Two more vents for the base of the ProQ

I´m sure some of you have had problems with air circulation in the ProQ. Only one vent in the base, which is beside or over the charcoal sometimes is not enough.

In another german forum I found a solution. Perhaps some of you know, but I didn´t find a threat about it here.

In another threat here I read the word "to mcgyver", I like it very much and my wife started laughing as I told her: "I´ll go in the back yard for mcgyvering."

Ok, here we go:

At first I bought some original vents from the WSM, because, you can´t get spareparts for the ProQ in Germany. Now I know, that Ian could have helped me, but at this time I didn´t know that.

Then I measured the right place for the holes and marked them:



After this I took a drill bit an drilled the holes. Because of the enamel you have to be very carefull. Start with the smallest drill you have and take bigger ones as long as the needed hole is big enough. Here a pic of the steps:



After I hab no bigger drill, I took such a tool to make the holes big enough. Sorry, but I don´t know the name of it:



Here the result:



I bought some heat resistant finish, because I did´n want my ProQ to rust:



650 degree Celsius = 1200 degree fahrenheit

For hardening the finish needs 500 degree fahrenheit fore more than 30 minutes, but you have to heat up not to fast.

So the holes lookes after spraying:



I sprayed every hole in the base, because on some was a little rust.

Aftert that I started a fire in my 57cm Outdoorchef. I put the base of the ProQ upside down on the rost for 30 minuts:



30 minutes later it put the bas directly over the charcoal:



Another 30 minutes later I closed the top of the Outdoorchef and waited untill fire cooled down:



Here is the result:



Here with the charcoal basket, you can see, that the new holes are under the base of the basket, so the air has to go through the charcoal:



Here from outside:



And here the first chicken I smoked in the "New Mcgyvered Version":



On the top of the ProQ you don´t need mote holes, one is absolutely enough.

The pimped version produces heat like hell. It´s no problem to bring it up to 400degree fahrenheit with sand or water. With sand in the water-pan, high quality charcoal and the minion-method you can smoke more than twelve hours with only one basket of charcoal.

Goof Job !


I did the exact same thing to a friends pro-q frontier last saturday.
Its really worth doing it if you have the first version of the cooker that has only one bottom vent.


DM

Good job Tobias!
One thing I would mention for anyone wishing to do this mod... be careful not to position the vents too far down, as this may allow hot charcoal to fall out of the vents, causing a major fire hazard.

Our new model of Frontier has been per-fitted with 3 vents.

Ian is right. The Charcoal falls out of te vents. But it did it with only one vent too. I place some steel bowls under them on the floor, so nothing can happen.

Yes Ian, I know there will be new version of the frontier with three vents in 2008, but I didn´want to wait that longe. When does it come to the german marcet. Mr. Pieper didn´t know, as I asked him???

I´m looking forward to the big one, the EXEL 20" (right name???). When does this one come to Germany???


Greets,

BBQ-Devil

Did the same thing to mine. Works wonders to get a better fuel burn.

To solve the hot ash problem, I went to the auto parts store and purchased a heavy duty aluminum drip pan that I placed under my cooker to catch the hot ash. Make clean up of the patio a lot easier and I can use it on my wooden deck as well.

Thanks for a great post Tobias!! U.J.

Mack wrote:Good job Tobias!
One thing I would mention for anyone wishing to do this mod... be careful not to position the vents too far down, as this may allow hot charcoal to fall out of the vents, causing a major fire hazard.

Our new model of Frontier has been per-fitted with 3 vents.

I understand that most of the dealers in N. America are waiting for stock ... will they be getting the 3 vent models in that shipment?

Squeezy, the new 3 vent models will only be available in the USA towards the end of the year... we don't even have them here yet.

Anyone happen to know where I can get 2 extra vents for a Frontier in the UK? Or, alternatively WSM vents?

Cheers

Hi Corn,
PM me with your address and I'll pop some in the post for you.

Ian

PM Sent

I'm thinking about adding the two extra vents to my Frontier, now you guy's have had chance to run it with the extra vents are you happy, is it still controllable or does the temp run to high?

I have been thinking about maybe only putting two holes in each side so it is easier to control?

I'd appreciate your thoughts before I start drilling the base.

Hey Novice,

I have the Frontier and had the same issues with one vent. I've found that making a "U" around the vent, free of charcoal, helped a lot! With that extra space around the vent, my charcoal burned completely and held temps very well. I thought about modifying mines, but with the trick was very satisfied with the results. Give that a try before drilling and see what happens. Let us know the results please.

I'm sure I already replied to this, but my post seems to have vanished Thanks for the advice Jenks, I will give it a go before butchering my smoker.

I would still interested in hearing what the guys who have done the mod think about their results though.

Is there any chance that I can order just a new bottom with the 3 vents? I would like to have a 4 hole vent system, to be consistent, but it sounds like that could be a problem here in the U.S.

Chris

Burbs,

I asked that very same question a little while ago and found that that is not an option right now. Mack, has that changed?