I just received my Slinger. It’s a well made, beautiful cooker. I was slightly worried about the 12 gauge steel, but this thing is absolutely solid. It weighs about 400lbs. It’s also in stock, unlike most of these cookers that have a lead time. Mine shipped on Tuesday and I actually received it the next day from St. Louis.
I will say that the actual weight of these smokers/grills will play a huge factor. I love the TMG Pits, but they are really heavy due to the “over-construction” metal thickness. The HB Roughneck is honestly a drum smoker. So, although it will do direct heat, it’s a drum smoker at the end of the day. I will say, it does hold heat very well, but the metal gets stupid hot because it is thin. The Chud box will rust through. Talking with Bradley, that’s the design of it so it will reduce weight on shipping and cost of material. But if not taken care of properly, it will rust through. I feel the best “bang for your buck” is the LSG. It’s versatile and offers more than most. Plus, LSG is a great company to work with. Just my two cents. Thanks for all you do!
Since I live in Texas, the logical choices for me would be the Chud Box and El Patron. They are similar in price unless you start adding the accessories. The accessories for the Chud Box seem reasonably priced but I don’t see how LSG justifies the accessories for El Patron. El Patron is quite a bit larger than the Chud Box. For a backyard cooker that may or may not be a good thing. If you are using lump charcoal it looks like El Patron would go through quite a bit more charcoal. If you burned down wood splits before each cook then the fuel would be a lot more affordable but you lose the convenience factor of being able to dump a chimney of lump and get to cooking. I would like to hear people’s thoughts on the pros and cons of the Chud Box and El Patron.
love these videos. the chud box costs 22 dollars to ship which is pretty insane considering the freight costs of the others (some are over 500 to me). thats a huge difference and massive benefit for the chud box
I'm going to add this, the TMG customer service is 100% stupendous. I had a totally freakish issue with my Dumpster lid, I don't even really know how to describe it, and holy smokes, these guys truly back their work. They sent me new gas strut, no charge, and after a couple of attempts to fix the lid at home to no avail, they're built so incredibly well, they're shipping me a new Dumpster. They're going to take mine back, fix the lid at their shop, and re-sell it as a "used Dumpster". The Metal Guys kick ass....
Hi from Cornwall, UK 🇬🇧 Great review video! One of your best I think. I love these direct cook smokers. I’ve just had one made up by a fabricator in Manchester. The flavours from direct cooks are incredible.
I noticed in the price comparison chart he listed your Hotbox incorrectly at $2,150 when it is really $1,999.99. Your Hotbox placed well on his scoring system and it would have scored even higher using the correct price. I’m definitely going with your Hotbox!
@@Alpinestarzzz Yeah I noticed that. Wish he would have got the price right. But it's too late now I guess. I appreciate it, just let me know when you're ready. I use mine at least once a week for quick dinners. I really love it. Have a good day! -Brent
I have the Hasty-Bake Roughneck, and I love the Corten steel finish. It is a great direct heat smoker, and it's built like a tank. Like a lot of people, I wanted a Chud Box, but couldn't justify it for double the money. Sorry Bradley. Great review, as always.
@@dkbarbagelataI would not use the HB without the basket. They are only made with 18 gauge steel and having a fire on the bottom of the grill would warp the metal. Its still pretty easy to move the charcoal around especially if you slightly pull out the basket.
I've already invested in LSG smokers and was looking at the El Patron. One feature not mentioned was the Fireboard 2 blower/controller option. Personally speaking, ALL these units are a cut above the pack and can produce amazing food for those that know how to use them properly. End of the day... It's personal preference. Great video!
I just received my Slinger. It’s a well made, beautiful cooker. I was slightly worried about the 12 gauge steel, but this thing is absolutely solid. It weighs about 400lbs. It’s also in stock, unlike most of these cookers that have a lead time. Mine shipped on Tuesday and I actually received it the next day from St. Louis.
I have a Royale BBQ pit with some customization. It is absolutely fantastic. The customer service they provide is top notch as well, great company to work with.
@@ScienceGuyRoy 1. Stainless steel grates 2. Multiple levels inside the cooker that I can put the charcoal/wood basket on or the grill grates allowing multiple levels of cooking. 3.The entire front body of the cooker has a full door allowing easy access to add fuel, change grate levels mid cook or move your food further/closer from the fire mid cook. 4. Spring assist on the hood. 5. Fan port which I have yet to use and probably won’t but was a nice addition if you’re into that. 6. Rain cap for the exhaust, was helpful for me due to not having my cooker in a covered area. 7. Probe ports. 8. Charcoal dividers.
@@kanewhitehurst85 Thanks for the reply! Sounds like a great cooker! Unfortunately, I contacted Royale today, and they are no longer making the cooker. UGH!
I dont have one of these higher-end models, I have a Char-Griller Legacy I use for this type of grilling. It puts out great food, but you know how it goes. As a fabricator, I appreciate the build quality and simplicity of these pits. Having said all that if (or when) I were to pull the trigger on one of these, my choice is The Dumpster. Nice video sir!
Nice review. I have the HB Roughneck and it's an awesome smoker. I pre-ordered it so it's one of the first models that came with the cast iron grates and I got mine fully loaded. It's easy to dial in temps and it holds temps very well. It's the cooker I use the most when smoking. I have never really used it as a direct heat cooker because I always use a drip pan on the lower shelf which blocks the direct heat. I have never used the included heat deflector. I have the corten steel version but if I had known they were coming out with a stainless model, I would have waited for that.
Great video review... I've been watching Bradley since covid and had interest in a Chudbox. He convinced me to try direct heat cooking in my WSM and it is very different than just grilling on my kettle or smoking on my smoker. But I think now if I was going to spend a couple grand it would have to be the LSG El Patron. Yes the options add up quick and soon it's 3-4k with shipping but those options sell it for me. Something large enough for 4-6 racks of ribs but still small enough that you can fire it up for just half a chicken. Plancha, pizza door and rotisserie make it perfect for me.
Received my TMG Dumpster on Friday, did the burn-off and first cook with ribs yesterday. Quite possibly the best ribs I've ever had - I'm sure any one of these cookers can do ribs the same way, considering they're all direct heat style cookers. For the Dumpster - definitely need to get the lid with the gas strut - great for soft opening and closing of the hefty lid. I believe the gas strut may become standard now. ...if not, ask the strut. The Dumpster feels like it's nuke proof - about 600#'s, but rolls and maneuvers easily. The Dumpster's pull-out lower expanded steel grate is the big selling point for me. Makes this cooker so versatile and accessible. The Smoke Slinger - not included in this video - and some of the others, are too fussy and complicated. You have to remove the top grate to access the lower cooking grate (if it has one), and in the case of the Smoke Slinger, you have to remove the top and lower cooking grates to access the baffles and heat diffusers. Total PITA. With the mini chud box, if you want to raise the charcoal bed, you have to remove the cooking grate, and drop a charcoal basket in below the cooking grate, then place the cooking grate of the top. ...again...too fussy.
Really considered the dumpster but I went with the LSG patron. Just didn’t need that much space I have a cabinet for those big cooks. But in my comparison and research TmG dumpster, LSG Patron top the list. Just found out about the Hurtado heat box . Think those are my top 3.
@@charlesbirchfield5066- Surprisingly, the Patron has more cooking space on the main rack. I bought the Dumpster for that lower rack, where I can add water pans/diffusers, a coal bed or wood splits - etc. I did do a chicken wing cook on the lower rack. the first weekend - I cooked up a second batch of wings for the super bowl on the upper rack. ...six of one, half a dozen of the other when comparing the wing cooks of the upper and lower racks. I agree, the Dumpster and the Patron are my top two - because of the versatility of the two cookers. And actually, I'd throw the Pitts and Spitts on this list with the 10" high lid (instead of the 6" high lid). Another cooker with tremendous versatility. For a more affordable option I'm a fan of the 1904 Pits Slinger. So far I've cooked, spare ribs (over coals and small oak splits), chicken wings (directly over coals), pork steaks (directly over coals with a couple of small oak splits), chicken halves (directly over coals), chuck roast (slow indirect with oak splits - set up two water pans to get a good slow smoke at 250-275F), chicken wings (over oak splits). I have to agree with the sentiment: "nothing beats slow and low direct heat BBQ over a coal bed and/or small wood splits. That burning fat giving off a smoke is something wood just can't do on it's own... Enjoy your Patron - very good choice. :)
Great review - I have a Royale Fab - great pit and has become my go to pit - they also offer a griddle option - and the two exhaust dampers work independently - moreover the guys that own it are top notch
Great review! I'd love to see you do a review comparing the adjustable firebox smokers like Hasty Bake and M grills. Also comparing them to these type to see what would be a better option
Something I noticed about the comparisons…The TMG is a 36x24” cooker. The 1904 offers a 36x24 cooker in addition to the Slinger called the Trolley. Not sure if the other manufacturers make larger cookers that aren’t “full size”. So comparing the larger (medium size) TMG to the smaller “mini” cookers is probably a bit unfair. Other than that, I like the info. I wasn’t even aware of some of these companies offering this style cooker. I went with the 1904 Trolley and had an extra rack and split grates made up.
So, I ended up with a Chudbox after all of this. The ergonomic improvements (the open front and lighter lid) make it worthwhile to me. Is it short on grate area? I mean, a little, but I can still fit 2-3 racks of ribs, 2-3 pork butts, or 3-4 chickens comfortably. If you need more than that, get a bigger pit.
I am comparing the Chud Box and El Patron. The Chud Box is quite a bit smaller but maybe that is a good thing because you probably don’t need as much charcoal making it something you might use more often.
Agree. This could have been on here. But...Dustin isn't the easiest guy to get a hold of, and he's not coming through for more than a few guys - one of whom ordered a pit for his restaurant and competition business over a year ago. I told him to get the TMG Dumpster... He knows I have one on order, so now he's waiting to see mine, and see if I like it. As of right now, I wouldn't recommend the Smoke Slinger as a viable option until Dustin figures out his time is better spent getting his pits out the door to his customers, rather than spending his time futzing around trying to improve an already damn good pit.
I have also had some trouble getting hold of Dustin. I had hoped to have a new smaller Smoke Slinger on this episode, but it never materialized. If he does release it in the future, I will likely do a stand-alone episode on it.
@@SmokeMasterD - Dustin now has his 30x24" Smoke Slinger up on his website. So it should be in production. The person you'll want to talk to is, Frank. Sounds like he's taking over the point person role. Hope this helps get that company steered in the right direction.
*Cries in German* I spend days researching, an there seems to be not a single product of comparable quality available in Germany. All you get are those super flimsy Chinese knock-offs for 100 bucks, that break and rust after one use ☹ if you know any please let me know
