New Old Country Pit - Over n Under - I like it

SmittyJonz said:

Good to Hear CasinoQ. Did you swap Probes from one end to the other and see if the temps swapped?

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Yes I did

Yes, I switched the probe and the other probe still shows higher temp at right side

Just one question CasinoQ,... Is the pit level?

AlwaysSmokey said:

Just one question CasinoQ,... Is the pit level?

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I thought this might be an issue after my first dry run, my patio has a slight slope on it so on my first cook I slid a piece of particle board underneath the casters to level it out and still same issue

I've just read through this thread with great interest. I have a New Braunfels smoker from back when they were made a little better (~15 years old). I've looked at this smoker several times at Academy and like the design. I do like to do some higher heat cooks from time to time and noticed a few comments about struggling to get to high heats, so I'm wondering if that will be an issue. Overall, does everyone seem pleased with this smoker? I would like to consider getting a better smoker in the next 6-12 months.

I just registered to reply to this post. I purchased one of these over/under smokers after graduating from a Brinkmann vertical smoker.

Here's my experience:

The bad:
1. The quality was not so good on the unit I ended up with. Specifically:
a. The smoker door doesn't line up exactly
b. The firebox door binds when you're really running hot
c. As others have mentioned, the fire grate is too flimsy (reinforcing with angle iron is an easy fix)
d. The tab on one of the firebox vents had snapped off.
2. This smoker consumes more fuel than my old one
3. Did not come with thermometers (I just bought a couple and screwed them right in).

The good:
1. LARGE cooking area
2. Retains heat very well
3. As long as you understand that you're running a stick smoker and that you're aiming for a temperature range instead of a specific temperature, this thing is VERY stable. Set it, and forget it until the temperature falls out of your window. Add another piece and walk away.

Even with the quality issues I mentioned, I would definitely purchase again. Been smoking for close to 10 years, using my own rigs and others. With a little bit of TLC and patience to learn it, this is definitely a keeper.

Pics of seasoning and a cook below...


A thing of beauty


It's big


Upper and lower shelves (the upper shelf also fits over the firebox to serve as a grill)


The payoff (4 8lb butts and 4 racks of ribs)

I am ready to buy a mid grade offset after years of using a Brinkman Gourmet Vertical with mods, and this over and under looks interesting to me.The interwebs brought me to this forum (like many other peeps it seems) due to not much info out there on this. Acadamy website basically worthless. Theoretically even temp across cooking grate. IDK about front to back though. Seems most are happy with it. My question is, how does this compare to the Pecos model which is about the same size? Fuel use? Maintaining temp? Or any other observations? Thanks!

Well I cheaped out on an offset smoker. I found a like new C.L. Ok Joe Longhorn including a 1/4 truck load of split seasoned oak for only 120 bucks. I know it is not the quality of the Old Country smokers, and needs the typical COS mods like sealing up leaks, lower exhaust, and tuning plates, but I think this will be a good start in offsets for me. Thanks to everyone on this site, and this thread on the info on the Over and Under. This is the only place to find this info. Over and Under still on my radar!!

Eric J said:

Well I cheaped out on an offset smoker. I found a like new C.L. Ok Joe Longhorn including a 1/4 truck load of split seasoned oak for only 120 bucks. I know it is not the quality of the Old Country smokers, and needs the typical COS mods like sealing up leaks, lower exhaust, and tuning plates, but I think this will be a good start in offsets for me. Thanks to everyone on this site, and this thread on the info on the Over and Under. This is the only place to find this info. Over and Under still on my radar!!

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awesome deal!! Nothing wrong with that smoker, I had one. I would not lower the exhaust.

Just try it without jumping into a bunch of mods. All I did was a few tuning plates

Thanks! First off is split the fire box. I dont think it has ever even really been hot and I see clear silicone caulk or something in that seam. Geeze!

I have a pic of my OC over and under! I have 7 St. Louis racks and an 8 lb. butt!

Here's a couple more.

Seems I can only post one pic at a time!

Tummo said:

I have a pic of my OC over and under! I have 7 St. Louis racks and an 8 lb. butt!

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All of the pics in this thread show 2 levels of racks in the cooking chamber, but the ones I am seeing at Academy only have 1 (no upper channel for a rack), did they change the design?