Oklahoma Joe’s Bronco 20” Drum Smoker vs Even Embers 20” Drum Smoker / Which Is Better?

in the Atlanta grills. Welcome back,

folks. This is a a video a lot of you folks have asked for. You've known that I've had the Oklahoma Joe's uh the Bronco 2, the new one. And uh this spring, we picked up the Even Embers.

These are both 20-in barrel style smoker/ grills. A lot of cool things

smoker/ grills. A lot of cool things going on here, and a lot of you have asked me to do a comparison video between Oklahoma Joe, Even Embers, and that's what we're going to do today.

We're going to go through all the specifics. We're going to talk about

specifics. We're going to talk about price. We're going to talk about

price. We're going to talk about everything that's inside this grill.

We're going to talk about how they work.

And you know what? We're going to fire them up. And I got a half a rack of ribs

them up. And I got a half a rack of ribs that I'm going to do on each one. And in

the end, folks, I'm going to tell you which one of these two would I choose.

Let's get started.

First things first, I will leave the links down below to the review videos I did on Oklahoma Joe's. I'll leave a review video on the Even Emmers.

Remember folks, I am not sponsored by any one. So, both these grills are

any one. So, both these grills are bought by me so you can get an honest review. And what we're doing today is an

review. And what we're doing today is an honest review. And remember, nothing on

honest review. And remember, nothing on this channel is ever AI generated. Start

first with price. I did purchase the even numbers from Home Depot. I believe

it is a Home Depot exclusive.

226 bucks, folks. I thought that was a pretty good deal. Let's take a look at what we paid for Oklahoma Joe's, which I believe I got from also Home Depot.

There it is on Home Depot.$429. I

believe I paid more than that a little about a year ago when I got it, but still uh $200 difference between these two grills. So, that right there right

two grills. So, that right there right off the bat is a pretty big deal. Let's

uh get into all the specifics of both of these grills.

On the Bronco 2, which is this is called, it's got the door on the bottom that allows the uh the charcoal and ash pan to swing out. On the even embers,

you've got a door and that's on a track and it just pulls out. Um, right off the bat, we had some issues during assembly with a very complicated hinge assembly.

And you can see that down there that we had to make some adjustments too in order to get it to latch properly. But

once we got it latching properly, it's worked fine ever since. The uh even embers latching mechanism is a little bit different. and uh of the cooks we've

bit different. and uh of the cooks we've done so far on this grill, it seals very nicely. Right. So, these are both

nicely. Right. So, these are both considered 20-in barrels, meaning it's 20 in from the outside to outside. On

the inside, it's a little bit narrow, closer to about an 18 in. In fact,

Oklahoma Joe's advertises theirs as an 18 in, but the outside dimension is actually 20. Let's talk about the

actually 20. Let's talk about the height. height to the top grill grates.

height. height to the top grill grates.

31 on Oklahoma Joe, 33 on the Even Embers. And if you look closely, you can

Embers. And if you look closely, you can see that the Even Embers is a single barrel, single piece. Whereas

when you get this thing from Oklahoma Jewels, you actually are putting together. And you can see the ledge

together. And you can see the ledge there and the screws, you're actually putting that that top to the bottom. All

right. charcoal basket size on Oklahoma Joe. We're 15 inches across by 4 in

Joe. We're 15 inches across by 4 in deep. On the uh even embers, we've got

deep. On the uh even embers, we've got 12 inches going across by about 2 and 3/4 deep. Now, that's wire mesh and

3/4 deep. Now, that's wire mesh and that's solid with wire mesh on the bottom. Um

bottom. Um that one obviously is going to hold more charcoal than this one. We'll see how long they burn and do a comparison today. They both have ash pans right

today. They both have ash pans right underneath and they're both removable.

So those these both these charcoal trays come off and then below it is where your ash pan sits. And like I said, both of

these, like I said, on the Oklahoma Joe, it's it it goes in like that. And on the Even

Embers, it pushes in like that. All right. So air flow into

like that. All right. So air flow into the bottom on the Oklahoma Joe's is controlled up here and it is numbered.

And down here on the Even Embers, there's a big daisy wheel at the bottom and you just adjust it like that. They

both they both do the job. All right,

grease management at the bottom on both these grills is kind of lacking. There

is a plug a little cup on the bottom. I

don't know if you can see it, but it doesn't really hold much on Oklahoma Joe's. Uh, Even Embers just gives you a

Joe's. Uh, Even Embers just gives you a plug that you can pull out the drain if you get a lot of grease in the bottom.

Way they did the gaskets on the door are diff different where you've got it the gasket on the Even Embers is on the door and the gasket on the Oklahoma Joe is

this bulb type and it's actually on the door itself. I kind of think that seals

door itself. I kind of think that seals up a little bit better, but I've had really zero issues with leakage and we'll see that today when we're firing this up. So, and if you have to add

this up. So, and if you have to add charcoal during your cook, you've got a little thing there that you can put into that hole. Pull it out on the Oklahoma

that hole. Pull it out on the Oklahoma Joe. You've got one there, and you would

Joe. You've got one there, and you would put it uh right there and pull that out if you wanted to add more charcoal. Got

two legs in front on Oklahoma Joe. Nice

rubber tires. This thing rolls very, very nicely. Even Embers, you got two

very nicely. Even Embers, you got two feet out in front. Then you've got these, for lack of better words, I'll just call them stupid stupid steel wheels I've seen before on some of the

even embers that uh one of these grills is going to go in the end. And whatever

one stays, if that one stays, it's getting upgraded wheels cuz that is uh yeah, I don't care for that.

Moving up on up top, what is obvious there's only one shelf on the even embers whereas Oklahoma Joe has two.

None of these fold. Uh, are there covers available? I believe there are covers

available? I believe there are covers available for both grills.

Probe location. Uh, you can see where that is for Oklahoma Joe. It's kind of down in the chamber itself. Whereas on

the Even Embers, it's in the lid. I

actually like that location better. And

but it wouldn't be hard to add leave that one there and add another one cuz you can get those right down there.

Super simple. Sticking with the hinged lids, uh we've got this product right here, which so far has sealed up pretty nicely. And then you've got and I prefer

nicely. And then you've got and I prefer this cuz it compresses a little bit more and gives you a little bit better um a little bit better seal. Although on the even embers, and we'll see today, I

really haven't had any issue with it sealing. Neither one of them have a

sealing. Neither one of them have a latch there to push it, you know, down.

And I really haven't seen a need for a latch on either one.

Are similar. You've got a numbering system on the Oklahoma Joe and then just a little bit more simplistic on the Even number.

Let's get into the grill itself. Uh both

of these are 18in grill grates. For some

reason, Oklahoma Joe only gives you one.

I thought I'd gotten two and I just went back to the website and you know, you just if you want a second one, you got to buy it. Whereas the Even Embers, believe it or not, folks, there are three grill grates in here. And it's a

very unique way that they come in and out and and the different levels that they sit at. Oklahoma Joe to get them out if you're in the bottom rung. You

got to take it out on an angle like that. So nicely done, I guess, by

that. So nicely done, I guess, by Embers. So you can lift straight out as

Embers. So you can lift straight out as opposed to Oklahoma Joe. Plus, you have many different levels, especially if you like if you're doing ribs, you didn't want to hang them. Um, the definitely

the even embers will give you more square inches of cooking space on the inside.

So, they both have diffuser plates.

Now, sometimes I do put like a pizza stone covered with aluminum foil uh down there and then that way I can use that to put a water tray on. Gives you more uh thermal mass inside the grill. or you

can just put a water tray if you want to use as a drip tray uh right there on your diffuser.

All right. When it comes to accessories and hanging rods, Oklahoma Joe's got you covered. Uh the Even Embers, you've got

covered. Uh the Even Embers, you've got one bar that goes across and then they give you six hooks. So, you could do six racks of ribs on the Oklahoma Joe. I

just want to show you there's three hanging bars. Each one goes through one

hanging bars. Each one goes through one of those holes there. And then you've got all these hooks here. I believe a total of nineish that go to hang ribs.

So, giving you a little bit more capacity. And then there's they've got

capacity. And then there's they've got the tool hooks right here in the front.

Now, you do have tool hooks here on the side of the even embers. All right. With

the arms in on see the diffuser plate.

We're just measuring to the diffuser plate. Got 15 1/2 on the Oklahoma Joe.

plate. Got 15 1/2 on the Oklahoma Joe.

on the even embers at about 12 inches.

Let's get them fired up. Uh got a Weber wax cube in there. Weber wax cube in there. We are using the uh the stars and

there. We are using the uh the stars and stripes uh B&B. That's the new stuff.

And uh we do have one lump of the Jealous devil um oak briquette in there, which is just pressed wood. But uh they smoke pretty nice and I I actually kind of like them a little bit. So let's get

them fired up. Uh they have different ways of dialing in the temps. We'll show

you the temps, but we're going to go we're going to get them fired up. Go

take a look at I'm just going to put a half a rack of ribs top shelf. Half a

rack of ribs top shelf. And uh let these things do their job. Fire cubes started up. Stir it up. Once the flame goes out,

up. Stir it up. Once the flame goes out, we're going to put a drip pan a drip pan with a little bit of water. Same amount

in each one. And then the grill grates will go on and so will the ribs. Let's

go take a look at those. pork ribs.

Pulled off the the back membrane, trimmed it up a little bit. Uh this

one's a little bit thicker than this one is. Uh burnt pit barbecue. Love this

is. Uh burnt pit barbecue. Love this

sweet heat. Uh on a fire for effect on ribs onto the grill. It shall go.

All right. Uh both grills are on. You

can see 100° there and about 100° there on Oklahoma Joe. I have noticed that uh the big daisy wheel on the bottom that

there seems to be a better airflow through this as opposed to this. And um

that uh daisy wheel where that throttle goes through, that handle goes through is an open slot. And uh I thought that was going to be a big deal on this grill, but so far I have not noticed

that. you just adjust by keeping your

that. you just adjust by keeping your daisy wheel a little bit more closed.

Whereas you could some this Oklahoma Joel dials itself in in just fine. So

that and I I've had more cooks on this than I've had on this. Smoke retention

you can see is uh I've got a little bit and I should talk about assembly. Uh

both grills had their issues with assemblies. The the door was the biggest

assemblies. The the door was the biggest issue here on here. The handle didn't line up. I had to elongate the holes and

line up. I had to elongate the holes and that's why we're seeing a little smoke leakage out of there. And then um that bar that goes across and it stores right

there for the hanging. That hole was almost kind of missing and I had to drill it and uh it showed on the uh instruction manual but it just wasn't

there. So, both grills have their issues

there. So, both grills have their issues when it comes to a weather out today is uh if it's not 80, it's pretty close to it. And there is very little wind and

it. And there is very little wind and the humidity is is definitely up there.

I would say in the 80% range. Uh what

I've noticed just in past cooks between these two is like I talked about the air flow before with that daisy wheel on the bottom gives a a better control of air

flow coming up. And you can just tell by the color of the smoke where we're that's some good smoke right there. And

that's still a little bit on the sy side even though I've got both wide open. And

you can see on the even embers I am not even barely at number two. And you can see where I am right there. We're coming

up to temp here about 120 130. We're

still struggling right around 110 on Oklahoma Joe. I'm going to leave that

Oklahoma Joe. I'm going to leave that open until it starts clearing up the smoke a little. All right, about 15 minutes. See, we're about 180

minutes. See, we're about 180 and we still haven't made it to 150 yet.

Got wide open. Wide open. Daisy wheel

goes up to four. I got it set on two and I've got this at about a little more than half. Ribs are on.

than half. Ribs are on.

Very nice.

Ribs are on. Okay, very nice.

Keep on going. I want to get the temps up there a little bit more. Uh it is afternoon already. In fact, it's quarter

afternoon already. In fact, it's quarter after 1. So,

after 1. So, I' I'd like to get them up to two and a quarter is where I want to get both these two. So, probably give them uh a

these two. So, probably give them uh a while here yet. And then uh give you a look. 45 minutes into it. Both these

look. 45 minutes into it. Both these

girls do a pretty decent job of dialing themselves in. Just a tad bit above 225

themselves in. Just a tad bit above 225 on the even embers and just a tad bit above uh 225 on the Oklahoma Joe's. Keep

on going. Got a lot of nice smoke production going on. Give you a look.

When it comes to adjusting the vents on these two grills, I have found that I've been able to do everything just leaving the daisy wheel at the bottom most of the time when I'm doing smoking on two.

Then I control the temps up there. Now,

if I do keep this grill, obviously I'm going to get another one of these and put it down right around there. Give a

little bit better idea what temps are lower. Um, on the Oklahoma Joe's, I I

lower. Um, on the Oklahoma Joe's, I I have found that I've had to adjust both vents in order to keep her down around that uh 225 level, but uh not that big

of a deal. I do have some condensation coming out of the bottom of the Oklahoma Joel. So far, nothing out of Well,

Joel. So far, nothing out of Well, little dripage coming out of the handle right there. All right, folks. Two hours

right there. All right, folks. Two hours

into it. We did allow things to creep up a little bit. Uh, it is later in the afternoon. So, 250 there on the Even

afternoon. So, 250 there on the Even Embers. I don't know what's going on

Embers. I don't know what's going on here with Oklahoma Joe's today. I'm

struggling. Uh, we're a little over 250.

Also, you look at our ribs. Looking good. The

water has totally left there and on the uh even embers water's still there. Ribs look a little bit better.

there. Ribs look a little bit better.

Like I said, don't know what's going on over here. Let's uh keep on going. Give

over here. Let's uh keep on going. Give

you a Here's plan. Took a temp on both.

Uh 145ish. Uh remember that one's a little bit thinner than this one. I

don't want to ruin these ribs. So, I am going to wrap them just with a little bit of water. and uh let them go for another hour and then we'll take them

off and hopefully uh we'll be uh toothpick tender at that point and then we'll uh put some sauce on and we're coming to the end here. Then I'll give you my final thoughts of either the Even

Embers or the Oklahoma Joe. All right,

we are just a little over 3 hours in 1 hour raft. You can see where we are on

hour raft. You can see where we are on Even Embers. 220.

Even Embers. 220.

Yeah, 2 230 on the uh Oklahoma Joe. I've

had some issues controlling temps.

Um you got to play around with both of those. This thing I got I was just being

those. This thing I got I was just being honest with you folks. I have let the bottom daisy wheel at two and done everything with that thing up there and

it has uh responded well up and it goes down which is unusual. So, we've got uh wrapped

and wrapped an hour. That's all we're going to do. We're going to wrap those and then just I think I got a little bit of I love the Blues Hog Raspberry Chipotle, but this Blues Hog original is

very very good, too. And that's going to go on the ribs. We'll let that sauce set. Give you a look see at the ribs.

set. Give you a look see at the ribs.

Then we're going to give you my final determination which one of these will stay in the line of grill. Got sauce on.

Turned everything down on the evening embers. Bottom vents closed. Top vents

embers. Bottom vents closed. Top vents

closed. You see temper's coming down.

Yeah. Ribs are looking good. Let's take

a look over here.

Joel, same thing. Top vent closed.

Bottom bottom vent closed.

Yo, look at that. Ribs are looking mighty nice.

give you a look see at the final product and then then give you my final determination.

Which one would you pick? Well, I'm

going to tell you coming up shortly.

All right, take a look at the ribs here.

This was Oklahoma over there. This is

the Even Embers over there. Nice smoke

ring on the Even Embers.

Oh man. Let's

try the uh All right. I don't think it doesn't

All right. I don't think it doesn't matter which one you did here. U

Oklahoma Joe over there. Even Embers

over there. They both nice smoke ring.

Let's go take a look at what charcoal is left and then give my my final thoughts on which one I would take.

These both have been shut down for about 20 minutes here. You can see down to about 150 on the even embers on the Oklahoma Joe's.

Yeah, right around 200 there. There was

some air coming in there. Not really

sure where it's coming from. You can see we've got everything closed down.

Let's take a look and see how much charcoal comparison between the both. I

think the Oklahoma Joe's did better on charcoal burn, but remember a smaller basket over here. So, you know, okay,

good job, Oklahoma Joe's. Good job,

buddy. Even Embers. Give you my final thoughts on these two smoke. All right,

final thoughts on these two. I tell you what, the the biggest thing is there's a $200 difference and used to be more cuz this when I first bought it was a lot

more than what they have it advertised today. This is Memorial Day weekend of

today. This is Memorial Day weekend of 2026.

this thing. I'll tell you what, I don't like the wheels. I want to put another temp probe. Other than that, it works

temp probe. Other than that, it works fantastic. I like that daisy wheel.

fantastic. I like that daisy wheel.

Works very well on the bottom. Dials the

temps in. I still struggle trying to figure out temps on Oklahoma Joels. Even

though I've had that for almost a year, uh the door on that thing was a problem.

And there were problems with this thing, too. I I had some issues with putting

too. I I had some issues with putting together the handle and uh some other stuff. When it comes to hanging, if if

stuff. When it comes to hanging, if if you all you got to do is hang ribs, I tell you what, this thing can hang like crazy. This thing can hang like six and

crazy. This thing can hang like six and that's it. That can hang like nine, no

that's it. That can hang like nine, no problem.

If you're saying, Tom, which one would you pick?

I tell you what, I think I'd go with the Even Emmers.

the price and the way the temp control.

I did not struggle today to get temps on this thing. $225 stuff right in this

this thing. $225 stuff right in this thing. I was playing with both and I've

thing. I was playing with both and I've had this like I said I've had this for over nah not quite a year yet but still I've had a bunch of cooks. Tom Horseman

YouTube if you want to see that.

Which one would you take? I'd take that one. Which one would you take? Either

one. Which one would you take? Either

or. Tom Horseman YouTube. Thumbs up.

Leave a comment. And as always, thanks for watching.