Weber smokey mountain or ProQ excel 20?

[Braaivleis]

Hi Everyone,

Apologies if this has been asked before but I'm trying to decide which smoker to go for & wondered whether anyone could offer any advice on pros & cons of each.

I've been using a Weber kettle bbq for smoking & general braai/BBQ but would like a stand alone smoker so I can perhaps enter a couple of competitions next year.

Thanks in advance.

[London Irish]

Owzit

Personally, I'm not qualified to answer your question, but maybe have a look at the attached thread until one of the experts can give you more advice.


http://www.bbbqs.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2483&p=21212&hilit=Proq+Smokey+mountain#p21212

Hope this helps,


John

[aris]

I'm going to be building my own out of a 45gallon drum. Bought drum off ebay - should be delivered his week.

[Braaivleis]

Howzit John - thanks for the link.

I imagine you watched the super rugby you're not a sharks fan by any chance?!!

After a little more investigating on the site I realise that this question has been asked many many times!
So apologies to all for asking before I searched the site. I have spent a few hours already reading the various posts on this subject & am leaning towards a WSM.

[keith157]

The best people to answer this would be those who have had both, I know Steve & I think Toby fall into that catagory otherwise it's personal preference. Here are some questions to think about. I sent this to a member posing the same question, just to ponder the answers
Okay, the first thing you need is a Q&A session;-

A.What do you want the smoker for?
1. Competition
2. Home use (Sorry about this next one)
3. Kudos or oneupmanship

B.How many are you going to be feeding when/if not competing?.

C.What is your budget?

D.How much space do you have for storage/cooking (not that important but a variable nontheless)


A. 1 & 2 then either will work equally well on an even playingfield
If you answered 3 then go for the Weber it's a better known label

B. The ProQ will work with 1,2 or 3 stacking sections so you can reduce or increase the cooking space and the sections lock together

C. The WSM is more expensive and better built, from what I've seen, but the ProQ will last for years and years as well

D. They both take up roughly the same space, but if only using 1 ring on the ProQ you have to store the other.

Both will convert to "mini BBQs", both will cook excellent food, the new WSM may have been fitted with grommets to accept probes (haven't got one but that was the rumour)
The ProQ has grommets but they are small, I had to "squeeze" the Maverick probes with pliers to fit.

This possibly hasn't helped, but I hope it has

Obviously there are other points to ponder. Maybe have a look at where some of our members come from and see if you can blag a look at their smokers.

[gazz_46]

Both will convert to "mini BBQs", both will cook excellent food, the new WSM may have been fitted with grommets to accept probes (haven't got one but that was the rumour)

Keith

Mine is the 2012 model and certainly doesn't have any gromitz fitted

[keith157]

Cheers Gazz, 1 up for the ProQ..........yeh!!!!!

[London Irish]

Howzit John - thanks for the link.

I imagine you watched the super rugby you're not a sharks fan by any chance?!!.

I keep an eye on The Stormers but unfortunately don't get the time to sit and watch anymore.
It's hard enough keeping up with London Irish when theres three kids and a baby to tend to. Still make plenty of time for q-ing though, after all, they've all got to eat haven't they?!

[Braaivleis]

Thanks for your post Keith it was very helpful.

Initially I'd like the smoker for home use but if I could find some like minded souls down my way I'd love to compete.

I regularly cook for family & friends - last weekend I cooked for 25 at a friends party - I managed to smoke 6 slabs of pork ribs & cook 36 chicken pieces not to mention the hot wings & lamb kebabs on my weber performer ! It was a long day!
I'm hoping a smoker will allow me to take my q ing to whole new level.

Having read many posts on the pros & cons of both it's a tricky decision!

[keith157]

It is indeed a tricky solution, but maybe (he mentions again) some of the forum members who have had one then swopped to the other or added the other to their collection could give some reasons.
Mind you with those numbers you'd be better off looking at a commercial jobbie