I came very close to getting the Gravity fed. They only had one in stock however, and it was the display model that had been sitting in home and garden for almost a year. It did show some weather degradation, and they had no mark down on it.I had a stick burner before I bought my first pellet smoker which was a Traeger Junior (2013). With the tailgate kit if fits perfect in my motorhome. I also have a GMG Daniel Boone (2015) for home. I am now looking at a Masterbuilt Gravity Fed charcoal smoker for next year. It has controls like pellet smokers, but it burns charcoal along with small split logs of wood.
Perhaps I have a personality disorder or maybe I'm just old school. Maybe I'm just old. 😉 Don't get me wrong, I'm as close to bleeding edge as you can get with technology. I'd probably blow your mind with the technology that I deal with on a daily basis. From my work in decreasing geometries in the semiconductor industry, pushing the limits of silicon to the molecular level complications that challenge my work with some of the top national labs in the country. But when it comes to cooking I'm primal. Fire, heat and time. Sure there is some science involved. And yes, throwing meat into a Traeger and coming back 8 hours later sounds attractive. But there is a lot more to it than that.I had a stick burner before I bought my first pellet smoker which was a Traeger Junior (2013). With the tailgate kit if fits perfect in my motorhome. I also have a GMG Daniel Boone (2015) for home. I am now looking at a Masterbuilt Gravity Fed charcoal smoker for next year. It has controls like pellet smokers, but it burns charcoal along with small split logs of wood.
Perhaps I have a personality disorder or maybe I'm just old school. Maybe I'm just old. 😉 Don't get me wrong, I'm as close to bleeding edge as you can get with technology. I'd probably blow your mind with the technology that I deal with on a daily basis. From my work in decreasing geometries in the semiconductor industry, pushing the limits of silicon to the molecular level complications that challenge my work with some of the top national labs in the country. But when it comes to cooking I'm primal. Fire, heat and time. Sure there is some science involved. And yes, throwing meat into a Traeger and coming back 8 hours later sounds attractive. But there is a lot more to it than that.
I spent a lot of time in the deep south. With folks that take the time to season and prepare the meat, build the fire, tell the stories, listen to music, sip the local moonshine or brews and make some outstanding food. It's a process. It's tradition. And at the risk of sounding weird there is a certain amount of "love" involved too. Love that a 115vac plug, a temperature sensor, blue-tooth and computer control consistency cannot replicate.
I think that the part that Americans in this day and age lack is time. And maybe the, "love" part. 🙁
Anyway, that's my rant of the day. Take the time. Slow down. It's worth it.
My prep for pork butt takes 19-24 hours.
I usually don't do the drinking until the end to guard whatever I have smoking. 🙂My prep for pork butt takes 19-24 hours. That’s a lot of drinking!