I decided it's finally time to make a review of my Pit Barrel. It has lasted me this long and has finally developed kind of a rusted crack in the bottom so I am looking to get another one (I guess it is the 18.5 Classic now. Used to be the only option...LOL). I will say that my only complaint was the cover. Unless it has changed it was kind of plastic-y and cracked and became useless soon by being in the elements constantly. A canvas style would be really nice and would gladly pay the extra cost.

On to the good stuff. This smoker has made me outstanding ribs, pulled pork, packer sized brisket, and a number of other odds and ends for all these years. No issues between doing 2 rack of ribs, or 8. My go to is using the Kingsford Original charcoal and then tossing a handful of Jack Daniels wood chips right before i hang the meat. I use a 2-channel probe thermometer to measure rack air temp and stuck in the meat (except for ribs. just air temp only and cook by meat pullback). Everything has held up great, especially for the cost and I am assuming my rust on the bottom issue is more of a result of condensation and direct contact temp changes through the seasons. Also, as I stated earlier, I lost my cover early on, probably after a year or 2. After that it was just sitting out back on the deck in the rain, in the snow, etc.

Currently we are doing a lot more camping and have a travel trailer so I am trying to decide between replacing my Classic or going with the…

I’ve cooked on the pit barrel 4 times since receiving it a month ago. I’m a truck driver so I only have a couple days a week to use it. But let me tell you this thing is a beast! Rib machine, does pork shoulder great and I did hamburgers today and they were absolutely delicious.

First cook on the Pit Barrel Cooker. Best chicken and ribs of my life. Hung over charcoal and smoked with a blend of hickory and cherrywood chips.

I’ve never smoked a single piece of meat in my entire life, but this thing made it stupid easy. This is insane. The food was so good it didn’t taste real. Like, it was so good, that it shouldn’t be possible for me to make food that good at home by myself. And I’m a pretty good cook normally. I've never smoked anything before, so I'm just blown away by how good everything turned out.

First cook on the Pit Barrel Cooker. Best chicken and ribs of my life. Hung over charcoal and smoked with a blend of hickory and cherrywood chips.

I’ve never smoked a single piece of meat in my entire life, but this thing made it stupid easy. This is insane. The food was so good it didn’t taste real. Like, it was so good, that it shouldn’t be possible for me to make food that good at home by myself. And I’m a pretty good cook normally. I've never smoked anything before, so I'm just blown away by how good everything turned out.

i purchased the classic pit barrel about 8 yrs ago and love this cooker. i've smoked many of different kinds of meats throughout the years and it always comes out beautiful. my ribs take about 3 hours and come out perfect. you can't beat this for the price you'll love it and it will last you for a longtime.