Yoder Smokers Loaded Wichita Offset Smoker vs Lone Star Grillz 20" x 36" Offset Smoker
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Quick take: The Lone Star Grillz 20" x 36" Offset Smoker costs $604 less; the Yoder Smokers Loaded Wichita Offset Smoker offers more cooking space (1,628 vs 1,394 sq in).
| Spec | Yoder Smokers Loaded Wichita Offset Smoker | Lone Star Grillz 20" x 36" Offset Smoker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$2,899 | ~$2,295 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Offset Smoker | Offset Smoker |
| Cooking Area | 1628 sq in | 1394 sq in |
| Max Temp | — | — |
| Fuel Type | Wood/Charcoal | Wood/Charcoal |
| Build Material | 1/4-Inch Plate and Pipe Steel, Made in USA | 3/16-Inch Cooking Chamber with 1/4-Inch Firebox |
| 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 | 77.5 x 36.9 x 64.5 in | 59 x 35 x 63 in |
| Weight | 704 lbs | 485 lbs |
| Warranty | Lifetime | — |
Pros & cons
Yoder Smokers Loaded Wichita Offset Smoker
- ✓Lifetime warranty on a quarter-inch welded body, backed by an established Kansas manufacturer
- ✓1,628 sq in across four main grates, a two-piece slide-out upper shelf and two firebox grates
- ✓Heat management plate is included, not an upgrade — it evens out the firebox-end hot spot that plagues bare offsets
- ✓Integrated probe port means you can run a leave-in thermometer without jamming the cable in the door
- ✓Sold through a real dealer network (ATBBQ, Chadwicks & Hacks, Classic Patio) so you can see one and get it delivered without a factory queue
- ✓Heavy front casters plus rear wagon wheels make 704 lbs steerable by one person on a flat surface
- ✗$2,899 is before shipping, and freight on 704 lbs is substantial
- ✗Retailer prices drift above list — some dealers show $2,960-3,078 for the same configuration
- ✗No insulated firebox at this price, unlike some competitors near $3,000
- ✗Yoder discontinued the smaller Cheyenne, so there is no cheaper way into the brand's offsets
- ✗704 lbs is effectively permanent once positioned
Lone Star Grillz 20" x 36" Offset Smoker
- ✓1,394 sq in for $2,295 is more grate per dollar than any other US custom builder at this tier
- ✓Quarter-inch firebox where the fire actually lives, with a 3/16-inch chamber — the thickness is spent where it matters
- ✓Cross-flow baffling evens the firebox-end hot spot without the grease-trap drawbacks of a reverse-flow plate
- ✓Tel-Tru gauge, sliding food trays and a log rack are standard rather than upcharges
- ✓Removable 4-inch stack and a capped bottom drain make transport and cleanup straightforward
- ✓Factory-direct pricing with no dealer margin
- ✗Built to order with an 8-10 week queue, so this is not a purchase you make the week before a party
- ✗Factory-direct only — you cannot see one in a store, and shipping is freight from the Houston area
- ✗Lone Star does not publish a warranty term on the product page
- ✗3/16-inch chamber is thinner than the quarter-inch of a Brazos or Workhorse, so it is not quite the top tier of thermal mass
- ✗485 lbs on casters that need a hard, flat surface