Pit Boss Champion Barrel Charcoal Smoker vs Gateway Drum Smoker Straight Up 30G
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Quick take: The Gateway Drum Smoker Straight Up 30G costs $91 less; the Pit Boss Champion Barrel Charcoal Smoker offers more cooking space (1,158 vs 18 sq in).
| Spec | Pit Boss Champion Barrel Charcoal Smoker | Gateway Drum Smoker Straight Up 30G |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$990 | ~$899 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Charcoal Smoker | Charcoal Smoker |
| Cooking Area | 1158 sq in | 18 in grate, 2 cooking levels |
| Max Temp | — | 500°F |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Steel with Porcelain-Coated Grates | Powder-Coated 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 | — | 33 x 35 x 41 in (shipping pallet) |
| Weight | — | 100 lbs (shipping) |
| Warranty | 5 years | 1 year |
Pros & cons
Pit Boss Champion Barrel Charcoal Smoker
- ✓Three rows of hanging rods hold twelve racks of ribs — roughly triple a standard 30-gallon drum
- ✓Hanging meat over direct coals is what gives drums their bark and render rate; this does it at party scale
- ✓Also ships with three porcelain-coated grates, so it works as a conventional grate smoker when hanging is impractical
- ✓5-year limited warranty is remarkable on a charcoal drum, where most rivals offer one
- ✓1,158 sq in of grate area plus hanging capacity for under $1,000 undercuts the custom drum builders
- ✗$990 is more than twice a Pit Barrel Classic, and the drum design itself offers no temperature control beyond an intake damper
- ✗Drums run hot — typically 275–300°F — and are poor at the low 225°F range some cooks want
- ✗No thermometer ports, no probes, no controller; this is a manual cooker at a semi-premium price
- ✗Pit Boss publishes neither dimensions nor weight for it, and a 24-inch loaded drum is heavy
- ✗Hanging cooks drip straight onto the coals, which is where drum flavour comes from but also means flare-ups with fatty loads
Gateway Drum Smoker Straight Up 30G
- ✓Identical air-control hardware to the 55G - two welded adjustable intakes and an adjustable exhaust
- ✓18-inch grate on two levels is still enough for four or five racks of ribs, which covers most backyard cooks
- ✓Smaller drum comes up to temperature faster and uses less charcoal on short cooks than the 55
- ✓Same 1000°F-rated finish, welded handles and removable fire basket as the flagship
- ✓Ships fully assembled on a pallet with the caster kit
- ✗$899 for a 30-gallon drum is a hard sell against a $459 Pit Barrel Classic of similar capacity
- ✗Two grate levels instead of three, which limits how much you can stage a mixed cook
- ✗Gateway's own page flags roughly 5-7 hours per fuel load, so an overnight brisket means a refuel
- ✗Only one review on the maker's store for this size