SaluteToTheHill
Wide Receiver U
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2008
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Well I finally pulled the trigger and got the Old Country BBQ Pits Pecos Coal Smoker. I had been using a cheap charbroil offset for about 12 years. Over the summer I noticed a small hole in the cooking chamber where it was starting to rust through and it just got worse. I used it one final time a couple weeks ago and the hole had gotten so bad I had ash and coals falling out the bottom. So I began researching smokers. I research the hell out of big purchases or when purchasing pretty much anything I want to last so I started my research. My issue was I wanted a better quality smoker (not made in China) but I really didnt want to drop $1000+ on one either. I wanted to stick with an offset stick burner, I enjoy tending to the fire. Also, not trying to bash cheaper pits here, some damn fine meat can be smoked on just about any pit. Especially with some mods. Just throwing out my two cents for anyone who might be shopping for a BBQ pit this spring.
A friend of mine has an Oklahoma Joe and I was thinking about just getting one of those. Really glad I didnt. Years ago the Okl Joe was a high quality smoker but they were bought by Brinkmann in the late 90s, changed everything but the name and starting having them manufactured in China. If you want the real Okl Joe, the old owner started Horizon after selling and they are built to the same high standards as the old Okl Joes were. My research led me to Old Country. Old Country pits are sold by a company out of Laredo TX, made just across the border in Mexico, and distributed by Academy Sports. They are handmade, apparently without much quality control, so when buying one you want to look them over. They are not made on an assembly line so they are not all made equal. Its kinda like buying an AK47, one might be a damn fine weapon and the one next to it garbage. You need to know what you're looking for and look them over.
What I like about the Old Country is the metal thickness and they have some qualities that are only found in high end pits. Typically a pits price revolves around the metal thickness. The best being made from steel pipe a quarter inch thick and up. These are pits youll pass down to your kids, they hold temperature very well and back yard models start around 1k. Apparently the Academy website is incorrect with the metal being 5/64 on the Old Country Pecos, I measured and it is 1/8. Not as beefy as the high end pits but far better than most off the shelf pits. Old Country pits are all welded, it was the only pit in this price range I found that can say that. Therefor you will have no leaks around the firepit or chimney. Another thing is the chimney placement. The chimney is placed exactly where it should be, right above the grates. Many cheaper pits have the chimney mounted too high allowing smoke and heat to escape well above the meat. It also comes with a deflection plate welded inside to direct heat away from the firebox. If you can pick one that is welded well and everything is tight they really are excellent pits and I dont think they can be beaten in this price range. I look forward to firing this sucker up this weekend, getting her seasoned, and throw some meat on!
A friend of mine has an Oklahoma Joe and I was thinking about just getting one of those. Really glad I didnt. Years ago the Okl Joe was a high quality smoker but they were bought by Brinkmann in the late 90s, changed everything but the name and starting having them manufactured in China. If you want the real Okl Joe, the old owner started Horizon after selling and they are built to the same high standards as the old Okl Joes were. My research led me to Old Country. Old Country pits are sold by a company out of Laredo TX, made just across the border in Mexico, and distributed by Academy Sports. They are handmade, apparently without much quality control, so when buying one you want to look them over. They are not made on an assembly line so they are not all made equal. Its kinda like buying an AK47, one might be a damn fine weapon and the one next to it garbage. You need to know what you're looking for and look them over.
What I like about the Old Country is the metal thickness and they have some qualities that are only found in high end pits. Typically a pits price revolves around the metal thickness. The best being made from steel pipe a quarter inch thick and up. These are pits youll pass down to your kids, they hold temperature very well and back yard models start around 1k. Apparently the Academy website is incorrect with the metal being 5/64 on the Old Country Pecos, I measured and it is 1/8. Not as beefy as the high end pits but far better than most off the shelf pits. Old Country pits are all welded, it was the only pit in this price range I found that can say that. Therefor you will have no leaks around the firepit or chimney. Another thing is the chimney placement. The chimney is placed exactly where it should be, right above the grates. Many cheaper pits have the chimney mounted too high allowing smoke and heat to escape well above the meat. It also comes with a deflection plate welded inside to direct heat away from the firebox. If you can pick one that is welded well and everything is tight they really are excellent pits and I dont think they can be beaten in this price range. I look forward to firing this sucker up this weekend, getting her seasoned, and throw some meat on!
