Camp Chef Smoke Vault 18 vs Camp Chef Smoke Vault 24
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Quick take: The Camp Chef Smoke Vault 18 costs $60 less; the Camp Chef Smoke Vault 24 offers more cooking space (3 vs 2 sq in).
| Spec | Camp Chef Smoke Vault 18 | Camp Chef Smoke Vault 24 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$380 | ~$440 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Propane Smoker | Propane Smoker |
| Cooking Area | 2 adjustable racks plus a jerky rack in an 18 x 15 in chamber | 3 racks in a 24 x 15 in chamber |
| Max Temp | 350°F | 350°F |
| Fuel Type | Propane/Natural Gas | Propane/Natural Gas |
| Build Material | Powder-Coated Steel | Powder-Coated Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | 1 | 1 |
| WiFi / App | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Meat probe | No | No |
| PID controller | No | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | No | No |
| Dimensions | 18 x 16 x 30 in (chamber) | 24 x 16 x 30 in (chamber) |
| Weight | — | 75 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
Pros & cons
Camp Chef Smoke Vault 18
- ✓A propane burner holds a set temperature far more steadily than charcoal without any electricity, fan or controller
- ✓160°F at the bottom of the range is genuinely low enough for jerky and cold-ish smoking, which most propane cabinets cannot reach
- ✓Three separate damper valves let you tune smoke density independently of temperature - unusual at this price
- ✓Matchless snap ignition and a door-mounted thermometer mean it lights and runs without tools
- ✓Cast-iron chip tray puts out smoke for much longer per load than the stamped-steel trays on cheaper cabinets
- ✓Clearance stock has been running near $200, which is a lot of smoker for the money
- ✗Discontinued in April 2026 - no new production, and parts support will thin out over the next few years
- ✗Absent from campchef.com altogether, so specifications and manuals now have to be found through retailers
- ✗Powder-coated thin-gauge steel body loses heat badly in wind and cold; an insulating blanket is close to mandatory below 40°F
- ✗The door thermometer reads the air near the glass, not at grate level, and is commonly 20-30°F optimistic
- ✗No probe ports, no meat probe, no electronics of any kind
Camp Chef Smoke Vault 24
- ✓Six extra inches of width is the difference between fitting a turkey and not - the 18 cannot take one
- ✓Same 20,000 BTU burner in a larger box still holds temperature well because propane does not care about load
- ✓Three full-width grids give real multi-rack capacity without the racks crowding each other
- ✓Was only about $60 above the 18-inch at list, so the wide model was always the better buy of the two
- ✓Clearance pricing near $250 undercuts every currently-produced propane cabinet of this size
- ✗Discontinued - no new production and no listing on campchef.com
- ✗At 75 lbs with no wheels in the box it is awkward to reposition once assembled
- ✗Same thin powder-coated body as the 18: poor cold-weather performance without a blanket
- ✗Camping World's listing puts the factory warranty at 90 days, which is short even for the category
- ✗A bigger chamber on the same burner means longer recovery after you open the door