Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-D Heavy-Duty Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker & Grill review and price compare 2025
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
Product overview
Brand
Dyna-Glo
Power Source
Charcoal
Color
Black
Item Weight
124.3 Pounds
Item Dimensions LxWxH
45.5 x 24.9 x 58.8 inches
Fuel Type
Charcoal
product features
This fits your .
by entering your model number.
Features five chrome-plated cooking grates and a total cooking space of 1382 square inches
Heavy-Gauge Steel Body Construction. The temperature gauge features a smoke zone which indicates the ideal temperatures for infusing the perfect amount for smoking flavor. Also, the cool to touch handles, allow you to access fuel and food safely.
Cool-touch spring lid grip provides safer access to food
Stainless temperature gauge with "Smoke Zone" indicates the ideal temperature for infusing smoke flavor
Oversized steel wheels for mobility before and after use
From the manufacturer
Barbecue with the best of them
Get that classic smokehouse flavor
Cook meats low and slow in the smoker body, from brisket to ribs to anything you can imagine.
Tame the flame at the backyard BBQ
Grill burgers or brats for the whole crew.
Expand your culinary horizons
Open the door to a whole new world of BBQ with this large capacity, multi-functional BBQ machine.
Cool-Touch Spring Handle
Provides safer access to food.
Sausage Hooks
Pre-installed sausage hooks give you additional cooking flexibility.
Removable Offset Charcoal Grate and Ash Pan
Offers easy access to fuel and quick disposal of ash.
Analog Temperature Gauge
'Grill Zone' and 'Smoke Zone' indicators for ideal cooking temperature.
Assembled Dimensions
58" H x 45.5" W x 24.9" D
59.8" H x 33.9" W x 37" D
59.8" H x 33.9" W x 52" D
Weight (net)
124.3
89.1 lbs
123.2 lbs
Total Cooking Area (sq. in.)
1,382 sq. in.
443 sq. in.
730 sq. in.
Fuel Type
Charcoal/Wood
Charcoal/Wood
Charcoal/Wood
Body Construction
Heavy-Gauge Steel
Heavy-Gauge Steel
Heavy-Gauge Steel
Cooking Grate Material
Chrome-Plated
Porcelain-Coated
Porcelain-Coated
Folding Side Shelf
✓
✓
Temperature Gauge
✓
✓
✓
product description
Style:Signature Smoker
Get the best of both worlds with the Signature Series Heavy-Duty Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker & Grill from Dyna-Glo. This multifunctional smoker lets you have it all with both grilling and offset smoking capacity. Smoke your pork shoulder low and slow or grill up burgers for the crew. For additional cooking space, simply use the offset for grilling sides or foods that require different temperatures. The smoker and offset cooking grates allow for maximum heat transfer and searing, and the professional-grade, stainless steel temperature gauge features "Grill Zone" and "Smoke Zone" indicators for maintaining an ideal cooking temperature. Become the envy of the neighborhood and upgrade your backyard with this Signature Series Heavy-Duty Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker & Grill from Dyna-Glo. Do not use this smoker and grill as a heater
product details
important information
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
Questions about Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-D Heavy-Duty Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker & Grill
Q:
Can you get special financing on this bbq pit?
Answer: how can i get special financing?
Answer: Yes 5 monthly payments
Q:
What size are the cooking racks?
Answer: This smoker comes with 5 Chrome-plated Steel Cooking Grates that are 17 inches in diameter each. - GHP Group Customer Support
Answer: Are you looking at the picture on Amazon. First feature about grill says 5 grates totaling 1382 sq. Inches. So each one is about 276 sq. Inches.. Now we all know pi r-squared is the area of circle so the radius would be about 9 inches so the diameter is about 18 inches. Maybe a little bigger as I'm not that good at math, been out of school for 60 years.
Q:
what is the main difference between the signature series and wide body other than shape/style/Cooking space. Is the smoking performance the same?
Answer: You can add more charcoal to the side box, I was able to put an 18lb bag and cooked way past 5 hrs
Q:
can you use wood chunks or chips or just charcoal /
Answer: For this Smoker you can use wood chunks, charcoal or wood chips.- GHP Group Customer Support
Answer: I use charcoal for the heat and add wood chunks/chips for the smoke.
Answer: I use soaked chips, without smoke it just convection heat but it would work like a regular grill.
Answer: Yes, all three, Great smoker easy to control temp, but you have to babysit it
Q:
Can i smoke a 25lb Turkey? How wide are the racks?
Answer: Hello Jimmy, the racks in this smoker are 16.5" in diameter and are removable so the height is adjustable. This should accommodate a 25 lb. turkey. -GHP Group Customer Support
Q:
Is there a purpose built cover for this specific smoker?
Answer: i tore mine accidentally and for awhile couldn't find a replacement. i'm actually ordering the cover.
Answer: Theres a specific made cover offered by Dyna-Glo that fits perfect.
Answer: Yes, and it's very well made.
Q:
can you purchase spare racks?
Answer: Yes but only so many hangers in cooker for racks
Answer: Probably from Lowes or Home Depot or a local hardware store.
Answer: Yes I believe Home Depot carries the same size
Q:
where does the grease and other liquids go?
Answer: The grease and other drippings run down to be held in the grease cup. - GHP Group Customer Support
Answer: It has an external drip pan (about 6") that juices/grease go into (if they don't drip into the water pan).
Q:
What is the dimensions of feet and wheels? Are they smaller than the total width dimentiona
Answer: Not able to measure right now, but the feet and wheels are within the total width dimensions. There is a handle opposite the firebox side that is the widest point. Not sure if they included that in the measurements.
Answer: 1 foot and wheels are pretty much under the smoker. I sat mine on cement blocks to raise it some and the holes in the blocks make a very good brake.
Answer: No... Its a very stable smoker.. I love mine!
Q:
Is the 45”w with the smoke box extended or closed?
Answer: Overall
Q:
How much space is there between each grate in the cooking chamber?
Answer: About 18 inches or so but you can remove the middle one if you need too for a tall cook/smoke.
Answer: you can adjust to any level notches are spaced along the main chamber i've done a turkey rib rack sausages and brisket at same time with plenty of space
Answer: The space between each grate is approximately 5”. - GHP
Q:
How much lava lock is needed to completely seal everything? It usually comes in 15 ft. Is that enough or should i get more?
Answer: I didn't need LavaLock, after putting the smoker together. It held the smoke just fine. If you want to use lavalock 15ft should be fine.
Q:
Is there a cover available on the market for this model smoker?
Answer: Yes, made just for this exact smoker. Fits perfect!
Q:
How can i add a cover for the dyna glo model dgss1382vcd- d i just ordered on amazon
Answer: The cover that is compatible with the model DGSS1382VCS-D is model DG1382CSC.
Answer: I ordered the cover on Amazon, it arrived before the smoker.
Answer: They offered a cover. I purchased the cover through Amazon
Answer: Easy to do just scroll down to items related too
Q:
Can you remove the grates after the unit is built?
Answer: The grates go in last, they're removal!
Answer: we received this grill so badly damaged that it was not usable. The grates will come out, but they are so close together, if we were able to smoke with it, we would have needed to remove every other just to fit in larger pieces of meat. really best if only doing flat pieces like for jerky etc. Small strips of ribs might fit.
Answer: Yes, you can remove them.
Answer: Yes but you must tip them to about 45 degree angle. What ever you have in them will fall off, like bowls or jerky.
Answer: Yes, they all come out of the smoker & the heat box side. I have been happy with this smoker!
Answer: Yes
Q:
What is the spacing between racks?
Answer: Hello Mark, there is 5" of space between each rack and they are removable so that space can be increased! -GHP Group Customer Support
Answer: The shelves are about 5 inches apart.
Q:
Is there suppose to be any space between where the firebox connects to the chamber? After connecting the two ive noticed gaps where air could get out
Answer: when assembling mine I used LavaLock Silicone gasket seal on any surfaces that would/could have gaps. I also used LavaLock gasket on the smoking chamber door. All is working very well.
Answer: No it should not be a space if you have a space make sure you don’t have the piece that hooks to the fire box and chamber on wrong because when I put mine together I had to take it apart because I had it on wrong
Q:
What is the thickness of the steel?
Answer: Hello T., The body of this smoker is 1.5mm steel and the door is 2.5mm. -GHP Group Customer Support
Q:
How deep is the smoking chamber
Answer: The smoking chamber is 17.5 inches in diameter.
Answer: The smoking chamber is the vertical cylinder , I believe is some 4 ft. deep or so, enough to put a lot of stuff in it.
Answer: Thomas,
Q:
What size firebox could I put in the side part?
Answer: I think they tell you that in the description. That is the fire box, I suppose it is about 10-12” in diameter and maybe 16-18” long.
Q:
do I see meat hooks in the roof of the cook chamber?
Answer: Yes there are hooks installed in the top of the smoker. You will need to get some stainless steel meat hooks. Put your ribs on the meat hooks and hang them over the hooks in the unit. I have used them to hang both beef and pork ribs and it gives you a great EVEN smoke. I a good horizontal smoker/griller that I have used and loved for 10 years. I also have an EGG. However the Dyna-Glo out performs both for smoking ribs. For the 4th I hung both beef and pork ribs and still had plenty of room to smoke big turkey legs on shelves below.
Answer: Yes those are sausage hooks at the top of the smoker. -GHP Group Customer Support
Answer: What size temp gauge would I need to replace the one on the unit?
Answer: Yes there sure is!!!! Great for sausage!!
Answer: Yes, there are hooks on the roof of the cooking chamber.
Answer: There are hooks in their to hold the grills not to hang meat.
Answer: yes it has sausage hooks on the top.. very nice smoker
Answer: It did not come with them, we had to buy them
Answer: Yes 6 of them
Answer: There are about 8 or so
Q:
Does sausage rack rotate?
Answer: Hi Eddie,
Answer: Yes you can pivot it by hand to rotate the sausage or to add sausage or take out sausage
Q:
Do you offer an insulated blanket for the main smoke chamber?
Answer: You can pick up a high temp blanket relatively cheap, but you may fair better just moving your smoker to a more shielded area. One thing I always have in the yard is a pallet to use as a windbreaker. If you have your smoker sealed with lavalock I was able to keep 225 for hours with 5lbs of applewood coals and throwing a few chunks in the firebox every half hour or so in 33° with 30mph winds
Answer: Came with rain cover no insulated blanket don't know if they offer one or not I feeling
Answer: Negative, but great smoker.
Q:
Can the wheels be reversed with the legs? It looks awkward to move.
Answer: No, you can't reverse then but it isn't hard to move (I was surprised too). The problem I had is that the bottom weld on the smoke chamber leaks liquid all over my deck.
Answer: No they cannot. I must say this smoker is the best I’ve ever owned. This set up is user friendly and moving the smoker is easy. You’ll love it!
Answer: It is very easy to move just as it is. We love this pit!
Answer: I don't think so. While moving it is quite balanced.
Q:
How thick is the steel on this smoker?
Answer: Hello Keith. The cook grids are Steel A3 dia= 5mm/ 3.5mm. The charcoal grate is A3 5.5mm. The doors are 2.5mm steel. The back, sides, top, and bottom are 1.5mm spcc. The offset firebox 1.2mm steel/SPCC but the door is 2.55mm spcc. We hope this answers your question! -GHP Group Customer Support
Answer: The fire box and ash pan are roughly a 1/16th of an inch thick, can't see it lasting very long, but it Cooks great right now
Q:
How much room is between each rack?
Answer: 5 inches. Remove a rack and then you would have 10 or 15 or 20. There are also hooks at the top for hanging sausages or meats that are suitable for being strung up.
Answer: 4 1/2 inches, but the racks are removable. Shouldn't be a problem unless feeding an Army.
Answer: There's just a little bit over 5" between each rack.
Answer: I was able to fit 12lb briskets with ease. But you can also remove to put bigger things in it
Q:
How do you control the temp?
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: Temperature is controlled by the size of the fire and how much air is taken in, and how much is exhausted. There are vents in the firebox that control air intake, and a valved chimney to control exhaust. I usually had the chimney open, and the air intake at approximately 1/4. This was with a relatively small fire.
Answer: By how much fuel/ wood you put in, how big is your fire. Then how much air you give it. Ya have to pay attention.
Answer: By air flow via vent and chimney flew.
Q:
Does anyone know what diameter the support legs are and the diameter of tubing used for main support that has the wheels and axle attached?
Answer: The support legs are 76mm in diameter and the wheels are 10mm in diameter. -GHP Group Customer Support
Answer: Wouldn't know the measurements but it is more than sufficient to support the fire box and smoker. Just don't try to pull it across uneven terrain without help because the whole assembly is top heavy though very well constructed with heavy gauge steel. Not designed for towing behind a pickup. Nor would I try to move it while the firebox is going and the smoking chamber is loaded with cooking food. Same holds true with most any smoker.
Q:
How many average size pork butts would it hold ?
Answer: You can put 2 per shelf without a problem. I have hung 5 slabs of ribs and put 2 butts on the bottom shelf.. You can only use 3 shelves because of the height of the butts so the real number is 6.
Answer: If you want you can do 5. The lower rack gets kind of hot however. I can do 2 butts and 3 racks of ribs no problem. I did 4 racks last weekend using the bottom rack for liquid. I really like the smoke for the price
Answer: There are six racks so six large butts will easily fit. I would want to have some room for hot air and smoke to move around meat. If for some reason more roasts need to be cooked I,m sure more could fit in. Depends on size as I recently bought a twin pack that weighed over 20 pounds.
Answer: I’ve put 8 on mine and still had room for two racks of baby back ribs. One thing about this is you will have to rotate the butts a few times to get an even bark all the way around. If you don’t want to do the work -4 butts and 4 tenderloins - 1 each on each rack.
Answer: 3....4
Answer: 5 or 6
Q:
Why does it say free shipping then get to checkout it adds shipping cost?
Answer: If u look closer it will have the shipping deduction right below charge. They want to show u how much u saved
Q:
Will an entire 10-15lb brisket flat fit on one grate without having to cut it?
Answer: The grate dimensions on this smoker are 16.75" x 16.75" and can hold up to 25 lbs. The average full brisket weighs in at 8-12 pounds and is about 12-20 inches long and about 12 inches wide. It depends on how large your brisket is but in most cases it should fit in this smoker. -GHP Group Customer Support
Q:
How many briskets can I smoke at a time?
Answer: Each grate can hold roughly two 5 lbs briskets (10 total @ 5 lbs each). Anything larger will require 1 per grate (5 total) for proper air flow. - GHP Group Customer Support
Answer: If you have one per rack- 6, if you have 2 per rack -12 or more, depends on the size of the briskets though.
Answer: I am able to do two medium sized briskets at a time.
Answer: Whole briskets will be a problem but flats or points 1 per shelf.
Answer: One rack holds one 10 lb butt, or 3/4 loin nicely x 5 racks
Answer: 5 big ones or 10 small ones
Q:
I have to cook for an upcoming wedding. I need it prior to the wedding. How long will it take to get to the Boston area from the time i order it?
Answer: That a good question
Q:
What is the gauge of steel?
Answer: I'm not sure what gauge, but it's heavy, it's not cheap thin metal.
Q:
Does anyone know what diameter the support legs are and the diameter of tubing used for main support that has the wheels and axle attached?
Answer: The support legs are 76mm in diameter and the wheels are 10mm in diameter. -GHP Group Customer Support
Answer: Wouldn't know the measurements but it is more than sufficient to support the fire box and smoker. Just don't try to pull it across uneven terrain without help because the whole assembly is top heavy though very well constructed with heavy gauge steel. Not designed for towing behind a pickup. Nor would I try to move it while the firebox is going and the smoking chamber is loaded with cooking food. Same holds true with most any smoker.
Q:
How well does this smoker work with just wood splits instead of charcoal?
Answer: I use a combination of coal and wet wood to regulate heat and smoke. While I bought the smoker for logs instead of chips, I have not had the opportunity to try any splits. However, based on my experience with the unit to date, I don’t think splits should be a problem once you get experience with the vents.
Q:
Is there a water bowl in this smoker?
Answer: Hello, this smoker does come with a water bowl. -GHP Group Customer Support
Answer: No, but there is plenty of space to put a water pan on one of the shelves. I usually fill the pan with fruit juice for extra flavor.
Answer: Yes, pan on bottom shelf hold about a gallon of water.
Answer: Yes, it goes on the bottom. My husband usually fills it with fruit juice for more flavorful meat.
Answer: Yes there is one that goes in the bottom
Answer: Yes
Q:
It was working fine for about 5-6 hours, with briquettes. But then I couldn't get temp in main area over 220 used whole bag of charcoal? Ideas?
Answer: A. The general temp for 'smoking' is 220°. So if your looking for hotter temps, I would recommend using a griil.
Answer: You need to keep it clean underneath. Get ash out. It needs air to draft. Or try lump charcoal. Works well.
Answer: Hi Dan, we are so sorry to hear about your experience! Our customer service team would be more than happy to help provide you with technical assistance regarding this smoker! Just reach out by phone at 877-447-4768 or email at http://www.ghpgroupinc.com/CTUS.html - GHP Group
Answer: you are venting the grill to much it has a great flow threw close your vents on the charcoal side and just the top vent to half open use a few pieses of oak of wood to help with the temp to get steady and hotter.
Answer: You may want to try lump charcoal. I had that issue and lump solved the problem
Answer: I would increase the air flow at the fire box for large temperature increases
Q:
How long does it maintain temperature without interference?
Answer: Once I got it dialed in, I'd check on it every 3-4 hours (monitoring temp probes from inside the whole time tho) but this smoker has been pretty rock solid on temps for me. Would suggest getting gaskets for the door, tho.
Q:
can I cold smoke
Answer: Hello Bill, since this smoker is powered by charcoal, if you used the right amount of coals and maintained it properly, you could cold smoke with this! -GHP Group Customer Support
Answer: as far as cold smoking in the big dyna glo signature eeries it would be very hard to maintain temps under 80*- 100* deg.necessary for proper cold smoking, what I have used is placing an a-mazn-n smoker cold smoker , (under $30) in the cooking chamber and it will cold smoke for 8-10 hrs. your best alternative.Many members of Smoking meat forum.com use this method w/great results.
Answer: Definitely. It is very good at that.
Q:
Can I hang kabob skewers from the top area that's made to hang sausages? how many do you think?
Answer: You could. They will definitely fit. The lower chunks will get more heat, so I'm not sure how you will compensate for the heat differential. Maybe put larger chucks lower? But then, kabobs aren't meant for low and slow smoking.
Answer: Hello Marty, we hope Sepp's answer was helpful! Although this would be doable with the 6 hooks, you may want to consider the cooking technique! -GHP Group Customer Support
Q:
Whats the temp range? I would like to be able to cook at high temps as well as smoke
Answer: This is an offset vertical smoker. NOT A GRILL. Look into a kamado if you want the versatility of smoking and grilling.
Answer: Hello John., the temperatures this smoker is capable of reaching are completely dependent on the ambient temperatures, amount of food and amount of fuel used. If you are interested in a grill/smoker combo, check out our Signature Series such as model # DGSS730CBO-D. -GHP Group Customer Support
Q:
My shipment is missing the access door. how can i get a replacement? amazon wants to replace the entire unit!!
Answer: The instruction booklet lists a support email you can contact.
Q:
Will this fit a whole brisket?
Answer: It fit a 22 lb turmkey
Answer: You have to hang it, I bought a few S meat hooks
Q:
do I see meat hooks in the roof of the cook chamber?
Answer: Yes there are hooks installed in the top of the smoker. You will need to get some stainless steel meat hooks. Put your ribs on the meat hooks and hang them over the hooks in the unit. I have used them to hang both beef and pork ribs and it gives you a great EVEN smoke. I a good horizontal smoker/griller that I have used and loved for 10 years. I also have an EGG. However the Dyna-Glo out performs both for smoking ribs. For the 4th I hung both beef and pork ribs and still had plenty of room to smoke big turkey legs on shelves below.
Answer: Yes those are sausage hooks at the top of the smoker. -GHP Group Customer Support
Answer: What size temp gauge would I need to replace the one on the unit?
Answer: Yes there sure is!!!! Great for sausage!!
Answer: Yes, there are hooks on the roof of the cooking chamber.
Answer: There are hooks in their to hold the grills not to hang meat.
Answer: yes it has sausage hooks on the top.. very nice smoker
Answer: It did not come with them, we had to buy them
Answer: Yes 6 of them
Answer: There are about 8 or so
Q:
Can i cold smoke with this? and if i need something additional can you please post me the link of what else i need to get?
Answer: Google cold smoke processing the process is a 90 degree temp diverting heat n allowing mostly smoke and take multiple days i wld refer to someone who does old school smoked jerky
Q:
What is the temp guage size how many inches is the item
Answer: 2" W x 3" D
Q:
does this smoker come assembled?
Answer: It does not come assembled, but I believe you can pay extra to have it pre-assembled. Not too difficult, took less that 2 hours to put it together.
Answer: Unfortunately this smoker does not come assembled but it only took me about 45 minutes to fully assemble this product. Instructions were easy and amazingly all the hardware for this smoker was all there.
Answer: No it does not - assembly required.
Answer: Nope
Answer: No.
Answer: No it doesn’t
Q:
Do you need to use high temp paint to maintain the heat? or just use the high temp sealer and gaskets?
Answer: I bought the high temp sealer ...looks like a rope
Answer: Yes you do.
Q:
Can I remove the grate where the fire source is so that I put wood splits to burn over the charcoal?
Answer: Absolutely! I’ve had many smokers...this beauty is absolutely the most versatile smoker ever! Hoping you love yours as much as I do!
Answer: Yes..it's exactly what I do.
Answer: Yes
Answer: Yes
Product reviews of Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-D Heavy-Duty Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker & Grill
MDR : Great value.
Very good smoker for the price! The only thing I can complain about is that there was no instructions included for assembly. Luckily, I’m very mechanically inclined and was able to figure out how to assemble this. The smoker cooks very well and maintains temperature well. Very happy with this purchase so far.
Jerry Bryant : Sweet!
This is a monster, weighs as much as a car but rock solid. There was a little issues putting it together. It all lined up and such but there are pieces that are really hard to reach when you dont have a helper. There is TONS of space in this bad boy. You can smoke a ton of meat in here. Now for me i like the offset smoker. I will be smoking cheese so i want the smoke but not the heat. Well worth the money.
Bill Culbreath : 2x and damaged both times
Really don't know how this product works. The 1st attempt, I spent about 20 mins out of box and separated. I start to assemble and notice a huge dent in barrel. I had to tape box back up and pack everything back. That was an hour and half of my life that I would like back. On the 2nd attempt the smoker was damaged when I open the box. I will return it again. This is a big problem as the box weighs over 120 pounds and I have to take it back to the UPS center. The time and effort for this smoker is really not worth it and trying to contact amazon is virtually impossible.
Bryan Sikes : Good smoker, takes time to get to know it
Everything was easy enough to assemble, and it does look good. It takes some time trying different things to get a good smoke, but thats for anything. The only real con I have is cleaning it, maybe I havent found the best way but other than that its great.
Dymnd1 : Great investment! You'll get at least 10yrs use.
I was looking for a comparable smoker to replace one that I loved and had for 16 yrs! I had uncertainties that the steel grade, available racks, and overall durability would measure up to my old smoker that served me for 16 yrs....well this didn't disappoint! It weighs 139lbs(near my body weight, 5'2" female), which it is very heavy for one person to lift. I put this together by myself in 3.5 hrs. Yes, the assembly time is much shorter with two-person assembly. Before I began assembly, I checked to make sure all parts,screws were packaged. Next, I organized the offset section, wheel assembly, and main drum sections separately so I could easily follow the instructions without issues. Finally, after 3.5hrs my Dyno-Glo grill was ready! I "seasoned" it per the instructions and used it today. My ribs turned out fantastic! The only con, is the charcoal grate is small. Therefore, I had to add charcoal to keep the temp hovering at 200 degrees. Otherwise this is an excellent purchase. For the reviewers claiming this is poorly designed, cheap, dents easily, you all must have purchased a completely different Dyno-Glo offset grill. I know I can get at least 15-20 yrs from this one. Lastly, I didn't need to apply the gasket seal that I purchased because door has a tight seal. I'm returning! Also, I recommend purchasing the accommodating cover.
Working Musician : If you can Tinker a bit than this is perfect for you.
Ask experts and they'll tell you that the cost of a "good" beginner smoker starts at around $600-$800. For that sort of money you'll be getting 1/4 thick steel and gapless engineering. If you are expecting that with this smoker you will be sorely disappointed. However with a little bit of work you can get an exemplary smoker out of this model. Assembly, if done right, should be a few hours. Take your time, put on some music and don't rush it. The instructions are decent but you absolutely should pick up some "smoker gasket tape." The firebox specifically had voids that would have doomed this smoker from the get-go. Using a flashlight I was able to see light through about 60% of the spots where the top and bottom of the firebox met. As a result I did an entire ring around it and the results showed. The design of the smoker as a whole is good, but flawed in a few areas: The duct that the firebox connects to the smoker area bolts on the firebox side (more tape), but not the other. This allows for a void all the way around where the firebox meets the smoker. Since there is no place where the two pieces meet there it no way of sealing this void. If you need a 100% seal you're going to be looking at fabricating something. The top and bottom of the smoker have caps that are spot welded. In spots between welds there will be voids. The front door doesn't fully seal without tape. Do not attempt to ratchet pressure on the front door thinking it will stretch and seal it. It's not going to happen and you will only damage the clips that hold it shut. The clips can easily be bent back into shape when you try this. But best practice is just to not do it. The rear door to fill the water pan also has a void. The door to the smoker box has small voids as well. The bent metal tube handle feels cheap. Getting the smoker to season (2 hours at 275-300 degrees) was a bear. I tossed nearly an entire bag of lump charcoal and wood into it over the course of 6 hours trying to get it to hold the higher temperature. The longest stretch I was able to accomplish this was for about 40 minutes. However, for smoking purposes this unit shined. I did a starter of lump charcoal in a chimney and then put hardwood on top of it. This unit popped right up to 190 degrees and proceeded to stay there for hours on end. I went 3.5 hours until I was concerned that it would need feeding. For a 5 hour smoke I only opened the door once to add more fuel and found that I probably didn't really need to. Whatever flaws are inherent in this unit the ratio of fire box to smoker box is damned near perfect. Lump charcoal will not cut it as it will burn too fast and too hot; you're in the land of fruit woods now so plan on stocking up. It will smoke heavy on the left side of the unit so plan on at least one mid-smoke shuffle of whatever you have in there. The smoker box itself feels cavernous. The trays feel solid and the spacing is perfect between them. The water bowl looks almost oversized but well built. The chimney is a simple design; it's not slick or ornate but it will last and if it needs to be repaired can be done so easily. There are small touches that also should be commended in the design. The flat space above the smoker box is perfect for cooking on. The smoker box door closing mechanism is adjustable and involved enough to deter those who want to get a "quick look" while you're not there to tell them not to. And while construction is not 1/4 thick it is thicker than you would expect at this price point. The all-metal wheels I also quite like as well. It's not a smooth ride but it is one that will hold up in the long run. Being able to remove the "drawer" from the firebox to dump ashes is a major plus as well. And while the material used for the construction of the drawer is not as thick as the smoker body itself it should be fine with proper care. Without proper care water will sit in it and it will rust. So, buy a cover and use it religiously, never use water to clean out the drawer and this shouldn't be an issue. My long-term concerns have more to do with the nut and bolt construction. With no washers or lock nuts or locking washers I can see issues with parts coming loose. This may require an entire re-assembly with high-temperature Loctite at a later date. It's hard finding fault with something at this price point when I really should be looking at something at least 2 or 3 times more expensive than this unit is. It's way nicer than anyone should have for a first smoker to learn on and for the price it can be a better smoker than likely anything else out there (at this price). It's not without flaws but it also does the one thing it needs to do spectacularly which is hold temp at a specific place for long spans of time, even with minimal tweaks. Tweaking and enhancements will only make it a better cooking tool and a better value in the long run.
Eric Nolan : complete mess.
The product was scratched, dented, and the box was in shambles. Looks like a return that was resold. Not unusable but not worth the hassle to repack and return because the styrofoam inserts for packing were pulverized. Haven’t used it yet, so can’t review on that yet but if you buy it beware, if you get the box and it’s torn up just return it or better yet buy it from Home Depot. I read other reviews saying that theirs was messed up upon unboxing but I figured it was a one off thing. Lots of gaps where the firebox meets the barrel, but I planned on sealing it anyways so it’s not too bad of an issue. A little tinkering and this thing could be a champ.
mark westerfield : Top damaged!
I unloaded the box and when I pulled out the vertical barrel the top was dented in where the smoke stack attaches (see photos). The box was not damaged, so in my opinion someone loaded a damaged product in the box. Needless to say, I'm mad! If this happens from the factory, I can only imagine that their Quality Control and Product Support is very poor! Pissed!!
James Moore : Dyna glo smoker is a good starter smoker.
This thing is great I have used it several times since I got it. It was easy to assemble and seal. I seasoned it. The only problem or complaint I have is on long smoke jobs above 8-9 hours the bottom of the firebox fills up and it is hard to remove the ash. I tried a 16 hour smoke on 60 lbs of brisket for a large family get together. Ended up using a little self made hook to pull ash through the air vent on the side of the fire box drawer.
EvlWaz : Great smoker !
Had it together and working in a couple hours. I used lavalock on all seams and bolt holes. I used oven gasket around the doors. After a good seasoning only place it leaked smoke was the factory seam at the dome to barrel area on top. It sealed up perfect with a bead around it after cooling off. Holds temp great with all the leaks stopped up.
freddy sandoval : A must have!
Since I purchased my smoker and definitely have a new hobby! I’m still experimenting with rubs and have a long way to go but my family, friends and I really enjoy smoking new recipes!
Jerry Bryant : Sweet!
This is a monster, weighs as much as a car but rock solid. There was a little issues putting it together. It all lined up and such but there are pieces that are really hard to reach when you dont have a helper. There is TONS of space in this bad boy. You can smoke a ton of meat in here. Now for me i like the offset smoker. I will be smoking cheese so i want the smoke but not the heat. Well worth the money.
Jimmy Flow : Trash Made in China
I'm not going to sugarcoat this review. The product took awhile to assemble. More than an Ikea masterpiece. During assembly, multiple bolts were stripped, making them difficult to use. Not all components aligned, which made putting this product together more difficult. Additionally, the bolt for the firebox lid was / is missing. It slides into the pre-built brackets but are not held in place.
I've used this smoker several times, with a constant trend: below optimal heat. Its really made for low and slow. If you want to smoke poultry, you more than likely will have to finish in the oven to ensure the meat is fully cooked. Chicken is one of those meats I won't play with. The smoker simply doesn't retain high enough heat for enough time.
Overall, it works but is below quality standards. It's cheap for a reason. I wouldn't recommend unless you need something short-term and cheap. Because that's what you'll get.
Kelly M. : Great unit if you do the mods.
This unit arrived in a reasonable time frame and was undamaged. The build quality is quite good and relatively heavy duty. Assembly was a breeze by myself. I used the lavalock gasket tape and silicone to seal it up where user feedback in these reviews indicated. I also added a stainless steel charcoal basket.
It doesn't leak smoke or heat and is pretty miserly on the charcoal and wood with the added basket. I've seen some minor issues develop with the paint around the firebox. Based on other reviewers I did expect this and it's been nothing a wire brush and some high temp paint hasn't taken care of.
I've had outstanding results with it each time I've used it to this point and not had to break the bank on fuel usage.
My only knock would be that the thermometer on the door is about 40 degrees off from what my digital thermometers report.
My Bro-in-Law has one of those custom built $5000 smokers. This is not that. It is a really good smoker for about $270 plus the cost of the mods though.
RealBigSwede : Nice instructions
Nice instructions and easy to read. took me about 1.45 hour to put together. One thing is the packing could be better done in china. Scuff mark all over, but nothing a bottle of high temp paint can take care of so it will not rust right away. The water bowl was damage and I could not fix it because it is a ceramic bowl, but a quick call to the company and they send a new in 2 days. The person on the other end was super nice and helpful. One thing the company should do is to include the sealer and the BBQ tape. It is needed! In over all I am impressed with the Quality and a very nice future is so many on the nuts are already welded in to the frames. Very few nuts to fiddle around with. I like the metal big wheels. Makes the unit easy to move around. The grilling surface are with ceramic coating, Nice. That makes them easy to clean and lasting much longer. The only thing is the grill area is very low to the ground, but I discover that fs you are sitting grilling, not bad. I now can clod smoke stuff, around 100F. Fish, like salmon and cheese. Test like heaven. Other thing is the firebox is little small, have to check it about every 45-60 min. In overall I like the unit and can east recumbent it to them that try to get on the real BBQ train. For this price and what you get it is a real "steal". Just one thing, it is a very heavy box 135 pound, so have someone (wife ;-)) help carry it around and build it. HAPPY BBQ!!
Mindy B : Not good at all
Was purchased for my husband's birthday. All the holes and clips are misaligned. We had to redrill holes and cut off areas just to mount the door properly. It is still off. We bought in April 2019 and keep it clean and covered but it is already rusting and chipping. The temp gauge has stopped working and has water in it. The misaligned door has to be lifted before clamped which is difficult when it is hot. The door clamps are hard to adjust.
Update 9/2020. Already complete rust and falling apart. Even using a cover to protect it from elements. The smoker door fell off and crumbled. Handles falling off and rusted out. Don’t waste your money!
Random Dude : Great smoker. Wasnt my first and won't be my last but its perfect for the price.
Firebox is big enough for regular stick use and is very easy to load. Being able to use the firebox as a grill is just an added plus. Takes time to figure out the right draft but it holds heat well. I did have to put the smoker on some blocks to raise it to a comfortable height. An extra foot really helps.
sue : Great Value
This is the first smoker I have bought. I got it 3 months ago and have used it on occasional weekends. I have mostly cooked pork shoulder for pulling and whole chickens.
Pros: Assembly was as others have described. There are a lot of steps and that is time consuming, but nothing was difficult except for when you are joining the fire box and cooking compartment. That took 2 people, by my estimation.
It is a heavy smoker, but I like the mobility. I only use it on my property, but I roll it into a large, airy, barn for cooking when it is raining.
I use charcoal and wood in the firebox. I find I only have to re-stoke the fuel 2-3 times over 8 hours.
I did seal the communication between the firebox and cooking chamber. There was a large gap that you could see. Otherwise, this unit holds the heat well.
It contains a large area for cooking. I never use all that space.
It is fairly easy to figure out the vents. I recommend leaving the bottom grate in the firebox to allow air movement. This heats up the unit quickly. I usually cook at 250 degrees F, and it is not hard to maintain this over hours. I have not used the grilling area, as I already have another grill.
I like that it is all enclosed. I bought a remote thermometer, so I don't have to sit next to this all day while it burns.
Cons: there is a small area of rust starting on the roof of the fire box already. I may need to sand and repaint this at some point.
The lower grate of the firebox is fairly cheaply made and it bent right after the first "seasoning" burn due to the heat. I may need a replacement for that soon.
SUMMARY: Overall, I thought this is a great value. I had to buy it sight-unseen, and I wasn't too comfortable with that. I am very happy with the purchase. I got it for a very reasonable price ($250).
Amazon Customer : Make sure to get some heat resistant gaskets and sealant bc you will need it
The smoker was somewhat easy to put together but some of the places where a wrench was needed was hard to get to because the area was small and tight. As you can see in the first picture the hole where the temp gauge goes was a little warped and as you can see in video, it leaked alot of smoke out of numerous places which made it really hard to keep the temp up past 200 degrees. I had to keep loading it up with charcoal to make the temp stay up bc of all of the smoke that was seeping out. I will get some lavalock high temp gaskets and sealant to try and seal up all the spots where the smoke seeps out. I'm quite sure once I do that it will perform perfectly.
John : Worth the money
Love the smoker and it looks awesome. Had to do some modifications to retain more heat and converted it to combo charcoal and electric smoker. While this might not be best for all it works beautifully for me. With the smoker gaskets and electric heating element it's my dream machine. Seasoned up perfect and with the addition of a rain guard it looks bad to the bone. Cooks and regulates heat distribution well. I would buy this again with are without modifications I added to it. 5 stars all the way.
Rosa : Smoker leaks out smoke through the door
When this product arrived I was afraid of missing parts and damaged parts. Because all the bad reviews mention that. All in all it came with all the parts needed and it was easy to assemble between me and my dad. I don’t know how people can miss parts it’s in a box labeled, i think they just don't put the bolts in the right locations. The instructions was readable but I found it to be annoying that it was out of order. For instance when you work on the smaller body the legs on the bigger body should be on according to the picture but that instruction doesn’t come until later on my advice is switch the instruction manual for step by step on what should be put together first. I have one complaint on the smoker. It loses a lot of heat and we have to replace a whole bag of coal. I don’t understand how something is made specifically to keep the smoke inside with letting us have the option to release it but there is no proper sealer for it to keep the smoke from coming out and it’s not just this particular item I did a lot of research on many smokers and that seems to always be a big issue. With ours so much smoke leaks from out the big body’s door. I just don’t understand why this is such a big issue for item that has only one purpose. Other than than that it looks nice and it was an easy build. It was scuffed up only a little on the smaller body but my dad thinks it adds character. All in all the product gets the job done, looks nice, and an easy build.
Amanda n James : Nice design just needs some improvements
Well after banging out couple small dents and buying screws and nuts to replace missing ones. I like what I see so far. Box was open but may have been from unloading (very heavy) do recommend buying the lava lock gasket maker and door seals. Mine is leaking but would be lot worst if I hadn’t installed. Assembly definitely takes 2 certain parts are a hastle.
John : Worth the money
Love the smoker and it looks awesome. Had to do some modifications to retain more heat and converted it to combo charcoal and electric smoker. While this might not be best for all it works beautifully for me. With the smoker gaskets and electric heating element it's my dream machine. Seasoned up perfect and with the addition of a rain guard it looks bad to the bone. Cooks and regulates heat distribution well. I would buy this again with are without modifications I added to it. 5 stars all the way.
Mike B. : Not happy at all with the sub-par Powder Coating.....
I just received the smoker yesterday and got it put together (by myself) in about 1.5hrs. Assembly was straightforward and over-all easy. After assembly, I did what anyone should do with a new cooker of any type. I got my firebox going (I used paper and small twigs of hickory, and then small chunks of hickory) in order to burn off anything that might have been left on the smoker from the factory and to get the first seasoning on it. After about 2hrs and the temp gauge (yes, I know they suck) never going over 250degrees, I opened the main door to cool it some, so that I could wipe the inside with some peanut oil. THAT is when I saw the bottom that is shown in the picture. The powder-coat was obviously done wrong and has bubbled and separated from the metal. My biggest concern is that this obviously had a reaction to the heat, and am worried this is releasing toxic fumes into the chamber? I'm not inclined to dis-assemble this 200lb beast and send it back. I guess I will scrape the area, and prep it for some high-temp paint to hopefully repair it. Other than this major concern (for me). The smoker is nice. I like that they took the time to fabricate steel wheels for it that I think will last a long time. The overall design was well done I think. Just not happy about something as simple as proper powder-coating...
Greg Morse : $50 and some elbow grease makes this a very good smoker...
Plan on spending another $50 and several hours of your time after purchasing.
The smoker leaks, it leaks everywhere. If it is so difficult to build something with better tolerances at this price point, why not just include the necessary high temp gasket materials needed?
The paint quality is just poor. It “burned” off in many places after a single use. It then began to rust over the next two days from the overnight dew. Not rain, dew!
The assembly took a little over an hour. The placement for some of the fastening points could have been better, but it was not too bad or too complicated.
Ordering the gasket material, going to purchase the hi-temp paint, and prepping the smoker to be painted properly took several days.
The thermometer is not great.
I like the overall design and performance once the leaks were fixed. Still looking for a better thermometer.
For the price, they should be able to upgrade the paint quality, include a gasket kit, and provide a more accurate thermometer that is weather proof . If that would have been the case, this would be a 4-5 star product.
Vincent : More a hazard than a help
Used it twice and it is not getting better. The heat probe will not detect any heat above 200 degrees. We were trying to cook at 220 and wondering why with all the heat we had it would not go any higher. It created a massive fire and burn hazard as compared to what they would be in normal operation conditions. The grill side was so hot that it melted our oven mitts and if we were to have used anything else to pull the grates out, there probably would have been severe burns and injury. Not only this but it showed up in the mail very dented all over the body of the product. It was upsetting, but hammering out some of the dents wasn't too hard. As much as we wanted to like this product, we are concerned that it would be too much of a safety hazard for us to keep especially with the broken parts that were included.
Robert : Good buy for the money
All is good with the smoker it Cooks great we have smoked alot on it the only thing you have to do is by the sealer to go with it it does leak alot with out it. It could also be a little higher of the ground had to build a rock deck for it. of not you have to bend over alot if you are tall
EvlWaz : Great smoker !
Had it together and working in a couple hours. I used lavalock on all seams and bolt holes. I used oven gasket around the doors. After a good seasoning only place it leaked smoke was the factory seam at the dome to barrel area on top. It sealed up perfect with a bead around it after cooling off. Holds temp great with all the leaks stopped up.
Charles Chaffee : Solidly Built, Learn To Use
It wasn’t too terribly hard to assemble, but time consuming, which is fine. Have tools. Strictly as a long smoker, I’m sure it is great. But if you use lump charcoal like I do, I would highly recommend using standard briquettes to get those started, as the fire box isn’t vented perfectly to get the amount of air necessary to get the entire coal bed going with lump charcoal. Moreover, you will struggle to get the vertical chamber hot enough to do anything besides slow smoking. So definitely trial and error and patience are required if you are not familiar with vertical offset charcoal smokers as I wasn’t). Possibly too you could look into ways to better seal the seam between firebox and smoking chamber. All things considered though, for just under $300, and for what it is intended for, you his is a very solidly built unit that works as intended with the proper knowledge and process.
Jeanette : Fantastic purchase!
I bought this smoker for my husband as a Father's Day gift. He'd been saying for a few years that he wanted to buy a smoker, and he spent time researching off and on for one. He ended up finding this one and another brand smoker under a hardware store website. I asked my brother to help me research smokers, and he sent me a list that included the Dyno Glo. I was sold and simply hoping I could find it here on Amazon - TAH-DAH! And ... I placed the order on 6/14, and it arrived on 6/18. My husband has used it a couple of times this summer, and it has worked beautifully. Fantastic purchase!!
L French : Nice smoker, bad rust problem
We purchased 2 of these. The first, we received on April 16th, the 2nd arrived on April 29th. It was "easy enough" to assemble, and there was a small learning curve to figure out how to get the best cook out of them. However, we've only had them operating about a month and the 2nd one is rusting pretty badly already (the first photo is the first one which looks much better than the 2nd). We'll have to remedy this, of course, but will definitely not be purchasing any more of these - not at that price, for something that rusts immediately!
Platcrates : Remember to think of it like a cast iron skillet, keep it oiled/seasoned!
Actually bought this for my wife after the home-made smoker self destructed. We raise hogs for our personal use and there is nothing better in the World than smoked pork! Be it ham, loin, butt or bacon it all taste better smoked!!! Contrary to a lot of the negative posts this smoker was well shipped, no dents scratches or scrapes. All parts were included and went together quite easily. Working at a leisurely pace I managed to assemble it in about 2 and 1/2 hours remembering to not tighten any screw till all holes and screws were lined up properly. In the photo I uploaded you can see it smoking quite nicely and you can see our old smoker (a dead upright freezer) in the background. Don't be afraid to pull the trigger on this one! I researched it well before purchasing, for the price there's none better!
Trevor : Bark me Bad
From an arrival perspective, yeah, I had to bang out some dents just like the other reviews. If you think a smoker is a set and forget, you’re delusional. There are other products that you can set and forget, but they are not true smokers. I purchased the lava felt and the grill caulk...not a single leak. Just smoked 16lbs of butt and nothing butt beautiful. As long as this can hold to weather, I’m all in on this smoker.
Jeanette : Fantastic purchase!
I bought this smoker for my husband as a Father's Day gift. He'd been saying for a few years that he wanted to buy a smoker, and he spent time researching off and on for one. He ended up finding this one and another brand smoker under a hardware store website. I asked my brother to help me research smokers, and he sent me a list that included the Dyno Glo. I was sold and simply hoping I could find it here on Amazon - TAH-DAH! And ... I placed the order on 6/14, and it arrived on 6/18. My husband has used it a couple of times this summer, and it has worked beautifully. Fantastic purchase!!
juliana martin : Great value. Great bbq. Be ready for some mods
I’ve been happy with this smoker. Does need some mods. I installed 2 more thermometers so I can get temps from bottom shelf to top. About 50 degrees variance. Don’t mind that too much. If I want to slowly smoke a butt I can put in the top or I can really push one thru on the bottom if we are in a hurry.
Definitely needs the heat seal tape and rtv caulk around the doors and welds. I also used expanded metal to make a charcoal basket to help with the minion method. I use a little less fuel and it helps it burn a little more efficiently.
I’ve done ribs, butts, chickens, beef, homemade sausages, and pork belly burnt ends. Everything has turned out great.
For the price it’s a great entry level smoker. Only reason I’m giving it 4 stars is that the ash isn’t easy to clean out during a cook and shelves not easy to move. All in all I’ve had fun with it and it’s performed.
Charles Chaffee : Solidly Built, Learn To Use
It wasn’t too terribly hard to assemble, but time consuming, which is fine. Have tools. Strictly as a long smoker, I’m sure it is great. But if you use lump charcoal like I do, I would highly recommend using standard briquettes to get those started, as the fire box isn’t vented perfectly to get the amount of air necessary to get the entire coal bed going with lump charcoal. Moreover, you will struggle to get the vertical chamber hot enough to do anything besides slow smoking. So definitely trial and error and patience are required if you are not familiar with vertical offset charcoal smokers as I wasn’t). Possibly too you could look into ways to better seal the seam between firebox and smoking chamber. All things considered though, for just under $300, and for what it is intended for, you his is a very solidly built unit that works as intended with the proper knowledge and process.
Rayzone : FOOD FOR THOUGHT, OR FYI
It's really the best smoker on Amazon, I'm 66 years old and have built many smokers in my life time, I'm a welder by trade and I've built many smokers anywhere from $500 to $3,000 you can't build a smoker like this for the price,,all of the parts fit like a glove,,unbelievable, I haven't smoked any meat on it yet 10-7-2019 ,I've been seasoning it today and playing around with the temperature adjustment setting and it's so easy to use and adjust, I started my fire with lighter wood and then added pecan wood, I can regulate the heat with ease, can't wait until it's seasoned so I can put some meat on it, the doors were damaged in the shipping process, but I live in Alabama and it came all the way from Washington State, a 7 day trip ,I did try to straighten out ,,,but no,, so I'm waiting on the company to contact me about replacing the door latches , I'm sure that they will, the packaging was poor it was damaged when it got to my place, they should really consider another way to package their smoker product,
Vincent : More a hazard than a help
Used it twice and it is not getting better. The heat probe will not detect any heat above 200 degrees. We were trying to cook at 220 and wondering why with all the heat we had it would not go any higher. It created a massive fire and burn hazard as compared to what they would be in normal operation conditions. The grill side was so hot that it melted our oven mitts and if we were to have used anything else to pull the grates out, there probably would have been severe burns and injury. Not only this but it showed up in the mail very dented all over the body of the product. It was upsetting, but hammering out some of the dents wasn't too hard. As much as we wanted to like this product, we are concerned that it would be too much of a safety hazard for us to keep especially with the broken parts that were included.
Roush0521 : Amazon should double check the products before sending it to costumers.
Broken door, broken heart. This was my husband’s Christmas gift. So, no gift from Santa to him for now.
jfizzle : Good smoker for the price.
I really enjoy this smoker. It’s heavy duty and I dig the design. HOWEVER, this thing has leaks all over the place thus suffering from lack of heat retention. I ended up purchasing grill gaskets and they did the job. Sure the price was good but it would probably make this thing even more popular if it either had gaskets already installed or come with it as a self install parts. They really do make a difference.
y : Junk
Metal is too thin to regulate temperature. If you have all day to dick with this thing and thrive on mediocre performance...by all means...waste you time and money. Mine is going to the scrap yard
John : Worth the money
Love the smoker and it looks awesome. Had to do some modifications to retain more heat and converted it to combo charcoal and electric smoker. While this might not be best for all it works beautifully for me. With the smoker gaskets and electric heating element it's my dream machine. Seasoned up perfect and with the addition of a rain guard it looks bad to the bone. Cooks and regulates heat distribution well. I would buy this again with are without modifications I added to it. 5 stars all the way.
Robert & Linda Restivo : Yum!
I've always wanted to make brisket at home, but have never had the right equipment. I've been a griller, which isn't suited to a proper brisket. Strictly steaks, chops, and burgers. So I finally decided to upgrade to a smoker. In preparation, I read Smoky Hale's book, which I recommend. (https://smile.amazon.com/American-Barbecue-Grilling-Manual-2000-05-01/dp/B01K3JC5KU/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=great+american+manual+hale&qid=1592756378&sr=8-1) (I got mine at the local Goodwill!)
I bought the combination smoker & cover. Covers are necessities for any grill, and the Dyna-Glo cover fits this smoker like a glove. I had read all the previous reviews and also bought the LavaLock gasket seal (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F9FE60K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1).
Previous reviews mentioned that the unit arrives damaged, and mine was no exception. There were a couple of dents and scratches to the vertical smoking chamber. One dent was such that the smoker could not be assembled without repair. Amazon was kind enough to offer a 35% discount instead of a replacement, which was quite acceptable.
I pounded out the dent, and then assembled the unit. I used the LavaLock seal between the two halves of the offset chamber, on the connection pipe between the offset and smoking chambers, and at the joint of smokestack and vertical chamber. I also sealed the doors to the offset chamber and the main smoker door, and the charcoal tray. (I still have to seal the small access door on the smoker chamber.) It takes 2 15' rolls of LavaLock to seal the entire unit. The only tools required were a screwdriver, a combination wrench, and a socket/ratchet. I was able to put it together by myself, and it took as long to apply the gasket seal as to tighten the bolts.
I hadn't sealed the main smoker door when I seasoned it, and without the gasket seal the main smoker door leaks smoke and heat like a chimney. Sealed, it doesn't leak at all.
The first time smoking, I didn't have an internal thermometer and had to rely on the clock. I was smoking a 17 pound brisket, an whole spatchcocked chicken, and 2 pounds of sausage. I ran the brisket for about 10 hours and it hadn't converted the collagen to gelatin. It was still good, just not as tender as it should've been. The chicken was in the smoker for about 4 hours and came out great. Oh, also grill pineapple. I didn't skin or core it, just sliced into 1" slabs and threw it on the grate. Highly recommended.
I purchased the Enzoo wireless thermometer (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y385YR3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) prior to my second attempt. This is an absolute necessity. I was able to monitor the temperatures throughout the cooking process without opening the main chamber. I think I took my first brisket out while it was still in the meat stall. I started the second brisket at about 9:30 a.m. and finally took it out at 1:30 in the morning ... 16 hours. But it came out great.
When cooking, the fire initially burns evenly throughout the offset chamber. (I take the grills out because they just get in the way.) As the cooking continues, the offset chamber fills with ash, which affects the burn. I noticed that the fire was primarily on the air intake side of the chamber. I tried moving coals and creating channels to get more air throughout the chamber, but the temperature would stay stubbornly around 205 for hours. Finally, I piled all the charcoal against the air intake side of the chamber, and in no time the temperature was back in the 230 range. This becomes necessary after 6-8 hours. I think if I figured that out sooner, I could've shortened my 16 hour marathon.
As mentioned in previous reviews, this is a fine grill for the money. But sealing all the joints and doors with the gasket seal is absolutely necessary. Also, be sure to have a remote thermometer system. Happy barbecuing.
Rob J : Great unit that can cook some serious food!
This smoker exceeded my expectations! I used the lava lock gasket tape to seal the door and it can maintain a temperature fairly well without being babysat too closely. Then I ran 2 fires through the unit to burn off any shipping oil and whatnot, and then was ready to go! My first cookout was last Sunday, I smoked 3 racks of ribs and a pork butt. Everything was a smashing success and the food all received plenty of praise. I used charcoal and threw some applewood chunks in there every 20 minutes or so and was able to hold a consistent temp. The thermometer sucks, so you'll have to buy a digital read, and the door was missing the bolt on the top latch, but even without that top bolt it still sealed very well (thanks to the lava lock). I did buy a replacement bolt and 2 nuts to replace the missing parts, but my first cookout was still a success without that top one in place. Very good and solid unit for the price. A few words on assembly- Definitely a two person job and takes about 2 hours. I read some reviews by others who've purchased this unit and some said that the holes didn't line up...? Well if you tighten the screws all the way one at a time then yes, you may have problems. But that goes for anything that you're assembling. If you get all the screws loosely in place on the piece your are connecting, and then tighten them, you won't have that issue. My only complaint is that the racks at 5" apart make it difficult to load up the tray fully. For example, my second smoke on Tuesday was about 50 chicken wings, and getting them into the back of the unit took some effort. I suppose I could have removed the unused racks (and maybe I'll do that next time). All in all, this is a solid unit that can handle some serious food output for large groups of people. Maintains a pretty even temperature top to bottom (a bit hotter near the smoke box on the bottom rack but what can you do). I would definitely recommend to friends, and I would wager one or two may even buy one for themselves after seeing the unit perform.
Amazon Customer : Nice smoker with a potentially fatal flaw
I recently purchased this smoker. It seems to be a nice smoker. I sealed up the doors on the smoke chamber with lavalock gasket material, and I used silicone sealer on the smoke chamber side of the transfer box, as well as around the chimney and the joint where the upper cap joins the smoke chamber. Easy to set up, easy to use, but there is one problem I've encountered - on a long smoke, there is no easy way to clear the ashes. After about 12 hours, the fire started to die down because the ashes were choking it. It's great for short smoke times, and I bet it'll be great for cold smoking, but for a long job like a brisket, ash buildup could be a problem for you.
Luke Schroeder : Great value, great smoker, highly recommended
I've had this smoker for over a year now and I absolutely love it. Jerky, ribs, brisket, all amazing. Two coal chimneys worth of coal keeps steady temp for about 3-4 hours. Adjustable air vents work very well for controlling the temperature. I'll usually watch it for about 10 minutes then it's good for hours before the temp starts to drift much. The grates in the hot box are perfect for finishing ribs. Only issue I've had, which I dont consider an issue with the smoker, is loss of air flow if you over load all the racks with jerky. Need some spacing to let it breath. Some people saying it's not very thick steel which I dont understand, this thing weighs alot, any heavier and you wouldnt be able to easily move it around. Awesome value.
Consumer : This was a great buy BUT
These are add-on comments after almost 1 year. The grill still is very good. You still can't beat it for hanging ribs (beef or pork) and beer can chicken is spot on every time. However, Dyna-Glo took what was a great product and made it good. They chose to use cheaper metals and coating on the fire box. Therefore here I am almost a year later and the fire box is rusting. The cooking chamber is in perfect condition but I have to get the rust off of the fire box and repaint it. I am not happy about having to do this.
As we speak I have a slab of beef ribs hanging and a pan of baked beans on one of the shelves below. Please Dyna_glo fix the rust problem and you will have a fantastic product.
I was not in the market for a smoker. I have a Char-griller Outlaw that is a fantastic grill but requires a lot of attention when doing long smokes. I have an Egg that is good for long smokes but does not hold a lot of food for smoking. This smoker is the best of both worlds. It took a couple of hours to put it together and install the Lava lock around the door, the back door and the fire
box. Now there are no smoke leaks. I wiped it down with cooking oil and burned it in twice adding a piece of hickory to make sure it was well seasoned. My first smoking was large turkey drumsticks. It took 3.5 hours and they were perfect. They came out juicy AND when I checked the temp of the meat the temp was the same on all 3 shelves. Next I cooked chicken wings and thighs. I cooked a lot of chicken and it filled 4 shelves. The wings were all done at the same time. The wings were juicy. Again it was a great smoke. I have a reputation as a very good cook. The Dyna-glo is the perfect smoker for me.
Charles Chaffee : Solidly Built, Learn To Use
It wasn’t too terribly hard to assemble, but time consuming, which is fine. Have tools. Strictly as a long smoker, I’m sure it is great. But if you use lump charcoal like I do, I would highly recommend using standard briquettes to get those started, as the fire box isn’t vented perfectly to get the amount of air necessary to get the entire coal bed going with lump charcoal. Moreover, you will struggle to get the vertical chamber hot enough to do anything besides slow smoking. So definitely trial and error and patience are required if you are not familiar with vertical offset charcoal smokers as I wasn’t). Possibly too you could look into ways to better seal the seam between firebox and smoking chamber. All things considered though, for just under $300, and for what it is intended for, you his is a very solidly built unit that works as intended with the proper knowledge and process.
Collin N. : An excellent offset vertical smoker!
This is a great product and so far, I've only assembled it and seasoned it. The packaging was fantastic and the product arrived in great shape. The hardware for assembly was all kept in a nicely designed laminated paper storage system. I should state that I did a couple modifications right of the bat. I added gasket tape to the doors of the vertical smoke chamber and also applied a moderate amount of high temp food-rated silicon to welded edges and connecting pieces. I can't wait until Saturday! We'll be doing buffalo burgers and brisket!
Golden : Very happy with purchase
I started out with a small smoker and outgrew it after a year. I knew I wanted a bigger one and ordered this, shipped to house. It arrived and really took my time putting it together with gasket around door, etc. I don't know if it needed it, but smoker works excellent. Very efficient with the charcoal and easy to keep temp regulated. There is a lot of space on the trays and also meat hangers up top for the bigger stuff. 5 stars.
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