As you all probably know I'm a proud owner of 2 ceramic cookers that are made by BGE. Love them! Cook on them dang near daily. I am starting to get the itch to try something different, just to keep things interesting I guess! Lol. This is definitely not a need ... purely a want. My BGE's aren't going anywhere. That's for sure! Curious what you all would suggest for a new cooker/smoker to a fella that has been brainwashed by the BGE cult? I'm kicking around the idea of trying one of the following: Cabinet smoker (like a Backwoods or Stumps), pellet smoker (like a MAK or a Yoder), or a stick burner (like an El Rey or Yoder or ???). Just looking for ideas on something new to play around with when cooking in my backyard. Life's too short to only have experienced a couple cookers in my lifetime!

... or maybe I should try the new Weber Summit charcoal grill??? HaHa!

i love my weber smokey mountain. kind of a step down from the BGE but it is a smoking SOB. i also have the smokenator insert for my weber kettle which does ribs like a champ. i also have the kettle pizza insert for the weber kettle which makes an awesome pizza oven.

Mike!!!

He is definitely the one person I was hoping to hear from!

I have some opinions on the matter but I know Mike just obtained an upright pellet cooker that he really likes. And of course he's not moving away from BGE as well. BGE is simply not the best for the big catering gig or overall competition's. Ask me how I know.

Were I looking for a stick burner I would go straight to Dave Klose and BYC.

Yup you heard it right. BYC!! Tell him I said hey!!

Rough around the edges , but it works good---- Slate smoker at my Camp

I'd love to put my hands on a Yoder YS1500 pellet cooker!

Gas grill still in the Picture, many smokers, simple but outstanding The Weber grill

I haven't touched a gas grill since I purchased my 1st Egg ... have zero desire to ever cook on one again

I was given a smoker for Christmas, and I'm waiting to use it.
I bought a fresh pork shoulder to try.
Wish me luck.

What type of smoker?

I'd have to go to the garage to look.
It's electric, and uses wood chips.

I keep dreaming of building both a wood cooker, and a rugged smoker, but some of my "Get up, and go", have got and left!

I hear ya! HaHa! I bet cooking on something different will keep it interesting for you. I just love my grillin and smokin time on the back porch. Nothing more relaxing in my opinion! Good Luck with the new cooker! Let us know how you do with it.

I run a basic sidebox smoker. Here in action Thankgiving 2015. Thanks to Lt. Powell for a bit of guidance.

Hi Ricky,

Just saw this thread. As you know I am a BGE guy and always will be, but I did jump off the wagon last year and purchased a FEC100 pellet smoker. As David said in the earlier post it makes it much easier for competition and larger catering jobs. I have been extremely happy with the quality and the performance of the smoker. In fact so happy with it that I went in 50/50 with my competition team mate on a used FEC120.

He also has an FEC100 so with the two FEC100's and the FEC120 we have the ability to cook over 300 lbs. of meat. We primarily use the two FEC100's for competition and only fire up the 120 when we have catering jobs. I did sell a large and an XL BGE to help defer the cost of the FEC but I still have three eggs that are my go to's when cooking at home.

My FEC100.



If you have an interest in a FEC PM me and I will hook you up with the guy that has the best prices on them.

Mike

If I may (?), I'll hitch a ride on Ricky's wagon here, and ask for advise on that fresh pork shoulder?

It's thawed now, what next till I crank up the smoker?

I build them out of pipe and plate. That's real BBQ. A lot of people think they are cooking BBQ on a grill.

For everyday grilling and cooking, I cook here.

but if you want a real smoker to cook for a crowd, you can't beat a Bubba grill made up near Macon Georgia. They come in many configurations to suit your needs.

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My homemade version of the reverse flow bubba grill

I read this article about Yoder a few years ago and had to look it up again.

Kind of neat how Yoder smokers started out as a way to keep his guys in the shop working during a downturn in the drilling business.

http://www.kansas.com/news/business/article8456969.html