PIT BOSS 77435 Vertical Lp Gas Smoker, Red review and price compare 2025
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Product overview
Brand
PIT BOSS
Model Name
77435
Color
Red
Item Weight
52 Pounds
Item Dimensions LxWxH
21.5 x 23 x 47 inches
Fuel Type
Liquefied Petroleum Gas
product features
This fits your .
by entering your model number.
Dual valve/dual burner system provides 100-350 temperature range
Three porcelain coated cooking grids, 800 sq in
Stainless Steel burners - 12, 500 BTU total
External access to wood chip drawer and grease tray
Large viewing window with high temperature door seal
From the manufacturer
External access to wood chip drawer and grease tray
The rear wheels and handle increase mobility, and a stylish red semi-gloss finish is sure to impress. Experience how Pit Boss is redefining the smoker industry in your own backyard today!
Pit Boss
3-SERIES GAS VERTICAL SMOKER
There’s a new boss in town – the Pit Boss Red Rock Gas Smoker Series. With the Pit Boss Red Rock Gas Smoker, you can reach temperatures as low as 100°F and as high as 350°F. The large front window eliminates the need for peek-a-boo cooking and the elevated frame makes transferring your meal from the smoker to the table a breeze.
Cooking Racks: 3
BTU Value: 12,500
Temperatures as low as 100°F and as high as 350°F
Cooking area of 884 square inches
PIT BOSS 40LB COMPETITION HARDWOOD PELLETS
PIT BOSS 40LB HICKORY HARDWOOD PELLETS
PIT BOSS 40LB APPLE HARDWOOD PELLETS
Pit Boss Covers
Pit Boss Spices
Pit Boss Cast Iron
Pit Boss Tools
product description
Pit Boss vertical LP gas smokers are one of a kind. Our dual valve burner system has one 3, 500 BTU stainless steel burner dedicated to the wood chips & a 10, 000 BTU burner for cabinet temperature. Both valves are controlled by a single control knob & allow for temperature control of 100 350 Degree. push-button piezo ignition makes for quick & easy lighting. Our 3 series vertical smoker offers four porcelain coated cooking racks, 884 sq in cooking area, or 3.5 cu' smoking space. Large high temp glass viewing window & fully sealed high temp door seal. Its time to take your backyard smoking experience to the next level.
product details
important information
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Questions about PIT BOSS 77435 Vertical Lp Gas Smoker, Red
Q:
does the smoker tray pull out easily after the unit is heated up?
Answer: It pulls out VERY easy.
Answer: Yes,but the handle is hot. Have a good heat resistant mit.
Answer: No, you have to have a mitt and also -use on the door. It makes a horrible screech.
Answer: Yes, just get a good pair of insulated BBQ gloves, and a steel bucket to dump out the ashes.....
Answer: Yes it does and you don’t have to open the door to do it.
Answer: Yes . Just needs a little wigging.But not an issue!!
Q:
Can this be used as a grill and or for baking?
Answer: Not mine and I feel that the 'Pit boss' has misled us with statements and pics stating that it CAN be used as an oven for baking pizzas, breads etc in pics where my new 77435 won't get above 310f [empty]. I'm currently trying to adjust the air intake valve to get a decent flame, but I doubt even with a perfect blue flame and slightly yellow flame tips would achieve a decent bake temp. They do state that the 77435 burner is rated at 13,000 BTU, which is kinda low to begin with.
Answer: Yes you can grill and bake in it. This is an awesome grill. I've recently bought it for my fiance retirement and he truly loves it. An well worth purchase.
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: I have only used it for smoking. Works great! I have gotten great results on baby back ribs, whole chicken , salmon and a 5 pound brisket. Nice smoker!
Answer: I would only use for smoking
Answer: Yes
Q:
How long does the wood last in the tray?
Answer: Depending on your temperature the wood chips will last any where from 1 hour to a 1 1/2 hours.
Answer: We check it about every 90 minutes. There’s still some wood, but we add more.
Answer: That depends on the chips you have. Smaller soaked chips could last 45 mins, and some larger higher quality chips could last longer. I would recommend researching about chips to better answer your question. It’s not really a grill issue, it’s the wood.
Q:
Are there separate trays for chips, water and drip pan? Three trays total?
Answer: There is a "chip pan" and "water/drip pan" and a separate drip pan on the bottom of the unit, below the burner. The water pan catches most of the drippings and that's why I call it a water/drip pan.
Answer: Water and drip pan is the same pan Which sits inside smoker above wood chips. Wood chip pan/box separate and slides in from the front
Answer: Yes , water pan sits inside, chip pan and drip pan slide in below the door, love mine!
Answer: No only water/drip and wood chip
Answer: Yes. One chip just above the burner. Water tray above that.
Answer: Yes, three trays. One for each.
Answer: I honestly would not waste your money on this brand. Mine was delivered dented and beat up. Customer service was the worst I'd ever experienced. They told me that since it still functions, they would not do anything to help me. The box was in perfect condition, so this is the way it was packaged.
Answer: No, just two.
Q:
How many shelves does this have? I thought I saw 3 but have seen same model have 4 shelves. 4 is what I am looking for.
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: It can accommodate four shelves. I would buy this model again ONLY if the wood chip firebox has been redesigned. I had to redo mine to make it easy to remove for refilling.
Answer: It comes with 4 coated steel shelves.
Answer: Our smoker has 4 shelves. The shelves are removable.
Answer: yes it has 4 shelves
Answer: Yes it does have 4 small racks
Answer: It has 4 shelves.
Answer: It comes with 4 shelves
Answer: I just went to look. I count 4 in mine.
Answer: The unit I own has four shelves.
Q:
Received mine today! Yippee. Has anyone used theirs in the rain?
Answer: I have used it in the rain and snow with no issues. Just keep an eye on the temperature.
Answer: Under cover patio only. I should think in the rain it will under perform holding temp
Q:
can you put wheels on this unit
Answer: unit has 2 wheels on back legs. none on front legs. I guess you could, but you would have to remove LP tank before moving the unit.
Answer: There are wheels in the back legs. You can tilt the unit with a handle bar mounted in the back panel and move it around.
Q:
How big is each rack?
Answer: Racks are 14.75" X 12". They slide in and out very easily. There is some confusion as to how many racks there are, some info says 3 and some says 4. There are 4. There are also a lot of adjustments which allows different spacing between the racks.
Q:
I have natural gas. Can this smoker be used on natural gas?
Answer: Needs correct hookup for nat gas
Q:
Does this come with a propane hookup and regulator?
Answer: Yes
Answer: Yes
Answer: Yes it did
Answer: Yes it does
Q:
Why is the cost of international shipping so expensive without any proportion to any other product of this magnitude?
Answer: Csuse they can
Q:
Exactly what is the color of this model? Like the picture?
Answer: A beautiful red
Q:
are the trays dishwasher safe?
Answer: If by trays you mean the racks, then yes. I throw mine in after smoking something and wash them on the heavy duty cycle and sani-rinse finish. They come out like new.
Answer: Yes, as are the shelf supports and water pan, but a good hand scrub to loosen all the hardened dried material first will get you the best results.
Answer: I’m sure they are but I hand wash mine to get them really clean.
Q:
Is there a cover for this model ?
Answer: Yes: Pit Boss Grills 73225 LP Gas Smoker Cover, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CHVB394/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_kMjCDb8WHMXCE
Answer: Yes. Cover od avilable in manufacturer web site.
Answer: I use a weber cover
Q:
Is glass smoked or is it a protective film
Answer: It is a clear tempered glass, not a film. It only gets " smoked" when you use it. I clean after every use.
Answer: The glass is see through.
Answer: Glass is clear but gets greasy fairly quickly. Does need to be cleaned after every use if you want to see meat.
Answer: How do you clean the glass?
Answer: The front is a glass
Q:
What size is this
Answer: I'm not sure what measurements you're asking about, but the assembled unit outside measurements are as follows:
Q:
can propane be used?
Answer: The Smoker is propane fueled.
Answer: LP means propane
Answer: Yes
Q:
My hubby is concerned about a temperature dial of just low, medium, high. Can you cook at a temp of 225, 260, 300 degrees or just med., low or high?
Answer: I’ve had mine over 2 years and always set it to medium heat which gives me 215-225 degrees depending on the wood I use and amount of water in the pan. Smoking meat is done slow and low
Answer: The temperature dial is graduated in 10 degree increments from 100 degrees to ...I'm not sure, but over 500 degrees. Once you get it set, it holds temperature quite well. Last weekend, it held at 250 degrees for 2-3 hours with very little tweaking.
Answer: The dial works to regulate temperature for all temps on this unit. Just watch the temperature gauge in the center of the window and you adjust the dial to whatever temp you need. I’ve smoked everything in this and it works great.
Answer: You can adjust the temperature to what works best for you. There's not 3 settings, its a dial you can set at any position but it has stops at low medium and high. You can set it between these stops so medium low, medium high or anything in between.
Answer: The dial sets the temperature, which you read from the temperature gauge on the unit. There are also vents to control outlet of heat and smoke. You can get virtually any viable smoking temperature by varying the setting on the dial, opening the vents, or as I sometimes do occasionally opening the smoker door to get cooler temps.
Answer: 100-350 temperature range per the item description.
Answer: I use a remote thermometer to dial mine in. However, due to absolutely horrible customer service, I recommend you purchase a different brand.
Q:
How big is the water tray? I like to smoke pork butts and would like to be able to do so on one fill up.
Answer: I have had to fill it up at least three times last time I smoked a pork butt.
Answer: Pan measures 12.5" in length, 10.75" in width, and 1.75" in height, it is small and will need to be refilled several times.
Answer: you will need two fillups but easy
Q:
are the walls insulated ?
Answer: No. Single walls, not insulated.
Q:
What are the diamentions inside the cooking area?
Answer: I believe I researched it and it is 835 cu inches .Room for 8 chickens . I think you could smoke enough food for for a large home party.Maybe 16 people.
Q:
Does this smoker come with a water tray? I can't find mention of one in the description.
Answer: Yes it has a water tray and a very nice wood tray. I do foil packs for my wood chips to save the wood box.
Answer: Yes, it has a water tray.
Answer: Yes it is the best gas smoker I have ever had total control and I have had 10 different smokers
Answer: yes it does
Q:
Does the outside get hot if you touch it?
Answer: Yes, but not so hot it would burn you.
Answer: Yes it does what u only think gets hot on inside it’s metal latch and handle do not
Answer: yes
Answer: Yes, but you can probably articulate the handle and open/close it without mitts if you need to. Just step back and dont let the hot smoke/steam hit you in the face.
Answer: It does get pretty warm but you won’t get a third degree burn if you brush ups against it.
Answer: I keep it next to a rose Bush when it’s smoking and the branches are touching it. They never get browned out. It will be warm to the touch for sure, and will burn you if you leave your hand on it.
Answer: Not too bad, however due to the poor customer service, I recommend searching for another brand.
Answer: Yes it gets warm
Answer: It is hot on the outside
Q:
Does the 77435 have 4 cooking racks? There is a discrepancy in the description information.
Answer: Yes four racks included
Answer: Yes it does!
Answer: Yes it does.
Q:
any owners take this on camping trips
Answer: Why wouldn't you bring it on camping trips ? #1. Not enough room in back of pick up because of all the camping trip equipment and toys. This would have to be the one and only reason
Answer: Too heavy and awkward.
Q:
Can you add insulation to the beautiful outside for more efficiency and to save $ on fuel?
Answer: No.
Answer: I guess you could, but I wouldn't recommend it.
Q:
Can one purchase a conversion kit at hardware store to convert to gas pipe vs. propane?
Answer: Maybe BUT I WOULD BE VERY CAREFULL!!!!!!!! It does not use not alot of propane so I do not know if it is really worth !
Q:
Can you hang meat in these smokers?
Answer: Repositioning the shelves, you will be able to hang meat on stainless steel hooks available on the Amazon site.
Answer: The unit did not come with hooks but you could hang meat from a shelf in the top position?
Answer: You would have to rig up something from the grate(s)
Answer: Yes you should be able to of the top rack .
Q:
I cooked at 250 for 4 hrs changing wet chips out twice with very limited smoke. Any tips to get more smoke? Thanks
Answer: Ok! The wet chips burn very quickly the burner is close to the smoke box. I bought a smoke tube that hung it in the smoker and used wood pellets that burns very slowly.
Answer: I have added wwod chips into the water pan inside for additional smoke flavor. Hope this helps.
Q:
Is the temperature controlled by a thermostat or by manually adjusting the burners?
Answer: manually adjusting the burners
Answer: By adjusting the burners...it took a minute to figure out where it needed to be set at to get the desired temp, but once you figure that out it maintains that temp without further adjustment.
Q:
the water pan is so small..do you use an additional drip pan as well when smoking
Answer: The water pan wire support is configured only for the provided water pan.
Answer: I never have, the botom of the unit channels any drips down to the grease trap in the very bottom under the chip tray.
Answer: We haven’t had to yet. I’m attempting pork belly this weekend, that will be the true test
Answer: I haven't. The one that it comes with has been sufficient.
Q:
If i take outall but one rack, would i be able to hang summer sausage in there?
Answer: From the top rack to about 3-4" above the drip/water pan, you will have an area 31-34" high and 19" deep x 21" wide. I've never smoker summer sausages to this is the best I can give. Hope it helps.
Answer: You can leave only the top rack on and hang sausage from the rack
Answer: Yes, we love the smoker. We’ve used it for everything veggies, salmon, ribs, fat back. A great smoker for the price
Answer: Yes, you should have any issues.
Answer: Yes you can.
Q:
Is there an easy way to keep the inside of the glass door clean?
Answer: I clean mine every time I use it with hot soapy water with a soft scrubber or you can use a 409 grease cleaner and a little elbow grease. Mine looks like it did when it was brand new.
Answer: Use Easy Off oven cleaner
Answer: I use ammonia in a spray bottle. Melts the smoke right off, then just rinse with water. If the fumes of the raw ammonia are too much, you can mix in water with the ammonia to dilute it. Rinsing with water leaves no residual odor or taste.
Answer: Spray nine after each use
Answer: Nope
Answer: I don't know because I bought it for my daughter.
Q:
What is the real highest temperature this unit can reach, 350 or 320 degrees? The information on the manual and sell sheet are conflicting.
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: Haven’t been able to get it higher than 320. I don’t use it for anything other than smoking at 225 and it’s great
Answer: IT IS A SMOKER WHY WOULD YOU GO ABOVE 200 DEGREES. LOW AND SLOW. ANYTHING HIGHER THEN YOU ARE JUST COOKING
Answer: It will not reach 300 on a hot day.
Answer: The best I have gotten is about 320
Answer: 300 is as hot as I can get it. Not happy with it!!
Answer: I’ve only had mine up to 325 and I don’t think it gets much higher than that.
Q:
Can I use wood pellets or do I have to use chips?
Answer: You can use wood pellets instead of chips
Answer: It is set up for chips. It doesn't have any type of automatic feed.
Answer: I use chips don't think this model was meant for pucks !
Answer: You can use pellets
Answer: chips
Answer: I have always used chips
Answer: You can use either
Q:
Can shipping to kuwait
Answer: I would not recommend to a friend
Q:
Where is this unit made?
Answer: Arizona USA
Answer: Why does it matter?
Answer: Not sure . But seems fairly well built.
Q:
Do you need to continue checking and adding water, chips ect?? my husband thinks using and electric or gas smoker we don't have to do anything?
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: Absolutely, its water, it will dry up. I used mine for the first time last week and determined I need to fill mine every 1.5 hours. Depending on your heat you'll def have to adjust. Hope this helps.
Answer: Yes, you definitely need to check water and chips every 2 hours depending on temperature setting.
Answer: Chips not as often but yes.
Answer: Yes you will still need to add both.
Q:
Where can i find lpg fish & meat smokers i can purchase. it seems that your site does not deliver to our address in new zealand?
Answer: pitboss.com
Q:
Will this work in the UK on 220v or will I need some kind of transformer ?
Answer: This smoker runs on Propane no electricity needed. Assuming you have access to propane tanks it should work just fine.
Answer: It'll work in the UK as long as you have a propane tank. This is not an electric unit, so voltage doesn't matter.
Answer: LP means liquefied propane. This is not electric, nor will any electric smoker be 220v.
Answer: All you need is propane my friend…
Answer: This is a propane smoker. There is no electricity involved.
Answer: This. smoker is not electric it uses propane
Answer: My pit boss uses propane and does not have electrical connection.
Answer: No this smoker is not electric
Q:
Can u use wood pellet w/ The Red Rock has vertical smoker 3 series..?
Answer: Should be no reason that you cannot use the wood pellets in this smoker. Just load them into the smoker tray and fire up the smoker. Note that this smoker does not autofeed the pellets like some others.
Answer: I would be BE REAL CAREFULL WITH THAT ONE. Unless it is meant for smoking NO NO NO. Pellets for wood stoves have glues, waxes, etc!. To much tree bark will make you sick as well. Birch has tars and pitch in the bark. My dad who learned to smoke fish in Norway said that was also a big NO .
Answer: no
Answer: Yes
Answer: I don't think so.
Answer: Yes
Q:
How large is the chip pan? Looking a smoker for several hours (pork shoulders and brisket).
Answer: I use pellets and it goes for about an hour or two. It is really easy to refill the chip box but it's hot so you will need gloves or tongs to open the lid. Great little smoker and well worth the price. The temperature holds steady. I would definitely buy this again.
Answer: The pan will hold about 2.5 hours of chips. More can be added but you will need an insulated mit to pull the tray out.
Answer: It’s enough for about 2 hours. However it is easy to pull out and refill without opening the door.
Answer: It's around 6 inches wide and 12 inches long. It's a good size
Answer: I think you will use a couple of trays ,but it should not be an issue.
Q:
The manual for this smoker says not to use pellets. yet one reviewer says you can use pellets. which is it?
Answer: I suppose you could put pellets in the chip pan if you wanted to. But it is designed for wood chips
Q:
do you have to worry about a light rain...the front clear window being the most important part in case of a rain storm
Answer: Light rain is not a problem at all.
Answer: No you will probly have more issues with the glass from the inside. Just clean it with warm soapy "use blue dawn" water & a scotchbrite pad either after or before each smoke & you'll be fine!
Answer: Nope I keep mine out side and it does great
Q:
Does pit boss have a natural conversion capability? Have any owners tried or have done it?
Answer: No, I really wish it did. However, it truly is a great smoker and I would buy it again.
Q:
what are people doing to clean the inside of the smoker, especially down near the burners
Answer: Sorry I bought it as a gift and have never used one... But he loves it and uses it often!
Q:
Can I lay a full rack of ribs down on it?
Answer: You can. I use rib racks and put a drip pan under them.
Answer: I don’t think a full rack would fit I cut mine in half
Q:
will this fit a whole turkey?
Answer: Depends how big it Is ? I believe it states you can put in 8 chickens ,but depends again on size. I would say yes you can to an average one up to maybe one 12/15 lbs. I do know these birds can come much bigger I had one once I could hardly get into my oven LOL.
Answer: Easily
Q:
Do this smoker has one air vent in the back or two? because the advertised picture has one air vent and the customers pictures has two air vents
Answer: It has two air vents. It also has two burners. One is very small, and the the other is bigger. The temperature control is awesome. I absolutely love it.
Answer: One air vent at the back
Answer: This pit boss has 2 vents At the top That are adjustable.
Answer: It has two vents on the back towards the top.
Answer: It has two, but I would highly recommend purchasing a different brand. I've never had worse customer service in my life.
Answer: It has 2 in the back
Answer: It has two
Answer: Mine has 2.
Answer: It’s got two
Answer: Two
Q:
How long will it cook?
Answer: 7hrs or so
Product reviews of PIT BOSS 77435 Vertical Lp Gas Smoker, Red
Terry : Move it around easily
Came with dent on top back corner don’t know why box was not damaged at all far as operation of smoker was ok
Customer : Beautiful smoker but won't heat past 250
I wanted to wait until I used it for the first time before I wrote a review. First it comes in a ton of pieces so be prepared to put it together. It was shipped ups smart post and the post office wouldn't deliver it because it was so big. I smoke a rack of ribs and a picnic roast and the smoker struggled to get to 250 the entire time. I tried with dampers open, half open and finally almost closed and on high it would hit the 250 mark. Outside temp was 50 degrees. It would only go about 250 when the rack of ribs was finished and I removed them. To Be honest it's a beautiful smoker and I'm just kinda disappointed
gary williams : Great smoker!
My husband loves his smoker! Therefore I do too!
G. Ramsay : Great smoker
This smoker works great. My old Masterbuilt had a bad problem of the flame going out on the burner. This had good temp control - doesn't get too hot - I can keep the temp at whatever I set it to, so I can slow smoke food much better.
ss : Great smoker for the price!
After using a Masterbuilt smoker, I needed a replacement and liked this for the window to check on food without opening the door. As with any product, there were a few negative reviews online, but I would say I do not experience them. The most common complaint I see is that the smoker can't attain a high enough temperature. Well, I'm seeing 334 degrees F on a moderately windy day, and the flame has not gone out once. The door thermometer is reading about 20 degrees cooler than my probe thermometer, likely due to the different placement. Since smoking is done at low temperatures anyway, I'm satisfied with the temperature range. This smoker is not called a smoker-grill for a reason: it's meant for smoking, and not grilling. Some folks complained about receiving damaged parts. My smoker arrived very well packaged. I would think that anyone getting damaged parts may be seeing damage which occurred in transit, and likely the fault of delivery instead of the manufacturer One thing I did note on assembly however was that a corner of the enamel coating popped off as I tightened a screw (see picture). I can paint that with high temperature paint though. There is a gap in the construction where the lid meets the back panel, and the photo demonstrates the light coming thru this gap. This will likely lead to a constant smoke bleed, so I may get some high temperature caulk to seal it. Overall, I am pleased with the ~$200 smoker. It would be nice if the walls were insulated, but it does what it's supposed to do.
Jack Napier : Perfect for beginners
Love this smoker, took maybe 30 minutes to assemble, if your a novice this is your foot in the door for practice. The only thing I discovered was you need the time to put in the practice. Learning when to add more wood chips or water to the steamer is important, when you discover that is easy because the temperature is dead on ball accurate
John Blatnik : Issues resolved by Customer Service.!
Quality control and materials seem poor. Leg was poorly painted and the fire box tray looks horrible after 1 use. I don't expect this to last a year. Customer service is sending me a new tray. The unit works well. Keeping the temperature on propane units can be challenging.
Well pleased : Stay away it is not worth the hastle Damaged order twice.
I ordered this smoker for my son's birthday. I had it sent to his home. The first box was very damaged when it arrived. When he opened it the product was extremely dented and paint chipped off. I asked for a replacement. I was sent a sticker to replace it. He had to package it up and take it to have it mailed. When the second one arrived the box was fine but when he opened the smoker, it too was dented. He called me a bit frustrated as he had already had to repackage and send one back. I told him we needed to get it replaced he shouldn't have to settle for a damaged unit. He decided it was cosmetic and he didn't want the hassle of returning it. He put it together, which was a time consuming process, but the doors do not close properly. Stay away from this product it is not worth the hassle and frustration!
Slim : Great cost, good quality, I am happy, happy, happy
Love this smoker for its price, quality, and ease to build. Pit Boss also makes this basic same model in an upgrade version with added weight r/t more steel, & insulation for a better temperature control, however it will cost twice as much (approximately). Thus, I am good with this product at its costs as compared to the other smokers for this price range.
bill moran : No Heat
Would not heat above 200 degrees .
L. Delgado : We love it!
Use it today for the first time to smoke a chicken. Came out great with the smoke flavor I was hoping for. I also use the amazing smoker just as an added smoke. We love it!
Michael R. : Works great - easy to maintain temp and smoke.
I like everything about this, works great, easy to maintain temp & smoke. I wasn't sure about the color, but it does look pretty cool. Setup took about 40 minutes, easy to follow instructions.
Terry : Move it around easily
Came with dent on top back corner don’t know why box was not damaged at all far as operation of smoker was ok
ss : Great smoker for the price!
After using a Masterbuilt smoker, I needed a replacement and liked this for the window to check on food without opening the door. As with any product, there were a few negative reviews online, but I would say I do not experience them. The most common complaint I see is that the smoker can't attain a high enough temperature. Well, I'm seeing 334 degrees F on a moderately windy day, and the flame has not gone out once. The door thermometer is reading about 20 degrees cooler than my probe thermometer, likely due to the different placement. Since smoking is done at low temperatures anyway, I'm satisfied with the temperature range. This smoker is not called a smoker-grill for a reason: it's meant for smoking, and not grilling. Some folks complained about receiving damaged parts. My smoker arrived very well packaged. I would think that anyone getting damaged parts may be seeing damage which occurred in transit, and likely the fault of delivery instead of the manufacturer One thing I did note on assembly however was that a corner of the enamel coating popped off as I tightened a screw (see picture). I can paint that with high temperature paint though. There is a gap in the construction where the lid meets the back panel, and the photo demonstrates the light coming thru this gap. This will likely lead to a constant smoke bleed, so I may get some high temperature caulk to seal it. Overall, I am pleased with the ~$200 smoker. It would be nice if the walls were insulated, but it does what it's supposed to do.
Bongbro4 : Disappointing
Well what can I say. I tried to use it 3 different times, and I got scared the fire department was going to come to my house. Not easy to put together, smokes on only one side of the tray. (One side of the tray where the wood chips go, is burnt to a crisp, and the other side...not used at all.) SAVE YOUR MONEY!!! I would not recommend this to anyone. Now it just sits on my deck as a BIG reminder what NOT to do with our money.
Robert : Easy to use. Works great.
Pretty easy to assemble just be careful when connecting the ignition wire. Mine broke when I barely connected it together. I had to rewire it myself. Temp says up too 350 but I tested mine and it never went higher than 280 which is to hot to smoke anyways. So doesn’t matter. I’ve used it 6 times now and everything is still good. The drip pan at the bottom still hasn’t caught anything lol the water pan is the drip pan. No big deal though. It’s easy to use and easy to clean. I’m glad I bought this one.
Thomas M. Boyd : Good smoker
Grease leaks out at the front onto the floor. Grease pan is always empty. The bracket on right side for lpg cylinder is useless; I removed it.
Erica Ranta : Okay
Came with a broken part that we had to contact the manufacturer to replace, once that was done it works well
Amazon Customer : Great smoker
Perfect size for me. Have only done jerky so far. Turned out perfectly. Hold temp steady. Easy to clean up. Make sure you clean the glass immediately after you’re done smoking.
Accutek : Works very good.
Has hard time holding temp at 250. Any breeze drops the temp. So I had to block the sides. Does a good job. I smoked a pork butt for 12 hour's. Turned out awesome. I used hickory the first time. Great taste. Used mesquite. On second one. Both are very good taste. Also did some beef. It does an excellent job. Wood chip tray should be bigger. Can be a little hard to pull out and push the chip tray back in when hot. Water bowl is decent size. Also it catches some of the grease. Update Two years later no problem. Still would recommend.
sue lafreniere : Not electric, my bad for not noticing this till I got it.
Wanted electric one, not one picture showed a propane tank, cannot add water without opening door as stated, didn't get over 275 with gas all the way up, wood tray opens up from wrong end not real thrilled with this ????
KC : Cheap
The thing is just built cheap. Started filling apart in no time. The drip pan also sucks.
Barry Boecher : Great Smoker
It took some timeto assemble but it was worth it. It fired up immediately when I first tried it and did a fantastic job of smoking. I use it mostly for smoking Salmon.
I would highly recommend this smoker.
Homey D. Clown : Easy to assemble, easy to use
Controls aren't finicky and assembly was pretty easy. It does not provide an airtight seal around the seams, but a little finesse with the vents can help negate that. For $205, it's a pretty good smoker.
Wai : Maintains constant temperature
Very excellent smoker. It arrived with a few dents in the corners of the smoke chamber, but a quick call to the customer service and I had a new smoke chamber a few days later. Smoker works beautifully and maintains a constant temperature. The firebox holds just enough wood to smoke for 4 hours. Love this thing!
Karen Poston : Not so sure about the PIT BOSS 3 gas smoker YET!
We've had the smoker about a week. Used twice. Seems to smoke ok. After the initial seasoning of the smoker the thermostat fogged up. The moisture is still there. Notified the company via email. We’ll see if they respond. This is the 2nd one we ordered. The first one sent looked like it had been drug behind a truck & then run over by a train. The box was torn to Pieces & the smoker was bent. Sent it back immediately. Amazon delivered the 2nd one within a week. So far our experience has not been good.????
Well pleased : Stay away it is not worth the hastle Damaged order twice.
I ordered this smoker for my son's birthday. I had it sent to his home. The first box was very damaged when it arrived. When he opened it the product was extremely dented and paint chipped off. I asked for a replacement. I was sent a sticker to replace it. He had to package it up and take it to have it mailed. When the second one arrived the box was fine but when he opened the smoker, it too was dented. He called me a bit frustrated as he had already had to repackage and send one back. I told him we needed to get it replaced he shouldn't have to settle for a damaged unit. He decided it was cosmetic and he didn't want the hassle of returning it. He put it together, which was a time consuming process, but the doors do not close properly. Stay away from this product it is not worth the hassle and frustration!
curly9702 : Outstanding Vertical Smoker and Great Aesthetics
I had two previous electric smokers, and each one fried after about two years of use due to cables/components getting grease/water from the food. This Pit Boss is a beauty and it has 4 grills. Gas smoker is by far, better than electric smoker (ask Hank Rutherford Hill). Unlike electric, the food with gas smoker taste smoked, I do not have to worry about electrical components, and yes, I am not messing up my home's GFI. The hype now days is to smoke meat with wood pellets, and those are expensive smokers. I am sure pellet smokers are great, but not for me since those still have electrical components. In addition, those do not allow you to cook with wood chips. A gas smoker; on the other hand, not just cheaper but it is not dependent of the power grid and it is an outstanding mobile solution for when camping on property.
smokey : Highest temperature is only 310f
The good : excellent build and engineering well packed Beautiful color smoking temps good The BAD: Temps won't get above 310 empty with meat inside it is holding steady at 225 needs a gasket around smoke box opening
Bottom line, I bought this beautiful little smoke bomb expecting it to double as an oven and give me 350f+ for bread baking and crackling skinned roast pork as it says it can do, and even has pics on the box of bread and pizzas baking, but NO CAN DO @ 300f. The problem is that the burners are too low in BTU! Maybe I'll get a welder's blanket to insulate it or maybe the company will come out with a hotter burner upgrade? Has anyone out there done that or has achieved a higher temp? BTW, the temps posted are an average of my 2 oven thermometers and the on board thermometer which were within 10f of each other.
bwent84 : It's all good except the control knob.
Unlike a few other reviews, my shipment arrived undamaged and complete. Assembly was straightforward and easy. I appreciate the appearance and construction, it seems well made. Good features, glass front, single control, 2 burners, good door seal, porcelain racks, etc. Note: take care with the chip tray, don't force it, ensure it's closed all the way before careful insertion. The lid may become slightly bent/warped if forced which makes usage problematic. Otherwise, I'm entirely pleased with my purchase experience and product performance. Thermometer seems to perform well but I'll use my remote device because it's easier. Again, I rate it 5 stars. P.S. After a few uses I'm still very pleased with the smoker. However, the control knob is difficult to read. It seems as though it was installed upside down.
JAC : Smoked MEAT
We assembled on Saturday, smoked for the first time ever on Sunday. The instructions were 19 steps. Each step was well described with drawings. One person could have done it but it was easier with two. Cooking was very easy with the minimal instruction included. We smoked some thick steaks and 2 pork loins for our first attempt. They all turned out great. An instant read meat thermometer is a must have item. Clean up was easy also.
Billy Klima : Good overall ignighter doesn't work
Small water tray, requires frequent filling. Would like the ability to fill the water tray with out opening the door. The igniter did not work from the start. I will need to pull burner off and check. No Spark noticable.
Lou : Great looking smoker!!
Not easy to put together but doable, temperature dial has NO MARKINGS other than a small dent. Works fine but constant adjustments needed to keep temperature somewhat steady but nothing to judge the position of the gas control knob except a small hard to see dent in the all black knob. One very bad point, the air control for the burners. The screw that keeps the adjuster from moving is impossible to access as it’s directly under and against the edge of a piece of metal. Mine is needing more air, (yellow flames) but I guess that’s the way it is. Probably won’t reach its highest temp and wastes fuel. Ribs turned out really good!!
Richard D. : Quality product
Easy assembly, heavier and better built than I expected. Used twice since I bought it and have not been able to get a temperature higher than 300 degrees (outside temperatures at the time were in the high 50's). Full chip tray seems to produce smoke for about an hour when set on high heat. Much better than previous smokers I have owned. Would recommend.
Darrel Steinhour : Perfect - Perfect - Perfect !
Gave myself an early Father's Day gift... This smoker has plenty of interior room. Smoked 3 full racks of ribs, a brisket and a dozen bratwurst on the 4 shelves. Cleanup is super easy, shelves are non-stick and will clean up with a light scouring. I especially like the glass door to be able to see. Glass smokes up, but also cleans up with some light scouring and Windex.
The propane heat allows EXCELLENT temperature control. Set it and walked away for 2 hours to return to the same temp. Still getting the hang of using the wood-chip tray, but everything I've smoked has come out great.
Will probably buy 2 more for my kids when Christmas/birthday roll around.
G. Ramsay : Great smoker
This smoker works great. My old Masterbuilt had a bad problem of the flame going out on the burner. This had good temp control - doesn't get too hot - I can keep the temp at whatever I set it to, so I can slow smoke food much better.
Randy : Arrived in Poor Condition
There were several issues with the smoker that I noticed as I unpacked it - Chief among them was a dented door that wouldn't seal properly. I spoke to the manufacturer and they recommended that I return it for a replacement. Amazon has already processed the return and another one is on its way...
John Blatnik : Issues resolved by Customer Service.!
Quality control and materials seem poor. Leg was poorly painted and the fire box tray looks horrible after 1 use. I don't expect this to last a year. Customer service is sending me a new tray. The unit works well. Keeping the temperature on propane units can be challenging.
Billy Klima : Good overall ignighter doesn't work
Small water tray, requires frequent filling. Would like the ability to fill the water tray with out opening the door. The igniter did not work from the start. I will need to pull burner off and check. No Spark noticable.
R. Candy : Customer Service is horribly slow!
Latter part of April, 2019: I assembled the entire smoker but it would not light. I did some digging and found the hand formed burner tubes were bent. This meant the burner tubes were misaligned to the fuel supply feeds. I manually lit the burners, seasoned it and used it once. I contacted Customer Service to obtain a new burner assembly. They'd send me a new burner assembly if I sent them a picture of the bent tube. (Not for nothing but why in the world would anyone make up a story about a bent burner tube if it wasn't true?) Emailed the picture. Silence. Followed up May 9th, 2019. Promised to Fed-Ex me a new burner assembly. May 30th, 2019 followed up again. Warehouse was running behind. It'd be another two weeks before it would go out. June 22nd the assembly arrived... Minus the burner tube. June 24th, 2019 I called again! Assured me they located a new tube set and they would ship it immediately. Today is July 19th, 2019. Guess what? No part! I'm going to have to call them again! I really like the smoker. It seems to be solid, well executed and friendly to use but may the gods help you if there is a warranty problem!
July 23, 2019 Update: I spoke with customer service, AGAIN! The order for the part was sent to a warehouse near me... That warehouse didn't have the part so the order was dropped. It'll be another 10 days or so before the part is reshipped from the primary warehouse. You can't make this "stuff" up!
Terry Ball : Great Smoker
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.
Amazon Customer : Good smoker! Stellar brisket!
I bought this specifically to make brisket. It worked great, is the short version. I used a 10 lb costco brisket, “montreal steak” seasoning, 7.5 hr cook time, brisket directly on rack, no wrap. I did wrap it in aluminum foil to rest for two hours upon finish. I used pecan wood chips, soaked in water. I was surprised how quickly it cooked, I took it out at 203 degrees F. The smoker came up to 250 and stayed glued there at full gas with very little temperature variation when opening periodically. I kept the water tray at the bottom filled the entire time and the ambient humidity was 60 percent with a mild breeze. Replaced the wood twice. This smoker was worth every penny I spent on it. I am very happy with it. You should be able to get a higher temp if need be by using dry chips and no water but I dont know for sure. Next time i will try and wrap with butcher paper about 5 hrs in or at about 185 degrees. I believe it will be a compromise between having a crispy flavorful crust and internal moisture. Even without wrapping the brisket was tender enough for my liking. If your priority is tenderness you may want to wrap. Anyways i would have liked these pointers/observations before i started so i hope this helps someone. The process was fairly foolproof, just check the dial temp hourly i did have to dial it back a smidge several times but i used those times as opportunities to fill the water and get temp probe readings. The only concern i have at this time is the temperature dial has condensation inside the dial already after only one use. I also noticed the manual states that the electric version cant be used with wet wood chips. I prefer propane anyways. Good luck.
Austin J Mansfield : Great Smoker!!!! Great Price!!!!
What a great smoker... Had a touch of difficulty assembling this but not to the point that it was real bad or anything
My wife and I love it because it adds great flavor to any kind of meat
The drawer to access the chips pulls out nice and easy
Overall fantastic starter smoker with see through glass on the front, lightweight, easy accessibility and good price for the value of what your getting in return
Would highly recommend
JAC : Smoked MEAT
We assembled on Saturday, smoked for the first time ever on Sunday. The instructions were 19 steps. Each step was well described with drawings. One person could have done it but it was easier with two. Cooking was very easy with the minimal instruction included. We smoked some thick steaks and 2 pork loins for our first attempt. They all turned out great. An instant read meat thermometer is a must have item. Clean up was easy also.
Cmarie : Perfect smoker!
The smoker arrived in perfect condition. It took about 45 minutes to set up with easy instructions. The smoker looks incredible! We used it the same night it came and it worked great!
Update: we have now had this smoker for almost a year and my fiancé has put quite the beating on it . The bottom black tray does get stuck every once in a while because the tracks came out of place but other than that, this smoker has been wonderful. It’s been used every single Sunday since we bought it. It has survived an Adirondack winter and kept its temp even on the coldest and windiest days.
Beavis : Works well and fairly easy to use.
This is my first vertical smoker and I have to say I am quite pleased with it. It holds temperature quite well. The in door built in thermometer varies in temp a bit vs. the back of the smoke box but is good enough to judge temperature. The four included racks are nice to have as you can really load up with various things at once. I also like that the door slides off easily for clean up once you are done. So far I have smoked a pork butt, chicken wings, jalapeno poppers and ribs. All came out very well. The water tray can be slightly difficult to refill sometimes and I find that the smoker tray sticks slightly once its hot but is manageable. I would recommend a pair of grilling gloves and some digital thermometers to go with the smoker.
I am quite happy with the smoker and would buy it again.
KC : Cheap
The thing is just built cheap. Started filling apart in no time. The drip pan also sucks.
Erica Ranta : Okay
Came with a broken part that we had to contact the manufacturer to replace, once that was done it works well
Customer : Beautiful smoker but won't heat past 250
I wanted to wait until I used it for the first time before I wrote a review. First it comes in a ton of pieces so be prepared to put it together. It was shipped ups smart post and the post office wouldn't deliver it because it was so big. I smoke a rack of ribs and a picnic roast and the smoker struggled to get to 250 the entire time. I tried with dampers open, half open and finally almost closed and on high it would hit the 250 mark. Outside temp was 50 degrees. It would only go about 250 when the rack of ribs was finished and I removed them. To Be honest it's a beautiful smoker and I'm just kinda disappointed
Beavis : Works well and fairly easy to use.
This is my first vertical smoker and I have to say I am quite pleased with it. It holds temperature quite well. The in door built in thermometer varies in temp a bit vs. the back of the smoke box but is good enough to judge temperature. The four included racks are nice to have as you can really load up with various things at once. I also like that the door slides off easily for clean up once you are done. So far I have smoked a pork butt, chicken wings, jalapeno poppers and ribs. All came out very well. The water tray can be slightly difficult to refill sometimes and I find that the smoker tray sticks slightly once its hot but is manageable. I would recommend a pair of grilling gloves and some digital thermometers to go with the smoker.
I am quite happy with the smoker and would buy it again.
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