Dyna-Glo Wide Body Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker vs Dyna-Glo 36-Inch Wide Body LP Gas Smoker
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Quick take: The Dyna-Glo 36-Inch Wide Body LP Gas Smoker costs $65 less; the Dyna-Glo Wide Body Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker offers more cooking space (1,890 vs 1,235 sq in).
| Spec | Dyna-Glo Wide Body Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker | Dyna-Glo 36-Inch Wide Body LP Gas Smoker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$349 | ~$284 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Charcoal Smoker | Propane Smoker |
| Cooking Area | 1890 sq in | 1235 sq in |
| Max Temp | — | — |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Propane/Natural Gas |
| Build Material | Powder-Coated Steel with Porcelain-Enameled Charcoal Chamber | Powder-Coated Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | — | 2 |
| 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 | 43.3 x 21 x 50.2 in | 20.4 x 31.3 x 49.7 in |
| Weight | 83 lbs | 74 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
Pros & cons
Dyna-Glo Wide Body Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker
- ✓1,890 sq in for $349 is far more cooking area per dollar than any horizontal offset in this catalog
- ✓Six grates each rated to 25 lbs means 150 lbs of meat - real capacity for a party or a small catering job
- ✓Vertical layout self-bastes: fat from the upper racks drips onto the meat below, which horizontal offsets do not do
- ✓Porcelain-enameled charcoal chamber resists the burn-through that kills bare-steel fireboxes
- ✓The high-temp rope seal comes factory-fitted, so the usual first modification is already done
- ✓Removable ash pan makes clean-up between cooks a two-minute job
- ✗Thin-gauge body - Dyna-Glo says only 'heavy-gauge steel' and publishes no actual number, which almost always means it is not heavy
- ✗83 lbs across a 50-inch-tall cabinet at this price means noticeable leaks at the doors and stack until you gasket them
- ✗Temperature stratifies badly top to bottom in a tall vertical; the top grate can run 30-50°F hotter than the bottom
- ✗The lid thermometer has a 'Smoke Zone' band instead of usable numbers at the range that matters
- ✗Chrome-plated grates will flake with heat cycling; stainless replacements are an extra cost
Dyna-Glo 36-Inch Wide Body LP Gas Smoker
- ✓Dual cast-iron burners rather than the single stamped burner most cheap propane cabinets use - more even heat across a wide chamber
- ✓1,235 sq in for around $284 is the best area-per-dollar of any propane cabinet currently in production
- ✓Propane means the temperature holds without a fan, a controller or any electricity at the smoker
- ✓Porcelain-enameled chip box lasts far longer than the bare steel trays that warp and rust out
- ✓Grates come pre-fitted with sausage hooks and a removable rib rack, so it does hanging cuts out of the box
- ✓Still in production and listed on Dyna-Glo's own site, unlike the Smoke Vault it competes with
- ✗Dyna-Glo publishes no low-end temperature figure, so whether it will hold 180°F for jerky is unverified
- ✗Thin powder-coated body at 74 lbs - the same cold-weather and door-leak problems as the charcoal cabinets
- ✗No numeric thermometer, just the Smoke Zone dial
- ✗31 inches deep is unusually deep for the category and will not fit some patio corners
- ✗Needs a full-size 20 lb propane cylinder standing beside it, which the footprint figures do not include