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[Free Mr. Tony]

4 or 5 years ago I sold my PG500 to my brother in law. He used it a ton at first and then just kind of let it sit. We've talked the last couple years about buying it back and he finally just wanted it off his porch so I bought it back on the cheap even though I didn't really have room for it.

I don't believe he cleaned it the entire time he owned it, so I spent the last few hours getting all the gunk off of everything. Manufacture date was January 2013. That's the great thing about stainless. Cleans up well after all these years.

Ive bought and sold in the neighborhood of 12-15 smokers over the years. Maybe more. This was one of the few that I missed now and again.

I fired up to 550 for an extra burn off after cleaning and am in the process of backing down to smoking temps to throw on some ribs. Definitely a different animal than the cheapo z grill I've been using. Glad to be reunited.

[Brushpopper]

Now that is a great reunion! 

[yorkdude]

Sweet deal.

[Bentley]

I am thinking if the Memphis Pro ever completely dies, the 500 would be my next and probably last unit!

[02ebz06]

I've only sold two.  A Blazin' Grid Iron (glad I sold it) and a Memphis Pro.
Kicking myself for selling the Pro.

[Free Mr. Tony]

This is pretty much in the order of purchase from what I can remember. There are several cheap units that I tried along the way that I didn't list and it's possible I'm leaving out a decent unit that I forgot about.

My personal ranking is in ()

Chargriller offset (9)
Traeger lil Tex (7)
Pg500 (3)
WSM (10)
Louisiana whole hog (2)
Lang 36 (8')
Big green egg (11)
Hunsaker drum (6)
270 sumo (4)
Pitboss vertical (5)
AZ boothill (1)
Z grills (12)

[BigDave83]

I see a 270 Smoker. I looked at them quite a few years ago before they changed the line up. I really liked them the way they were built and everything. I just didn't think I would want to go back to a wood/coal cooker. I still kick myself for not buying one and giving it a shot.

[Free Mr. Tony]

I see a 270 Smoker. I looked at them quite a few years ago before they changed the line up. I really liked them the way they were built and everything. I just didn't think I would want to go back to a wood/coal cooker. I still kick myself for not buying one and giving it a shot.

They are really nice and I would buy another in a second. They cooked very similar product to a green egg, but were set up much better. The paint and design were wonderful. Very nice smoker.

If you ever think again, they were nearly hands off.  Put the coals in, light a half chimney and throw on top of the unlit coals. It would go for hours and hours with literally no maintenance whatsoever.

[glitchy]

This is pretty much in the order of purchase from what I can remember. There are several cheap units that I tried along the way that I didn't list and it's possible I'm leaving out a decent unit that I forgot about.

My personal ranking is in ()

Chargriller offset (9)
Traeger lil Tex (7)
Pg500 (3)
WSM (10)
Louisiana whole hog (2)
Lang 36 (8')
Big green egg (11)
Hunsaker drum (6)
270 sumo (4)
Pitboss vertical (5)
AZ boothill (1)
Z grills (12)

Sadly, I can match (minus one) this count over the last nine years on just pellet grills alone, then you add in 3 charcoal grills, an OKJ Highland, 3 gassers, an electric smoker, and a vertical propane smoker. The funny thing is before the chaos started with smoked meats, I had a Weber Silver A for close to 20 years I used very regularly year round.

I’m happy to see you reunited with the PG500. It was on the short list when I bought the MAK.

[Canadian John]

  For those who seek advice on what pit to buy, this post could very well help fill some of the void..

  Most of us have started out w/ entry level pits believing and hoping they were comparable to a premium unit. NOT..I expect my Memphis Pro (USA) to last for many more years. There is so much good about it

  such as extremely easy to clean. I won't list all the attributes for the sake of not boring people.

 Did I learn from my entry level pit? Yes.  Would I do it again with the knowledge i have now? No

[pmillen]

  For those who seek advice on what pit to buy, this post could very well help fill some of the void..

  Most of us have started out w/ entry level pits believing and hoping they were comparable to a premium unit. NOT..I expect my Memphis Pro (USA) to last for many more years. There is so much good about it such as extremely easy to clean. I won't list all the attributes for the sake of not boring people.

 Did I learn from my entry level pit? Yes.  Would I do it again with the knowledge i have now? No

That's what made Bentley's fair and objective Performance Tests (PTs) so valuable.  I went back in the history and read every PT and every user comment in the owners' sections and was able to leap-frog the entry-level pit and buy one that tested better and had excellent owners' comments.

I miss the PTs.  They would help me stay abreast of new developments.

[Trooper]

Well, FMT,

Looking back in time, it's also neat that you had opportunities to meet Ed Maurin, (Fast Eddy) at the Royal in Kansas City.
Those were great times.

[Free Mr. Tony]

Well, FMT,

Looking back in time, it's also neat that you had opportunities to meet Ed Maurin, (Fast Eddy) at the Royal in Kansas City.
Those were great times.

Those were definitely the good old days. I look at the pictures on occasion, and have fond memories. Hope all is well in Michigan.

[Bentley]

So should I start looking for a contest end of July, beginning of August where it will be about 95° and 80% humidity?  Are we ready for that?

Well, FMT,

Those were great times.

Those were definitely the good old days.

[Bar-B-Lew]

So should I start looking for a contest end of July, beginning of August where it will be about 95° and 80% humidity?  Are we ready for that?

Well, FMT,

Those were great times.

Those were definitely the good old days.

If it is in VA, I may be close enough to be a laborer and help where I can.