PIT BOSSGrills PBV3A1 Electric Smoker, Blue Hammertone, 684 sq inches

The media could not be loaded. This smoker is for sure worth the money. It has many great features and holds heat well enough to get the job done to a high degree of perfection. The inside is large and can hold briskets, ribs, chicken, and other types of roasts, no problem at all. Today, I’m smoking a 31 pound brisket with no trouble at all.The front door opens wide, making the inside easily accessible, especially for cleaning. And the water pan below is also nice because its large capacity means fewer refills during the cook, which can also lower temps. Another really nice feature is the large wood/chip tray. It holds lots of chips and, if you soak them 15 minutes before, results in fewer refills and undesirable temp drops.This is my second time using it. The first time, the brisket came out beautifully. I expect the same this second time around.As for its ability to properly hold the heat. I’ve read many reviews that seem to suggest an issue there. This, in my view and increasing experience, is an issue without a real problem. For one, smoking an 18 plus pound brisket is a low and slow proposition, not a fast cook. You’re looking at a 12 hour cook anyway—at a minimum. You also need low temps: 225-250, no more. With this information, the Pit Boss has no problem with maintaining these temperatures and producing professional results.But, don’t forget to calculate outside temperature, weather, etc. When it’s cold out, do your smoking in a garage, if you have one. In a garage, you’ll want to be mindful of clearances from combustible materials, such as walls and ceilings, but this is pretty well spelled out in the owner’s manual. If it’s raining, you might want to hold off as you can damage the electrical components in such weather, waiting till the environment is more favorable to your competition ambitions, as ambient outside temps do affect the inside temperature of the smoker. But, this is true of pretty much all smokers.If I were to choose something about the smoker I don’t like, I’d say the door thermometer needs to be replaced with a reliable, high-quality digital thermometer. Of course, this is by no means a deal breaker, but the built-in door thermometer is highly inaccurate.The solution is simple. Buy a meat probe that comes with an oven-rack clip. Connect the clip to one of the shelves, preferably one without any food on it, then thread your probe through it, snaking the wire out of the smoker, closing the door. Connect it to the thermometer unit and you’re off, with a way to accurately gauge the inside temp of your smoker. Just set the unit on top of the smoker and you’re good to go.Ok, hope this helps other backyard warriors!S

The worst smoker ever. I wish I could give it a half star. It cannot keep temperature. I bought a different thermometer just to make sure. He cannot get above 200°. I've used it twice at 70° outside. It feels flimsy and The water boils out of it very quickly. You have to babysit it all the time and still can never get above 200° I've had two master builds and went to a pit boss. Horrible mistake.

I love this smoker, but in my opinion, you need to realize this is a small unit with limited heat, Great for infusing smoke but a little under powered for long cooks with bigger items. It will only hold about 210 temps. I love smoked salmon and smaller finger food cooked low and slow with smoke.

This is perfect for our deck. The temp is a little frustrating as it won't go over 220, so smoking is taking longer than anticipated. Unit did arrive with damages but it was to the rear so we didn't return because the dents weren't visible. Have high hopes for the unit overall! Did noticed the heat from other reviews though.

Super happy with this smoker. Love that it is electronic and that it has a probe so you can check the temperature without having to open the smoker. Thinking of investing in a second one as family and friends love the smoked turkey we make at holidays

OK, this was easy to assemble, although much of the assembly could have been done at the Chinese factory and would have still fit in the box.The one point I have that is very disappointing is that the wood chip box is too big. When it gets hot, it expands and is impossible to pull it out. So, when you're out of wood chips, this is no longer a smoker. It's just an oven that doesn't get that hot.Even though many have mentioned this in the reviews, Pit Boss would rather not tell their Buddys overseas to fix this simple, yet major problem.And what's really bad is that this proves that Pit Boss never smoked anything in it. Never tried it out. If they did, they would have realized that it was a problem and also a major safely issue. While trying to pull the box out, the whole hot unit could fall forward onto the person pulling on the box handle.The only way we could get the box out was to spray the cover with a hose until it cooled enough to finally be able to tug it out.What I need from Pit Boss...I need them to send me a smaller box that won't jam against the unit when hot. I mean it. If you don't, I'll never buy anything from you again and I'll bad mouth your Chinese made junk till the day I day.Other than that, it seems OK.

Before buying, I took the time to read some reviews and although there were some complaints that concerned me, I went ahead with the purchase. I so happy that I did! I think you should read the reviews with realistic expectations. Manufactured items are made on an assembly line and everything is not always perfect. If you get one that is not, send it back. I got a good one and I am totally happy with it. By the way, this was not my first time owning a smoker either, so I went into this purchase with my eyes wide open. Take the leap and enjoy.

I had this thing less than 6 months. Tried to start it the other week, it won’t start. I tried again today to fix it and still won’t start. Even when it did start temp would never get over 225, which I lived with cause I do t tend to smoke much over that anyway. I used this thing overall, maybe, 10 times and it won’t start. It’s a shame because aside from the temp not going past 225 I really did like this smoker at first. Lots of room, easy to put together, easy to use, but this sucks for the price I paid. Now of course I’m past my return date so I can’t even return. Be nice if this company would reach out and make this right but I won’t hold my breath