The tube size and length is calculated and designed to provide the optimum draw, ensuring proper airflow. 
Local store prices may vary from those displayed. The hinge is sturdy and has no alignment issues. The charcoal basket and ash pan are quite similar to the CharBroil Kamander. hole, Complete KIT K-58 LRG Slam Latch Gravity Insulated Cabinet Parts, Complete SMALL Slam Latch Gravity Insulated Cabinet Parts Kit, Weld On Butt Hinge 6 in x 3 in smoker pit door parts. Absolutely love this smoker. The notched handle makes it simple to handle the charcoal basket with the tool that Oklahoma Joe provides with it. It has a soft spot in my heart. The dampers make it easy to control the temperature, the heat deflector evens the temperature out and prevents charred ends when youre hanging your meat. Q. Whats the difference between the Bronco and Bronco Pro? Youll have the charcoal basket to keep the coals tight, ash pan for easy cleanup, heat diffuser plate, standard grate, hanging rods, hooks and a hook lifter for getting things in and out when its hot.
Smoked at 225. The temperature gauge reads fairly accurately. I do not have a single negative thing to say about the PBC. But, if you want to smoke a lot, the Bronco also comes with stainless steel hooks so you can hang meat too. Since the first OoniRead More Ooni Karu 12 Review: Is This Easy Wood-Fired Pizza? With an MSRP of $699 the Professional 21.5 inch Bronco is a different story. Buy two 18 inch Broncos at $299 each and save $100. Then it was time to try it out. I smoked it at 250 degrees for 2 1/2 hours. But, with the ability to move the charcoal basket and cooking grate up, the grilling on the Bronco is just as good as the smoking. But, follow the maintenance guidelines and it should bring years of good food to your plate. The Pro also has a larger charcoal basket so can smoke for longer without needing to refill. Well priced and easy to use with delicious results a drum smoker is a great choice. Pork shoulder was great. The first thing that impressed me was the packaging. Putting in my pork butt and keeping a close eye on the temp gage. Island Outdoor, LLC is a Long Island, NY based company. Have had this smoker for a month and used to smoke 8lbs of pork loin and 2 slabs of baby back ribs. In this Oklahoma Joe Bronco review, well share our experience using this all-in-one barbecue. Heres where Im not impressed by this drum smoker. The combination of tight construction, a sealing lid gasket and an easily regulated air supply makes it extremely easy to set and control temperatures in this smoker. Once the setup is there, you can grill anything and do a great job of it. Its not essential. This is an unfair advantage for the WSM because it has been around for so long and the collective knowledge base is deep. I adapted a temp controller to the intake and its truly set it and forget it! Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. As a thank you, for the videos that we use, we will be giving our reviewers coupons, or FREE ITEMS. You could set up any other wireless meat probe inside the Bronco as well. You have to extend the smoke exhaust down to grate level. Simply flip the heat diffuser plate to form a higher base for the charcoal basket and place the grate on the top level supports. The Bronco comes with the classic Oklahoma Joe's wagon wheels. If you have seen the Rutland gaskets that I have installed on all of my Big Green Eggs, then you know that I am a huge proponent of woven fiber gaskets for smokers. The center of the bottom of the drum had a removable cap that serves as the drain. Please have your Model # and Serial # available when contacting us. Moving the meat, lit coals and hot grates is going to be a bit of a mission. Im not a professional pit master, but Im very good at eating. This isn't required for drum smokers, but I sure prefer it. I thought at first this would fit directly over the charcoal basket, but it doesn't. I spatchcocked it, removed the breastbone, and then brined it. Q. If you do not get the Bronco loaded and lit correctly then you will be out of charcoal in six hours and will have to take everything out and start with a fresh load of coals. Bronco Win #2: It is easier to control the air flow on a Bronco than on a WSM. It took me less than an hour. They had trouble getting the smoker to get up to temperature, they were severely overshooting temperatures and running out of charcoal. Wed love to post your video review to our websites, YouTube Channel, and social media outlets. Durable , functional , reliable , consistent!!! And, in addition to keeping an eye on your drum temeprture, itll also tell you exactly when your meats cooked to perfection so youll never over or under-do it again. This smokes way better than the electric smoker, grills the same as the weber. It is well worh the money. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Here is a video I put together of my full hands on review of this cooker. Fill it, set Shop 38 x 82 Fiberglass Doors Without Glass, American Craftsman 31.75 in. It is a drum smoker. Looking down at the empty charcoal basket on top of the ash pan. Only registered users can write comments. But, with some high heat gloves and somewhere to safely place the hot things, you could flip the setup mid-cook to reverse sear. 18 3/4" diameter Expertly designed and Made in USA by LavaLock, Only registered users can write reviews. Also ordered the second accessory shelf for more room. But that's not the only option for cooking set ups. Definitely no need for a water pan. Extremely well built. Just follow the standard advice for maintenance and keep it out of the rain. Drum smokers have seen a surge in popularity because companies are now offering well-designed and well-built commercial options for those of us who have neither the inclination nor the mechanical ability to build our own. Oklahoma Joes are known to rust if not looked after properly. As soon as you buy a Highland you have to start modifying it to get it to work like it should. So easy to use. The Pit Barrel Cooker is an affordable 18.5 inch drum smoker that re-ignited the barbecue worlds interest in hanging ribs and chickens over an open fire. You have to remove everything to put in new charcoal light it and let it get to a smoking heat again. The base of the lid is fitted with a sealing gasket that sinks into a shallow groove at the top of the drum body. Just like any other charcoal grill, you cant really go wrong. But it is more than just a matter of convenience.
Cooking capacity:284 square inches or 9 hooks, Assembled size (in): 30 W x 43 H x 25 D. If youve been eyeing up an Ooni for a while now, let me tell you straight up, youre onto something GOOD! Theres 3 hanging rods included plus 9 hooks (3 for each). The Bronco entered Oklahoma Joe's line up of smokers in the past year. I just bought the bronco yesterday. Started off withe the $39.99 brinkmanship smoker. The Pro costs more than twice as much as the original but you do not get twice as much smoker. To keep your Bronco in tip-top shape, make sure youre regularly cleaning it. Been super happy so far, was able to fit 2 slabs of ribs on the gratetight fit but they fit for sure. The first item that grabbed my attention is that people really love their Broncos. This makes sure you can cook a long brisket cook without having the ashes impede your airflow.
Then, light a chimneys worth of charcoal, add it to the charcoal basket and let it burn. Went with the Webber with all the vents. When I opened the box I noticed several scrapes and dings. You can also use the Bronco as a traditional charcoal grill by placing the charcoal basket on top of the heat diffuser. So moving along I filled the charcoal box let it heat up. The charcoal basket is a porcelain ring with grates on the bottom, ensuring steady airflow. Absolutely love this smoker. The FireDial Heat Diffuser Plate is made specifically for Ok Joe's Bronco Drum Cooker. You can spend a lot of time tweaking those dampers getting your WSM to line out. This is not the case with the Bronco. OKJ recommend using briquettes because they burn more steadily. We use lump in it most of the time. For the same price of a Bronco you could also get an Oklahoma Joes Highland offset smoker.
Now, unlike the Pit Barrel Cooker, the Bronco isnt set and forget. As far as value is concerned there probably is not a better bang for your buck than the 18 inch model. Corren Mugica Yes, theyll last a lifetime and theyre amazing to cook on. Thatll give you a modest 284 square inches of grilling space. The Oklahoma Joe company was founded by Joe Davidsonin 1987 when he brought affordable offset smokers to the market. Pineapple Habenero Wings smoked on the Bronco. The Bronco will keep things going fairly steadily on its own.
Enough to fit 10 or so burgers. Additionally the Bronco has a hinged lid with extra dome clearance like you find on a kamado smoker. Overall the smoker is amazing I love it highly satisfied so far after watching several YouTube reviews and videos on it I settled for it and Im glad I got it great product. This article is meant to help you figure out the important features and benefits of the Bronco drum smoker. The assembly of the Bronco took less than 30 minutes at a leisurely pace. But, like I said, some people love the idea of hanging ribs so here is a fun video showing you the technique on this cooker. But, have Oklahoma Joe really nailed adapting a standard drum smoker to all that plus more? https://bbqsmokermods.com/firedialtm-heat-diffuser-plate-parts-for-oklahoma-joe-s-bronco-drum-cooker-by-lavalockr.html. I did a LOT of research. You can check out our full MEATER review here if you want more info. The brackets are for a series of meat hangers instead of using the grates. Unboxing I was very impressed by the quality of the product. The Bronco holds temperatures rock steady for hours on end and is a very fun grill to use. The ash pan is porcelain coated metal and rests beneath the charcoal basket. Subscribe to our free e-newsletter, and get new tips every two weeks. The only thing I figured is it sits directly on top of the existing Bronco heat deflector. It isn't as simple as saying "To cook at 250, set the intake at 1 and the exhaust at 2." This smoker is a drum smoker, and drum smokers have been a proven design for years. Smoky flavor? Its also got a larger fuel basket that can smoke up to 15 hours over the 10 hours of the Bronco. The Oklahoma Joe Bronco comes with everything you need for smoking and grilling. Event Coverage: 2019 Big Kahuna Wings Festival a Only a limited number of standard tools are needed, and. The link below has information/videos that may be helpful. Bought it last weekend. Moisture content? Loved it but Divorce. The charcoal basket holds about eight pounds of charcoal and is covered by a perforated heat deflector plate. I will say that the Bronco is a better cooker. It makes sure that you are using indirect heat. As far as value is concerned you will be hard pressed to find a better deal than the 18 inch Bronco. While the total number of reviews was low (less than 200 as of January, 2021) they paint a pretty clear picture of user satisfaction and are presented below. The body on the Bronco is comprised of two drum sections that are bolted together. So, you can hang up to 9 racks of ribs. The PBC is a great cooker, the company is a small, veteran owned business and the owner is a really nice guy. No, its not the best quality out there. Have only grilled with it so far, but wow, better grilling experience than anything else I have used. This smoker nails all three. Or, load it to the max using the 9 stainless steel hooks that are included. The hooks are dishwasher safe. My only complaint would be I bought an orange one and its already stained on the out side from fat that dripped down and there is no way to add more wood when smoking for long periods of time. The Bronco is a multi-functional cooker that can be used three different ways. The one issue was the intake tube for the fire not being put together right but with a little grinding and welding I fixed it and put it on the proper way so it sealed all the way. Now theres 2 versions of the Oklahoma Joe Bronco; the standard and the Bronco Pro. The basket holds 8 pounds of charcoal. Best Drum Smoker: 5 Top Simple + Effective Solutions, Porcelain-coated steel grate, charcoal basket and ash pan, Vents give you control over air intake which changes temperature, Oversized charcoal basket allows for about 10 hours of low and slow smoking, Heat diffuser to block flare-ups when smoking, Charcoal basket with ash pan for easy clean-up, Its easy to control and maintain your desired temperature, Great setup for both smoking and grilling, Heat diffuser plate prevents the bottom rib from drying out, Gives you flexibility in what you want to cook and how you cook it, Comes with the ash pan which makes cleaning up faster and easier, Durable build where its really needed stainless steel hooks, porcelain-coated heat diffuser, charcoal basket and ash pan, Itd be nice if exterior was powder or porcelain-coated for extra rust-resistance, Air intake leaks small amounts of grease underneath the drum, More control over the temperature than other drum smokers provide. Followed directions for preparing prior to first time use. Highly recommended! All Rights Reserved. Im gonna be popular with this Bronco lol. Thicker steel and not much to adjust. But, the ambient temperature reading sends an alert to my phone when the temperature dips too low so I can go out an adjust the vent. All Rights Reserved. You can hang tools off it too. The family had one word for the ribs "wow". With an MSRP of $299 the Original 18 inch Bronco is worth every penny. I love that feature. Smoking on the OKJ Bronco is really all-round great. Oklahoma Joes are typically known for having a decent design but a pretty average build. We then use ours to vacuum any stray ashes out of the bottom of the drum. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. We get it Real ceramic kamados are EXPENSIVE! Once its set up, its time to do the burn in. [FTC Standard Disclosure] I received an Oklahoma Joe Bronco as part of a paid project I worked on; however, this project was entirely unrelated for Nibble Me This. But, youre probably looking at going out there a couple of times during your cook to do so. I recently got this smoker for Christmas after using my little Webber kettle as a smoker this was a big step up from that when I was living with my parents I was using the offset smoker my dad and I had built. ive had mine for about 2 years and im actualiy using it as i type this. Finally a part to make the Oklahoma Joe's Bronco even better! You can use the Bronco as a traditional smoker and, if you arrange and light the charcoal correctly, get about 15 hours of Low and Slow burn time from a single load of charcoal. The Bronco offers precision temperature control, multiple cooking options, easy portability and attractive styling. OKJ have added quality where its most important (gasket, porcelain-coated heat deflector, stainless steel hooks, thick rubber handle) and saved costs where they could (basic paint finish with raw interior). With any new smoker, itll take you a few smokes to work out how to use it best. Weve even used it in not so flash hot weather and it runs pretty smoothly, especially considering theres no insulation. Burning Brisket is reader-supported. You want to leave the Bronco going for about 2-3 hours at 275-300F.
You can use the Bronco as a traditional smoker and, if you arrange and light the charcoal correctly, get about 15 hours of Low and Slow burn time from a single load of charcoal. I have done two cooks, babyback ribs and chicken wings. Yes, you can smoke 2 pork butts on it. Strong and smoky as youd expect from a charcoal smoker. A++++. Please. You dont need to check on it every half an hour. These two smokers each have a couple of strong points going for them. The Bronco delivers in that area too, no aftermarket gasket needed. I get ZERO financial benefit if you buy a smoker. There are only a handful of steps to take. Quality and function is top notch. Jot us a note and well get back to you as quickly as possible. Did you notice the three notched brackets? 70 Series Pro Double Hung White Vinyl Insulated Window, Shop Paintable/Stainable Low-E Glass Vented Skylights, Shop Home Decorators Collection CARB Compliant, Ralph Lauren Home Decorators Collection Shaw, Shop Track Bracket ClosetMaid Shelving Brackets, Airflow control system & sealed lid allows temperature management, Convertible smoker grill combo with cooking grate & meat hangers, Oversized charcoal basket holds fuel for 10 hours of smoking. Stepping things up a notch, Oklahoma Joe have taken the basic drum smoker and added features to give you temperature control and versatility. Copyright 2022 Island Outdoor, LLC. You need a baffle to even out the heat. Read more on the lump charcoal vs briquette debate. Need Help? Easy to put together and didnt take long. Was everything I expected. Tried this one out. The WSM offers amazing temperature control and is what I used to learn to barbecue. In this situation your meat is heating and cooling and reheating again loosing moisture and flavor. The WSM has three daisy wheel dampers across the circumference of the base with each damper allowing air into three holes (9 air inlet holes total). It sounds like the Pro is more advanced than the other but the Pro is just larger. Well done Oklahoma Joes!! If youre a newbie, the learning curve on the Bronco isnt huge. This replicates old-school smokehouses which hung meat in the smoke. I was stoked to see that I could flip the heat deflector plate upside down and place the charcoal basket on top of it, we did a round of Steaks for the family the day after!! I did seal the two halfs with high temp RTV along with the bolts to minimize any grease drippings on the exterior! If you can get one for the ridiculous close-out prices I have seen, my recommendation is upgraded to "Heck yes"! The original lid for the barrel is fitted with a handle and used as the smoker lid. I had no experience smoking, with bronco I have made the best ribs for my friends, it is robust and firm, it brings the problem of short air intake, but it was not a problem for cooking, and the thermometer is not accurate, it marks up to 50 degrees less than the real thing, it is necessary to use a good digital thermometer. This article will show you the key features of the Bronco, explore some real world customer reviews and compare the Bronco against other types of smokers so you can determine if the Bronco is the right smoker for you. Brinkmans are more expensive now. They turned out very well! Grilling is where the Bronco really shines over the competition because nothing is compromised with the grill setup. Unfortunately, we're unable to tell if this part is compatible with your grill or not. And, the coals are at the ideal height for maximum heat. Two items really struck me when I looked at the data from the reviews. Subscribe to our free e-newsletter, and get new tips every two weeks. All Rights Reserved. The Bronco is also the only drum smoker that has wheels which makes moving it around very easy. You will need to adjust the air intake valve while youre cooking keep a steady temperature. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The Bronco is a well designed, non traditional drum smoker. You can reach me at [emailprotected], We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Skip to the beginning of the images gallery.
Big and versatile for a very reasonable price, the Oklahoma Joe Bronco really steps drum smoking up a notch or two. So easy to use. Its grate is 21.5 across while the standard Bronco is 18. I gathered up all of the customer reviews for both the Original and Pro models of the Bronco from Walmart, Lowes and Amazon. In our opinion, its not a bad warranty period for the price of the smoker. The PBC uses a bottom damper to let in combustion air and four open holes in the top of the barrel to let air out. Ideal for cooking a lot of food inRead More Best Drum Smoker: 5 Top Simple + Effective Solutions. It kept heat well for a BBQer. So far, this is a high quality smoker that smokes great meat. The Bronco has an 18 inch grate that offers 284 square inches of cooking area. But, after that youll be away and turning out some great meat. 1 people already voted for this question. I purchased this to replace my weber kettle and masterbuilt electric smoker. I got my Bronco smoker a couple weeks agoI did Chicken first and then did a rack of ribs a few days later, i was so happy with the results. Jun 3, 2021. To get that wood-smoked flavor, you can add wood chunks to the Broncos charcoal basket. Or, a rack of ribs and a couple of pork butts. The Bronco has great performance and is less expensive than two other comparable cookers, the 18 inch Pit Barrel Cooker and the 18.5 inch Weber Smokey Mountain. Here is a video showing how I used the Bronco as a pretty nice charcoal grill. The beauty of a UDS was that for $100 you could build a UDS with long burn times and quality smoke. The idea behind a PBC is you build your fire, hang your meat and walk away. x 61.25 in. Started off withe the $39.99 brinkmanship smoker. To do so youre going to coat it with a fine spray of high-heat oil like canola. Heavy and sturdy, very solid. We answer these questions and more to help you decide if the Broncos going to be sitting in your backyard soon. I have never been a fan of that technique as invariably the ribs closer to the fire get a little scorched by the time the entire rack is done cooking. That buffer makes for more even and steady cooking temperatures. A little difficult assembling as the holes didn't seem to line up properly at first but got it together and it works great. Ooni Karu 12 Review: Is This Easy Wood-Fired Pizza? How much control do you have over the temperature? After to get all of the mods in place and start cooking you will find the fuel usage to be astronomical. I recommend this smoker for beginners all the way to pitmasters. But, out of the box, I was really impressed by the quality of the Bronco! The Bronco Pro is larger with a 21.5 rack instead of the standard 18.
JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Fill it, set it, leave it alone and let it do the rest. The inability to easily add more charcoal during a cook seemed to be the biggest complaint. We are committed to developing the most innovative products of the highest quality. There are no products matching your search. With the larger backing of Char-Broil, the Oklahoma Joe brand has been able to continue innovating and developing their range. Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), Bronco Charcoal Drum Smoker Grill in Black. In terms of add-ons, if you want to hang meat and use the standard grate, youll need to grab a triple grate. The Bronco comes with a metal deflector plate. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. Smoked some ribs, chicken and a chuck roast for pulled beef so far.
Local store prices may vary from those displayed. The hinge is sturdy and has no alignment issues. The charcoal basket and ash pan are quite similar to the CharBroil Kamander. hole, Complete KIT K-58 LRG Slam Latch Gravity Insulated Cabinet Parts, Complete SMALL Slam Latch Gravity Insulated Cabinet Parts Kit, Weld On Butt Hinge 6 in x 3 in smoker pit door parts. Absolutely love this smoker. The notched handle makes it simple to handle the charcoal basket with the tool that Oklahoma Joe provides with it. It has a soft spot in my heart. The dampers make it easy to control the temperature, the heat deflector evens the temperature out and prevents charred ends when youre hanging your meat. Q. Whats the difference between the Bronco and Bronco Pro? Youll have the charcoal basket to keep the coals tight, ash pan for easy cleanup, heat diffuser plate, standard grate, hanging rods, hooks and a hook lifter for getting things in and out when its hot. Smoked at 225. The temperature gauge reads fairly accurately. I do not have a single negative thing to say about the PBC. But, if you want to smoke a lot, the Bronco also comes with stainless steel hooks so you can hang meat too. Since the first OoniRead More Ooni Karu 12 Review: Is This Easy Wood-Fired Pizza? With an MSRP of $699 the Professional 21.5 inch Bronco is a different story. Buy two 18 inch Broncos at $299 each and save $100. Then it was time to try it out. I smoked it at 250 degrees for 2 1/2 hours. But, with the ability to move the charcoal basket and cooking grate up, the grilling on the Bronco is just as good as the smoking. But, follow the maintenance guidelines and it should bring years of good food to your plate. The Pro also has a larger charcoal basket so can smoke for longer without needing to refill. Well priced and easy to use with delicious results a drum smoker is a great choice. Pork shoulder was great. The first thing that impressed me was the packaging. Putting in my pork butt and keeping a close eye on the temp gage. Island Outdoor, LLC is a Long Island, NY based company. Have had this smoker for a month and used to smoke 8lbs of pork loin and 2 slabs of baby back ribs. In this Oklahoma Joe Bronco review, well share our experience using this all-in-one barbecue. Heres where Im not impressed by this drum smoker. The combination of tight construction, a sealing lid gasket and an easily regulated air supply makes it extremely easy to set and control temperatures in this smoker. Once the setup is there, you can grill anything and do a great job of it. Its not essential. This is an unfair advantage for the WSM because it has been around for so long and the collective knowledge base is deep. I adapted a temp controller to the intake and its truly set it and forget it! Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. As a thank you, for the videos that we use, we will be giving our reviewers coupons, or FREE ITEMS. You could set up any other wireless meat probe inside the Bronco as well. You have to extend the smoke exhaust down to grate level. Simply flip the heat diffuser plate to form a higher base for the charcoal basket and place the grate on the top level supports. The Bronco comes with the classic Oklahoma Joe's wagon wheels. If you have seen the Rutland gaskets that I have installed on all of my Big Green Eggs, then you know that I am a huge proponent of woven fiber gaskets for smokers. The center of the bottom of the drum had a removable cap that serves as the drain. Please have your Model # and Serial # available when contacting us. Moving the meat, lit coals and hot grates is going to be a bit of a mission. Im not a professional pit master, but Im very good at eating. This isn't required for drum smokers, but I sure prefer it. I thought at first this would fit directly over the charcoal basket, but it doesn't. I spatchcocked it, removed the breastbone, and then brined it. Q. If you do not get the Bronco loaded and lit correctly then you will be out of charcoal in six hours and will have to take everything out and start with a fresh load of coals. Bronco Win #2: It is easier to control the air flow on a Bronco than on a WSM. It took me less than an hour. They had trouble getting the smoker to get up to temperature, they were severely overshooting temperatures and running out of charcoal. Wed love to post your video review to our websites, YouTube Channel, and social media outlets. Durable , functional , reliable , consistent!!! And, in addition to keeping an eye on your drum temeprture, itll also tell you exactly when your meats cooked to perfection so youll never over or under-do it again. This smokes way better than the electric smoker, grills the same as the weber. It is well worh the money. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Here is a video I put together of my full hands on review of this cooker. Fill it, set Shop 38 x 82 Fiberglass Doors Without Glass, American Craftsman 31.75 in. It is a drum smoker. Looking down at the empty charcoal basket on top of the ash pan. Only registered users can write comments. But, with some high heat gloves and somewhere to safely place the hot things, you could flip the setup mid-cook to reverse sear. 18 3/4" diameter Expertly designed and Made in USA by LavaLock, Only registered users can write reviews. Also ordered the second accessory shelf for more room. But that's not the only option for cooking set ups. Definitely no need for a water pan. Extremely well built. Just follow the standard advice for maintenance and keep it out of the rain. Drum smokers have seen a surge in popularity because companies are now offering well-designed and well-built commercial options for those of us who have neither the inclination nor the mechanical ability to build our own. Oklahoma Joes are known to rust if not looked after properly. As soon as you buy a Highland you have to start modifying it to get it to work like it should. So easy to use. The Pit Barrel Cooker is an affordable 18.5 inch drum smoker that re-ignited the barbecue worlds interest in hanging ribs and chickens over an open fire. You have to remove everything to put in new charcoal light it and let it get to a smoking heat again. The base of the lid is fitted with a sealing gasket that sinks into a shallow groove at the top of the drum body. Just like any other charcoal grill, you cant really go wrong. But it is more than just a matter of convenience.
Cooking capacity:284 square inches or 9 hooks, Assembled size (in): 30 W x 43 H x 25 D. If youve been eyeing up an Ooni for a while now, let me tell you straight up, youre onto something GOOD! Theres 3 hanging rods included plus 9 hooks (3 for each). The Bronco entered Oklahoma Joe's line up of smokers in the past year. I just bought the bronco yesterday. Started off withe the $39.99 brinkmanship smoker. The Pro costs more than twice as much as the original but you do not get twice as much smoker. To keep your Bronco in tip-top shape, make sure youre regularly cleaning it. Been super happy so far, was able to fit 2 slabs of ribs on the gratetight fit but they fit for sure. The first item that grabbed my attention is that people really love their Broncos. This makes sure you can cook a long brisket cook without having the ashes impede your airflow.
Then, light a chimneys worth of charcoal, add it to the charcoal basket and let it burn. Went with the Webber with all the vents. When I opened the box I noticed several scrapes and dings. You can also use the Bronco as a traditional charcoal grill by placing the charcoal basket on top of the heat diffuser. So moving along I filled the charcoal box let it heat up. The charcoal basket is a porcelain ring with grates on the bottom, ensuring steady airflow. Absolutely love this smoker. The FireDial Heat Diffuser Plate is made specifically for Ok Joe's Bronco Drum Cooker. You can spend a lot of time tweaking those dampers getting your WSM to line out. This is not the case with the Bronco. OKJ recommend using briquettes because they burn more steadily. We use lump in it most of the time. For the same price of a Bronco you could also get an Oklahoma Joes Highland offset smoker.
Now, unlike the Pit Barrel Cooker, the Bronco isnt set and forget. As far as value is concerned there probably is not a better bang for your buck than the 18 inch model. Corren Mugica Yes, theyll last a lifetime and theyre amazing to cook on. Thatll give you a modest 284 square inches of grilling space. The Oklahoma Joe company was founded by Joe Davidsonin 1987 when he brought affordable offset smokers to the market. Pineapple Habenero Wings smoked on the Bronco. The Bronco will keep things going fairly steadily on its own.
Enough to fit 10 or so burgers. Additionally the Bronco has a hinged lid with extra dome clearance like you find on a kamado smoker. Overall the smoker is amazing I love it highly satisfied so far after watching several YouTube reviews and videos on it I settled for it and Im glad I got it great product. This article is meant to help you figure out the important features and benefits of the Bronco drum smoker. The assembly of the Bronco took less than 30 minutes at a leisurely pace. But, like I said, some people love the idea of hanging ribs so here is a fun video showing you the technique on this cooker. But, have Oklahoma Joe really nailed adapting a standard drum smoker to all that plus more? https://bbqsmokermods.com/firedialtm-heat-diffuser-plate-parts-for-oklahoma-joe-s-bronco-drum-cooker-by-lavalockr.html. I did a LOT of research. You can check out our full MEATER review here if you want more info. The brackets are for a series of meat hangers instead of using the grates. Unboxing I was very impressed by the quality of the product. The Bronco holds temperatures rock steady for hours on end and is a very fun grill to use. The ash pan is porcelain coated metal and rests beneath the charcoal basket. Subscribe to our free e-newsletter, and get new tips every two weeks. The only thing I figured is it sits directly on top of the existing Bronco heat deflector. It isn't as simple as saying "To cook at 250, set the intake at 1 and the exhaust at 2." This smoker is a drum smoker, and drum smokers have been a proven design for years. Smoky flavor? Its also got a larger fuel basket that can smoke up to 15 hours over the 10 hours of the Bronco. The Oklahoma Joe Bronco comes with everything you need for smoking and grilling. Event Coverage: 2019 Big Kahuna Wings Festival a Only a limited number of standard tools are needed, and. The link below has information/videos that may be helpful. Bought it last weekend. Moisture content? Loved it but Divorce. The charcoal basket holds about eight pounds of charcoal and is covered by a perforated heat deflector plate. I will say that the Bronco is a better cooker. It makes sure that you are using indirect heat. As far as value is concerned you will be hard pressed to find a better deal than the 18 inch Bronco. While the total number of reviews was low (less than 200 as of January, 2021) they paint a pretty clear picture of user satisfaction and are presented below. The body on the Bronco is comprised of two drum sections that are bolted together. So, you can hang up to 9 racks of ribs. The PBC is a great cooker, the company is a small, veteran owned business and the owner is a really nice guy. No, its not the best quality out there. Have only grilled with it so far, but wow, better grilling experience than anything else I have used. This smoker nails all three. Or, load it to the max using the 9 stainless steel hooks that are included. The hooks are dishwasher safe. My only complaint would be I bought an orange one and its already stained on the out side from fat that dripped down and there is no way to add more wood when smoking for long periods of time. The Bronco is a multi-functional cooker that can be used three different ways. The one issue was the intake tube for the fire not being put together right but with a little grinding and welding I fixed it and put it on the proper way so it sealed all the way. Now theres 2 versions of the Oklahoma Joe Bronco; the standard and the Bronco Pro. The basket holds 8 pounds of charcoal. Best Drum Smoker: 5 Top Simple + Effective Solutions, Porcelain-coated steel grate, charcoal basket and ash pan, Vents give you control over air intake which changes temperature, Oversized charcoal basket allows for about 10 hours of low and slow smoking, Heat diffuser to block flare-ups when smoking, Charcoal basket with ash pan for easy clean-up, Its easy to control and maintain your desired temperature, Great setup for both smoking and grilling, Heat diffuser plate prevents the bottom rib from drying out, Gives you flexibility in what you want to cook and how you cook it, Comes with the ash pan which makes cleaning up faster and easier, Durable build where its really needed stainless steel hooks, porcelain-coated heat diffuser, charcoal basket and ash pan, Itd be nice if exterior was powder or porcelain-coated for extra rust-resistance, Air intake leaks small amounts of grease underneath the drum, More control over the temperature than other drum smokers provide. Followed directions for preparing prior to first time use. Highly recommended! All Rights Reserved. Im gonna be popular with this Bronco lol. Thicker steel and not much to adjust. But, the ambient temperature reading sends an alert to my phone when the temperature dips too low so I can go out an adjust the vent. All Rights Reserved. You can hang tools off it too. The family had one word for the ribs "wow". With an MSRP of $299 the Original 18 inch Bronco is worth every penny. I love that feature. Smoking on the OKJ Bronco is really all-round great. Oklahoma Joes are typically known for having a decent design but a pretty average build. We then use ours to vacuum any stray ashes out of the bottom of the drum. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. We get it Real ceramic kamados are EXPENSIVE! Once its set up, its time to do the burn in. [FTC Standard Disclosure] I received an Oklahoma Joe Bronco as part of a paid project I worked on; however, this project was entirely unrelated for Nibble Me This. But, youre probably looking at going out there a couple of times during your cook to do so. I recently got this smoker for Christmas after using my little Webber kettle as a smoker this was a big step up from that when I was living with my parents I was using the offset smoker my dad and I had built. ive had mine for about 2 years and im actualiy using it as i type this. Finally a part to make the Oklahoma Joe's Bronco even better! You can use the Bronco as a traditional smoker and, if you arrange and light the charcoal correctly, get about 15 hours of Low and Slow burn time from a single load of charcoal. The Bronco offers precision temperature control, multiple cooking options, easy portability and attractive styling. OKJ have added quality where its most important (gasket, porcelain-coated heat deflector, stainless steel hooks, thick rubber handle) and saved costs where they could (basic paint finish with raw interior). With any new smoker, itll take you a few smokes to work out how to use it best. Weve even used it in not so flash hot weather and it runs pretty smoothly, especially considering theres no insulation. Burning Brisket is reader-supported. You want to leave the Bronco going for about 2-3 hours at 275-300F.
You can use the Bronco as a traditional smoker and, if you arrange and light the charcoal correctly, get about 15 hours of Low and Slow burn time from a single load of charcoal. I have done two cooks, babyback ribs and chicken wings. Yes, you can smoke 2 pork butts on it. Strong and smoky as youd expect from a charcoal smoker. A++++. Please. You dont need to check on it every half an hour. These two smokers each have a couple of strong points going for them. The Bronco delivers in that area too, no aftermarket gasket needed. I get ZERO financial benefit if you buy a smoker. There are only a handful of steps to take. Quality and function is top notch. Jot us a note and well get back to you as quickly as possible. Did you notice the three notched brackets? 70 Series Pro Double Hung White Vinyl Insulated Window, Shop Paintable/Stainable Low-E Glass Vented Skylights, Shop Home Decorators Collection CARB Compliant, Ralph Lauren Home Decorators Collection Shaw, Shop Track Bracket ClosetMaid Shelving Brackets, Airflow control system & sealed lid allows temperature management, Convertible smoker grill combo with cooking grate & meat hangers, Oversized charcoal basket holds fuel for 10 hours of smoking. Stepping things up a notch, Oklahoma Joe have taken the basic drum smoker and added features to give you temperature control and versatility. Copyright 2022 Island Outdoor, LLC. You need a baffle to even out the heat. Read more on the lump charcoal vs briquette debate. Need Help? Easy to put together and didnt take long. Was everything I expected. Tried this one out. The WSM offers amazing temperature control and is what I used to learn to barbecue. In this situation your meat is heating and cooling and reheating again loosing moisture and flavor. The WSM has three daisy wheel dampers across the circumference of the base with each damper allowing air into three holes (9 air inlet holes total). It sounds like the Pro is more advanced than the other but the Pro is just larger. Well done Oklahoma Joes!! If youre a newbie, the learning curve on the Bronco isnt huge. This replicates old-school smokehouses which hung meat in the smoke. I was stoked to see that I could flip the heat deflector plate upside down and place the charcoal basket on top of it, we did a round of Steaks for the family the day after!! I did seal the two halfs with high temp RTV along with the bolts to minimize any grease drippings on the exterior! If you can get one for the ridiculous close-out prices I have seen, my recommendation is upgraded to "Heck yes"! The original lid for the barrel is fitted with a handle and used as the smoker lid. I had no experience smoking, with bronco I have made the best ribs for my friends, it is robust and firm, it brings the problem of short air intake, but it was not a problem for cooking, and the thermometer is not accurate, it marks up to 50 degrees less than the real thing, it is necessary to use a good digital thermometer. This article will show you the key features of the Bronco, explore some real world customer reviews and compare the Bronco against other types of smokers so you can determine if the Bronco is the right smoker for you. Brinkmans are more expensive now. They turned out very well! Grilling is where the Bronco really shines over the competition because nothing is compromised with the grill setup. Unfortunately, we're unable to tell if this part is compatible with your grill or not. And, the coals are at the ideal height for maximum heat. Two items really struck me when I looked at the data from the reviews. Subscribe to our free e-newsletter, and get new tips every two weeks. All Rights Reserved. The Bronco is also the only drum smoker that has wheels which makes moving it around very easy. You will need to adjust the air intake valve while youre cooking keep a steady temperature. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The Bronco is a well designed, non traditional drum smoker. You can reach me at [emailprotected], We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Skip to the beginning of the images gallery.
Big and versatile for a very reasonable price, the Oklahoma Joe Bronco really steps drum smoking up a notch or two. So easy to use. Its grate is 21.5 across while the standard Bronco is 18. I gathered up all of the customer reviews for both the Original and Pro models of the Bronco from Walmart, Lowes and Amazon. In our opinion, its not a bad warranty period for the price of the smoker. The PBC uses a bottom damper to let in combustion air and four open holes in the top of the barrel to let air out. Ideal for cooking a lot of food inRead More Best Drum Smoker: 5 Top Simple + Effective Solutions. It kept heat well for a BBQer. So far, this is a high quality smoker that smokes great meat. The Bronco has an 18 inch grate that offers 284 square inches of cooking area. But, after that youll be away and turning out some great meat. 1 people already voted for this question. I purchased this to replace my weber kettle and masterbuilt electric smoker. I got my Bronco smoker a couple weeks agoI did Chicken first and then did a rack of ribs a few days later, i was so happy with the results. Jun 3, 2021. To get that wood-smoked flavor, you can add wood chunks to the Broncos charcoal basket. Or, a rack of ribs and a couple of pork butts. The Bronco has great performance and is less expensive than two other comparable cookers, the 18 inch Pit Barrel Cooker and the 18.5 inch Weber Smokey Mountain. Here is a video showing how I used the Bronco as a pretty nice charcoal grill. The beauty of a UDS was that for $100 you could build a UDS with long burn times and quality smoke. The idea behind a PBC is you build your fire, hang your meat and walk away. x 61.25 in. Started off withe the $39.99 brinkmanship smoker. To do so youre going to coat it with a fine spray of high-heat oil like canola. Heavy and sturdy, very solid. We answer these questions and more to help you decide if the Broncos going to be sitting in your backyard soon. I have never been a fan of that technique as invariably the ribs closer to the fire get a little scorched by the time the entire rack is done cooking. That buffer makes for more even and steady cooking temperatures. A little difficult assembling as the holes didn't seem to line up properly at first but got it together and it works great. Ooni Karu 12 Review: Is This Easy Wood-Fired Pizza? How much control do you have over the temperature? After to get all of the mods in place and start cooking you will find the fuel usage to be astronomical. I recommend this smoker for beginners all the way to pitmasters. But, out of the box, I was really impressed by the quality of the Bronco! The Bronco Pro is larger with a 21.5 rack instead of the standard 18.
JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Fill it, set it, leave it alone and let it do the rest. The inability to easily add more charcoal during a cook seemed to be the biggest complaint. We are committed to developing the most innovative products of the highest quality. There are no products matching your search. With the larger backing of Char-Broil, the Oklahoma Joe brand has been able to continue innovating and developing their range. Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), Bronco Charcoal Drum Smoker Grill in Black. In terms of add-ons, if you want to hang meat and use the standard grate, youll need to grab a triple grate. The Bronco comes with a metal deflector plate. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. Smoked some ribs, chicken and a chuck roast for pulled beef so far.