On my 160 gallon build i start the smoker with 2 chimneys of kingsford bluebag and 2 1/4 splits. then every 45 minutes I put another 2 1/4 splits in to keep it at 225*F. If I put more charcoal in I start it first. but usually I dont need to unless it is real cold out. I usually don't fire it up unless I can fill up one full rack with grub.
If you are cooking for a family of 4 more often than a party, say of 20, a 100 pound or even a muds or uds is plenty big enough. A 100 will give you about 13 x 30 of single rack space and with a riser or rib rack, much more. I only used Rod's 100 twice and used a 2/3 splits every 30/40 min this on windy days, starting on c-coal. A uds with a 18 dia by 10 deep basket will go for hours. I've never run it out, tho' I've never done brisket.
A 100 will feed 20 with no issues, might get tight if doing brisket, butt, butt (punny) will be no problem. Turkey as well. Hope it helps.
GreenSmoker / Steve C.
Little Johnny says; " I like the way your thinkin' "
I have a 250 gallon smoker,In a competition we cook on it for 13 hours and use 5 20 lb bags of charcoal, The down side is at Thanksgiving 25 Turkeys filled it only half way.
Nothing I like more than to kick back with a Zima and a Virgina Slim reading 50 Shades of Grey with DCman (The Czar).
If u want economy, the drums are great. And for the fam of four ur golden. Drums are cheep, so then there would be extra money for the big smoker for those rare occasions.
My drum runs 20 plus hours on one load of lump. Aproxx 12 to 15 lbs. Not sure if I could do it on a regular basis but I have gotten over 30 hours before.
It honestly sounds like the 100 pound tank will be enough for regular use like I try to use my POS chargriller for now, especially if I Fab the firebox instead of using part of the tank for the offset firebox. This leaves the two 420 lb (125 gal) propane tanks and the additional 100 pound for a "trailer rig" (good lord, when will I use that? whole hog anyone?)
- Doc
If I made any typo's, blame it on the mobile device.
DocMorgan, good choice on the 100 and the FB fab. As for the 125's, yep they'll do a whole pig well. Even put a spinner to it and rent it out. I am in process on a 100 and I went the easy way at 15x15x15 for the FB. Plenty big and much smaller is a pain when it comes to ashes and air flow, IMHO.
Above is the hybred, tuning plate/RF I built for/with Rod. Good luck, waiting for build pics.
GreenSmoker / Steve C.
Little Johnny says; " I like the way your thinkin' "