The Texas BBQ Forum

Dallas we cooked GR 2 years back and after that contest we decided we would not cook it again.They have some stuff to work on thats for sure,unless you can hold your bowls for a couple days I would avoid it like the plague.The guys running that event saw our plates and then the fun began,had us moving vehicles for no reason,told us they were going to tow our trucks,even when parked in the parking lots supplied.PIA
Aaron

Bill wrote:Dallas, on your GF 223, the GF is gravity feed? How much charcoal will it hold and how long of a cook time can you get with one load? Will lump work with it?

Thanks.

Bill the GF is short for Gravity Feed or Fed. It will hold a 10 lb bag of lump. On my first cook I wasn't sure how long it would last so I filled it up, got it up over 300 seasoned it, smoked a prime rib in it , and then a Turkey. Wasn't sure how I'd fire it up again with the charcoal still in there so I just thought I'd let it burn. The next morning I went to check on it and it was still sitting at around 185. I almost got a 24 hour burn on it. It's a great smoker and as I found out extremely fuel efficient but your mileage may vary depending on cooking temperature, outside temps and wind conditions which didn't seem to effect the cooker in the slightest. I also had a stoker attached to it which may have helped somewhat with the fuel economy!

Well, I loved Qing so much I went and designed my own trailer and had it built for me in OK. I use it for lots of non-profit events and started a ministry for under privileged kids to get out to the country and shoot some skeet, eat some BBQ and learn what leadership is about.
Since it can't sit on the driveway every day, I also built an island in the back yard that houses a Viking gas grill, a charcoal pan grill (under the white cutting board) and a smoker under the left set of doors.

Enjoy the pics.






Bonedaddy

Wow beautiful set up there. Very nice smoker too!

Welcome Bonehunts! Keep up the good work with the kids. Very nice thing you're doing there!

Aaron wrote:Dallas we cooked GR 2 years back and after that contest we decided we would not cook it again.They have some stuff to work on thats for sure,unless you can hold your bowls for a couple days I would avoid it like the plague.The guys running that event saw our plates and then the fun began,had us moving vehicles for no reason,told us they were going to tow our trucks,even when parked in the parking lots supplied.PIA
Aaron

Aaron, we didn't have that problem the year before last. We avoided the porta potties because we found a full service restroom with running water in the park. My biggest problem with Grand Rapids was that there was no electrictiy provided and there was a problem with one of the guys cheating. It had been going on for several years where he cooked his food off site at his restaurant and then brought it onsite in the morning. He was called on it, denied it, cried racial discrimination so they dropped it. He placed in the top ten, the crowd booed and he gave them the finger. Nice guy. I think you know who I'm talking about don't you?

The problem for us is that there just aren't that many contests close by. I can afford to take one day off of work but not two. I'm going to try a contest in Indiana this year (Ribberfest) to make up for Cabela's. Hope to see you guys sometime this summer.

Nice set up! Is that a Gator off set??

Bonehunts,

Nice pit!! And I really am in love with your backyard setup!! Beautiful!

I 2nd Dallas' sentiment with the kids. And welcome to the board.

Not sure if you're talking to me Steer Crazy...
What's a Gator and are you referring to the island or the trailer?

Nope he mentioned that he designed it and had it built in Oklahoma!

"Gator" is a brand of offset that's built in Texas. They also build grills, tailgaters, firepits, etc.

Thanks Bill. I had welded a cart for the Viking and we moved into a new house that was screaming for an island. I lurked on the BBQ galore forum and got some good ideas from them but there weren't many Texans there who understood the need for a smoker, et al.

It was built with metal studs then added metal lathe and rocked it with Oklahoma flagstone. I've got quite a few pictures of the process I can post in another thread if interested.

bonehunts wrote:Thanks Bill. I had welded a cart for the Viking and we moved into a new house that was screaming for an island. I lurked on the BBQ galore forum and got some good ideas from them but there weren't many Texans there who understood the need for a smoker, et al.

It was built with metal studs then added metal lathe and rocked it with Oklahoma flagstone. I've got quite a few pictures of the process I can post in another thread if interested.

Please do post the pics when you get time. I love the curved appearance and that Oklahoma flagstone really sets it off! Thanks for sharing.

No Bill, it was actually built by Horizon in Perry OK. Long story, but Brinkmann bought out Oklahoma Joe's and the guys from Joe's formed 2 companies. As one was starting my trailer for me, he was bought out by the other and Horizon was tasked with building this beast.

I'd change some things if I did it over, but capacity has never been an issue on it. I think Horizon has a website but I can't find it anymore.

My main cooker is my gator budget mobile with a few mods. I use a wsm, kettle and weber gasser.

here are a few pics of my set up
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.j ... 7awxr&Ux=1

Chris

I started with a WSM and just recently bought a BDS Jumbo
Here is a few photos of me unpacking it...