I didn't find this manufacturer in the equipment reviews section. I saw this at Lowe's for $300 and it looked pretty well-built for the price. I know COS are to be avoided at all costs, just wondering if maybe these guys threaded the needle with this one.
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After doing some research I found out that the parent company is Char Broil. Max Good reviewed a larger version of this cooker (Called the Longhorn) and gave it a bronze star. It got mixed reviews on Amazon - a lot of 5 stars but 13% of the reviews were one star. -
I heard that exhale all the way over here in NY.
I get itComment
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Don’t waste your money.Comment
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I believe Danjohnston949 has one.
People rate them poorly I think because newbies are led to believe they'll have competition-worthy results the first time they use it and they're let down because they're a PITA to run. If you know going in that it'll take a lot of effort and you make the proper mods and adjustments, you'll be OK. At least OKer than most.Comment
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I Do Have One I Have Modified Sligtleyâ—ï¸ I'll Post More Laterâ—ï¸
Mr. Bones Also Has One and He is Very Proud of Itâ€¼ï¸ Dan -
If I were to get one I'd certainly understand its limitations. Also, I know I'd have a learning curve as I've never cooked with an offset before. My biggest concern is how does this thing hold up over time. It would't get a lot of use as I'd use it solely as a stick-burner for low/slow. Huskee
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I have one, as do several others, here. I love mine, but know it ain't a 1/4" thick cooker, as well...it also didn't cost a grand, or so. Fair enough tradeoff.
Only mods mine has is some red RTV where th firebox bolts on, some door gaskets, an a tunin plate/baffle.
Ya can put Oklahoma Joe into th searchbox, an find many cooks, etc., here on this site.
If that fails, I can go back a bit, post links to some of my cooks. Jus lmk.
Just used it over th weekend, when I smoked lotsa hams, turkeys, an misc fer Easter customers...Last edited by Mr. Bones; April 3, 2018, 10:45 AM.Comment
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There are worse and better things you could spend your money on.
First of all know going into it that while it is better built than most COS it is still not an EOS and will still have some quarks that you will have to get used to (frequently cleaning out ash, hot spots, leaks, etc). There are kits out there you can but to help modify it, seal it up, etc... if you choose to... just google them... you will have to tinker with it and learn it.
that being said if you want a stick burner to play with and it is going to be an occasional use then you might like it. If you want to cook on it every weekend you may get frustrated.
A buddy of mine has a nice large homemade EOS on a trailer... he uses it for competitions, large cooks, and catering. He has a OK Joe that he uses for extra space but more so to just do some small cooks for he and his family instead of having to fire up the big boy.Comment
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@Jeff3, My OKJoe Has Similar Mods as @Mr. Bones'sâ—ï¸ I have Two Additional Mods That He Did Not Mentionâ—ï¸ I Lined Both the FireBox and the Cook Chamber With Fire Brick and a Pit Bull 20 CFM Fan that
I Can Run with Either the DigiQ DX-2 or the FireBoardâ—ï¸ I Believe I'll Let the Pic's Speak For Themselves But If You Have Question Feel Free to Askâ—ï¸ From a Backyard Cremator in Fargo ND, Dan
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I've got one but I waited till Walmart had it on clearance at the end of the year so I only paid $150 for it which I think was well worth it. I've had great results with it over the last couple years and it's generally easy to run once you figure it out. I wish it could hold more meat but just bought an additional rack so I can get at least a little more in it.
Mods I've made were
- Seals on both lids - part of kit in next link
- Door latches - https://bbqsmokermods.com/oem-smoker...h-mod-kit.html
- a 90deg elbow that makes it so the exhaust is in the middle of chamber - Menards
- Bigger grate for firebox (this allows it to sit up higher and have more room for ash underneath) - Menards universal grate replacement
- extra cook grate - https://bbqsmokermods.com/oem-smoker...-expander.html
At some point I may do the fan and controller like Danjohnston949 but for now I like babysitting it and playing with the fire.
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Thanks to ya, RipSUp , I remembered a few things I also got fer my OKJ Highlander, not mods, but accessories...
Wood/Charcoal Basket. My early results with straight charcoal were less than impressive. Started with one each, unlit, an lit chimley. Wasn't enough to get to/hold target temps. More lit, at once would likely come closer to/resolve that issue. I swannee to do more testin, report back.
Heavy Duty Fire Grate. Compared to OEM. Which one would ya want? I'm delighted as can be with mine!
Both top-notch quality, from an ePay seller...
I'll provide details, if anybody is interested. He makes a lotta stuff, fer a lotta cookers, might be jus what ya want, to smoke on...
Last edited by Mr. Bones; April 11, 2018, 05:21 PM.Comment
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What I've garnered is that were I to purchase one of these budget some additional money for a few mods that appear to be absolutely necessary.Comment
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I'd not go near so far as sayin any of these mods are 'Absolutely Necessary' to enjoy yer OKJ, or make Great Food, in my experience, although I would recommend th tunin/baffle plate, if I were to do any one mod.
What these mods may/can hopefully accomplish, is yer earlier mastery of, an enjoyment of these OKJ cookers...
They, ideally, can enhance yer cookin experience, to some degree, an help smooth yer Learnin Curve...
Please, feel free to PM me with any OKJ questions, if I can help some...Comment
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@Jeff3, What Mr. Bones Is Saying is Gospel for the OKJoe Offsetâ—ï¸ It All Depends on Your Satisfaction Level‼ï¸
From a Backyard Cremator in Fargo ND, Dan -
Danjohnston949 has had his Highland longer than I, so I defer to his words of wisdom regardin this cooker....His is way more tricked out than mine, an enviably cool, yet I'm happy as can be with mine, as is.
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Has anybody heard anything about the new reverse flow okahoma joes???Comment
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fonza12, I've Heard About It but I've Never Seen One, Sorryâ“ Dan -
heard aaron franklin cooked on one once and had a grease fire. Scared him off reverse flow for a long time. used to have one that i cooked a TON of q on, and it was unmodified except for a replacement grate in the firebox. was my first real smoker.
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My neighbour is new to smoking and a friend of his talked him into purchasing one of these smokers. He has had it for about a month now and he has not had a successful cook yet. He is having trouble controlling his fire/heat. I told him about Amazing Ribs web site and he has visited this site. He says he is learning, he was attempting 3-2-1 ribs again yesterday. I never thought about it but there is a lot of things one can do wrong, including rain during his outdoor cooks. He is using charcoal for heat source and adding wood chunks for smoke.
Perhaps this is not the best smoker for a beginner? I started off with a pellet smoker myself. I do not have any experience with this type of smoker and he is not asking for assistance.Comment
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I've been doing more and more research on this cooker. For the price it appears to be pretty solid. 3 mods that seem to be really needed - *sealing/gasket the seams. *Raising the fire box plate so that it sits higher for better airflow and allowing for more ash underneath. *A baffling plate.
What sucks is that I'm the furthest thing from handy. I'd need to get a friend or neighbor to help me with these mods. Also, the baffling plate won't be cheap, maybe as much as $100.
I've seen quite a few Youtube videos of this cooker in action and it's absolutely capable of producing good results.Comment
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