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- Thread starter Jim Ver
- Start date
Scott Guerber.
TVWBB Super Fan
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jim Ver:
I'm trying to decide between the 18.5" and 22.5" WSM. I want something to entertain 8-16 people for football games and kids birthdays. I love ribs. Also would like to bring it on lake and beach vacations.
My questions and concerns:
1) I love ribs, can you justify 22 for ease of ribs?
2) is the 18 significantly easier to travel with? I have a ford explorer size suv.
3) 18 $240, 22 $399 - pretty big difference if not needed
I hear of people getting the 18 and wished they had 22, but does anyone wish they purchased 18 instead?
Thanks for your feedback. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hey Jim,
Welcome to the forum. This place has so much great information!
I had the same dilemma as yourself. I couldn't decide between the 18.5" and the 22.5". I chose the 18.5" and I am very happy with my purchase. I have fed 35 people with pulled pork from it. I can fit 4 pretty large butts on it no problem. I have done up 6 racks of ribs on it so far. The 18.5" uses less fuel than the larger one and is cheaper. I am still very, very happy with my purchase. Sometimes when I have a 17lb brisket I think a 22.5" would be great but once you get it shoehorned in the 18.5" it turns out awesome.
The 18.5" goes with us all the time on camping trips. We are taking it out for T-day to the desert to smoke some turkey's. It is very easy to take with you.
With all that being said. I am picking up a 22.5" today. It was used once and is an incredible deal that I have to pick it up. To be honest even if it was another 18.5er I would snag it at this price and condition.
Either way you choose you are making a great decision. You can't go wrong with either size WSM.
Good luck!
I'm trying to decide between the 18.5" and 22.5" WSM. I want something to entertain 8-16 people for football games and kids birthdays. I love ribs. Also would like to bring it on lake and beach vacations.
My questions and concerns:
1) I love ribs, can you justify 22 for ease of ribs?
2) is the 18 significantly easier to travel with? I have a ford explorer size suv.
3) 18 $240, 22 $399 - pretty big difference if not needed
I hear of people getting the 18 and wished they had 22, but does anyone wish they purchased 18 instead?
Thanks for your feedback. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hey Jim,
Welcome to the forum. This place has so much great information!
I had the same dilemma as yourself. I couldn't decide between the 18.5" and the 22.5". I chose the 18.5" and I am very happy with my purchase. I have fed 35 people with pulled pork from it. I can fit 4 pretty large butts on it no problem. I have done up 6 racks of ribs on it so far. The 18.5" uses less fuel than the larger one and is cheaper. I am still very, very happy with my purchase. Sometimes when I have a 17lb brisket I think a 22.5" would be great but once you get it shoehorned in the 18.5" it turns out awesome.
The 18.5" goes with us all the time on camping trips. We are taking it out for T-day to the desert to smoke some turkey's. It is very easy to take with you.
With all that being said. I am picking up a 22.5" today. It was used once and is an incredible deal that I have to pick it up. To be honest even if it was another 18.5er I would snag it at this price and condition.
Either way you choose you are making a great decision. You can't go wrong with either size WSM.
Good luck!
Darrel Williams
TVWBB Super Fan
Ribs take up more space per serving than other meats. So if Ribs are what you want to smoke most often, you may want to get the bigger one.
But with an 18.5 you can smoke up to 6 chickens, about 35lbs of shoulder, a pair of medium turkeys, 6 or 8 slabs of ribs..... in other words a whole lot of meat.
Personally, I would buy two 18.5s before I would buy a 22.5. $480 vs $399. That way you can get 35% more cooking area when you need it, and you can save $$$ on charcoal for when you are cooking for less than 20 people.
But with an 18.5 you can smoke up to 6 chickens, about 35lbs of shoulder, a pair of medium turkeys, 6 or 8 slabs of ribs..... in other words a whole lot of meat.
Personally, I would buy two 18.5s before I would buy a 22.5. $480 vs $399. That way you can get 35% more cooking area when you need it, and you can save $$$ on charcoal for when you are cooking for less than 20 people.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Darrel Williams:
Personally, I would buy two 18.5s before I would buy a 22.5. $480 vs $399. That way you can get 35% more cooking area when you need it, and you can save $$$ on charcoal for when you are cooking for less than 20 people. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I have never thought of this reasoning, that makes a lot of sense. That 22" is a big boy to put in a car too.
Personally, I would buy two 18.5s before I would buy a 22.5. $480 vs $399. That way you can get 35% more cooking area when you need it, and you can save $$$ on charcoal for when you are cooking for less than 20 people. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I have never thought of this reasoning, that makes a lot of sense. That 22" is a big boy to put in a car too.
Dave Russell
TVWBB Honor Circle
The larger wsm is the better rib cooker, no doubt about it.
However, I've made do and have cooked up to nine slabs of St. louis ribs on my little wsm, plus carried it in the trunk of our sedan to a family reunion. You get a big wsm and I think you'll need an Excursion for travel, not an Explorer.
However, I've made do and have cooked up to nine slabs of St. louis ribs on my little wsm, plus carried it in the trunk of our sedan to a family reunion. You get a big wsm and I think you'll need an Excursion for travel, not an Explorer.
Jim, you need to visit your local ACE Hardware or BBQ store and see them side-by-side. The 22" is HUGE!
Here are the dimensions - WSM Dimensions
Go get a 48"x24"x24" box (or 2 24"x24"x24" boxes and tape them together) and use that to 'test fit' in your vehicle.
Any 'long' racks of ribs you could shorten to fit the 18".
I have the 18" and don't have a need for the 22".
Here are the dimensions - WSM Dimensions
Go get a 48"x24"x24" box (or 2 24"x24"x24" boxes and tape them together) and use that to 'test fit' in your vehicle.
Any 'long' racks of ribs you could shorten to fit the 18".
I have the 18" and don't have a need for the 22".
S Mitchell
TVWBB Pro
Jim, I have the opposite opinion. Since I never saw an 18 before I bought my 22, I feel like the 18 looks small. I like having the ability to put just about any piece of meat on this thing that I want. I suppose that portability could be a problem depending on what kind of vehicle you have. If at all possible, I would recomend the 22. Good luck!
This seems like the classic chocolate/vanilla debate. We all have preferences and perceived needs.
I have a family of five, with only one small eater, and the rest pretty much ravenous. And I often cook for gatherings. I like having the ability to easily cook two 15 lb. packers, or six 8 lb. butts, or 6-8 racks of St. Louis spares.
And yet, if all I'm doing is smoking 10 lb. of bacon, I can do that easily as well.
Take the family and gatherings out of the mix, and the 18 would be the one for me. But as things are, the 22 falls into my sweet spot.
I have a family of five, with only one small eater, and the rest pretty much ravenous. And I often cook for gatherings. I like having the ability to easily cook two 15 lb. packers, or six 8 lb. butts, or 6-8 racks of St. Louis spares.
And yet, if all I'm doing is smoking 10 lb. of bacon, I can do that easily as well.
Take the family and gatherings out of the mix, and the 18 would be the one for me. But as things are, the 22 falls into my sweet spot.
Jim,
I have yet to run into a situation where my 18 is not sufficient, and excellent. I've cooked Q for 60, ribs for 20, and never missed a beat. Sure, the bigger is better is a strong psychological power, but it's simply not true always. If 18's weren't big enough then why were they sufficient for nearly all circumstances before the 22 was produced? I'll take my 18, its efficiency, portability, excellence, etc. all day, feed any crowd that comes my way, and pocket the savings. Catch one on sale from someone getting rid of one and all is the better. Just my 2 cents.
I have yet to run into a situation where my 18 is not sufficient, and excellent. I've cooked Q for 60, ribs for 20, and never missed a beat. Sure, the bigger is better is a strong psychological power, but it's simply not true always. If 18's weren't big enough then why were they sufficient for nearly all circumstances before the 22 was produced? I'll take my 18, its efficiency, portability, excellence, etc. all day, feed any crowd that comes my way, and pocket the savings. Catch one on sale from someone getting rid of one and all is the better. Just my 2 cents.
Jim,
I do baby backs, figure 1/2 rack per adult including sides, and can easily get 6 racks on the top, some halved, and four on the bottom. Everybody loves their own ribs, and I do too, and more often than not I hear some variation of this phrase, "Those were the best ribs I've ever eaten." I know everyone has similar experiences, so enjoy yours.
I do baby backs, figure 1/2 rack per adult including sides, and can easily get 6 racks on the top, some halved, and four on the bottom. Everybody loves their own ribs, and I do too, and more often than not I hear some variation of this phrase, "Those were the best ribs I've ever eaten." I know everyone has similar experiences, so enjoy yours.
Scott Guerber.
TVWBB Super Fan
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jim Ver:
Thanks for all the feedback. I went to Ace and they only had the 18 setup but from what everyone is saying, it sounds like that should be plenty for my needs.
T Bounds, just curious, how did you configure the 18" for ribs for 20? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
So did you grab the 18"? You can get a rib rack or cut some of the racks in half. I can get 6 racks on there pretty easy. If you roll them you might be able to get 8 in it.
Thanks for all the feedback. I went to Ace and they only had the 18 setup but from what everyone is saying, it sounds like that should be plenty for my needs.
T Bounds, just curious, how did you configure the 18" for ribs for 20? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
So did you grab the 18"? You can get a rib rack or cut some of the racks in half. I can get 6 racks on there pretty easy. If you roll them you might be able to get 8 in it.
Stuart Cassingham
TVWBB Fan
i have a 22" and 2 18"'s...... i go the 22 first and found a deal on my first 18 and couldnt pass it up.... the 22 is awesome for rib cooks as i like to lay mine flat and not cut them in half.. it is also great for doing large cooks.... but my 18's are awesome when i only want to do 1 or 2 butts at a time or samller scaled cooks....
Also note that the prices bounce around a fair amount. When I got mine, the 18" were $300 and the 22" were $305. Go figure.
I got the 22" and for my purposes I think it's pretty ideal. I don't need all the space - I really just use the top rack - but it's just convenient being able to lay ribs flat on the top and so forth.
I got the 22" and for my purposes I think it's pretty ideal. I don't need all the space - I really just use the top rack - but it's just convenient being able to lay ribs flat on the top and so forth.
Morrey Thomas
TVWBB Super Fan
I live in a coastal environment, and the salt air finally ruined my older 18 WSM. I replaced it with a new 22 WSM. I will never look back. You can lay ribs flat, cook extra BBQ for any occasion you need, plus a huge turkey will fit in the 22 w/o getting close to the edge of the grates where the rising heat can scorch things. I don't like to pack items too closely together so air can circulate. 22 is the only way I will personally go. I rather have a large grill and use the extra space only when I need it, rather than to have a smaller grill and fall short of cooking room some of the time.