Oklahoma Joe smoker $139

[DWCowles]

What's up with the low price on these at Walmart?

[Huskee]

Dang, that's almost getting down into the realms of 'might as well try it'...

[Nate]

or oh... well of course I could always us a backup at that price!

[Nate]

Don't tell Dan Johnston! Sorry Dan couldn't help it.

That doesn't even say "rollback" or "clearance" ... it is just "everyday low prices"

[Huskee]

Ouch, yeah

[Danjohnston949]

Nate, Huskee, If Wally wasn't on my Do Not Frequent List, I would Buy One at that Price Just to Tape Targets On Just
to Sight in My Deer Rifle! From a Backyard Cremator in Fargo ND, Dan

[DWCowles]

I'm tempted on getting one just to play with.

[GadjetGriller]

I have that smoker. yes there is very little room under the grate I bought 4 2.5 inch stainless still bolts (W/washers and nuts) and put them on the 4 corners. It lifted the grate up but realized I should have used 3 inch instead.

[boftx]

Raising the fire grate does WONDERS for airflow! But it really sucks if you don't.

[Nate]

DW, I think what GadjetGriller said is probably one of the better options. Firebrick is maybe going to take up too much space. I have considered doing this with my vertical offset as it is basically the same firebox.

[Jerod Broussard]

If it ain't movin' surely they can replace it with something that will.

Been tempted on a few occasions to upgrade from my COS to an upscale COS. Now that we have a junkyard close by that pays by the pound.

[GadjetGriller]

I've herd that OK Joe was acquired by Char griller (or the sort) and they have been re engineered to be more like the Char griller smokers (thinner metal, cheaper stuff) this may be confirmation of that roomer?

[boftx]

OK Joe was bought some time ago (by CharBroiler, not CharGriller) and the quality suffered. They are still heavier metal than the others, but not the same. They are usable, though, as long as you understand they are an (upscale) COS.

[Nate]

Why to buy one of these (especially at that price)

1. You are set on stick burning and want a smoker (specially offset) to do so but you have a budget of $500 or less.

2. You have a large smoker on a trailer but find it inefficient to fire up when you are just wanting to do a couple things for you and your immediate family. This is exactly why one of my buddies has one. He has a trailer rig he takes to comps and does some catering with but hates firing it up for 1 pork butt or a couple slabs of ribs... but he believes in wood burning only so a charcoal option is out of the question.

3. Extra Capacity and as a backup. If you find yourself occasionally needing more room, are doing multiple proteins at different temps etc... At this price you aren't going to find a better deal.

4. Worst case scenario you turn it into a charcoal grill, use it to pre burn wood, etc...

Don't even second guess this part... just bite the bullet and do it... go to bbqsmokermods.com and buy the gasket kit. If you haven't assembled the smoker yet then don't do it till you get the mod kit... It is easier to do some of the mods as you build it than to do them after. They also have deflector plates, charcoal boxes, etc... purchase those at your discretion but you will need the gasket kit to seal it up.

It is easy for us to get a little snobbish about smokers sometimes and especially when it comes to COS units. Unfortunately sometimes the budget just doesn't allow for a Meadow Creek, Jambo, Lang, Yoder, Horizon, etc... but a person still wants to burn wood and make Q. These aren't horrible but they aren't great either but with a little time, a few mods, using proper wood size, some practice, and a few tweaks these will still help you turn out some great Q... it just may require a little more attention and babysitting. My first stick burner was a Brinkmann Vertical Offset which is basically that OK Joe with the cook chamber turned vertical instead of horizontal and it was a Christmas Gift from my then girlfriend, now wife (knew she was a keeper right then)... I have had some great times using that thing and turned out some wonderful Q for family and friends and been offered by some people to pay me to make some for them. So it isn't like it will automatically turn out some inferior food... remember a lot of that is on the pit master... master your pit!!!! whatever it may be.

[gcdmd]

Your last sentence reminds me of one of my favorite sayings: Beware of the man who only has one gun because he probably knows how to use it.

[Danjohnston949]

Despite All My PI--ING and Moaning about "Wally"! I do think the OKJ Highland is going to be an OK or Better Smoker now that I have installed the High Temp Gaskets and the Temp Control Baffle from SmokerMods.Com! I also have installed a BBQ Guru Pit Bull fan for the DigiQ DX-2 Temp Cont! I know the Highland would be a much better Smoker if they furnished the Poor Chinaman a Welding Fixture and some Clamps! I don't know the Guage of Sheet Metal but I think it is less than 12 Guage but +- 2 X thicker than the Brinkman it is replacing!
Eat Well and Prosper! From a Backyard Cremator in Fargo ND, Dan

[Darchie03]

Guest, I have a char-griller pro with the same mods but an Auber controler & fan & I insulated the cook chamber it's ugly but I have less than 10* difference between sides when at temp. it works well. I have a post somewhere on this site with pics.
Dave

[Danjohnston949]

Guest, I haven't taken the time to do a full Temp Check for variations! The Ribs were the one and only cook. So far, but I Thought it behaved well! I will look for your Post on the char-griller pro! From a Backyard Cremator in Fargo ND, Dan

[RipSUp]

Looked for this deal over the weekend at a couple local Walmarts in NW Indiana and they were all full price. Hopefully they drop them again (or maybe it was just a local sale.)

[Oso21]

+1 on the current line of OKJ's being a bit thin skinned, compared to the Originals. Nate is correct: Master your Pit....whatever you choose to cook with.
I started my BBQ obsession with a OKJ "Tailgater" about 25yrs ago and it's still smoking. Heavy little pit with 1/4" plate construction.

[Nate]

You must have treated that rig well sir... it looks dang good after 25 years... I would say you have more than got your money's worth.

[Oso21]

Yes sir, thank you. My dad and I rescued it from our neighbor's trash pile, pretty well rusted head to toe. Wire brushed and painted it back into shape.

[RipSUp]

I just picked up an OKJoe Highland for $150 at a Walmart in NW Indiana. I heard someone in TN found one for $125. If you are interested in getting one cheap this is probably your best bet as they are getting all the Xmas decorations in. Best bet is to look online and see if anyone close has one in stock and then just show up and see what the price is.

[Mr. Bones]

I would strongly recommend buying one of these at this price!!

(Walmart lists these as being out of stock online, better check their site for local availability, call/visit your local store(s), etc.

I ordered one online about a month ago, ship to store, since there was not one near me...$268.00, $258 if you bundled a bag of cherry smoker chips... (I was gonna give them to one of my gasser buddies)

they had one in Topeka, ~20 miles away, but I didn't want to have to clear all of the smoker wood out of my Mobile Smoker Wood Seasoning Unit (aka my daily driver, a 1984 Chevy Suburban), and wrestle with something that weighs a good deal more than myself.

The wait time was seemingly interminable, and I was getting frustrated; I wanted to play with my new toy, dang it!!!

Enter my ol' friend, craigslist, right around Labor Day... I found a cherry, 4-month old one, already had the firebox & door gaskets, relocated/upgraded thermos, and the baffle/tuning plate mods, and was already seasoned, and super lightly used. $300.00.OBO. Oh, yeah! New cover, too!

Drat! It was in Topeka, as well... would have to not only clear out the burb, but dis/re-assemble Joe. I called the seller, and said' I'll go the asking price, if you have a trailer, or summat, and will deliver'. Next day it came offa a small trailer, and magically rolled itself up my driveway, while I enjoyed a cold beer. Money well spent!

I been doing small smokes last few weeks, haven't lit her off yet, but...

I know it's a COS, albeit 'upscale' COS... I ain't ashamed. I don't have a $1500 vehicle, so hard to justify a $1500+ smoker.

Just wait 'til I post pics of what I have been using, and the food I've made... this is a huge upgrade to my game, and also give me a lot more real estate to play with under the hood.

Always remember: The Magic is not in the Machine!

Learn to cook, and people will love you!
Learn your pit, and people will adore you!
Master your pit, and people will worship you!

Best regards!

Bones

PS: btw, where is the appropriate place to post pics of one's grills/smokers, and food pics?
Are there subforums for that? Ain't found them yet, if so, but I'm new here, and tryin' to find my way.. any and all help would be appreciated from y'all. I wanna get all that done, and feel settled in, like I'm home!

[Huskee]

PS: btw, where is the appropriate place to post pics of one's grills/smokers, and food pics?
Are there subforums for that? Ain't found them yet, if so, but I'm new here, and tryin' to find my way.. any and all help would be appreciated from y'all. I wanna get all that done, and feel settled in, like I'm home!

Mr. Bones Here's the main Grills & Smokers channel: https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/fo...ls-and-smokers Scroll all the way to the bottom and you'll see the subforums for them (Charcoal, Gas, Logs etc) to help be more specific.

And here's the Show Us What You're Cooking thread https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/fo...-re-cooking-iv it's where many members will post real-time (or close to it) pics of what's on their grill/smoker, or what was!

You can also post a specific meal/meat in its category, such as a turkey in the Chicken & Turkey channel. You can find the specific recipes in the main recipe channel which is here https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/fo...astery-program. Again, scroll down to the bottom for more specifics for each meat/recipe type.