First Smoke - Super Bowl Sunday - Any Help Would be Appreciated

[KyNola]

This may be too late but be sure you have the drip tray installed correctly.  The tray should point down like this "V", not this "^".

Hopefully you seasoned your smoker prior to beginning to cook in it too.

[Salmonsmoker]

I did a couple of butts  a few days ago and put a drip tray next rack down with a couple of cups of apple juice and a couple of sliced onions. After a 16 hr. low and slow, the drippings and the very carmelized onions were the same color as the bark. I used a hand blender to puree' the mixture and used it as the base of my dipping sauce. It turned out great. Can't wait for the pulled pork sammies today!

[phoenix316]

It was awesome, thanks for all the help.

I got the drip tray installed correctly now, did it at 1 a.m.

Had ribs from 2 different places, 1 with a lot of fat on the back side (which were excellent), another with the silverskin already removed and  a lot of the fat missing (way too dry).

The best pulled pork I have ever eaten.  My 2 year old was stealing it from the cutting board when I was ripping it apart.

[Habanero Smoker]

I got the drip tray installed correctly now, did it at 1 a.m.

I had a feeling you had it installed incorrectly. That's why I sent you the link to the component's list. The component's list diagrams properly shows the drip pan correctly installed.

I'm glad everything worked out well.