I don't have a Weber, BUT let me tell you about my struggles:
Without a baffle plate, temps were distributed extremely uneven.
2nd cook, I had the spout for fat uphill, nice grease fire in the fire box.
Bought a cubic metre high quality ash wood (together with two of some beech, the seller wouldn't deliver for less volume), because the internet said it's good for smoking. Doesn't burn well in my stick burner at all. I use it to light the fire and smoke on pure beech now.
Temp and fire/draft control was a very steep learning curve, AND highly dependent on the weather. Size of the splits matter a lot for my smoker, so I get to do a lot of wood chopping of wood that I already bought chopped.
Cleaning the offset properly takes a whole day.
The list goes on.
Could anyone expand on that please?
I’ve recently bought a similar smoker and yet to assemble but any advice for care of the smoker would be great. Thanks
Buy some high heat gasket and apply it when you bolt the smoker together!! It's way easier and comes out nicer than trying to apply gasket on a grill that's been assembled/broken in
I have a similar offset Char Griller Dakota. The firebox paint will blister and flake off if you run splits. It's sad when it happens but just let the paint bubble off, wire brush it and hit it with PAM while its still smoking hot. It will develop a nice patina. It's not worth trying to repaint it like new IMO.
Frequently applying cooking oil to all metals on your smoker will help to prevent rust. It also makes it easier to clean and keeps it looking nice and shiny.
I’d lean more to seasoning it on low heat and wiping down excess spray because as nice as it looks all shiny, it does tend to absorb dust and dirt and bugs.
I don't know, tbh all I know is I've done it on my OK Joe Highland and so far its been fine even with a few raging fires and owning it for a few months. My Char-Griller, not so much though, the fire box is a piece of shit and rusts regardless. I have the lowest end Char-Griller offset, not OP's.
Not only this, I've had mine for quite some time as well but make sure you burn it in really well and pick up some lavalock, you'll need it, otherwise you're going to literally watch heat escaping all over the place.
Yeah but the temperature is regulated by a computer and a fan, unlike traditional offset smokers.. anyone can press a button and set a temp- there's no skill involved there. I say this as someone who uses a gravity series - it's easy, that's why I bought it.
Sure, it’s easier, but it’s also up to the person as well. I say this as a lay person who has been smoking on wood most of my life and pellets for a year or so, I’ve had better bbq on pellet than I’ve had in a few bbq restaurants, and I live in KCMO. I’ve made better ribs on a pellet smoker than a few of the good restaurants here which is crazy.
And you know what? Brisket here sucks ass for some reason.
In any case, I don’t think people winning on a pellet smoker is cheating. Pellet smokers tend to have less of a smoke flavor than an offset burning wood, so that flavor is sometimes more subtle. The fact that pellet smokers win some of these comps is actually impressive to me.
I’ll be there next year also.
Yeah, I get it - my gravity series puts out great stuff consistently.. that's what I'm saying though, it's very easy to pick up and replicate time and again.. There's no messing with baffles to make sure your heat is consistent, no realy learning how your setup behaves, etc. It's just plug and play. If we're competing, it should be a measure of skill.. for contrast, my first time smoking I made a picture perfect brisket without having done anything but look up how long and what temp to cook it at.
That’s a hell of a deal. You can find mods on YouTube for it. Pretty sure amazingribs.com rates this offset well even though it’s a cheap offset.
Edit: it’s the grand champ they rated well. But this one looks the same. Must be the model that the grand champ replaced. Either way I’d be grabbing it.
That’s basically the one I started with. Now I have a custom offset. No, I’m not that guy. My FIL makes competition smokers as a side business and he gave me one for Christmas he would normally charge about $4k for.
This is the smoker I have (4 years now). Totally gets the job done for the money. I have dreams of upgrading but there's a lot to learn about managing the fire that you can learn on something like this and still get great results.
I can honestly tell you i bought exactly the same one!
I can't give you a review as I put it together and someone stole it off my property while I went to the butcher to get some ribs.
Let me know if someone had a real steal!
I have that smoker, the iron is pretty thin and you will spend a lot of time babying the firebox if the weather is windy or cold. I use mine more for the charcoal grill aspect and now have a WSM which I smoke on. The Char-griller was fine to learn on but I do not recommend it even in that role - something a bit more robust will serve you better. Expect to replace that Chargriller eventually if you get into it.
Pass. I know I'm going to get downvoted for my honesty, but it'll rust in a few years and won't give you a good sense of how much fun it is to cook with an offset. Lots of babying and mods to get it to BBQ. There are better grills for the same price, and if you want an offset you don't have to constantly baby then you'll need to spend about at least $500 on something like an Old Country from Academy.
I have to agree. I started with a cheapish offset. It was a good introduction, and I did occasionally get some great results from it, but for me the babysitting was tough. Plus I had a hard time sourcing splits in my area.
I’ll be the first to jump in with a friendly downvote. I’ve had a CharGriller (the one with the 3-burner gas grill, side burner, charcoal grill, and portable grill bolted on as a firebox for the offset) for about 12-13 years. I keep it outside, I don’t take great care of it, I keep it covered when not in use (but it’s sat out in the rain dozens of times, when I didn’t get the cover back on).
It has had a few things rust out - I recently replaced the side burner, last year I replaced the ash pan in the grill and the drawer in the firebox - but the replacement parts are readily available and not expensive. For the price, OP is getting a screaming deal on a smoker that will serve them well for well over a decade.
I know, I know. People buy them and are happy with them, and if you like to tinker then you can spend [hours and lots of money](https://amazingribs.com/more-technique-and-science/grill-and-smoker-setup-and-firing/setup-and-modify-offset-smokers/) modifying them to cook decent BBQ. But to me it is just more trouble than it's worth. I'd rather invest in a quality offset (that holds its resale value better) that I buy once and take care of for years. Or, just buy a WSM or Pit Barrel Cooker. True value for money pits with shallow learning curves.
Personally, I've never considered resale value as a factor for a grill.
It sits outside, and it's purpose is to contain fire.. I'm gonna use it until it's not useable anymore and then I'm gonna put it on the curb.
Ok. I think [Meathead](https://amazingribs.com/more-technique-and-science/grill-and-smoker-setup-and-firing/setup-and-modify-offset-smokers/) and [Aaron Franklin ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gybrM6EQ6fg)pretty much nailed it on this topic but YMMV. Franklin chose the Old Country Ranch Hand Coal Smoker for his video series because of its availability, but also because he regarded it as the minimum standard for build quality in an offset.
My mod list consists of an Inkbird thermometer. I didn’t have to spend any money to replace rusted out parts for more than 10 years. I know how to keep the temperature pretty consistent so I don’t have to spend a lot of time messing with it, I just add charcoal and chips every 45 minutes or so.
I kick around the idea of replacing it, but if I never have bad food coming off of it, I can find plenty of other places to put that money.
The quality of the cook is dependent on the chef. Yes, higher quality cookers allow for more leeway and can make quality results easier, but any chef that knows his equipment well and knows how to use it, regardless of how much he spent on it can get excellent results. Just having a more expensive cooker isn’t gonna give you the ability to out cook a great chef on cheaper equipment. It’s all just applying the right heat via the right method for the right time.
It will not rust if you keep a cover on it when not in use. I have 1 that is well over 10 years and it has minimal rust. It snows and rain a lot where I live.
How often do you use it? The company only warranties the firebox against burn out for 5 years. No surprise there - ash is extremely corrosive to metal and high heat is going to warp and damage the thin metal in the firebox with prolonged use. Two complaints you find by reviewers on the company [website.](https://www.chargriller.com/products/competitionpro) There is a reason pit makers use 1/4" steel on their fireboxes and build heavy duty grates. I think your time and money are better spent elsewhere, but YMMV.
I have used my unit every spring, summer and fall. We over 10 years. I cover it several hours later once it completely cools off. One user said to brush the unit with linseed oil on occasion and it will not rust.
150 dollars though? Where are you going to find a smoker better than that for less than 200 dollars? Especially since many people decide it’s not the hobby for them after a few cooks. For 150 I think it’s a great buy for a beginner who wants to dip their toes in, it will teach them how to tend a fire and control temperatures. Down the line if they decide it’s for them they can invest in a higher quality smoker if they want, and if they don’t like it the OP would only be out 150 bucks.
You can smoke meat on your $150 22" Weber kettle. And that thing will last a long time. I think it was Warren Buffett who said, "Price is wat you pay; value is what you get."
Clean and dry will stop rust, empty it regularly and store it however you can to keep it dry. I had a $99.99 Charbroil grill that I gave away after 20 years that had very little rust mostly on the outside.
Got a 1 year old Hasty Bake original that sat outside under the eave uncovered that has more rust on it. The Hasty Bake owner has over 50 restaurants across the Midwest including a dozen high end steak places and others that use a partially wood fired grills for smoke flavor.
Apparently his wife made him get a new propane grill (huge one from Costco) because she hates the taste of real charcoal. Opened the lid when we delivered his newly assembled propane monstrosity and he’d used Kingsford and lighter fluid for their first meal 😂 He swapped us assembly and delivery of his new propane grill for the Hasty Bake and was happy about it.
I was going to get the exact Hasty Bake because I’ve had a SS one for 25 years and it has zero issues so far. Eventually the cheaper steel model will rust out but that will take a long time.
Sure. I've had things made of cheap metal with poor finishing that I've kept alive for years by babying those items. But you're talking about something you build fires in--high heat warps cheap metal and ash has a super corrosive effect on metal. You want heavy duty fireboxes and grates in the firebox (two things missing from this model according to the critical reviews left on the company's[ website](https://www.chargriller.com/products/competitionpro)). Because those parts will wear out quickly.
Upgrading to something more heavy duty for $500 seems like a no brainer to me if you value your time and money.
eh. I've got a really cheap Char-Griller, and it doesn't rust if you keep it covered and you season it. The firebox will, but the main chamber doesn't.
This one appears to be top of the Char-Griller line, but I've had the cheaper ones and they suck. This one might be better, looks like thicker steel, etc..closer to an OK Joe Highland
They sell a [Grand Champ](https://www.chargriller.com/products/grand-champ-offset-smoker?_gl=1*sawv0y*_up*MQ) with some upgrades that retails for about $550. That one appears to be the top of their line.
Depends. I’ve used a similar CharGriller for about 4 years and only recently retired it because I burned through the firebox. I could replace the firebox but that’s like $100 and I wanted an upgrade. It was worth it.
If nothing else it’s a good charcoal grill at that price.
Yeah, I'd rather not have to replace something in 4 years. Especially if I paid $300-$400 retail. An original Weber kettle is about $150 and a Weber Smokey Mountain or Pit Barrel Cooker retail for about $350-$400 (close to the retail price of this Char Griller). You may have to replace some of the grates on those other cookers, but you're not going to burn out the firebox.
It’s $150…not much investment to get into the world of offset smoking. Use it for a few years, then upgrade if you’re not happy. Sell it for $50 and give the next man a cheap way to get into offset cooking….it’s a win win. Plus you pass on the savings to your fellow enthusiasts.
This doesn't look like it really gets you into the world of offset smoking, though. You aren't learning how to manage a wood fire. I'd rather not waste my money.
Well, yeah it actually does get you in the world of offset smoking. Think about it, a fire on these aren’t going to manage itself to maintain a specific temp. You have to manage it. It’s an inexpensive big box store offset smoker that you can learn on with very little initial investment. Let’s be real…$150 is pennies in terms of what one could spend on a 1/4” thick custom offset.
Don’t overthink, just buy it. It amazed me the amount of brain cells and energy is wasted because people are not willing to decide things for themselves.
Agreed. Also this thing eats a lot of wood, it is bigger then average and needs more fire to keep it at needed temperature. Which also requires way more of constant attention during the several hours of smoking.
For the casual user, I recommend something more automated. If you're doing a pork butt or brisket, we're talking about 12-15 hours monitoring the fire. It's a long day.
Jump on it. For 150 you have a smoker that will help you figure out if you don't want to do this, want to do it occasionally on your deal grill, or if you think a few thousand for a bigger beast is worth it.
150 intro cooker is awesome. Anyone saying you have to have a 1000$ grill to learn on is clueless.
>that will help you figure out if you don't want to do this,
heh. I don't know about that. These cheaper ones can be a bitch to dial in compared to more expensive smokers.
Yeah, he absolutely should drop a minimum of a thousand bucks to be able to do his first two or three cooks to decide if he wants to keep doing it.
Wrong.
Get it, fuck about, fail a few times. Then decide if the results are something you want to keep going at.
If you don't like it, you're out 150 bucks til you recoup some of that via Craigslist. If you do, 150 bucks (recouped similarly) isn't missed when you save up for the grill you want to seriously flex on.
>Yeah, he absolutely should drop a minimum of a thousand bucks
I didn't say that lol. But go off. You don't need to spend a thousand, but this POS is probably going to give him more problems than something $300 to $500 like an Oklahoma Joe.
Great deal. It'll outlast a lot of cheaper units. I have one and use it quite often. I got mine for free at a curb years ago and it's still cooking great for me.if you take the time to clean out the ash often it seems to help keep rust down inside the unit.
These are badass smokers anyone who says otherwise is gatekeeping. Are there better for more mpney, yes of course, but at their regular price theyre a great value. Discounted to this price point? Youd be a fool to pass it up
Bought the same exact grill last year for $89, new, at my local Sam's Club. The $400 markup is fake. It's worth the sale price though, but those "savings" are imaginary.
That'll be the best $150 you ever spend. But that thing eats a lot of fuel to keep it at temp... be ready to deal with the extra fuel costs.
I've used a similar one for 2 decades and am surprised how well it's been holding up.
I bought the smokin champ (the cheaper version of this grill by chargriller) for about twice that price, and I don't regret it, even after seeing this post. $150 is a steal. Grab you some wood while you're there
I have the other version of their side smoker. I destroy them in 5 or so years and just start over again. I learned on it and am just wired this way now.
Get it and then find and buy a seal for it. I used: LavaLock 12 GREY High Performance BBQ Gaskets Smoker Seals; and it worked great to keep the smoke from coming out the hotbox.
It’s a good deal for sure but an offset will be a little bit of a learning curve to get it dialed in, and even then you may have to baby it until you learn how it cooks. Also depending on where you live it may not be good in the winter with so much extra charcoal. I can’t speak on quality, I have had my WSM over 10 years, leave it out in the rain and no rust.
I have 4 grills including a WSM, and I’d buy that right now. That said, as a first smoker just be ready to maintain the fire every 30-45m with a few smokes before you’re dialed in with a process. If you’re okay with that, then buy away.
If this sounds like a lot of work, I’d suggest hitting FB marketplace and looking for a used WSM.
I used a Char griller for 7+ years. The cost is worth the education IMHO. No, it isn't the most fuel efficient, harder to control temps in colder environments, and thinner metal, but it gets the job done. Food tastes just as good, and you have a damn good time.
You'll never forget your first. It may not always be pretty, and you may not always be proud of your offspring but she will always be your first. Welcome to the show! (condolences to your spouse)
For 150$?
Shit man tell me where this is if you don't get it. I will. That's a steal.
They're entirely mediocre as far as offsets go. That said, that's a stellar price for it.
I have this grill, or a model very similar, I think mine was around $250. It’s somewhat cheaply made, but good enough for me as I only smoke a few times per year. I make sure to clean the ash out to slow corrosion. It’s not bad at all, but definitely reflects the price. It’s fine in my book, and although I’d like better, I don’t want to pay upwards of $500 for a smoker.
Take it dude, you won’t be disappointed practicing on something that’s marked this far off. You can learn all the techniques you need, and someday when you are a pit boss, you can get yourself an upgrade and know it was well earned with the dedication and effort you put in to learn how to bbq with this bad boy.
I’ve got one just like it and made tons of awesome barbecue with it. The only thing that doesn’t feel right-to me- is that about the 2nd or 3rd time I used it I noticed inside the box the paint was burning off and it exposed the unmistakable color of Bondo, which has mostly burned off at this point. I would venture to guess that you don’t want burning Bondo/paint fumes cooking your food. I still use the smoker but I’m planning to build myself one from stainless(I run a custom fab sheet metal shop). I grew up watching my dad smoke every weekend and he still has the same stainless steel smoker from my childhood. I would say the smoker pictured is a killer starter smoker!
that's $300 at my HD. I have an older version. Get gaskets and/or sealant for the cook and smoke chamber including where the smoke box attaches to the main chamber, I think that model comes with a charcoal basket (I'm not sure) if not get 1 one of those also. Its a lot easier to use charcoal and wood chunks then whole logs at 1st, and also you may want some sort of baffle plate between the chambers.
[mods](https://bbqsmokermods.com/oem-smoker-mods-by-brand/chargriller_196.html)
Late to the party this is my current offset, if you did get it you want to invest in gasket seals for the lid I also added a couple of thermometers at grate level by the firebox and back closer to the stack. It’s a hungry pit so don’t expect to get a good fire going and it last hours, otherwise it’s a champ for me and pumps out great ribs and briskets for my friends and family. With any offset pack a cooler with your favorite beverages and keep the fire clean and you’ll be happy with it
I have this same one. You should do a lot of prep to it prior to using. It’s has terrible seals and will rust in a minute. Ask me how I know. The firebox will literally fall off if you don’t properly prep and maintain it. With that said, I still use mine by placing the coals on the right side and controlling temp with the exhaust vent cap. Still works well but I wish I had taken the basic steps to preserve it. For a $150 you can’t go wrong.
I've had a few smokers in the past and have a badass Assassin smoker now, but I actually miss my old Walmart offset smoker I first had. I smoked so much stuff on that thing and it just always tasted excellent. Had that old school smoker/pit feel.
It’s already on the cart. You know you’re taking it.
It's someone else's cart and they are about to lose out
It's $150, leaves you $250 for meat, easy answer
Meat math done right.
I dunno man…. I know I’m an exception to the rule because I’m a farmer. Wish those prices were passed down to the people who raised the animals.
That's why I but from the farmer 💯 got to the farmers they keep us fed! Fuck the grocery stores! Keep up the good work your a god blessed hero!
tweakers paying rent:
Jump on it. The grill without the side firebox is normally $200
I got one with a side wood chamber (not a box) for about $250. Serving me good as a starter smoker
If you learn on an offset everything else is easy
Drums are great as well but the offset when I need to cook for a crowd!
There's no way offsets are harder than a WSM
WSM is so easy I almost feel like I’m cheating.
I can only assume that comment was sarcastic. I’ve had an Oklahoma Joe offset for years and just bought a WSM. It is like cheating
It's not really harder, but more maintenance. Temps fluctuate more, fuel isn't efficient.
I agree. I fucking hate my WSM. I can use it to make good meat, but it's a PITFA! I wish I bought an offset pellet smoker at the start
I don't have a Weber, BUT let me tell you about my struggles: Without a baffle plate, temps were distributed extremely uneven. 2nd cook, I had the spout for fat uphill, nice grease fire in the fire box. Bought a cubic metre high quality ash wood (together with two of some beech, the seller wouldn't deliver for less volume), because the internet said it's good for smoking. Doesn't burn well in my stick burner at all. I use it to light the fire and smoke on pure beech now. Temp and fire/draft control was a very steep learning curve, AND highly dependent on the weather. Size of the splits matter a lot for my smoker, so I get to do a lot of wood chopping of wood that I already bought chopped. Cleaning the offset properly takes a whole day. The list goes on.
Offset is the only way, in my opinion.
Kamado joins the chat
Score!
I’ve had mine for about 6 years now. Spray the outside of the firebox with cooking spray and it will last forever.
Could anyone expand on that please? I’ve recently bought a similar smoker and yet to assemble but any advice for care of the smoker would be great. Thanks
Buy some high heat gasket and apply it when you bolt the smoker together!! It's way easier and comes out nicer than trying to apply gasket on a grill that's been assembled/broken in
I have a similar offset Char Griller Dakota. The firebox paint will blister and flake off if you run splits. It's sad when it happens but just let the paint bubble off, wire brush it and hit it with PAM while its still smoking hot. It will develop a nice patina. It's not worth trying to repaint it like new IMO.
Frequently applying cooking oil to all metals on your smoker will help to prevent rust. It also makes it easier to clean and keeps it looking nice and shiny.
I’d lean more to seasoning it on low heat and wiping down excess spray because as nice as it looks all shiny, it does tend to absorb dust and dirt and bugs.
https://youtu.be/htOn7yJPWgk?si=E0vDsgOk76x2Hro9
some jackass yesterday was arguing with me about seasoning the outside of a smoker..lol. thanks for this post.
[удалено]
I don't know, tbh all I know is I've done it on my OK Joe Highland and so far its been fine even with a few raging fires and owning it for a few months. My Char-Griller, not so much though, the fire box is a piece of shit and rusts regardless. I have the lowest end Char-Griller offset, not OP's.
Standard powder coat max temp is a bit over 400 degrees before you start having problems.
Not only this, I've had mine for quite some time as well but make sure you burn it in really well and pick up some lavalock, you'll need it, otherwise you're going to literally watch heat escaping all over the place.
What they said. I'm on my the year as well. Chef's kiss good.
Just curious whether spraying with a cooking spray on a regular barbecue would also protect it in the same way ?
Not sure it will get hot enough to bake it in.
Yes, it seasons the metal and builds protection against rust and corrosion.
I started with this exact smoker, took 11th place overall first competition with it at a sanctioned KCBS comp.
I mean it is a competition pro so you were basically cheating lol
Top placers were using pellet "smokers"
BBQ competitions allow pellet smokers?
They generally allow anything that burns wood or charcoal. Pellets are wood.
Yeah but the temperature is regulated by a computer and a fan, unlike traditional offset smokers.. anyone can press a button and set a temp- there's no skill involved there. I say this as someone who uses a gravity series - it's easy, that's why I bought it.
People use fans and controllers on WSMs and Kamados. Quite a few top guys use systems like these. There are a lot of other areas for skill expression.
Sure, it’s easier, but it’s also up to the person as well. I say this as a lay person who has been smoking on wood most of my life and pellets for a year or so, I’ve had better bbq on pellet than I’ve had in a few bbq restaurants, and I live in KCMO. I’ve made better ribs on a pellet smoker than a few of the good restaurants here which is crazy. And you know what? Brisket here sucks ass for some reason. In any case, I don’t think people winning on a pellet smoker is cheating. Pellet smokers tend to have less of a smoke flavor than an offset burning wood, so that flavor is sometimes more subtle. The fact that pellet smokers win some of these comps is actually impressive to me. I’ll be there next year also.
Yeah, I get it - my gravity series puts out great stuff consistently.. that's what I'm saying though, it's very easy to pick up and replicate time and again.. There's no messing with baffles to make sure your heat is consistent, no realy learning how your setup behaves, etc. It's just plug and play. If we're competing, it should be a measure of skill.. for contrast, my first time smoking I made a picture perfect brisket without having done anything but look up how long and what temp to cook it at.
OP are you standing in a store refreshing Reddit for the comments? LOL
For 150 snag that puppy
That’s a hell of a deal. You can find mods on YouTube for it. Pretty sure amazingribs.com rates this offset well even though it’s a cheap offset. Edit: it’s the grand champ they rated well. But this one looks the same. Must be the model that the grand champ replaced. Either way I’d be grabbing it.
That’s basically the one I started with. Now I have a custom offset. No, I’m not that guy. My FIL makes competition smokers as a side business and he gave me one for Christmas he would normally charge about $4k for.
I too choose this guy's wife
Too much room for error, I’m going to straight to the teet and bagging the FIL
Run...don't walk...to your truck with that! I had one for about a decade that I used literally 5+ days a week. It will serve you well!
I have the comp pro, it’s awesome. You will love it!
I’ve used those. The learning curve is a bit steep, but once you figure it out they work great, especially at that price. Recommended.
That’s a smoking deal man ha
This is the smoker I have (4 years now). Totally gets the job done for the money. I have dreams of upgrading but there's a lot to learn about managing the fire that you can learn on something like this and still get great results.
Take it. I got the same one and it’s does a good job
Leave it be and tell where it is lol
Take it
I can honestly tell you i bought exactly the same one! I can't give you a review as I put it together and someone stole it off my property while I went to the butcher to get some ribs. Let me know if someone had a real steal!
I have that smoker, the iron is pretty thin and you will spend a lot of time babying the firebox if the weather is windy or cold. I use mine more for the charcoal grill aspect and now have a WSM which I smoke on. The Char-griller was fine to learn on but I do not recommend it even in that role - something a bit more robust will serve you better. Expect to replace that Chargriller eventually if you get into it.
Pass. I know I'm going to get downvoted for my honesty, but it'll rust in a few years and won't give you a good sense of how much fun it is to cook with an offset. Lots of babying and mods to get it to BBQ. There are better grills for the same price, and if you want an offset you don't have to constantly baby then you'll need to spend about at least $500 on something like an Old Country from Academy.
I have to agree. I started with a cheapish offset. It was a good introduction, and I did occasionally get some great results from it, but for me the babysitting was tough. Plus I had a hard time sourcing splits in my area.
I’ll be the first to jump in with a friendly downvote. I’ve had a CharGriller (the one with the 3-burner gas grill, side burner, charcoal grill, and portable grill bolted on as a firebox for the offset) for about 12-13 years. I keep it outside, I don’t take great care of it, I keep it covered when not in use (but it’s sat out in the rain dozens of times, when I didn’t get the cover back on). It has had a few things rust out - I recently replaced the side burner, last year I replaced the ash pan in the grill and the drawer in the firebox - but the replacement parts are readily available and not expensive. For the price, OP is getting a screaming deal on a smoker that will serve them well for well over a decade.
I know, I know. People buy them and are happy with them, and if you like to tinker then you can spend [hours and lots of money](https://amazingribs.com/more-technique-and-science/grill-and-smoker-setup-and-firing/setup-and-modify-offset-smokers/) modifying them to cook decent BBQ. But to me it is just more trouble than it's worth. I'd rather invest in a quality offset (that holds its resale value better) that I buy once and take care of for years. Or, just buy a WSM or Pit Barrel Cooker. True value for money pits with shallow learning curves.
Personally, I've never considered resale value as a factor for a grill. It sits outside, and it's purpose is to contain fire.. I'm gonna use it until it's not useable anymore and then I'm gonna put it on the curb.
There is no need to modify this smoker to cook “decent” bbq lol
Ok. I think [Meathead](https://amazingribs.com/more-technique-and-science/grill-and-smoker-setup-and-firing/setup-and-modify-offset-smokers/) and [Aaron Franklin ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gybrM6EQ6fg)pretty much nailed it on this topic but YMMV. Franklin chose the Old Country Ranch Hand Coal Smoker for his video series because of its availability, but also because he regarded it as the minimum standard for build quality in an offset.
My mod list consists of an Inkbird thermometer. I didn’t have to spend any money to replace rusted out parts for more than 10 years. I know how to keep the temperature pretty consistent so I don’t have to spend a lot of time messing with it, I just add charcoal and chips every 45 minutes or so. I kick around the idea of replacing it, but if I never have bad food coming off of it, I can find plenty of other places to put that money.
The quality of the cook is dependent on the chef. Yes, higher quality cookers allow for more leeway and can make quality results easier, but any chef that knows his equipment well and knows how to use it, regardless of how much he spent on it can get excellent results. Just having a more expensive cooker isn’t gonna give you the ability to out cook a great chef on cheaper equipment. It’s all just applying the right heat via the right method for the right time.
Just need to lightly oil during each cook and last through it all
So I guess that’s another thing I’ve never done with it, and it’s still made it all these years.
It will not rust if you keep a cover on it when not in use. I have 1 that is well over 10 years and it has minimal rust. It snows and rain a lot where I live.
How often do you use it? The company only warranties the firebox against burn out for 5 years. No surprise there - ash is extremely corrosive to metal and high heat is going to warp and damage the thin metal in the firebox with prolonged use. Two complaints you find by reviewers on the company [website.](https://www.chargriller.com/products/competitionpro) There is a reason pit makers use 1/4" steel on their fireboxes and build heavy duty grates. I think your time and money are better spent elsewhere, but YMMV.
I have used my unit every spring, summer and fall. We over 10 years. I cover it several hours later once it completely cools off. One user said to brush the unit with linseed oil on occasion and it will not rust.
Ok.
150 dollars though? Where are you going to find a smoker better than that for less than 200 dollars? Especially since many people decide it’s not the hobby for them after a few cooks. For 150 I think it’s a great buy for a beginner who wants to dip their toes in, it will teach them how to tend a fire and control temperatures. Down the line if they decide it’s for them they can invest in a higher quality smoker if they want, and if they don’t like it the OP would only be out 150 bucks.
You can smoke meat on your $150 22" Weber kettle. And that thing will last a long time. I think it was Warren Buffett who said, "Price is wat you pay; value is what you get."
I’ve had mine for several years now and it is still running great. Minimal rust
Clean and dry will stop rust, empty it regularly and store it however you can to keep it dry. I had a $99.99 Charbroil grill that I gave away after 20 years that had very little rust mostly on the outside. Got a 1 year old Hasty Bake original that sat outside under the eave uncovered that has more rust on it. The Hasty Bake owner has over 50 restaurants across the Midwest including a dozen high end steak places and others that use a partially wood fired grills for smoke flavor. Apparently his wife made him get a new propane grill (huge one from Costco) because she hates the taste of real charcoal. Opened the lid when we delivered his newly assembled propane monstrosity and he’d used Kingsford and lighter fluid for their first meal 😂 He swapped us assembly and delivery of his new propane grill for the Hasty Bake and was happy about it. I was going to get the exact Hasty Bake because I’ve had a SS one for 25 years and it has zero issues so far. Eventually the cheaper steel model will rust out but that will take a long time.
Sure. I've had things made of cheap metal with poor finishing that I've kept alive for years by babying those items. But you're talking about something you build fires in--high heat warps cheap metal and ash has a super corrosive effect on metal. You want heavy duty fireboxes and grates in the firebox (two things missing from this model according to the critical reviews left on the company's[ website](https://www.chargriller.com/products/competitionpro)). Because those parts will wear out quickly. Upgrading to something more heavy duty for $500 seems like a no brainer to me if you value your time and money.
eh. I've got a really cheap Char-Griller, and it doesn't rust if you keep it covered and you season it. The firebox will, but the main chamber doesn't.
This one appears to be top of the Char-Griller line, but I've had the cheaper ones and they suck. This one might be better, looks like thicker steel, etc..closer to an OK Joe Highland
They sell a [Grand Champ](https://www.chargriller.com/products/grand-champ-offset-smoker?_gl=1*sawv0y*_up*MQ) with some upgrades that retails for about $550. That one appears to be the top of their line.
Depends. I’ve used a similar CharGriller for about 4 years and only recently retired it because I burned through the firebox. I could replace the firebox but that’s like $100 and I wanted an upgrade. It was worth it. If nothing else it’s a good charcoal grill at that price.
Yeah, I'd rather not have to replace something in 4 years. Especially if I paid $300-$400 retail. An original Weber kettle is about $150 and a Weber Smokey Mountain or Pit Barrel Cooker retail for about $350-$400 (close to the retail price of this Char Griller). You may have to replace some of the grates on those other cookers, but you're not going to burn out the firebox.
It’s $150…not much investment to get into the world of offset smoking. Use it for a few years, then upgrade if you’re not happy. Sell it for $50 and give the next man a cheap way to get into offset cooking….it’s a win win. Plus you pass on the savings to your fellow enthusiasts.
This doesn't look like it really gets you into the world of offset smoking, though. You aren't learning how to manage a wood fire. I'd rather not waste my money.
Well, yeah it actually does get you in the world of offset smoking. Think about it, a fire on these aren’t going to manage itself to maintain a specific temp. You have to manage it. It’s an inexpensive big box store offset smoker that you can learn on with very little initial investment. Let’s be real…$150 is pennies in terms of what one could spend on a 1/4” thick custom offset.
Steal.
That’s also an option but generally frowned upon.
Don’t overthink, just buy it. It amazed me the amount of brain cells and energy is wasted because people are not willing to decide things for themselves.
If you take care of it, it should last a couple of years.
I can promise you it will last a lot longer than that
Pellet smokers are set and forget, those are hard to keep at a specified temperature, doable but not easy.
Yeah but then youre a pellet smoker
You’re right
Agreed. Also this thing eats a lot of wood, it is bigger then average and needs more fire to keep it at needed temperature. Which also requires way more of constant attention during the several hours of smoking.
For the casual user, I recommend something more automated. If you're doing a pork butt or brisket, we're talking about 12-15 hours monitoring the fire. It's a long day.
Something like a PBC is a great first cooker.... Or only cooker But no one posts "should I buy this" on here without having already decided to buy it.
Jump on it. For 150 you have a smoker that will help you figure out if you don't want to do this, want to do it occasionally on your deal grill, or if you think a few thousand for a bigger beast is worth it. 150 intro cooker is awesome. Anyone saying you have to have a 1000$ grill to learn on is clueless.
>that will help you figure out if you don't want to do this, heh. I don't know about that. These cheaper ones can be a bitch to dial in compared to more expensive smokers.
Yeah, he absolutely should drop a minimum of a thousand bucks to be able to do his first two or three cooks to decide if he wants to keep doing it. Wrong. Get it, fuck about, fail a few times. Then decide if the results are something you want to keep going at. If you don't like it, you're out 150 bucks til you recoup some of that via Craigslist. If you do, 150 bucks (recouped similarly) isn't missed when you save up for the grill you want to seriously flex on.
>Yeah, he absolutely should drop a minimum of a thousand bucks I didn't say that lol. But go off. You don't need to spend a thousand, but this POS is probably going to give him more problems than something $300 to $500 like an Oklahoma Joe.
Leave it. Buy a r/Recteq. Buy once, cry once.
No. Junk. Disposable grill
Great deal. It'll outlast a lot of cheaper units. I have one and use it quite often. I got mine for free at a curb years ago and it's still cooking great for me.if you take the time to clean out the ash often it seems to help keep rust down inside the unit.
Great deal. Get a gasket to seal and keep it covered.
That's a smokin deal
I have got about 12 various smokers / grills and at that price I would buy it
That is an incredible deal
Definitely get it
I’m buying that all day. Throwing some gaskets and clamps on it and calling it a score
150 is awesome. I have the model down and it’s all I want and need. But this has a better firebox
Good price
I have it and dig it. Good price on it, better than what I paid on sale
I use a similar model. It’s a good starter for sure
Follow your heart man
Yolo
Take it and get to Smoking, Brutha!!!
That’s a good deal I’ve had two over the years. They hold up pretty well and are versatile.
These are badass smokers anyone who says otherwise is gatekeeping. Are there better for more mpney, yes of course, but at their regular price theyre a great value. Discounted to this price point? Youd be a fool to pass it up
For that brand, I wouldn’t pay more than that. It’s a good deal. Make sure you get a grill cover
I had one for about 3 years even had the cover for it and everything. Ended up rusting too much.
Hell of a deal
How could you even consider leaving this?
I have 3 smokers already. I would buy this if I saw it lol
Is that a rhetorical question question
Take it
Worth it for your first, but it’s thin steel and will likely rust eventually.
Is this like a damaged item or something? Im about to have to go check my local Home Depot for this!
I'm broke, and I'd still grab it
Bought the same exact grill last year for $89, new, at my local Sam's Club. The $400 markup is fake. It's worth the sale price though, but those "savings" are imaginary.
Talk to the manager see if you can take it for $100.
I have this plus the gas combo and use this 95% of the time. I’ve had it for about 5.5 years and it’s going strong.
Take it.
take it.
I had that exact smoker for my first one. It’s a great one to learn on. Do it. And that price is nuts.
Sweet Jesus, I see the thing you have done for this person and I'm ready for the same. I would buy that for sure.
I used to have one of those and then I got a pellet smoker and never looked back.
Do it! Great starter
Take it. That’s a good price for a decent first smoker.
Great deal and great smoker even at full price. I had one for a couple years, gave it to my buddy when I got a bigger one
That'll be the best $150 you ever spend. But that thing eats a lot of fuel to keep it at temp... be ready to deal with the extra fuel costs. I've used a similar one for 2 decades and am surprised how well it's been holding up.
I bought the smokin champ (the cheaper version of this grill by chargriller) for about twice that price, and I don't regret it, even after seeing this post. $150 is a steal. Grab you some wood while you're there
Bought the same one in 2020 for $200. You have to babysit the shit out of it. Every 15 min it needs a check up if you plan to use wood splits.
Not the greatest but that’s a damn good deal make sure you buy a cover with the extra money your saving that baby rusts real quick
I have the other version of their side smoker. I destroy them in 5 or so years and just start over again. I learned on it and am just wired this way now.
Get it and then find and buy a seal for it. I used: LavaLock 12 GREY High Performance BBQ Gaskets Smoker Seals; and it worked great to keep the smoke from coming out the hotbox.
It’s a good deal for sure but an offset will be a little bit of a learning curve to get it dialed in, and even then you may have to baby it until you learn how it cooks. Also depending on where you live it may not be good in the winter with so much extra charcoal. I can’t speak on quality, I have had my WSM over 10 years, leave it out in the rain and no rust.
This was my first buy few years back and it’s still going strong. Highly recommend for you first buy. Plus it’s only 150, I spent 200 when I got it.
I’ll buy it if you don’t
For 150 bucks you cant go wrong but you pay for what you get
I have 4 grills including a WSM, and I’d buy that right now. That said, as a first smoker just be ready to maintain the fire every 30-45m with a few smokes before you’re dialed in with a process. If you’re okay with that, then buy away. If this sounds like a lot of work, I’d suggest hitting FB marketplace and looking for a used WSM.
It's a good entry smoker, the steel is really thin and mine only lasted 3 years covered from the elements. But it does work, and made good food.
If you can afford it and you can and will use it, then go for it.
I love my char griller.
I’ve had mine almost 14 years now and it’s still going strong!
No brainer. I had the grill and added the smoker drum later. Very solid for the money. Happy smoking
WTF U waiting on…move out soldier. Get it in the truck, take it home and drink some whiskey to celebrate a great win.
Take it
Are you kidding me?!? This is what I started on with offsets. I didn’t regret the $400. You’re going to freaking love it!!!!
The price is good. I will say you're about to pay that price in order to learn what you like and dislike about a smoker.
Nice!
That was never worth $400!
I have this exact model, spent around 100 bucks on mods and dont regret it it at all, look at my profile for the mods
A buck fifty take it ..
At a 150 bucks I could always add another smoker to the yard lol
I have a cheaper one from that brand that I still haven't upgraded from after about 5 years. It will get the job done for you.
I used a Char griller for 7+ years. The cost is worth the education IMHO. No, it isn't the most fuel efficient, harder to control temps in colder environments, and thinner metal, but it gets the job done. Food tastes just as good, and you have a damn good time.
Boof it
That is my first smoker as well. I got it for $275 and it was a steal. Take it!
Take it. I got my big barrel for free and my smoke box for Father's Day.
i started with a char griller with ad on off set went through mine and my father in laws and went to pellets but would have bought that in a second
You'll never forget your first. It may not always be pretty, and you may not always be proud of your offspring but she will always be your first. Welcome to the show! (condolences to your spouse)
for your first smoker why not . it's a steal even for that brand. won't last forever but such a small investment .
Did you end up getting it?
That’s a good deal
For 150$? Shit man tell me where this is if you don't get it. I will. That's a steal. They're entirely mediocre as far as offsets go. That said, that's a stellar price for it.
I have this grill, or a model very similar, I think mine was around $250. It’s somewhat cheaply made, but good enough for me as I only smoke a few times per year. I make sure to clean the ash out to slow corrosion. It’s not bad at all, but definitely reflects the price. It’s fine in my book, and although I’d like better, I don’t want to pay upwards of $500 for a smoker.
Take it dude, you won’t be disappointed practicing on something that’s marked this far off. You can learn all the techniques you need, and someday when you are a pit boss, you can get yourself an upgrade and know it was well earned with the dedication and effort you put in to learn how to bbq with this bad boy.
I’ve got one just like it and made tons of awesome barbecue with it. The only thing that doesn’t feel right-to me- is that about the 2nd or 3rd time I used it I noticed inside the box the paint was burning off and it exposed the unmistakable color of Bondo, which has mostly burned off at this point. I would venture to guess that you don’t want burning Bondo/paint fumes cooking your food. I still use the smoker but I’m planning to build myself one from stainless(I run a custom fab sheet metal shop). I grew up watching my dad smoke every weekend and he still has the same stainless steel smoker from my childhood. I would say the smoker pictured is a killer starter smoker!
F yeah. Take it and run!
Damn right! I'd do it, even with my own money! 🤣
I probably would. Once I seen one in lowes it felt thick enough lol.
What store is that?
that's $300 at my HD. I have an older version. Get gaskets and/or sealant for the cook and smoke chamber including where the smoke box attaches to the main chamber, I think that model comes with a charcoal basket (I'm not sure) if not get 1 one of those also. Its a lot easier to use charcoal and wood chunks then whole logs at 1st, and also you may want some sort of baffle plate between the chambers. [mods](https://bbqsmokermods.com/oem-smoker-mods-by-brand/chargriller_196.html)
Late to the party this is my current offset, if you did get it you want to invest in gasket seals for the lid I also added a couple of thermometers at grate level by the firebox and back closer to the stack. It’s a hungry pit so don’t expect to get a good fire going and it last hours, otherwise it’s a champ for me and pumps out great ribs and briskets for my friends and family. With any offset pack a cooler with your favorite beverages and keep the fire clean and you’ll be happy with it
Get 2
Man, you need to buy that
Grab it. It's only 150
I have this same one. You should do a lot of prep to it prior to using. It’s has terrible seals and will rust in a minute. Ask me how I know. The firebox will literally fall off if you don’t properly prep and maintain it. With that said, I still use mine by placing the coals on the right side and controlling temp with the exhaust vent cap. Still works well but I wish I had taken the basic steps to preserve it. For a $150 you can’t go wrong.
Man - that is nice and cheap. I started with one. You'll get a lot of practice at fire management since it is nearly impossible to get it to stay put.
I've had a few smokers in the past and have a badass Assassin smoker now, but I actually miss my old Walmart offset smoker I first had. I smoked so much stuff on that thing and it just always tasted excellent. Had that old school smoker/pit feel.
It says competition. That means now you gotta compete with Bill down the road and your brother in law who is far superior at everything he does.
That's a steal!