Thank you for your honest review. I believe I've found my next smoker. I'm not at the level where I can justify spending $1200+ for a thick-steel walled smoke. I'm fairly new to BBQ/Grilling, just under 2 years. But I want something that can keep up with me as my I hone my skills and try challenging smokes in the winter.

If anyone reads this. From a design perspective, I think it is a good grill. The firebox is not made for roaring fires. If you can hear the metal creek then it is too hot. The size of the stack dictates this grill is more a charcoal with small wood splits or chunks than a "stick burner". I have used charcoal in the cook chamber in a removable pan. There are times when using the fire box for grilling is not big enough and won't provide enough heat in smoker mode. I made my own charcoal basket for cheap. There is no need to buy one unless it costs less. If you plan on using the firebox to grill on occasion then also make a basket that will fit under the installed grates. A heat deflector for the firebox side of the cook chamber is beneficial. I used the firebox cooking grates wrapped in foil to act as a deflector and small tuning plate. I also put lava rocks in mine on racks covered with foil, so I could retain more heat when cooking after opening the door and on cool nights. It also regulates heat better. The only bad thing is trying to justify using it when you want to smoke a single beef roast, or not packing it full to get the most out of the fuel you spent money on. As a note make sure your grill is properly leveled, or your grease may puddle near the firebox, or your sausages and hot dogs may try to roll out of the grill.

That was a great review. I was on the fence about buying this smoker, but you sold me on it. Thanks

I've had one of these since 2015. Works great and will probably last at least another 10 years. Makes excellent brisket, ribs and pork butt. It takes some close management, but it works great. I use it for both smoking and grilling. Steaks, shrimp, burgers. I also ordered a flat, cast iron griddle section which works great for grilling vegetables, smash burgers. To control the fire, I use a couple of grill grates placed in a "V" inside the fire box on top of the bottom grate.

I've had my eye on one of these for a couple years now, after procrastinating those 2 years you have helped me make my decision, thk u sir!!!🤟

I just bought this grill for 500 bucks canadian out the door at my local hardware store today. I kinda bought this grill without doing much research. I’m glad that I purchased a pretty decent product. Can’t wait to use it.

I purchased this smoker about two weeks ago. And to tell the truth, not sure it was a good idea. Here is why. I looked all over and the only price i could find in my area was for $299. I put it together myself so I could add the mods as I went. When you really sit down and look at the cost of the mods (over $200), plus add the $299 purchase cost, I believe you could get a better smoker for the money. I washed the interior with hot water and soap. Then I went through the seasoning process. Two days later I did some ribs and a brisket. By the time the food was done paint was pealing off the fire box in a major way. The fire box door was not welded on properly and in order to close it I had to take a file and take some metal off the door in the upper left hand corner. I can see after closer inspection today that I will probably be sanding the main body and repainting that as well soon. As it goes for mods, I used the food grade caulk liberally. I made the no welding coal box and it worked well. I purchased the tuner grates versus trying to make them myself. Might could have saved a little there, but they work really well. And there were other mods as well. Bottom line, this is not a 5 star smoker. The lousy paint job alone takes a star away. Door misalignment and many other items take one or two more stars. Do your research. Check what has to be done to any other smoker to make them work like they should. This smoker is the MicroSoft Windows 11 to me. I will keep it and use it considering how much $$$$ I have sunk into it, for you guys thinking about it....research other smokers.

Wife got this for me for Father’s Day. Seasoned it and I did my first cook for Father’s Day and it worked very well with the baffle plate. Paint did bubble up at top of firebox, but It smoked better than my chargriller. I did get the firebox also. Smoke leaking was minimal, I used way less charcoal than with older grill. Not sure if it’s because of the thicker steel or baffle plate though. I have officially upped my bbq game!!!

I've had master built, char broil, and a Weber. They all worked for me but I love my Ok Joe. The steel is so thick and seems to hold heat a lot longer than the others. I highly recommend it ! ♥️⚗️

Absolutely fantastic video man. Was on the fence for years. I cooked the bottom out of my smoker years ago and was just debating what I wanted to replace it.

I just bought one of these yesterday. The first thing I noticed is it is not a cheap flimsy throw away. It is solid, heavy and should last many years! I already wiped the inside portions of the grill with canola oil. Tomorrow is the day I will do the burn off and the next day a full rack of pork ribs. I am still learning but excited to give it a try.

my better half got me the OJ highland combo for my BD last September and i love it . got the cover and the basket like you mentioned .

Ok we are sold! Can't wait to pick up our Highland!

Thanks for making us aware of the hard lesson of losing a grill. I just bought a longhorn and will treat it right!

I am totally satisfied with my Oklahoma Joe's offset smoker

Thank you - gonna pick one up! I’ve been using a Weber Smokey mountain for 7 yrs

Oklahoma Joe’s is simply the finest offset you can buy.

I must say, you give the most informative tutorials out there! I bought the same grill, and cant wait to use some of your suggestions i would have never thought to do...like an initial burn in. Keep up the excellent work

Just bought my Oklahoma Joe over the weekend! I can’t wait to get to smoking!

I appreciate the review, thinking about buying one today, you gave me a lot of help

Love your vids, and how you explain these processes, and why you do things. Very easy to follow.

Good review. I just got mine this week. I unboxed it and put it together as soon as I got it. I also did the gaskets and RTV around the seems.

I love mine. Amazon was $60 higher than Ace Hardware, so I got mine from Ace. I modified the hell out of it. Cooking a brisket tomorrow. I did watch this video before I bought mine 👍

Thank you sir

I really don’t lose much through the doors anymore once I tweaked the lip with a pliers

Thanks .. just getting into smoking and wanted to do it right .. I take care of our thing and wanted a good smoker to out last me .

just found your channel subscribed...........

I love mine! Did a pork loin, chicken, and some eggs today

Just burned it in ready for tomorrow for our first rib smoke pumped!

Great background instrumentals

What do you mean by thermal pins?? You said you left a little place on both sides of the gasket open to allow for your thermal pins. Are you talking about your temperature probes? I get my smoker today and all excited! Your video helped a lot in determining my choice to buy, thank you!

You got me sold, thanks!

Great way to food.prep for the week. Like this one much better than the last one you reviewed.

Whats your thoughts regarding fire bricks inside the fire box? It helps improve insulation but can it gaurd against premature wear?

How does the Highland compare to the Longhorn’s reverse flow offset? Also can you use lump charcoal in them or wood?

Great review thank you

Dude! Great review.

Fantastic review

Wow man thanks.

I’ve used the Longhorn combo, highland, and now the longhorn. They’re damn near perfect for being so affordable. Only complaint I had was the propane burners’ metal shields and runners in my combo unit burned to a crumbling death in the grill side and I never fixed them.

Thanks, just bought one after years of Char Broiler

After I had my weber kettle for 8 years that wad given to me by my aunt and uncle after they had it for 6. It was time to retire it. I also have a camp chef smoke vault i got through my work safety program. Its good for things like chicken and fish but not enough space for racks of ribs. My wife got me the oklahoma Joe highland. Ive looked at it every time wr go to Lowes. And i wasn't wanting a pellet grill which has been all the craze lately. With my military discount and tax savings from going to Portland Oregon it was 314 out the door. Got it assembled havent seasoned it yet. So far my only complaint is that it isnt US made. I would be willing to pay a bit more for that

Ok now this is a guy who knows what he’s talking about! Great review, subbed

Well done, thank you.

Just got mine can't wait to start smoking

Great review! I intend to use this smoker primarily as a grill. Do you have any recommendations for protecting the barrel from the heat just like your basket example with the firebox?

I just ordered one from lowes, it was on clearance and was 399

Great review but I don’t understand why wouldn’t the pit come with the gasket already installed around the lid? Are they giving me a option whether or not I want smoke coming out of the edges. For the price that bad boy shouldn’t have any smoking coming out of that lid. Thanks again.

Very informative! Great video dude!

I LOVE my Longhorn!

I like the offset smoker. Too bad the smoker box isn't wider to accept logs (w/o having to cut them) And i'm thinking all smokers need some kind of modifications. I lean a cookie sheet over the entrance of the firebox to deflect some of the heat, which works wonders, because it doesn't hinder any of the heat or smoke to go around the cookie sheet since there's a few inches on each side of the cookie sheet, and the bottom of the cookie sheet is about 10 to 12 inches away leaving no restrictions or obstructions to smoke and only keeping the blast furnace effect from the heat burning the food that would occupy the third of the surface closest to the firebox. The most simple modification, and you don't need any tools. If the cookie sheet doesn't lean naturally up against the top of the opening, without sliding down, just stick a rock or a stone at the far end of the cookie sheet to hold it place.

Nice review

Badass

Would you get a Highland Reverse if you were to do it again?

I just purchased the Oklahoma Joe's smoker yesterday. Can you use charcoal in the firebox or is it exclusively a wood smoker?

Do you have the link of you grilling on the Oklahoma joe?

Enjoy watching your reviews! Saw the one on the OJ Highlander, what do you think of the Bronco smoker?

A GRILL IS LIKE FAMILY. !!!!!!! I feel ya bruther😭😢

I love my Oklahoma Joe I'm new to smoking meat but I love it I think the Grill is great

Thinking about running my temperature/meat thermometer down the smoke stack...thoughts???

You should get that baffle

So I am thinking of picking one up tomorrow. Did you coat it inside and out with veg oil and low smoke it for 6 hours?

I use mine every weekend and love it. My fire box paint peeled and now it looks like rust is forming. I do have a cover and it's always covered unless its being used. is it rust? If so what do I do to protect my smoker?

I believe your review helped me make my decision, thanks. My wallet will be $299 dollars lighter tonight.....

whr is this grill made?

is getting the reverse flow version worth the extra money?

Hi just ordered one, looking at 1 to 2 months delivery in the UK, what’s the best book I can buy for BBQ cooking and maintenance? Been using a Char griller for the last 5 years and I would give myself a maximum of 6 out of 10 for what I’ve cooked so far, wanting to score myself at least a 9 going forward, Regards John

What’s the difference between this and the longhorn one?

Love it!

Thanks for the review! I just ordered one. When you say you can use it as a grille, do you just put the charcoal on the bed of the main cooking barrel? Or do you have a grate down there. Thanks again.

Close your eyes and listen to the video and you realize Senator Lindsey Graham is giving a review on a offset smoker

Is it bad if the paint starts coming off? I’ve only had mine for 3 months and the paint under the fire box has come off. Same under the cooking chamber. (When I would use it for grilling).

kinda weird that the gasket is sold separately. Seems like something that should already be installed.

♥Real Life Reviews

Is it possible to smoke with wood chips on this or can it only use charcoal? Thanks for uploading

Traeger vs Oklahoma Joes is the real question me personally love my Traeger

So when you’re grilling on the OJ do you put your coals in the firebox or do you put them under your meat in the main compartment?

If you wanted to grill why didn't you get the Oklahoma Joe that's has the propane and smoker. I have one and I love it

I don't like how you can't adjust the charcoal heat up or down

On peut le trouver en France ?

Just bought one....I’m kinda intimidated ‘cause I’ve never had my own smoker so I’m sure I’m gonna have a lot of failures on my way to getting it right.

How much for this smoke pit .

How important is the cover?

That’s Lester from gta

Can this be used to burn whole logs instead of briquettes or lump? I'm wanting to Aaron Franklin style this thing but need to know before I buy.

Ordering.. my Masterbuilt 40in electric doesn't give me that bark an smoke ring I need... it's perfect for Chicken and seafood but.. jmo

The Oklahoma Joe cover does not weather well. The UV, from the sun, will deteriorate the cover in just a few months. Recommend keeping the smoker, out of the weather, when not in use.

How the highlander

I had mine assembled by the Lowe's store but the legs that do not hold the fire box keep coming off when I move the smoker is this normal?

Are these still made in America?

Those burgers are the real story here ... what is that ?

Kind of disappointing when you have to buy extras to make it seal or control the coals at the price they charge. Have had several grills and smokers and been disappointed by the fire boxes and not sealing. Think I will pass.

good video, trash music. wth

Smoke stack too small.

Please don’t fall for this. It is not a true oaklahoma joe by no means. Charbroil bought oaklahoma joe out. In doing so it has half the metal and is very very flimsy. Take notice of the thickness of the steel as well as the large brass name plate that is no longer present. It’s built over seas. And it is extremely difficult to keep the pit at the correct temperature. This is miss information on behalf of charbroil. Don’t fall for it.

I'm sorry 5 star it is not. I have one and after the first burn the fire box has sagged down. No longer straight. Thin metal believe is the coulperate. I went to customer service and after photos, emails back and fourth, they had the audacity to tell me that was normal and it was a trick of the eye and not sagging. Insulting my intelligence. Thought they would back their product. They did not. On the Char Broils they have a bracket on the bottom of the smoker box attached to the main frame. A bracket to keep the box from sagging no doubt. But on the ok Joe nothing. Bad customer service. Cheap product. Buy something higher end.