Smoker... Electric or gas

Looking to make a purchase. Deciding between the two forms of fuel. The features of the gas versions look nice (separate door for the chips) but elect seems like the temp would be simpler to control.

Thoughts from all smoke eaters?

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Electric for me.  Simple, safe, simple.   

Good question, after considering the hassles of gas vs the ease of elec. I went elec and am happy. 

The downside is that I need elec to make it work so that limits me to home or elec hookup sites if camping.

Mine is not digital so it just has a dial with low to hi markings and then a temp gauge in the box.  Control at a certain temp is pretty rough. 

At first I thought it a bit hoaky but after doing pork, beef, and albacore I'm pretty happy.

One downside is that with a large one piece heating coil, to get smoke I end up with a temp of about 200 in the smoker.

I also have a Lil Chief that makes smoke at about 120 in the smoker.  I'm going to put the coil from the lil chief into the bigger smoker and I ought to get smoke at very low total temp.

Good Luck, um,um, good.

this is the elect one. I want something that can stand being outside all year. While the digital ones are cool I can just imagine one night of sitting in the rain and it will be a gonner

http://www.masterbuilt.com/index.php/products/smokers/30-electric-smokehouse.html

I think a few questions need to be addressed first.
How much do you plan on using it and where do you plan on using it the most?
If most of it's use will be at home then I think electric is the way to go.
If you'll be using it mostly camping where either there are no electrical hookups or you feel to cheap...ahem...frugal to pay for it then gas is the way to go.
I am struggling whether or not to make a webber/tamale pot smoker. I think I'm looking for another project to undertake more than I actually need it or would use it. Plus it's just more stuff, but they are so damned cool.
Whatever you decide the bottom line is how good will the meat taste when you are done?
Secondly, better send out some invites when you do use it. 

I think a few questions need to be addressed first.
How much do you plan on using it and where do you plan on using it the most?
If most of it's use will be at home then I think electric is the way to go.
If you'll be using it mostly camping where either there are no electrical hookups or you feel to cheap...ahem...frugal to pay for it then gas is the way to go.
I am struggling whether or not to make a webber/tamale pot smoker. I think I'm looking for another project to undertake more than I actually need it or would use it. Plus it's just more stuff, but they are so damned cool.
Whatever you decide the bottom line is how good will the meat taste when you are done?
Secondly, better send out some invites when you do use it. 

strictly home use. I have a small one that is part of my bbq and it just gets to damn hot. So being able to control the heat is a big deal. the feature i like about the gas one is the fact that smoker box is one door and the "chip" box is separate. below is the gas one. Unless I am WAY over thinking this

http://www.masterbuilt.com/index.php/products/smokers/30-inch-vertical-gas-smoker-2-door.html

In your neck of the woods..I think.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/for/4273132901.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/app/4264422006.html

this is the elect one. I want something that can stand being outside all year. While the digital ones are cool I can just imagine one night of sitting in the rain and it will be a gonner

http://www.masterbuilt.com/index.php/products/smokers/30-electric-smokehouse.html

This is the one I've got. Yes adding chips is somewhat of a pain. 

Over thinking and indecisiveness is a problem for me, so one day a banner add came scrolling across my screen and bam, snap decision and some delicious meat on the table about 8 hr after it got delivered.

The reviews on the digital ones mostly pointed to the unreliable controls and long repair cycles and related issues. 

This unit probably wouldn't do well in the rain, but mine lives outdoors on the patio with no issues,  I just use the box it came in (with a little work) as a cover.

If you get it make sure you put a drip pan in the bottom (not included) shaped heavy duty foil works well and is disposable.  It gets really funky if you don't.

I've got a gas one that I picked up at Home Depot.  It sits outside, unprotected, and so far hasn't suffered any issues.

I don't have an outlet where I wanted to use it so it was an easy choice but it's also convenient to be able to use the same fuel source for the BBQ, the smoker, and also the fryer/beer maker.

Last year for Christmas I smoked a few turkeys in pouring rain, I wouldn't have attempted that with an electric smoker... but it's also not something I would do very often.

 We have really enjoyed the Traeger digital smoker/grill/oven. Just plug and play.
2 years of constant use and it is always outside, but covered, with no issues.
I believe it is the best gear for the house that we have purchased.

+1 on the Trager, smoke and cook everything I eat. No clean up, and never burn.

Dennis bought a Trager and he loves it. I just can't figure why they are so expensive. The finish is awesome. Can't decide. I know one thing. The smoke hollow 3 in1 is crap. Has everyone who has a Trager had good luck with outdoor finish life? Thanks. Craig.

My in-laws have a Traeger and it lives outside in all elements with the cover rarely being on.  It's a couple years old, used at least once a week, and works like a champ!

And purchased at Costco I believe.

I have the masterbuilt digital electric smoker. The chips won't produce a consistent smoke at anything below 220 F. I removed the shield and tried using smaller chips/pellets. I still have to experiment more but it blows so far.

The trager sure looks good.