness what wins kbq or pellet cooker? Also a 35 pound bad of cowboy hardwood lump charcoal is about 20 bucks at costco right now

[hogdog6]

The dryness was my mistake not the fault of the cooker, in most cases my KBQ cooks are not dry at all.

[vandy]

I say get both, but that's just me.

[king kielbasa]

Spinaker You would take both haha i dont have money for both . its 1500 bucks that a lot of money for me to drop for me right now and always second guess my decisions and i am indecisive lol. Looks like its the kbq i hope i am making the right decision and will be happy . i mean i after you said the sportsman lodge grate was better grate for searing i went out to my local Walmart and they had it for 86 bucks and bought it

[king kielbasa]

vandy its one or the other

[EdF]

Just do it. You most likely won't regret it. And if for some reason you do, they have good resale value.

[vandy]

I understand but I would be torn like you are right now!

[BBQ_Bill]

Welcome to The Pit king kielbasa
I was so close to buying a pellet smoker that I could "feel" the pellets running thru my fingers!
My brother-in-law bought a very nice one, and my brother followed suit.
The meats they produced were great, but all agreed that my years of experience with off-sets produced a better flavored product.
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I basically "stumbled" across a KBQ when trying to decide which high-dollar pellet smoker to purchase.
Did not even hesitate, due to knowing that I wanted that "Thin Blue Smoke" real wood flavor that great hardwoods can bring if you are a true Pit Master.
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"Smoke brisket that tastes like Aaron Franklin's" was what sold me.
I believe that I am there at this point in time, I really do.
When customers and family DEMANDED more meat than I could smoke in one KBQ, I did not even blink...
I bought a second KBQ.
If I get to the point to where I once again cannot keep up with demand, I will buy a KBQ-400.
Pellet grill?
No way man.
I LIKE feeding these smokers and LUV the looks on the faces of those that partake of my products.
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Smoke On!

[lostclusters]

Me too. +1

[hogdog6]

BBQ_Bill Is right on. Also I’m looking forward to amping up my brisket by incorporating his techniques this summer.

[lostclusters]

hogdog6 i read the kbq has landed 89 page post about over and over addicted to that thing haha. In one of your post you said your food came out dry you think that was the kbq fault or maybe you just held the meat on to long? In terms of jucyiness what wins kbq or pellet cooker? Also a 35 pound bad of cowboy hardwood lump charcoal is about 20 bucks at costco right now

You can dry out anything you are cooking on any cooker. Cooking temperature too high, no water pan, no spritzing, or any combination of all of that. Pellet smokers are great set it and forget it cookers making long cooks easy, but have a limited or light smoke profile. The kbq smoke profile is adjustable from light as a pellet smoker to as heavy as you want it but you have to tend it every 20 minutes or so. That is not for everyone considering a 12 hour cook. Every cooker has a learning curve, the kbq is no different. The kbq makes most of the fire management a non-issue by doing most of it for you. There is still some trial and error. So long as you progress gradually the worse you will suffer is not enough smoke flavor. You will need to gain experience with what ever you get.

I think most folks here will agree that everyone who takes their cooking seriously needs a set it and forget it cooker (for me that is a wsm 22.5") and a good stick burner (for me that is a kbq).

[hogdog6]

lostclusters is exactly right. The learning curve for any cooker is there, and I have and will screw up a few cooks. However the learning curve on the KBQ is relatively easy and "holy brisket" the flavors are fantastic. I too have a couple what I call set and forget pits, a KJ Classic and a Pit Barrell Cooker when I don’t have the time to tend I do like having the options but my 1st choice always is the KBQ. king kielbasa I’m confident you won’t be disappointed.

[king kielbasa]

hogdog6 BBQ_Bill lostclusters ComfortablyNumb Spinaker Huskee and everyone else i did not metion who helped me in this thread you guys are right . i dont mind tending the fire its actually fun but i know on long cooks it can be a pain. but sometimes you have to put the effort in to make a great piece of smoked meat. Trust me on my smoke house some times i walk out every 15 min cause the temp is out of control so the kbq will be a lot easier. It is done i am buying a KBQ thank you guys so much. needed the little nudge and really great help from you all.

[Spinaker]

Oh yeah!!! Welcome to the family! Tell Bill we said Hi!

[lostclusters]

You are welcome

[king kielbasa]

BBQ_Bill Are you the one that sells the mod for the kbq on ebay with the door handles mod if so i am buying one and thanks again for the help!!!

[hogdog6]

The handles and door kit from BBQ_Bill are a great mod. Congrats on the decision. Looking forward to pics of your cooks.

[BBQ_Bill]

Yes king kielbasa I sell a KBQ Door Kit that modifies it, changing the opening and closing, angle of resting when open, and removal. Also happy to help and you are most welcome.

[holehogg]

I had a feeling that's what you were going to settle for. ENJOY and keep us up to speed.

[DWCowles]

Congrats!

[Oakgrovebacon]

Welcome to the pit from Southern Illinois. Good choice! Enjoy!