Advice on smoker/BBQ

[dbairduk]

After getting the curing bug and seeing some of the BBQ ribs pictures on this forum I am interested in a smoker or bbq/smoker combined.
I have looked at the bradley and although looks great.. it's expensive for my needs.

I looked at the weber smokey mountain, and ProQ range.

I am leaning towards a ProQ with cold smoke generator.

Before i take the plunge, can this combination give me the results of the bradley in both hot and cold smoking?

I would like to smoke some hams, cheese, fish etc and also be able to smoke/bbq some ribs and chicken.

Does anyone have a Proq BBQ smoker or the weber?

Cheers

Dave

[saucisson]

It's horses for courses, the Bradley is designed for hot smoking and is possibly the easiest way to do it, though purists would argue that a real fire is the way to do it. You can cold smoke in a Bradley, but the Bradley generator is not cheap to run, any old box and and a ProQ smoke generator will do the same job at a fraction of the costs and at least 10 fold less running costs. Given you can smoke in any old box the ProQ will obviously be perfect for cold smoking and good for hands on hot smoking just as the Weber is. The advantage of the Bradley over the other two is the "set and forget", both the BBQs will need monitoring and stoking. There are pro's and con's to both BBQ's and both have their fans. I can't really comment as I haven't used either so you are best reading some of the reviews out there and making up your own mind. There may even have been some discussion on here. I'll maybe have a hunt round if you have trouble finding anything.

[dbairduk]

no it's fine. I have read quite a few threads and watched some cook offs between the weber and Proq on youtube.
I don't have a good BBQ, and these bullet types seemed to match alot of my needs. Its them pictures of ribs that makes my mouth water

I think a mid size would suit me realy... so I was looking at the Proq frontier.

If you search for them on ebay there is someone claiming that Proq are in liquidisation and he is selling off stock? Not sure what the storey is behing this, but it may enable me to pick one up on the cheap.

[probbq]

If you search for them on ebay there is someone claiming that Proq are in liquidisation and he is selling off stock? Not sure what the storey is behing this, but it may enable me to pick one up on the cheap.

ProQ are not going into liquidation.

[saucisson]

Well as Ian here is Macsbbq I'm sure he will have some accurate information for us. I wouldn't necessarily believe an Ebay seller

Dave

Edit: Ian beat me to it.

Dave

[probbq]

The stuff on Ebay, were bought at an auction in Arizona, when our distributor over there went into liquidation. These units are in no way connected with Mac's BBQ Ltd, or ProBBQ Ltd (our official distributor here in the UK), but are being guaranteed by the Ebay seller.

[dbairduk]

that's good to know. I would prefer a full waranty from the UK, and to me the extra cash is worth the peace of mind. I thought I would clear this up before I took the plunge.... it's my birthday in a few weeks and been eyeing these up for my birthday treat

Maybe you should ask the seller to clarify that on his ebay description as it was a bit missleading...

[saucisson]

Reading between the lines I think we can figure out what the state of play is. So I doubt they would change anything on Ian's say so...

My reading of this is that they have estimated that they can offer a limited warranty backup for 2 years using stock they have held back.

On that basis alone I would go for an authorised one.

Dave

[dbairduk]

yes if i can gain a full waranty for an authorised one thats what i would do, but if it was the case i would have been ruluctant to pay full face value for somthing i would not get support for.

I have seen the frontier for £159 from an authorised dealer... so think this is what i am going to go for. Was hoping some winter sales on bbq's would be on though I have even persuaded my brother to buy one too!

[saucisson]

If I were to buy a new BBQ my wife would bury me under it

I have an old "New Braunfels universal water smoker" which is something like a cross between Ned Kelly's helmet and a Chieftain tank.


Dave

[probbq]

If I were to buy a new BBQ my wife would bury me under it

I have an old "New Braunfels universal water smoker" which is something like a cross between Ned Kelly's helmet and a Chieftain tank.


Dave

If I bring home another BBQ "to test" I will be in all sorts of trouble and will probably end up living in or wearing a BBQ.

[saucisson]

I think our wives would get on well Ian

Dave

[saucisson]

Just for the record, if a multi stacking unit had existed when I first started buying BBQs I might not be in the trouble I am today

The dead and dying units scattered around the property must at least count for a ProQ stack large enough to cure a 40 foot pine tree in.

They mostly die because of cheap chrome BBQ grills that rust and then rot because I am useless at cleaning them and then aren't easily replaced.

If they are lawnmower proof it would be handy but maybe that is more of a user issue

Dave

[Iamarealbigdog]

I have had the pleasure to cook on all three cookers

For ease of use go with the bradley, for cost go with tht pro q for duribility go with weber.

For competition cooking We use the weber as the metal is a little better and I can regulate tempetures eaiser.

The stack option on the QPro is very nice option and makes up for the tempeture issues so may have better options for home applications.

However I love to make bacon and smoked cheese in the bradley set and forget is a great option, also does great smoked fish. I figure about $1.00 (CAN) per hour of smoke