Backwoods Chubby 3400 Charcoal Smoker Expert Review

The Skinny:

• Smart design paired with competition-quality results
• Can be used as a smoker or a grill
• Total cooking area of 1,023 square inches

Things We Love:

Cooks Competition-quality BBQ

Just about everyone thinks their BBQ is competition-worthy, but the Backwoods Chubby 3400 vertical charcoal smoker has everything to help you really reach that level! It comes with several accessories to satisfy even the most season griller, such as the water pan that sits at the bottom of the smoking chamber to coat your food in moisture. Setting up indirect heat for smoking is also easy with the included heat diverter plate, and you can hit temperatures between 180 and 300 degrees Fahrenheit for true low-and-slow cooking.

The four nickel-plated racks provide 1,023 square inches of cooking space, but we particularly love that they can be adjusted depending on what you’re cooking. We were able to fit larger items like eight racks of ribs, four Boston butts, or three briskets with little difficulty. With a slide-out charcoal pan that holds about 10 pounds of fuel, you can put the Backwoods Chubby 3400 to use for hours at a time!

Multiple Uses Make It Extremely Versatile

We love BBQ smoking as much as anyone, but it’s hard not to appreciate this model’s ability to function as a grill by simply removing the water pan. As a bonus, you can add wood into the unit to give your food smoke-infused flavor even when grilled. The Backwoods Chubby 3400 is also relatively easy to move with just two people thanks to its 130-pound frame and built-in side handles for convenience. Put it on your patio, take it to the tailgate, or bring it along as your trusty companion at the next BBQ smoking competition.

Expertly Constructed for Superior Durability

If you want to know what makes the Backwoods Chubby 3400 such a powerful and versatile smoker, look no further than its design. The exterior is made of power-coated steel with thick, 1-inch insulation that keeps temperatures consistent and creates an efficient use of fuel. Both the cooking area and the lower firebox that houses the charcoal tray have slam-latch doors, which further help the unit trap heat and smoke for juicy results. To top it all off, the built-in thermometer on the cooking chamber door shows the internal ambient temperature in an easy-to-read location. All these features come together for an incredible smoking — or grilling — experience!

Things To Consider:

This unit doesn’t include the technological bells and whistles found in some modern smokers, but the Backwoods Chubby 3400’s simplicity is part of what makes it a quality product. With such a straightforward approach to BBQ smoking, no wonder it’s an award-winner in competitions! For more help deciding if this vertical charcoal smoker is right for you, reach out to one of our grilling experts today by calling 1-877-743-2269.