The award medallion at right is given to products that are highly recommended, that I have tested personally or that have been tested by reliable sources. Awards are based on features, quality, and value. Rest assured that when I recommend a product, it is really because I like it, not because someone has paid me to say so or because the company is an advertiser or sponsor. I purchase most products I review although occasionally suppliers send me samples.
When a product is available on Amazon.com, I often provide a direct link. Amazon.com often has the best prices anywhere, even better than many manufacturers' websites. That's because manufacturers know that if they undercut retailers, these important resellers may drop their products. In addition to low prices, Amazon.com offers fast delivery (often free), no sales tax (in most states), gift wrapping (on many items), and painless refund policies. Amazon's Gift & Wish Registry is a great way to drop not so subtle hints about what you'd love to get for Christmas, Mother's Day, Dad's Day, your wedding, housewarming, graduation, birthday or other event.
Full disclosure.Amazon.com pays me a small referral fee when you purchase from them after clicking on a link on this site, so purchasing from them helps underwrite the cost of operating AmazingRibs.com. If you like all the info I give you for free and would like to help me buy charcoal, copy the link below bookmark it. It takes you to Amazon.com and tags anything you buy with my code so I get that small referral fee. It works on anything from grills to diapers and it has zero impact on the price you pay. http://tinyurl.com/yazmwlq
Trailer and Mobile Smokers for Competitors, Caterers, and Restaurants
These are the units the pros use, the caterers and competitors at the major BBQ judgings. You will see them at small ballparks, tailgaters, state fairs, and on FoodTV. If your ribs are the best on the block, it may be time to start pulling a trailer to the horse show on Saturday. Many of these companies will be happy to custom fabricate whatever your heart desires. Please note that many of the commercial indoor units listed in the next section are also available on trailers. Because I have never owned a mobile unit, I have listed them below with little or no comment, and no "Meathead's Hot Stuff Awards."
Below I have listed several popular or noteworthy mobile smokers and grills alphabetically. Click the red links for current pricing and more info.
They offer three inexpensive units. Their Backroads model, shown here, is one of the best bargains on the market. 20" cooking chamber has a convection system to distribute heat evenly over 1000 square inches of cooking surface. Dual high-pressure burners for all-purpose frying. The firebox has a warming tray. Includes a log lighter system with control panel in firebox, temperature gauge, 40 x 20" slide-out work table and storage box and tie-down storage area. Made of 1/4" thick steel, fully welded. 2" square tubing trailer frame has 12" wheels.
Bubba fabricates two nifty reverse flow trailer mounted smokers, and even some deck grills in central Georgia. He will also custom build a rig for you. He knows a bit about the biz because he heads a competition team with a lot of trophies, a catering operation, and sells his own label of BBQ sauce.
Custom and prefab grills and pig cookers. Their "turning grate" allows you to split a whole hog, and with the simple turn of a handle on the outside, rotate the hog 180 degrees.
Their design is quite clever. The chimney appears to be on the wrong side, next to the firebox. That's because there is a steel plate beneath the cooking grates that forces the smoke from the firebox the length of the chamber and allows it to enter the upper half at the end opposite the firebox. It then travels through the cooking chamber to the chimney. Heat radiates up through the plate for cooking. Chose a stock design or have one custom made to your specs.
Dave Klose makes some of the most highly regarded pits. Many of the top competitors use Klose pits. They are not cheap but fit and finish and craftsmanship are top notch. They hold up well and hold up their resale value.
In addition to serious cookers, Klose makes some of the craziest custom pits you've ever seen: A passenger jet shaped pit for Continental Airlines, a beer bottle shaped pit, a phone booth, a baby carriage, trains, you name it. Klose is a bit of a character, too. His personal smoker "Bling Bling" (below) has 24k gold plated wheels, satellite dish and DVR with Hi-Def monitor powered by solar cells, beer coolers, deep fryers, infrared grill, lighting, warming oven, lazy susan, and yes, even a dual stainless steel kitchen sink.
A wide range of options from small to large, from braziers to pit smokers. They are well-built, and their system of hinging two grates together so you can flip a whole mess of chicken or steaks in one easy motion is quite clever. Their Pig Roaster 60T is a nifty, low cost ($1,485) charcoal fired mobile unit that can barbecue and grill anything, and there's enough room for two whole hogs.
Tell Meathead what you think, or ask him a question
But please, please, please read this first:
1) Please use the sitemap or the search box, at the top of every page. There's a good chance the answer is already on this site.
2) Please read this article about thermometers.Chances are your thermometer is the problem! I cannot help you troubleshoot unless you tell me that you are using a digital oven thermometer at meat level (not in the lid), and/or a digital meat thermometer. You simply cannot believe your grill's built-in bi-metal dial thermometer. They are often off by as much as 50°F!
3) Please tell me everything I need to know to answer your question.
4) Please don't ask me "What grill (or smoker) should I buy?" Read my Buyer's Guides and follow the links. I've shared just about everything I know on those pages. I cannot pick the right cooker for you any more than you could pick the right car for me. But I've explained everything you need to know to make your decision.
AmazingRibs.com is all about the Zen of barbecue, grilling, and outdoor cooking, with great BBQ recipes and techniques: Barbecue baby back ribs, spareribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, steak, burgers, chicken, smoked turkey, lamb, barbecue sauces, rubs, and side dishes, with the net's best buying guide to barbecue smokers and grills. It is written, photographed, illustrated, and coded solely by Meathead.
My philosophy about food is simple. First of all it must taste great. It must be easy to make and emphasize fresh seasonal products with a minimum of processed ingredients. I think that people need to know why as well as how, and that there are no rules in the bedroom or dining room.
About Product Reviews and Meathead's Hot Stuff Awards. Meathead's Hot Stuff Awards are highly recommended products that I have tested personally or that have been tested by reliable sources. Awards are based on features, quality, and value. Rest assured that when I recommend a product, it is really because I like it, not because someone has paid me to say so or because the company is an advertiser or sponsor. I purchase most products I review although occasionally suppliers send me samples.
About links on this site. Other than clearly marked ads, links and recommendations on this site are all products, services, and websites I truly admire, and are never paid endorsements. Your suggestions are always welcome. If you would like me to link to your website, click here to read my links policy first. Advertising policy. I do not accept ads from products that I review such as grills, charcoal, etc. Click here for more on my advertising policy.
Meathead's Personal Privacy Promise.I promise to never sell or distribute any info about you individually without your express permission, and I promise not to, ahem, pepper you with email or make you eat spam. Click here for more details of my privacy promise.
Disclaimer. The information on this website is for educational purposes only. All material within comes without warranties of any kind. I am human, and capable of mistakes, so I make no guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness, or safety of the information. Under no circumstances am I liable for any damages that result from use of the site (so you can't sue me if you burn your tongue on hot ribs, or get a tummy ache, OK?).
GrillGrates are the best new product I have tested in years and the best thing to happen to beef since salt and pepper. The base superheats, eliminates hot spots, smokes, and blocks flareups. This is the concept behind the expensive new infrared grills. Click here for more about GrillGrates.
The Smokenator:
A Necessity For Weber Kettles
If you have a Weber Kettle, you need the amazing Smokenator and Hovergrill. The Smokenator turns your grill into a first class smoker, and the Hovergrill can add capacity or be used to create steakhouse steaks. Click here to read more.
ThermoWorks Pocket Thermometer - No More Guessing
A good thermometer is why I never serve overcooked or undercooked food. No more guesswork. This one has a very thin tip with a tiny thermocouple so it gives an accurate reading in just six seconds. I cannot recommend it more highly. It will improve your cooking overnight. And it is inexpensive. Click here for more about thermometers.
This link takes you to Amazon.com and tags anything you buy with my affiliate code so I get a small referral fee. It works on anything from grills to diapers and it has zero impact on the price you pay. Low prices, fast delivery (often free), good refund policies, and often there is no sales tax, are the best reasons to buy from Amazon.com, but clicking on that link before you shop helps me devote more time and money to you. Thanks!
The award medallion at right is given to products that are highly recommended, that I have tested personally or that have been tested by reliable sources. Awards are based on features, quality, and value. Rest assured that when I recommend a product, it is really because I like it, not because someone has paid me to say so or because the company is an advertiser or sponsor. I purchase most products I review although occasionally suppliers send me samples.
is a great way to drop not so subtle hints about what you'd love to get for Christmas, Mother's Day, Dad's Day, your wedding, housewarming, graduation, birthday or other event.
With a $25 donation you'll get a 100% cotton brushed twill adjustable low profile cap with the AmazingRibs patch sewn on. I'll even toss in a small bag of 
