The Amerique Experience

Right on !

Your post is a welcome change !

Yep,a casual reader could think all there is,is problems.

The nice thing is that if they read the thread,they see how little the problem usually is and how many folks quickly respond to remedy it.

Thanks JP.

I think it's just something that happens in forum, more bad news than good news. It's not that there is anything wrong with them, just new users learning new things and given the number going out the door, there can be occassional problem.s

We NEED more posts like yours

Congrats!

Russ

p.s. Glad you liked the sauce

Two CS here, one 050 and one 055, perfect condition, not a moment's issue with either one of them!

...I mean other than the self-created ones, like forgetting to put a hole in the foil, etc.

Thanks GLH, Tom, and Russ for your positive response to my posting. I think it helps confirm to everyone of the true quality and dependablity of Cookshack smokers. As Russ pointed out, of the many hundreds of units being shipped, the 10-15 problems pointed out on the forum are a minute few. Since the conception of the Amerique, production has not been able to keep up with demand and if those represent the failures, then the percent of defective units far out perform the norm in the manufacturing industy.

I was amased that even before my Amerique was broken in, the heat chamber rose only 5 degrees above the set temperature and then stabilized and returned to where it was set for. It then managed to maintain the set temperature by 1 degree plus or minus, for the entire remainder of the cook. I am use to a 50 degree temp swing on the 008 which I quickly learned to ignore and believe it made no difference in the final product anyway.

About your vinegar sauce Russ. I am no fan of the flavor of vinegar but after the brown sugar and heat added, it is tempured pretty well. It brings the pork butt to life with flavor. Just my opinion is that what it actually does is the acidic properties of the vinegar cuts the greasy flavor of the meat which is usually unoticeable until you have the experience of it not being there. Again, just my opinion.

JP

You guys are killing me!!!!!!!!
I had resigned myself to get a Smokette with some well thought out accessories, because it fit my budget. Having smoked, on a BGE with a BBQ Guru, I really have come to appreciate the "freedom" a closed loop system utilizing a meat probe and pit probe afford you. $1500.00 without any accessories will make me wait until a really good sale comes around. Do they ever come around???????????
Mike

You can call Cookshack and see if they have any refurbished units available. They get units back as trade-ups and such, refurbish them, and sell them at a lower price than new ones. Can't hurt to ask.

Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten. This truly does apply even though it is sometimes a hard pill to swallow. You could spend a lot more money and get a lot less smoker if your not careful. And remember CS' 30 day money back guarantee. I don't know of any other smoker companies that give that.
Just my .02 worth.

I have an 008 that I have had for about 8 years, only had a problem with it once. I started the trouble shooting procedure only to find out "I" was the problem. These things just don't work so swell if you don't plug 'em in.

quote:

Originally posted by Brewbek:
I have an 008 that I have had for about 8 years, only had a problem with it once. I started the trouble shooting procedure only to find out "I" was the problem. These things just don't work so swell if you don't plug 'em in.

Just had a similar experience with my brisket on tuesday. Somebody decided it was a good idea to knock a ladder over on my power cord. The brisket hit 179 then the next thing I know it's at 159 and falling. Plugged her in and she was at 191 in a few of hours(bottomed out at 154).

If it wasn't for the moist environment in the cookshack the extra 3 hours would have made it as dry as a popcorn fart. Well, that and it was a really nice brisket I got from a snooty grocery store......and I tend to trim very little fat if any.

Next year my 08 will celebrate it's 10th birthday. I've had only one problem. The little plastic feet got ground off from too much sliding around. I called CS to order another set and they sent them free if charge. Talk about reliability and service, Cookshack defines it.

JPsmokin, thanks for starting this discussion. I really appreciate all the positive comments that people have made.

Because the forum is open 24 hours a day, frustrated people tend to post here when they can't get us on the phone, after hours and on weekends.

We have probably all been in a situation where we have spent good money on something and it didn't seem to work right or there was just something wrong. The people who post are just looking for some help and a chance to vent.

Unfortunately, feeling upset is more of a motivator to post than feeling content is, so we tend to see a disproportionate number of posts from people who are experiencing difficulty.

Just remember that for everyone who posts a problem on the forum, there are several hundred who are not having problems.

Cookshack is an incredible company in my eyes and I own a SmokinTex....but wished later I had the cookshack.I am waiting for my next purchase in the next year or so of an Amerique.Gotta get my girlfriend convinced of spending that kind of money!Thanks again for this forum and the Cookshack company and all the great advice on this forum!

billyq:

Get that AmeriQue, your girlfriend will love you even more.

Mike-

I have a Smokette, and did have a BGE with a Guru. I kept the Guru and sold the BGE.

I now use the Guru with a "Power Raptor" from the Guru folks. It allows me to control the thermostat on the CS to control the pit temp and meat temps with a holding feature if you want it.

I think I posted a picture of my rig in the "Show me your rig" thread.

If a Smokette fits your needs, and you might want a little more control, this is the way to go, IMO, unless you are one of the geniuses on the forum that build their own!

OK, everybody, I have a question about the Amerique. I imagine I'm not as young as most of you out there, and it looks to me that old folks trying to use this Amerique need to sit on the ground to accomplish what needs to be done. Last year, I contacted the manufacturer and asked if they would offer an Amerique model that had a stand available, or tall legs made to the unit. They told me they would think about it, or something to that effect. I guess they are still thinking. I have heard nothing. So, I come to you with this question: What do you think about my idea? Arthritis, sore back, bad knees, etc. all seems to have an effect on old folks, but maybe they'd like to Bar-B-Q, also. If this unit were elevated, it would sure be better, in my personal opinion. If you think enough of this idea, maybe the factory will read this, and finally do something about it. I realize an individual could modify one himself, but at my age, I wouldn't even give it a second thought. If it's not made the proper way, I'm not going to do it either.

OK. Tell me about it. I'll appreciate your input. Now this only applies to the Amerique. I notice they do make models that stand tall, but not the Amerique. I'm not interested in other models.

Thanks for your time.

Bluegrass:

I am getting on up there, just about to make medicare age!! I have heart problems, congestive heart failure, acute kidney failure, bad back etc and have no problem with my AmeriQue. The drip pan slides out very easy, and so does the fire box. Those are the only 2 things very low. If you must raise it up, set it on 4 large cinder blocks to give it a little more height. I use mine all the time with no problems. Hope you get it worked out. You will love the AmeriQue.

Thank you, Tigerfan, for your input. I do appreciate hearing from you.

Please tell me where you have your Amerique setting. Is it on the back porch? Does it get rained on? I have an overhang, but not deep enough to protect from the elements. So, if you will, enlighten me on this, also.

Thanks again.

Until they make a custom table for it, just find a table, maybe one made for the garage that can hold the weight and get it higher.

Ingenuity is a good thing (just don't try to rebuild the electronics in the smoker)

Hi Bluegrass,

I put my AmeriQue on a plastic 24" deep set of plastic storage shelves from Home Depot. It works fine. Mine has two shelves underneath and I use them for storage. If it's too tall, you could just use it with one shelf on the bottom.

I also put it on a full sheet tray (from a kitchen supply store and really cheap.) it catches any drips when I move food in and out and is very easy to clean.

If you don't get the AmeriQue you'll hate yourself in the morning. Mine is one of the first off the line. If anyone tries to take it, they'll have to pry it out of my cold, dead, sauce-covered hands.

Buy it. You'll love it.

Hook

Bluegrass,
My AmeriQue is on our back deck that has an overhang. When not in use I keep the cover on it, and it protects it great. The cover is an excellent investment, and in my enviornment I think a must!

Hey. Thanks to all of you folks for chiming in. I guess it may not be so bad, after all. Anyone else have any comments? Tell me about 'em.

Thanks again to everyone.

Bluegrass

I have my 055 on a $90 table from Walmart. It has adjustable legs so I can put it at several different levels. It is also long enough so there is a good area in front of the door which allows me to put down a good sized cutting board. The area also catches all the junk that can come from putting in food and taking it out.

My suggestion would be that no matter how you end up raising your unit, you have an area in front of the door that provides for easy cleanup as well as allowing you to set things on waiting to go into the smoker.

Hi Bluegrass! I plan to purchase the AQ next - here's the setup that I built. Gives me a platform to work on and place to keep my cooking essentials and woods. Original plan was to liquid nail two rails (used for the top of lattice) on each side and then slide in a piece of plexiglass to protect it from elements, however just being housed and under the overhang is fine.

Cheers,
Jim

Thank you, Jammin-Jim. It looks nice the way you have it laid out. I have about twice as much overhang as you, so I could probably get by with just using the cover they make. I don't know if the cover covers the wheels, as they can get mighty rusty over time. My porch faces the north, which helps in the summer with those south-blown rains. But in the winter, the snow, and ice, can kinda pack-up where I would put it.

Again, thanks to all for your comments.

I have had my Amerique for just over 1 year now and could not be happier with it - a big "Thanks" to CS and this Forum!!
Yes, buy the cover with your unit. It does not cover the wheels, so smoker can be moved around when desired with the cover still on.