Thank you all who helped me solve the mystery of the smoker.
I took all the advice and went with it.
-woke up at 3:30 am
-started chimney 1/4 full
-full ring of Royal Oak lump (not cowboy)
-brined the brisket, dry rubbed the ribs the night before
-got the temp even at 225 at 4:30 and put the brisket on
-Hickory smoke
-put 4 racks of ribs on at 6am
-at 11am foiled all
-noon took off smoker, cut and served
-nothing but rave reviews
here are the pics
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c19/clax170/IMG_2943.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c19/clax170/IMG_2944.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c19/clax170/IMG_2945.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c19/clax170/IMG_2946.jpg
I took all the advice and went with it.
-woke up at 3:30 am
-started chimney 1/4 full
-full ring of Royal Oak lump (not cowboy)
-brined the brisket, dry rubbed the ribs the night before
-got the temp even at 225 at 4:30 and put the brisket on
-Hickory smoke
-put 4 racks of ribs on at 6am
-at 11am foiled all
-noon took off smoker, cut and served
-nothing but rave reviews
here are the pics
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c19/clax170/IMG_2943.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c19/clax170/IMG_2944.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c19/clax170/IMG_2945.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c19/clax170/IMG_2946.jpg