Practicality of a 14.5 WSM


 
Tom Jordan

Tom Jordan

TVWBB Fan
Hi! I'm fairly new to BBQing on an 18.5 WSM and really enjoy the dozen or so cooks I've done. Here's the reason for my question; every year,I spend two weeks renting a house on the NC beach. I've always rented a gasser from a local company but they do not rent smokers. I'd really like to bring my WSM up, but don't have room in my car. My thought was to buy an 14.5 at the local NC Walmart and hope I had room to fit it in the car for the return trip home, but if not maybe work a deal with the rental company to hold it for me until the following summer.
Anyway, what has been your experience with the 14.5 as to what you do on it, what quantity of cook and what are the results? Is the final product as good as the 18 & 22?
Any comments are welcome. Thanks!
 
Tom, I have an 18.5 and a mini which is the same size as a a 14.5. They both function the same except the mini uses a less coals then the 18.5. I've done 10lb butts, two racks of ribs, roasts, whole chickens, bone in turkey breasts on the 14.5. The mini has gone as long as 11 hours on one load of coals.
Because mine uses a Smokey Joe top and bottom I can convert it in seconds to a table top grill, don't know if a 14.5 can do that or not. Quality of the food is just the same as a 22.5 or 18.5.
I actually use my mini much more than the 18.5. Hope that helps.
 
Do you have a trailer hitch on your car, Tom? If so a trailer hitch mounted cargo carrier would be a great way to take your 18.5 WSM with you at a faction of the cost of 14.5, with leftover room on the carrier for other items too. That being said, I have a 14.5 and love it.
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"T". Lol I saw that on this site befor and showed "whatshername", who quickly responded with, "youre NOT putting THAT on the car",,,,, still working on her. :-)
 
Tom Jordan said:
"T". Lol I saw that on this site befor and showed "whatshername", who quickly responded with, "youre NOT putting THAT on the car",,,,, still working on her. :-)
Click to expand...

Have you tired a "but honey, just think of all the extra clothes you could bring!" angle?

Timothy F. Lewis said:
"T"
You, sir, are an addict!
Nice set up though, I'd do it if a needed to, in a heartbeat!!!
Click to expand...

Wish I could say that's my setup, but it's just something I ran across on a BBQ forum.
 
Tom, I have a 14, 18 and the 22WSM and I tend to use the 14 the most of the three. I think you would find the 14 to be perfect for the vacation rental. As long as you don't have your heart on smoking a brisket or mind rolling your racks or ribs. Like rich I've done a 10 lb. pork butt, whole chickens, a 12 lb turkey, and a whole lot of tri-tip on the 14. It uses a lot less charcoal too. I think you'd find it very useful at the rental and at home.
 
I have a 14.5 & an 18.5. Both are great, however the 14.5 sees most of the action these days.
It's a great little smoker & can be used as a grill, too.
I've done butts, tri-tips, chickens, ribs & even made bacon on it.
It's very fuel thrifty.
You can cook a lot of food on it.
Depending on your choice of meat, I'd say you could easily feed 6 to 8 people that had healthy appetites.
 
I have both the 14.5 and the 18.5 WSM's. If I were to only have one, I would have to go with the 18.5". However, having said that, I use my 14.5" most often. I ALWAYS do two Bone-in Boston Butts at a time (each 8.0-9.0 lbs.) for pulled pork (a mainstay in our freezer for left overs). I also do three full racks of ribs. I cut each rack of ribs in half, then do three halves on each grate using a rib rack. I regularly do chicken parts using Chris' method of "Hot and Fast" chicken (Jerk Chicken, Weber's "Kickin' Chicken", or regular BBQ Chicken as per Cook's Country). I could go on but you get the idea. The small smokers are very versatile just like the larger ones.

As a possible matter of interest, I built a Mini-Joe Gold and LOVED it. However, my youngest son really "needed" a smoker so I gifted him the Mini.

So, to answer your question, I believe the 14.5" would work perfectly well for you. Broken down, it should carry easy, too.

Keep on smokin',
Dale53:wsm:
 
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