Oklahoma Joe's Bronco Pro vs Pit Barrel Cooker PBX 22.5

Oklahoma Joe's

Oklahoma Joe's Bronco Pro

~$630

4.6★ (22)

Pit Barrel Cooker Co.

~$600

4.9★ (380)

Quick take: The Pit Barrel Cooker PBX 22.5 costs $30 less; the Oklahoma Joe's Bronco Pro offers more cooking space (366 vs 22.5 sq in).

Spec	Oklahoma Joe's Bronco Pro	Pit Barrel Cooker PBX 22.5
Price	~$630	~$600
Rating	4.6★ (22)	4.9★ (380)
Type	Charcoal Smoker	Charcoal Smoker
Cooking Area	366 sq in	22.5 in grate plus 3 hanging rods (16 hooks)
Max Temp	450°F	—
Fuel Type	Charcoal	Charcoal
Build Material	Heavy-Gauge Steel	Porcelain-Enameled Steel
Hopper Capacity	—	—
Burners	—	—
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	40 x 29 x 48 in	30 x 30 x 36 in
Weight	162 lbs	84.5 lbs (shipping)
Warranty	2 years	1 year

✓The sealed intake pipe with a single control dial makes temperature management nearly foolproof - set it and the drum holds steady for hours, rivaling a Weber Smokey Mountain for stability
✓The oversized charcoal basket holds enough fuel for 15+ hours, so overnight brisket and pork butt cooks happen on one load with no refueling
✓Hang-style cooking with the included 3 hangers and 9 hooks lets drippings vaporize on the coals for that distinctive drum-smoker flavor that grate cooking can't replicate
✓Heavy-gauge steel construction throughout - noticeably thicker and better-sealed than budget drum smokers and the standard Bronco
✓The included heat diffuser converts it to indirect grate cooking, effectively giving you two smokers in one barrel
✓Big wagon-style wheels roll it across grass and gravel easily despite the 160-lb build - rare mobility for a smoker this heavy
✓It significantly undercuts boutique drum smokers like Gateway that run well over $1,000 while offering comparable capability
✓Removable large ash pan and porcelain-coated components keep cleanup simple for a charcoal cooker

✗The single 366 sq in grate is the capacity bottleneck - full ribs need hanging or curling, and big multi-item cooks require the hooks
✗The lid-mounted temperature gauge reads well above grate level, so most owners end up adding a wired probe to know actual cooking temps
✗The 2-year warranty is short for a cooker in this price range - Weber covers its Smokey Mountain for 10 years
✗No second grate is included, and stacking accessories to expand capacity adds cost to an already premium drum price
✗At 162 lbs it's mobile on its wheels but a genuine chore to load in a truck for competitions or tailgates
✗Some owners report exterior paint bubbling or surface rust after a season or two outdoors without a cover
✗Reaching food deep in the barrel is awkward - pulling a brisket off the bottom grate involves leaning into a hot drum
✗Shutting it down takes practice since the well-sealed drum holds heat, and leftover coals keep cooking your food if you don't snuff promptly

✓Four full packer briskets or four turkeys in one load is more capacity than any vertical water smoker near this price
✓Three hanging rods instead of two means you can run ribs and butts on separate levels without crowding
✓All hanging hooks, rods and racks interchange with the 18.5-inch Classic, so an upgrade does not orphan your accessories
✓Same no-damper simplicity as the rest of the line — light the basket, set the intake, close the lid
✓Porcelain over steel rather than paint, so it will not burn off around the intake the way painted drums do

✗Runs noticeably hot when lightly loaded, which Pit Barrel warns about on the product page — this is not a cooker for a single rack of ribs
✗Ash pan, hinged grate and cover from the 18.5 do NOT fit, so three of the common accessories have to be rebought
✗84.5 lbs and 30 inches wide: it needs a dedicated spot, and the caster kit is the only way to move it
✗$600 puts it against a 22-inch Weber Smokey Mountain at $549 that does hold low temperatures