Vault smokers

Joined
Feb 23, 2021
Messages
466
Location
Montana
I am looking for a vault smoker or vertical smoker that is of decent quality. It seems most are pretty cheap. I have a Traeger but it’s not ideal for summer sausage and snack sticks. I need lower heat and more space. The reviews are all over the place. Should I be looking at a more commercial unit maybe?

“Amazing”!
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GSPHUNTER

WKR
Joined
Jun 30, 2020
Messages
5,000
Check out Bradley smokers. Where else but on Amazon. From $400 and up. I have had one for about ten years. I up graded mine with higher wattage heating element. For my needs it works great. I have made lots of elk summer sausage among other things.Lots of bacon.Resized_20220714_190753.jpeg
 

StuckInTheEast

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 3, 2022
Messages
162
Bradley is a decent option other than having to buy their little compressed discs of sawdust

Had one for many years. Not bad for what your talking about but I had some issues with temps and things getting too hot towards the bottom near the heating element. The digital version is the way to go there for ease of use.
They are limited on capacity for larger batches or big things like brisket or pork buttt and struggle to maintain temp in colder ambient temps when loaded with much unless you do as stated above and upgrade heat element. The feed mechanism needs taken apart and cleaned/lubed every once in awhile if you use it alot and/or store outdoors.

I've got a new camp chef XXL
pro I'm digging so far. Its built resonably well for being a non-comnercial unit but still light enough to move around easy and has casters to do so. You have to mind you sausage tube length just a bit. The high mountain tubes are just a hair long. Understuff them by a couple inches and they fit perfect.
i loaded it up full at ambientbtemps in the 20s first time and it had zero issue maintaining temp.
The built in meat probes are decent, off by a few degrees...like 3-5. But being ablevl to just glance out the window and see meat temp on screen is handy if you dont have wireless probes already.
The blower system and dampers in this thing keep heat very evenly distributed.
its not too hard on the pellets and easy enough to clean out and empty pellet hopper after a smoke.
Biggest gripes I've read are people butching about the 'App' you can use with it...I dont use apps when cooking...set temp, monitor meat temp...not rocket science.
Other gripe wad assembly and poor instructions...
My 10 year old put the whole thing together with almost zero input from me short of making sure things were tight enough...if you can't figure it out you didn't play with enough Legos as a kid🤣.
Not a ton of use on it yet but i like it over my bradley so far.
Its a bit on the pricier side but not as much as many other pellet grills. Will do temps from about 150-350.

I've got some friends with cheaper propane/electric upright units that turn out some good stuff, just requires a bit more attention and hands on time.
Lots of options out there from mild to wild, just have to poke around and see what seems to fit your style best.

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OP
Hunt eat repeat
Joined
Feb 23, 2021
Messages
466
Location
Montana
I was actually looking at the Bradley this morning. There is one on Market place for $150 off , so $400 and has been used once. Scheels makes a commercial one that looks pretty sweet but at a cost. $1800. I’ve also thought about building one. Haven’t looked at the camp chef. I’ll check it out.
 
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