I’ve owned the Bronco and the pro and used for years . Watched a lot videos and read reviews and compared what Gateway , Hunsaker, offered and the difference was Mark Hunsaker the owner. He comes off genuine and humble . I’ve owned my Hunsaker drum for 6 months now and I can testify it’s the only drum I will run from now on. The vortex/ basket design is ahead of everyone else in functionality. It’s meant to run hot and fast but what’s crazy is I just did a 16 plus hour cook a week ago. I own 7 smokers and it’s my go to every weekend.
Great review 👍 very informative! Here in Australia I bought the Pit Boss for $399 with free delivery from our biggest hardware store chain. The Bronco here retails over $1000 and the Gateway topping $1600. Put two 8" beads of high temp rtv around the base of the Pit Boss to seal it better. Keep up the great vids 👍
Just got another bronco in orange with a cover from Walmart online for $212. The bronco is a really thought out design with a lot of added features that come with it
Good work as always! You have provided the bbq community with a valuable resource with these videos. Shout this man out to your bbq friends and brothers to get him even more views because he deserves it.
I would like to add I just recently noticed that hasty bake makes something called the roughneck barrel smoker. It’s $899 and I’m pretty sure the shipping is free right now. All made in the USA from cortex steel. Looks like a nice smoker at a competitive price.
Great review and coverage of these products. I am a avid smoker, but I do not own a UDS and have never used one. I came across this video while doing some research. As far as my thoughts on the Pit Boss versus the Oklahoma Joe. For full disclosure, I do own and use a Pit Boss Vertical Pellet smoker. Without ever using any of these drum smokers before, I think I would lean toward the Pit Boss smoker. This is my perspective, I am a huge proponent of versatility and options. By that I mean versatility in the way I smoke or control my smoker, I do not typically think about re-configuring my smoker to use as a grill. The big deciding factors for me would be the dual intake tubes on the Pit Boss, and the side door and basket design. I do not think I would need it to refuel, but it would be easier to add wood chunks to your cook, and just allow for other options for controlling or varying your cooking methods. Thanks again for your efforts and all the information.
The triple grate option on the bronco allows you to hang meat through one or 2 sections while allowing you to cook on the flat sections such as wings. Kind of like the Pit Barrel Cooker hinged grate
I’m liking the Pitboss. I think the fire basket alone would allow for some sort of charcoal cooking as long as you have a grate to put across it. The 3 grates included is also a big plus.
Ive done it..keep diffuser plate normal put ash catcher above the plate thrn charcoal basket above it then grate..better than the other way okj says to do it imo
Very good video... Very detailed.... We still honestly love our Pit Barrel. Amazing company. My PBC runs at 275 pretty much all the time. Nevertheless, you did a great job with this video.
Have you filled your charcoal basket completely? If so are you able to maintain temp under 300 (around 275) for a long cook. I'm having a tough time doing so with basket half filled and I have everything completely closed with with exhaust on min
My local bbq store just got a shipment of new barrel smokers. 4KL drum. It looks like the Joe but with two intakes and a diffuser like the vortex. $599.
This was a great video, came across while trying to decide on an upgrade to my standard OKJ Bronco. I love my OKJ Bronco , but need something a little larger for brisket. Do we know what the rack diameter is of the PB Champion compared to the OKJ Bronco Pro? Are they similar in size?
One aspect that's completely skipped over in this video is the fact that the Bronco Pro has to be completely built from scratch because it shipped in one large box that contains the 2 barrel halves and all parts. It may be the cheapest; but how much is 2-3 hours of your time worth????? Don't know if the Pit Boss needs assembly or comes preassembled.
Great review!!!! The pit boss fit and finish blows the bronco out the water. You can bbq on the smoker by taking the defuser out and placing meat in the center of a hot fire. I would like to see the smoker in action. No jump cuts. The question comes down to is the grill good or the person on the grill???
I’ve owned the Bronco and the pro and used for years . Watched a lot videos and read reviews and compared what Gateway , Hunsaker, offered and the difference was Mark Hunsaker the owner. He comes off genuine and humble . I’ve owned my Hunsaker drum for 6 months now and I can testify it’s the only drum I will run from now on. The vortex/ basket design is ahead of everyone else in functionality. It’s meant to run hot and fast but what’s crazy is I just did a 16 plus hour cook a week ago. I own 7 smokers and it’s my go to every weekend.
Great review 👍 very informative! Here in Australia I bought the Pit Boss for $399 with free delivery from our biggest hardware store chain. The Bronco here retails over $1000 and the Gateway topping $1600. Put two 8" beads of high temp rtv around the base of the Pit Boss to seal it better. Keep up the great vids 👍
Thanks man. Happy smoking 🙂
Just got another bronco in orange with a cover from Walmart online for $212. The bronco is a really thought out design with a lot of added features that come with it
Good work as always! You have provided the bbq community with a valuable resource with these videos. Shout this man out to your bbq friends and brothers to get him even more views because he deserves it.
I would like to add I just recently noticed that hasty bake makes something called the roughneck barrel smoker. It’s $899 and I’m pretty sure the shipping is free right now. All made in the USA from cortex steel. Looks like a nice smoker at a competitive price.
Corten steel*
Great review and coverage of these products. I am a avid smoker, but I do not own a UDS and have never used one. I came across this video while doing some research. As far as my thoughts on the Pit Boss versus the Oklahoma Joe. For full disclosure, I do own and use a Pit Boss Vertical Pellet smoker. Without ever using any of these drum smokers before, I think I would lean toward the Pit Boss smoker. This is my perspective, I am a huge proponent of versatility and options. By that I mean versatility in the way I smoke or control my smoker, I do not typically think about re-configuring my smoker to use as a grill. The big deciding factors for me would be the dual intake tubes on the Pit Boss, and the side door and basket design. I do not think I would need it to refuel, but it would be easier to add wood chunks to your cook, and just allow for other options for controlling or varying your cooking methods. Thanks again for your efforts and all the information.
Thanks for watching, man. Happy smoking 🙂
The triple grate option on the bronco allows you to hang meat through one or 2 sections while allowing you to cook on the flat sections such as wings. Kind of like the Pit Barrel Cooker hinged grate
I’m liking the Pitboss. I think the fire basket alone would allow for some sort of charcoal cooking as long as you have a grate to put across it. The 3 grates included is also a big plus.
Love my Oklahoma Joe's Pro Drum!
With all my research, I'm leaning hard towards the Cotton Gin Harvester.
It's a sweet rig.
Ive done it..keep diffuser plate normal put ash catcher above the plate thrn charcoal basket above it then grate..better than the other way okj says to do it imo
You can turn the pitboss into a grill within seconds. Simply open the barrel door and put a grate over the firebox. Works a treat.
Very good video... Very detailed.... We still honestly love our Pit Barrel. Amazing company. My PBC runs at 275 pretty much all the time. Nevertheless, you did a great job with this video.
Thanks man
I just got my pittboss and I'm having trouble holding 275 with a full basket for a long cook. I have exhaust closed and top on min. Any thoughts?
I run my pitboss 300 325 no problem with the heat shield cooks badass
Have you filled your charcoal basket completely? If so are you able to maintain temp under 300 (around 275) for a long cook. I'm having a tough time doing so with basket half filled and I have everything completely closed with with exhaust on min
My local bbq store just got a shipment of new barrel smokers. 4KL drum. It looks like the Joe but with two intakes and a diffuser like the vortex. $599.
Looks good. Good price too. Wow
Check out the Hasty Bake Roughneck - Kent Rollins inspired. It's got fuel access similar to the pit boss
Cool. Thanks. I need to get Haaty Bake into a show. Maybe soon. Happy smoking 🙂
This was a great video, came across while trying to decide on an upgrade to my standard OKJ Bronco. I love my OKJ Bronco , but need something a little larger for brisket. Do we know what the rack diameter is of the PB Champion compared to the OKJ Bronco Pro? Are they similar in size?
I imagine they are similar in size but I had a hard time finding exact dimensions for the pit boss grate.
This Pit Boss Drum Smoker is 3 times cheaper in Australia. Less than $300 US Dollars there. Scratching my head as to why!
Yeah. That’s crazy. I don’t know why it would be that different. Maybe if they get it into some box stores they could lower the price?
One aspect that's completely skipped over in this video is the fact that the Bronco Pro has to be completely built from scratch because it shipped in one large box that contains the 2 barrel halves and all parts.
It may be the cheapest; but how much is 2-3 hours of your time worth?????
Don't know if the Pit Boss needs assembly or comes preassembled.
It wouldn't surprise me if Pit Boss had the same situation. Maybe someone will say for sure.
Pitt boss is one piece. Only have to install exhaust
Would like to see Hunsaker v. Cotton Gin..v. Gateway drum..
It's been a while but I did include all of those in this episode ua-cam.com/video/jFPo1g8YLKM/v-deo.html
@@SmokeMasterD Great! Thank you! I will take a look. Not sure how I missed that.
might have to go for the pit boss since its half the price of the bronco pro, too bad it doesnt come in orange haha
Great review!!!! The pit boss fit and finish blows the bronco out the water. You can bbq on the smoker by taking the defuser out and placing meat in the center of a hot fire. I would like to see the smoker in action. No jump cuts. The question comes down to is the grill good or the person on the grill???
So It's less than half price in Australia. Lucky Aussies and poor Americans. $839 here.
Interesting
Atleast once in our Aussie lives something is cheaper here then the US!!