PIT BOSS77435 Vertical Lp Gas Smoker, Red

I bought this smoker after suffering with another brand the rhymes with "Faster Guilt". The Pit Boss assembled easily and worked as it should. My only real issue is the temperature control. It is very sensitive and requires close monitoring. Perhaps I will get used to it with time and usage.Be very careful to follow the ignition procedure exactly as the instructions direct. The dial MUST be turned exactly 90 degrees for complete ignition.Watch the water basin closely. I found it to be a bit small and the water will evaporate off relatively quickly. The unit cleans up very nicely and easily, and the wood chip tray is adequately sized for a solid 2 hr cook. That is a big problem with that "other brand".

I've been using a stick smoker for years but got tired of having to constantly tend the fire and battle keeping the temperature low and constant. This propane unit makes all that a cinch! Plenty of space inside the box, holds and maintains temperature well, easy to assemble and it looks pretty cool too. I wish the knob for the burner had numbers on it for easier adjustment but, other than that, I'm extremely happy with this smoker.

This is a great smoker for a beginner. I have had mine for a few years and if you take care of it it will last forever

It arrived on time and in great shape. I have to tip my hat to the manufacturer. The packaging was terrific. Each piece wrapped in plastic and protected with Stryfoam. Not a mark on it. After unpackaging it and laying it out of the floor, it’s assembly looked daunting. But, It was relatively easy. It took me about and hour and a half to assemble it. But, I have a history of destroying BBQs during assembly, so I took my time. The parts fit together perfectly. No misdrilled holes or warped parts, I assume from the careful packaging. . I used an electric screw driver on very low torque to speed things up. One word of advice. When assembling the base, don’t tighten up the screws until the whole thing is assembled.First! This is a very well built smoker. Heavy duty construction. Everything about it is solid and sturdy. I suspect with proper maintenance, it will last for years. I bought a cover to protect it in the winter. It’s a perfect size for a family smoker.I dragged it out to my BBQ area and attached a LP bottle to it. It lit on the first push of the igniter. The smoker came up to 250 degrees within minutes, and by adjusting the dampers I got to steady out at 225 degrees, that perfect low and slow temperature. I have an reliable portable oven thermometer inside hanging about in the middle of the smoker. It registered 250 degrees while the thermometer on the smoker read 235 degrees. I am guessing that the 15 degree difference is because the smoker’s thermometer is at the very top of the unit adjacent to the dampers which might have a lower temperature. I left it alone for 40 minutes. It stayed right at 250 degrees in the center of the smoker, 235 at the top. Never moved. This is exactly what I am looking for. A smoker that doesn’t require constant attention to temperature control.I seasoned the smoker by running it with apple wood for about an hour and a half at 225 degrees. Then I tried my first smoke. Something simple. Johnsville Brats and two pork loins. I seasoned the sausages with a simple store bought rub, and a special pork rub for the loins. Two hours under the smoke. I put the brats on a Bradley rack about halfway up in the smoker and the pork loins one rack up from the bottom. I cooked the loins to 145 degrees and the brats to 155 degrees. Both were delicious.I suspect that my burner wasn’t working properly. If I turned it up all the way, the flame on the bottom main burner went out. The only way the bottom burner produced a flame is when the dial was set about halfway. Which for this cook was okay, because at that setting the temperature pegged at 250 degrees. I’ll contact the company tomorrow and see if I have a defective burner or if I am doing something wrong. I suspect the later.All in All, I am terribly impressed with this smoker. If I have to bitch about something, I would want a little more information about maintaining temperature with the burner adjustments and the dampers. It’s a delicate balance that many have been through before. They could at least give the user a primer in the instruction book.And the smoke tray is rather inefficient. Full it produces smoke for about an hour. Too much attention required for me. I plan on getting around this deficit by using a smoke tube. I have a 12 inch one, which burns for 4-5 hours, and a 6 in one that burns for half that. You pack it full of pellets, light it, and throw it into the bottom of the smoker and it burns unattended for up to 5 hours. No muss, no fuss!I’ll update my remarks as time goes by.

Best ever present for my husband! He loves it!! Great purchase and recommend it highly!