Took the Gator Plunge

[Will32Rod]

Couple weeks ago I had smoked some ribs on my Smokey Mountain upright and noticed that the top had some surface rust and looked like some bubbling on the top. I did not want to pick at it and make a hole, being these things are thin guage smokers. I did think to myself that when this thing does rust out I would get a Gator.
I had perused Ritch's site for sometime and I had decided when the time came it would be the Backyard Classic. I called Ritch last Friday with some questions and found out he has about a 10 week wait on the Classic, I went ahead and took the plunge and ordered my pit. What a great Christmas present to myself. WWWWOOOOOHHHHOOOO.
Ritch is a pleasure to deal with and knows customer service.
From this:

1483

To This:
1484

[Will32Rod]

oooopps.
Old Smoker1485:shock:

[KingSmokeDaddy]

Thats what I call an UPGRADE!

[Bolo]

Congrats on the purchase. You wont be disappointed.

[OWENMUSTANG]

Good choice!

Please post results!

[Grumpy Gator]

ditto... you won't be disappointed.

[honu41]

Excellent choice... Possibly the only thing you won't like about it is that you may wish that you got a larger one! :D

The workmanship is topnotch AND the customer service can't be beat. Ritch and his crew build only great pits.

[SCOTT]

I have been wanting to upgrade for years now... But I thnink that cost is a little too much for me... I have kinda learned to cook with my 1/16 inch pit and I think I paid about $200 for it 15 years ago and have learned it's soul... I have too add charcol/wood every hr or so but that gives me something to do... My BBQ is as good as you can get and when I do upgrade I will consider a gator... But they seem a little high priced for me.....

[gsmith]

I have been wanting to upgrade for years now... But I thnink that cost is a little too much for me... I have kinda learned to cook with my 1/16 inch pit and I think I paid about $200 for it 15 years ago and have learned it's soul... I have too add charcol/wood every hr or so but that gives me something to do... My BBQ is as good as you can get and when I do upgrade I will consider a gator... But they seem a little high priced for me.....

the nice thing about gator's is that they come with a lifetime supply of booze for us drunks, and don't forget the free t-shirt

[Will32Rod]

Life time supply of booze????
Ritch did not mention that. I will have to hold him to that:shock:
I do have a passion for a single malt scotch from the Spey side of Scotland, being AberlourHMMMMMMM:D I do like the 12 year old, but the 16 year old is awsome.
I think this is going to big enough for me. I am single therefore it will be only my family and freinds. I talked to Ritch about that and this pit will feed 30 to 40 people and basicly that is over kill for me.
If I do find this pit is to small over a period of time, I will place it for sale on this site and, give Ritch a call to upgrade.
I am a weekend warrior and do cook for friends, family, and neighbors.
I have learned volumes from this site about smoking meat and for years thought I had it down, but I have learned I am a neophite.
All I can say is guys keep those recipes coming.
I would like to know more about Q-Fest, is that by inventation only deal or can anybody with a passion for good cooking show up?

[Fred]

Coors Lite...is the way to Rich's heart....

congrats - my Gator is a life long friend that will get passed on to my son

[Woodman]

Life time supply of booze????
Ritch did not mention that. I will have to hold him to that:shock:
I do have a passion for a single malt scotch from the Spey side of Scotland, being AberlourHMMMMMMM:D I do like the 12 year old, but the 16 year old is awsome.
I think this is going to big enough for me. I am single therefore it will be only my family and freinds. I talked to Ritch about that and this pit will feed 30 to 40 people and basicly that is over kill for me.
If I do find this pit is to small over a period of time, I will place it for sale on this site and, give Ritch a call to upgrade.
I am a weekend warrior and do cook for friends, family, and neighbors.
I have learned volumes from this site about smoking meat and for years thought I had it down, but I have learned I am a neophite.
All I can say is guys keep those recipes coming.
I would like to know more about Q-Fest, is that by inventation only deal or can anybody with a passion for good cooking show up?


Your pasion for good Scotch would fit right in with our passions for :

Home Brewed Beer and Barley Wine
Potato Vodka
100% Blue Agave Reposado Tequilas

You would be welcomed to attend. See the Q-fest thread for details. IT is about a 90 minute drive from Jouston. Woody