Smoker/Grill advice needed...

[spankdoggie]

I am looking at buying a smoker/grill soon.

I know many highly recommend the braunfeld. I need something low maintainance that I can leave on and go to sleep.

Thanks in advance for the suggestions. I will post up some of the ones I am looking at as I find them. Thanks.

[twogreen]

The same question was asked on another forum where I am a member. A few of the guys there swear by the Traeger wood pellet grill. I have no personal knowledge; but the concept looks interesting.

Traeger Grills

[warbirdlover]

Spank, PM ejdahl21 since he has the coolest setup I've ever seen (don't know the brand) and is a grilling maniac. His family eats almost every meal (winter and summer) on the grill and can he cook.

[DaveE]

Get this one.

The extensive list of features includes, (#1) a 160,000 B.T.U. propane burner that can bring 20 gallons of cold water to a boil in 5 min. The entertainment portion of the BBQ has a satellite radio, satellite television, Sony wega flat screen, DVD player and a DVR that are all solar powered. A (#3)low temperate smoker, (#4)a seven foot long, 90 lb door, that is counter weighted, making it a snap to open. The main chamber (#5) can smoke up 100 six-pound chickens, which is enough to feed 350 people. To ensure that everyone knows that you are the king of the BBQ, it comes with 24 karat-gold rims and door handles.

[spankdoggie]

Thanks guys.

This is really helpful stuff, and now provides quite the quandary, with regard to my decision...

I will post more in this thread in a week or so, when I figure this all out, and I have to send a pm to the guy mentioned above too.

Thanks again guys...

Researching,

spank

[Pa Jayhawk]

My vote goes to the New Braunfels that you mentioned and I own. Unfortunately it was bought out by Charbroil, so I am not sure I can say it will be the same as far as design and durability.

Just came back from San Antonio and while driving by the Alamo Dome prior to the Big 12 championship, I saw a full sized 18 wheeler where the entire back was a smoker. I want one of those. The chimney stack must have been 4 feet wide.

As far as being able to leave and go to sleep, that may limit your options. Many of the big time smokers will require you to maintain about every 45 minutes to 1 hour, as the wood burns off. So if you want something you can leave for several hours you may have to find one that smokes with a pan or tray where the wood is in water as opposed to using hardwood as your main source of fuel. So your options may be electric, gas or Propane, or possibly the pellet one mentioned earlier. My wifes brother has a pellet grill and loves the thing, although I am not sure how much he uses it for smoking food.

You may get some ideas here.
Meat Smokers - Electric Smokers & Gas Smokers : Cabelas

[spankdoggie]

Thanks guys. I will do my research and say what I learned.