Best Smoker/Grill combo for under $500

[Kansasboy]

Any thoughts..?...Have a little money burning a hole in my pocket and would like to buy a good smoker/grill combo for under 5 bills or so...

[Toga]

"Best cooker for under $500" is a broad question. It depends on whether you want to babysit a fire or set it and forget it. Then brings the question of electric, propane, charcoal, or wood. For best flavor go charcoal or wood. With that said to narrow it down further ask yourself if you are looking for easy to use and more or less set it or forget it or a commitment to fiddle with fire for hours on end. If looking for an easy set it and forget it solution a Webber Smokey Mountain or ProQ would be a good choice. Most will give reasons for one vs another. Both are excellent choices. Making a UDS or Ugly drum smoker if you have an hour or two to spare is a great option and would cost considerably less than both of the above options and you can spend the money saved on fuel and lovely meats such as standing rib roasts and such. If you like the primal feeling of tending the fire then an inexpensive or used off set would be the route to go.
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"if you cant cook it in bacon grease it ain't worth eating"

UDS
ECB x2
Gasser

[Kansasboy]

Thanks for the reply....It would have to be charcoal or wood....I have had two electrics and although I like my MB ok...just doesn't give a guy the feeling of real smoking imo...and I have looked at the WSM"s and no doubt they are a great smoker...but I think you hit it on the head as the tending fire aspect is exactly what I am looking for.....so I guess I can narrow down the searcj to a good off set....any suggestions..?

[DawgPhan]

that is a real void when it comes to quality equipment. For $200 you can get the WSM. Good basic smoker and can be used as a grill if need be. You really need to start pushing $1000 before you can get into serious smoker territory.

I would think that for $500 you could get a decent sized BGE, primo or other ceramic cooker.

[Smokin Mike]

[jansboy]

I would go for the UDS, I've made three and they work great. I bought a knock off Weber style from Sears and used the top for my UDS and still have the kettle to grill on when I'm not smoking. If you turn the barrel upside down and cut the bottom out the lid fits the bottom of the barrel very good. I just used the lock ring to hold the top on thats now the bottom. It makes it easy to clean after useing it.The cost will be around $100.00 if you have to buy the kettle, and much less if you can find a used one or can talk a friend out of his old Weber.

[Canadian Bacon]

I still say everyone should have a WSM in their collection of cookers,great for smoking,great for charcoal grilling .
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Horizon Offset (Marshall RD Special)
30 " Electric Masterbuilt(Digital)
Large BGE
Napoleon Legend Gasser
20"& 26" Discada
Two of the fastest Thermapens ever made ... Black& Blue
LIAR #25

[JimH]

The WSM is as close to "set it & forget it" as you can get with charcoal/wood chunks.

ETA: You can get a Webber Kettle for grilling, a WSM for smoking and come in under $500 easy. I bought the 18.5 gold and it was about $100 and I caught a deal on buy.com (thanks to someone on this board alerting us) and got the WSM for $115 plus shipping. They are well made units, I can shut the vents on both and reuse the fuel on the next cook.
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The Demolition Man - Demolition Man BBQ

[Skidder]

Thats what I did. I started with WSM then bought a Weber 22.5" OTG, Now I have three WSM's and two Weber grills plus a Brinkman grill.

[SierraScott]

Weber Kettle... I have a Silver Smoker from CharBroil, too. you can buy 2 of each for $500 at home depot.

I've learned a lot from cooking on my weber kettle. I do all my ABT's with indirect heat. I've been smoking chickens and tri tip too. cooks a little faster but great results.
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Scott

Custom Built Upright Smoker
Weber One Touch Silver 22.5"
CharBroil Silver Smoker

[SecretS]

[YardFullOfOak]

These days, there is also the Char-Griller Acorn.

It is a good all-in one.

[Mike Lawry]

WSM 22.5

[halftimer]

I built a insulate gravity fed cabinet. Great smoker twenty pounds of charcoal and wood chunks about a hour setting the air ballcock and it will cook 12 hours at 230 degrees without touching it. Bought a wsm at a home depot for $59.00 about this time of year and I never use the one I built. I love my wsm. Hope that helps
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my smoker build

[halftimer]

I built a insulate gravity fed cabinet. Great smoker twenty pounds of charcoal and wood chunks about a hour setting the air ballcock and it will cook 12 hours at 230 degrees without touching it. Bought a wsm at a home depot for $59.00 about this time of year and I never use the one I built. I love my wsm. Hope that helps
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my smoker build

[Natural Hattrick 3]