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I'm the proud owner of a new AQ and I have a couple questions about set up. First, it strikes me that the distance between the woodbox and the heating element has everything to do with the "burn time" of the wood. So, just how close is close? Touching?, 1/4"?, 1/2"? Second, the operator's manual says that "the back of the wood box must touch the back wall of the smoker". This new smoker has the new style wood box with the top shield permantly attached to the back of the smoker. On this unit at least, the wood box will not quite slide all the way to the back unless I make some alterations / adjustments to it. Do I have a faulty wood box or is the manual out of date?
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I'd try using it first, and if it produces delicious smoked food, leave it alone. If the smoke is light and the wood doesn't char, lift the end of the element so that it just touches the wood box(lift after the element cools. I won't tell you how I know Roll Eyes) . I wouldn't alter the wood box.

Also, do as cal suggests. Happy smoking.
I have an Amerique and my wood box slides all the way back. Make sure you put it in with the wood compartment facing you in front. I have been playing with my Amerique for almost a year now and have a couple of observations:

- Make sure your meat never touches the temperature probe mounted in the back of the smoker. I have done it twice with two racks of ribs on that shelf touching the probe and the temperature never went above 170 degrees. Also clean the probe occasionally.

- The front part of my Amerique get the most heat in the air flow. If I am cooking a big piece of meat like a prime rib I put the thickest part facing the front so it cooks evenly.

- The middle two shelves are the most consistant for heat and smoke. If you use all four shelves rotate them throughout your cook time for best results. My bottom shelf gets very hot and I rarely use it, just for full loads.

Have fun! I use mine at least once if not twice a week!
Smoking in the fort-I just spoke to Karen at Cookshack and she stated that there is no defect in the manufacturing process and that the manual needs to be updated as the smokebox which we have is a new modification which was made. Additionally she said that the heating element should be fine and not need any adjustment although I have read posts where people have adjusted them. She also stated to put the wood towards the FRONT of the woodbox. Just a FYI, hope this helps!
Same thing here with my recently purchased Amerique. It was clear that the woodbox was designed to slip on only one way, and not to go all the way to the back like the manual said, but to keep it at the front where the multiple-curved part of the heating element is. So I concluded that the manual needed an update.

Welcome to the forum Sand.

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