which rack level is recommended when smoking one item ?
on the bottom close to the heat or in the middle ?
I normally use the second one down from the top in my 4 rack unit.
When smoking a single item I usually use the second rack from the bottom, which puts the food item fairly close to the middle.
For large cuts of meat such as butts, brisket; I use the rack that is second from the bottom. For smaller cuts of meat, such as bacon, chicken parts, fish; I use the second from the top position.
I rarely go over one rack at a time, and that rack goes wherever I happen to hit as I'm putting it in the smoker....bottom position has an inverted rack with my PID probe connected to it though.