What’s the right size?

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Patman
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What’s the right size?

Postby Patman » Mon Mar 12, 2018 6:03 pm

I’m looking at buying or building a smoker/grill. I’d only need to smoke 3 briskets and about 6 racks of baby backs max at a time. Should I stay small to this size or stay true to my Texas roots and go big?
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Re: What’s the right size?

Postby Canadian Smoker » Tue Mar 13, 2018 6:30 am

I believe it's all ways better to have a little extra real estate......better to have a little extra than not enough.
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Re: What’s the right size?

Postby Copasspupil » Tue Mar 13, 2018 9:31 am

Agreed. It's better to have a little extra than wishing you did. I built mine and it is plenty big enough to do what you are asking. BTW mine is an offset forward flow 42" grill with firebox similar design like Yoder Wichita. Just get your math right on the design.

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Re: What’s the right size?

Postby OldUsedParts » Tue Mar 13, 2018 9:48 am

I guess I need to get out more BECAUSE I'm having a hard time grasping the word SMALL in connection with 3 briskets and 6 racks of bonze at the same time :dont: :scratch: :laughing7: :lol: :D and YES, I'm also a Native :texas:
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Re: What’s the right size?

Postby Mule rider » Tue Mar 13, 2018 10:35 pm

BBQ's are like shops. You figure out what will work and then build it twice that size. Made that mistake on my shop. Go for the Gusto....
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Re: What’s the right size?

Postby k.a.m. » Wed Mar 14, 2018 6:11 am

Patman wrote:I’m looking at buying or building a smoker/grill. I’d only need to smoke 3 briskets and about 6 racks of baby backs max at a time. Should I stay small to this size or stay true to my Texas roots and go big?

If you do not like shuffling meat around while it is cooking I would say you will need at least a 24" x 60" chamber I would prefer a 30" x 60" though if I did not want to have to rotate meat.
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Re: What’s the right size?

Postby Patman » Wed Mar 14, 2018 6:57 am

Does larger grill mean it will hold temp longer as well?
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Re: What’s the right size?

Postby txsmkmstr » Wed Mar 14, 2018 8:42 am

k.a.m. wrote:
Patman wrote:I’m looking at buying or building a smoker/grill. I’d only need to smoke 3 briskets and about 6 racks of baby backs max at a time. Should I stay small to this size or stay true to my Texas roots and go big?

If you do not like shuffling meat around while it is cooking I would say you will need at least a 24" x 60" chamber I would prefer a 30" x 60" though if I did not want to have to rotate meat.

I'll agree with K.A.M. however my initial thoughts were this....

Minimum diameter of 24" for sure.... Length, well that depends on the cooker. With proper tuning plate set-up and two racks you could likely go 24"x48" or even 24"x40". That wouldn't leave any room for extras (sides or whatnot) but I'm of the opinion that you can go too big.

How often would you cook the amount of food you listed per year? If only on occasion (2x-3x) then I wouldn't go much bigger than 60" long chamber. Big pits CAN take more wood and to a degree more work. I've had a trailer pit (250 gallon R/F) thinking I could consider catering but the truth was it was just too large for doing one brisket or a couple racks of ribs, which is normally the case.

Having gone too small and too big.... there is a pit that's "juuuuust right" once you figure your true usage.
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Re: What’s the right size?

Postby allenayres » Wed Mar 14, 2018 1:00 pm

Patman wrote:Does larger grill mean it will hold temp longer as well?


I understand heat retention is more a factor of wall thickness (either heavy iron or insulation) plus design.

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