Small Smoker ???

[GoPackGo]

I'm getting ready to push off and full time and one of the things I will really miss is my smoker. I've been using a Brinkman electric water smoker for many years and I love it but it takes up a lot of space - it's about 3 feet tall.

I'm taking a Weber Q120 along to use for outdoor cooking but I'd like to find a small smoker to take along too. I know about putting chips in a pan in the grill but that's not the same. I want to smoke whole chickens, ribs, etc at a 'low and slow' pace and that takes a dedicated smoker I think. I just don't want something that's 3 feet tall. I'd like to find something much smaller - electric (or maybe propane) preferred.

I will be traveling in a fifth wheel.

Do you have any recommendations ?

Thank You !

Tim

[Super_Dave]

Can one fool a biscuit smoker with any other form of wood?

[SWMO]

LastOfTheBohicans wrote:
We have found pretty much every BBQ store carries them. I have also found them at Cabella's, Canadian Tire, and Wholesale Outdooors.

The sampler pack I bought had 60 bisquits in it and it cost $27 CAD. So just under $0.50 per bisquits. They are supposed to last approximately 30 minutes. So a 4 hour smoke will cost $4.00.

That's not bad. I do a lot more ribs and chicken than anything else and I don't smoke much over an hour if its heavy.

[LastOfTheBohica]

We have found pretty much every BBQ store carries them. I have also found them at Cabella's, Canadian Tire, and Wholesale Outdooors.

The sampler pack I bought had 60 bisquits in it and it cost $27 CAD. So just under $0.50 per bisquits. They are supposed to last approximately 30 minutes. So a 4 hour smoke will cost $4.00.

[SWMO]

LastOfTheBohicans wrote:
We just bought the Bradley 2 rack electric smoker.
It worked just like the bigger units. It weighs no more than a toaster oven.

They have a good following and they seem to do a good job. My only concern was with the wafers and how expensive and available they were. This one is new, or so it seems, and does look to be a good size for an RV.
Be interesting to hear how it works out for you.

[LastOfTheBohica]

We just bought the Bradley 2 rack electric smoker.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27268301.cfm

It worked just like the bigger units. It weighs no more than a toaster oven.

[zenbuck]

I take along my 6 rack Bradley... Here is a smoke from last weekend.. 1/2 chickens and sausage..



I just seen a smaller version by Bradley... I may look into it because of how compact it is!

[RandACampin]

SWMO wrote:

RandACampin wrote:

SWMO wrote:

The Brinkman is popular because it is cheap, but the results aren't, they just need more attention and skill for top quality results.

Have you cooked on both? I have.

Yes but we aren't talking the Gourmet versus the Smoky Mountain here either.
The modified Weber grill requiring some metal work versus putting together some Brinkman parts to smoke small amounts on the trail, the Brinkman setup is right there and much easier to assemble.
The Big Weber won't challenge a big offset with digital fans either, but again that's not the point.
I'm a big fan of Weber products and use them, but many are just to big and heavy to store in an RV.

No we are talking a smokey joe with a tamale pot insert vs the ECB. The Smokey Joe is the better product period. Without the smoker insert is as small if not smaller than the ECB as a grill. As a smoker with the insert, BTW very little metal work, it will outshine your brinkmann in every aspect. But that's what makes America great even when you're wrong about the brinkmann being better you have every right to your opinion.

[SWMO]

RandACampin wrote:

SWMO wrote:

The Brinkman is popular because it is cheap, but the results aren't, they just need more attention and skill for top quality results.

Have you cooked on both? I have.

Yes but we aren't talking the Gourmet versus the Smoky Mountain here either.
The modified Weber grill requiring some metal work versus putting together some Brinkman parts to smoke small amounts on the trail, the Brinkman setup is right there and much easier to assemble.
The Big Weber won't challenge a big offset with digital fans either, but again that's not the point.
I'm a big fan of Weber products and use them, but many are just to big and heavy to store in an RV.

[Oldtymeflyr]

My suggestion would be the Cameron Products smoker for a very small but highly effective smoker. If you want to slow cook, smoke in the Cameron Products smoker then switch to your grill of choice.

I have tried the Brinkmann product and tried it. Limiting the air flow and getting the heat up requires lots of tin foil and fiddling--just not my thing. You can buy a Brinkmann for $15 used and there are lots of used Brinkmanns out there. I now have a Weber and it works very well.

[RandACampin]

SWMO wrote:

The Brinkman is popular because it is cheap, but the results aren't, they just need more attention and skill for top quality results.

Have you cooked on both? I have.

[Super_Dave]

Hillbilly smoker = hot plate, pie tin, some sticks and a cardboard box.

[tplife]

These smokers in this post are anything but small! Just do a search, "Alton Brown Homemade Smoker", and choose the one that you're interested in putting together. They are small, inexpensive, and work great, they simply don't have the room of the big ones like our Meco Water Smoker.

[gon2dadawgs]

All you need is a heat source, a few pieces of aluminum sheet metal (16 gage), hinges and bit of time. If you are handy you can build one that folds flat....I did this in 1984 for a fishing trip to Alaska....I gave it to the guy who set up the whole trip....gotta make another one someday. That smoker ran for 12 days....24/7....yes lots of Salmon!

Michael

[SWMO]

GrumpyGator wrote:
Comparing a WSM with a Brinkmann is like comparing a Mercedes with a Yugo.

There is nothing the Brinkmann does better than the WSM.

That's why they call the Brinkmann an ECB (El Cheapo Brinkmann). LOL!!

I would agree, but that's not the point. Talking units capable of smoking for 3-4 people and small enough to be RV friendly the modified Smoky Joe isn't even a Buick.:B

The Brinkman is popular because it is cheap, but the results aren't, they just need more attention and skill for top quality results.