Barbeque Buyer's Guide to Backyard Direct Heat Smoker Grills - Hot Boxes - Smoke Boxes
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- Опубліковано 3 чер 2024
- Are you looking to buy a smoker grill/smoke box/hot box? In this episode I break down many of the options you've heard of and some that you haven't so you can find the one that's exactly right for you!
Chapter Times
00:00 Opening
00:20 Opening Notes
02:01 Maps
03:38 Hasty Bake Roughneck
06:19 1904 The Slinger
07:37 Royale BBQ Fabrication
09:12 Lone Star Grillz El Patron
11:24 Deep Creek Metalworks
12:23 The Chudbox
14:46 Hurtado Smokebox
17:45 Galindo Little King
18:19 Centex Direct Heat BY Smoker
18:50 TMG The Dumpster
19:50 Charts - Price
20:23 In2 Main Rack
20:49 $/in2 Main Rack
21:16 In2 Additional Racks
22:04 $/in2 Additional Racks
22:48 Metal Thickness
23:08 Projected Heat Retention
24:18 10pt Avg Main in2 & Heat
24:56 10pt Avg Add. in2 & Heat
25:39 My Thoughts
Included Smoker Grills
Roughneck Corten Steel Barrel Smoker
Lone Star Grillz El Patron
Roughneck Stainless
1904 The Slinger
Royale Fab BBQ
Chud box Chudbox
Deep Creek Metalworks
Hurtado Smoke Box
The Little King Galindo Smokers
Centex
TMG The Dumpster
Price update: ...the 1904 Pits Slinger is now $1,780 USD. OUCH! Big price bump. Much closer to the Chud Box in pricing.
Awesome Video, Thanks for the shout out! There is a new version of the HotBox out now as well.
I have a Royale BBQ pit with some customization. It is absolutely fantastic. The customer service they provide is top notch as well, great company to work with.
I will say that the actual weight of these smokers/grills will play a huge factor. I love the TMG Pits, but they are really heavy due to the “over-construction” metal thickness.
The HB Roughneck is honestly a drum smoker. So, although it will do direct heat, it’s a drum smoker at the end of the day. I will say, it does hold heat very well, but the metal gets stupid hot because it is thin.
The Chud box will rust through. Talking with Bradley, that’s the design of it so it will reduce weight on shipping and cost of material. But if not taken care of properly, it will rust through.
I feel the best “bang for your buck” is the LSG. It’s versatile and offers more than most. Plus, LSG is a great company to work with.
Just my two cents. Thanks for all you do!
Hi from Cornwall, UK 🇬🇧 Great review video! One of your best I think. I love these direct cook smokers. I’ve just had one made up by a fabricator in Manchester. The flavours from direct cooks are incredible.
I've already invested in LSG smokers and was looking at the El Patron. One feature not mentioned was the Fireboard 2 blower/controller option. Personally speaking, ALL these units are a cut above the pack and can produce amazing food for those that know how to use them properly. End of the day... It's personal preference. Great video!
So, I ended up with a Chudbox after all of this. The ergonomic improvements (the open front and lighter lid) make it worthwhile to me. Is it short on grate area? I mean, a little, but I can still fit 2-3 racks of ribs, 2-3 pork butts, or 3-4 chickens comfortably. If you need more than that, get a bigger pit.
I have the Hasty-Bake Roughneck, and I love the Corten steel finish. It is a great direct heat smoker, and it's built like a tank. Like a lot of people, I wanted a Chud Box, but couldn't justify it for double the money. Sorry Bradley. Great review, as always.
Do you need to use the basket with the HB? I like the idea of the chud box that it is just an open fire box where I can manipulate the charcoal.
Also, does it operate consistently without the heat diffuser? Seems the heat diffuser takes away the whole point of direct heat cooking.
@@dkbarbagelataI would not use the HB without the basket. They are only made with 18 gauge steel and having a fire on the bottom of the grill would warp the metal. Its still pretty easy to move the charcoal around especially if you slightly pull out the basket.
@@dkbarbagelata I have never used the heat diffuser with mine. It works fine without it. I do use a drip pan on most cooks though.
Awsome video! Thanks alot
Great review - I have a Royale Fab - great pit and has become my go to pit - they also offer a griddle option - and the two exhaust dampers work independently - moreover the guys that own it are top notch
Great review! I'd love to see you do a review comparing the adjustable firebox smokers like Hasty Bake and M grills. Also comparing them to these type to see what would be a better option
Nice review. I have the HB Roughneck and it's an awesome smoker. I pre-ordered it so it's one of the first models that came with the cast iron grates and I got mine fully loaded. It's easy to dial in temps and it holds temps very well. It's the cooker I use the most when smoking. I have never really used it as a direct heat cooker because I always use a drip pan on the lower shelf which blocks the direct heat. I have never used the included heat deflector. I have the corten steel version but if I had known they were coming out with a stainless model, I would have waited for that.
Great video review... I've been watching Bradley since covid and had interest in a Chudbox. He convinced me to try direct heat cooking in my WSM and it is very different than just grilling on my kettle or smoking on my smoker. But I think now if I was going to spend a couple grand it would have to be the LSG El Patron. Yes the options add up quick and soon it's 3-4k with shipping but those options sell it for me. Something large enough for 4-6 racks of ribs but still small enough that you can fire it up for just half a chicken. Plancha, pizza door and rotisserie make it perfect for me.
Another great video! I’d have to give my money to LSG El Patron for size, options, and overall value. Cheers!
Something I noticed about the comparisons…The TMG is a 36x24” cooker. The 1904 offers a 36x24 cooker in addition to the Slinger called the Trolley. Not sure if the other manufacturers make larger cookers that aren’t “full size”. So comparing the larger (medium size) TMG to the smaller “mini” cookers is probably a bit unfair. Other than that, I like the info. I wasn’t even aware of some of these companies offering this style cooker. I went with the 1904 Trolley and had an extra rack and split grates made up.
You may have a point about the unfairness. Hopefully people still figure out what is best for them. I may do another episode with larger sizes.
I dont have one of these higher-end models, I have a Char-Griller Legacy I use for this type of grilling. It puts out great food, but you know how it goes. As a fabricator, I appreciate the build quality and simplicity of these pits. Having said all that if (or when) I were to pull the trigger on one of these, my choice is The Dumpster. Nice video sir!
Hey! Thanks for the shout out!! Its greatly appreciated!! Cheers 🍻
Keep on with the great work 👍
Great video, but you left out the Smokeslinger Pit another Texas made pit. Great video!
Go check out the full size direct heat smoker grill episode. Thanks for watching 😊
Just put deposit down on 1904 4 ft trolley. Should be here in two weeks. Been looking for a direct cooker for two years now. Thanks for your videos.
No problem. I'm sure a great buy 👍
With the thickness of the steel and the capacity, it reminds me of my WH 1975 from a value perspective. @@SmokeMasterD
Apex smokers in Listowel Ontario is building me a custom cooker right now.
Happy smoking 👍
Thanks for the shout out Dave! Cheers 🍻
Received my TMG Dumpster on Friday, did the burn-off and first cook with ribs yesterday. Quite possibly the best ribs I've ever had - I'm sure any one of these cookers can do ribs the same way, considering they're all direct heat style cookers.
For the Dumpster - definitely need to get the lid with the gas strut - great for soft opening and closing of the hefty lid. I believe the gas strut may become standard now. ...if not, ask the strut.
The Dumpster feels like it's nuke proof - about 600#'s, but rolls and maneuvers easily.
The Dumpster's pull-out lower expanded steel grate is the big selling point for me. Makes this cooker so versatile and accessible. The Smoke Slinger - not included in this video - and some of the others, are too fussy and complicated. You have to remove the top grate to access the lower cooking grate (if it has one), and in the case of the Smoke Slinger, you have to remove the top and lower cooking grates to access the baffles and heat diffusers. Total PITA. With the mini chud box, if you want to raise the charcoal bed, you have to remove the cooking grate, and drop a charcoal basket in below the cooking grate, then place the cooking grate of the top. ...again...too fussy.
All good points. I saw your ribs on Facebook. Looked good. And apparently, you're a really good friend and neighbor. Well done, sir.
@@SmokeMasterD - spreading the BBQ love. Lol
Really considered the dumpster but I went with the LSG patron. Just didn’t need that much space I have a cabinet for those big cooks. But in my comparison and research TmG dumpster, LSG Patron top the list. Just found out about the Hurtado heat box . Think those are my top 3.
@@charlesbirchfield5066- Surprisingly, the Patron has more cooking space on the main rack. I bought the Dumpster for that lower rack, where I can add water pans/diffusers, a coal bed or wood splits - etc. I did do a chicken wing cook on the lower rack. the first weekend - I cooked up a second batch of wings for the super bowl on the upper rack. ...six of one, half a dozen of the other when comparing the wing cooks of the upper and lower racks.
I agree, the Dumpster and the Patron are my top two - because of the versatility of the two cookers. And actually, I'd throw the Pitts and Spitts on this list with the 10" high lid (instead of the 6" high lid). Another cooker with tremendous versatility.
For a more affordable option I'm a fan of the 1904 Pits Slinger.
So far I've cooked, spare ribs (over coals and small oak splits), chicken wings (directly over coals), pork steaks (directly over coals with a couple of small oak splits), chicken halves (directly over coals), chuck roast (slow indirect with oak splits - set up two water pans to get a good slow smoke at 250-275F), chicken wings (over oak splits).
I have to agree with the sentiment: "nothing beats slow and low direct heat BBQ over a coal bed and/or small wood splits. That burning fat giving off a smoke is something wood just can't do on it's own...
Enjoy your Patron - very good choice. :)
What happened to the smokeslinger? Why was it not included? Is that not considered a direct heat cooker?
Agree. This could have been on here. But...Dustin isn't the easiest guy to get a hold of, and he's not coming through for more than a few guys - one of whom ordered a pit for his restaurant and competition business over a year ago. I told him to get the TMG Dumpster... He knows I have one on order, so now he's waiting to see mine, and see if I like it. As of right now, I wouldn't recommend the Smoke Slinger as a viable option until Dustin figures out his time is better spent getting his pits out the door to his customers, rather than spending his time futzing around trying to improve an already damn good pit.
I have also had some trouble getting hold of Dustin. I had hoped to have a new smaller Smoke Slinger on this episode, but it never materialized. If he does release it in the future, I will likely do a stand-alone episode on it.
@@SmokeMasterD - Dustin now has his 30x24" Smoke Slinger up on his website. So it should be in production. The person you'll want to talk to is, Frank. Sounds like he's taking over the point person role. Hope this helps get that company steered in the right direction.
*Cries in German* I spend days researching, an there seems to be not a single product of comparable quality available in Germany. All you get are those super flimsy Chinese knock-offs for 100 bucks, that break and rust after one use ☹
if you know any please let me know
Sorry Ferdinand. Your best option is to find a local fabricator and commission him to build one.