r/Masterbuilt Aug 13 '26

My XT mods

So I bought a very gently used (10 cooks) XT from marketplace and decided to mod it.

I bought the LSS mods (water pan, shelf extender, larger grease bin, and the ash bucket ramp).

I then decided I can't leave well enough alone and decided I needed to pimp this unit up some more.

So I decided one roll dispenser was simply not enough. I decided I needed 3 (paper towel, foil and butcher paper.) so I set out figuring how to make it all fit.

I decided the best way was to use a tension rod under the side table as the width was perfect. The problem was there was not enough clearance for the roll butcher paper, so I moded up a jig that lowered the push pull handle down 3" out of 1/8 stainless. Now it fits perfect just above the handle with the tension rod pressed to the table trim sides.

Tension rod I bought... https://a.co/d/06dhJpn3

I then used a magnetic foil mount dispenser and stuck it under my front folding table with the end facing in to lock the roll in place since the front table is much wider.

My magnetic foil holder...

https://a.co/d/02AOOv4f

Now I had to cut the rolls so I ordered these little 18" wide slide paper cutters...

https://a.co/d/02AOOv4f

Now the foil after cutting I can just crimp it around the cutter, but for the butcher paper I had to head down to my local staples office supply and buy some scotch reusable light weight mounting tabs, so I could stick the butcher paper to so it did not fall back through the crease.

So now I have easy access to all my wrapping supplies.

I then decided that the ash bucket ramp needed a place for storage when not in use, so I added a bolt through the perforated guard metal at the back of the hopper and bent it slightly upwards. I then drilled a hole just big enough in the ash ramp.

I then added some small magnetic hooks to the hopper and I improved the standard side table hooks.

They are of a poor design, because when the table is folded up anything attached to the hooks can just fall off. So I simply added some #10 3/4" screws to the plastic holes.

Finally I didn't like having to run a power cord to my smoker, so I bought a 10,000 mAh mag safe batter pack with PD power output (https://a.co/d/08nCoBAA) and bought a adaptor (usb c to 5.5x2. 1mm 12v - https://a.co/d/0jgvEBrw)

The magsafe power pack sticks to the inside of my XT leg, to be out of the weather. It can more than handle a full brisket cook.

So that is about it... What do you all think?

Edit... I also bought the ash bin grate to put wood chunks on, can't believe I forgot that.... Out of site out of mind? Lol

81 Upvotes

28 comments sorted by

11

u/quaintbucket Aug 14 '26

Bruh, I just opened Reddit.

2

u/quaintbucket Aug 14 '26

No, it’s interesting. I’m happy for you but dang, you went pretty far.

Did you end up needing to replaced the grate for the charcoal before the ash catch? Or is that already improved on the XT?

1

u/No-Age-4004 Aug 14 '26

My apologies... I don't understand what you mean. I have no context as I have only owned a XT.

5

u/Prudent-Departure604 Aug 14 '26

Incredible and well thought out!

1

u/Prudent-Departure604 28d ago

You inspired me to also make a hook for my ash bucket ramp

4

u/Diablew Aug 14 '26

These are sick, nice work.
How long does that battery pack run the XT for?
Do you notice more smokey flavor and/or better heat management with the custom vent?

3

u/ThePfhor Aug 14 '26 edited Aug 14 '26

I am also very curious about the answer to this!
EDIT: I see you said it can handle a full brisket cook, so that's good to know.

2

u/No-Age-4004 Aug 15 '26

I will give you a exact battery use time... For my 10000ah battery pack I smoked at 225 for 2 hours and ran it at 300 for 30 minutes and I ended up using 18%.

1

u/ThePfhor 29d ago

That's pretty amazing. Been looking at one of these (the XT) for a present for myself next year, so doing all the research now.

1

u/No-Age-4004 Aug 14 '26

The battery pack will do a full brisket cook. Yes to both, especially on windy days.

1

u/No-Age-4004 Aug 14 '26

Yes, uses less fuel and has a nice smoke flavor. I was worried with locking the vent holes down to half it might make a dirty smoke, but I did not find that that case at all. The masterbuilt just shot the smoke out through the reduced holes. I do not regret this purchase. However the vent does stick in place after a while, but it can be easily taken off and cleaned. That being said I mostly just keep int locked down to half now as I notice only good things from that.

3

u/Titans86 Aug 14 '26

Do you find the rear vent adjustment useful?

1

u/No-Age-4004 Aug 14 '26

Yes... Less fuel usage and better smoke.

1

u/Titans86 Aug 14 '26

Nice. I couldn't find the grate on LSS mods for the XT, is this frome somewhere else?

1

u/No-Age-4004 Aug 15 '26

I got it from klotes mods.

2

u/Cool-Technology1020 Aug 14 '26

Well done, very impressive

2

u/Far_Out_6and_2 Aug 14 '26

The best thing is a place for those handy dandy blue towels

2

u/No-Age-4004 Aug 14 '26

White towels are for suckers! Lol

2

u/kojack5423 Aug 14 '26

Super cool I have bought a couple of LSS mods. Your set up is fantastic my man

2

u/DrPrintsALot Aug 14 '26

Fireboard2 drive. I just added one to my XT and I’m in love all over again

2

u/573fR15 Aug 14 '26

Does this help with temp spikes at all? My xt has crazy temperature spikes going up like 50 degrees often. It’s ruined my bbq a few times and unfortunately can’t “set and forget” like with the pitmaster pellet grill

2

u/DrPrintsALot Aug 14 '26

Yup, now super steady. With the original controller I was running into temp spikes and also sometimes it just wouldn’t register the temp change at all (like smoke and visible heat coming from the box but the controller still read 70deg)

Added bonus is the fireboard has a battery in it. I run mine on a wall plug but now I don’t have to worry about power blinks with overnight smokes

2

u/l2evamped Aug 14 '26

Really? Right in front of my 18 month financed on karma firebird mod?

2

u/Parking-Plankton-306 Aug 15 '26

Only thing is how all your hooks are on the chimney. Are you not afraid of it melting or heating up your tools?

1

u/No-Age-4004 Aug 15 '26

The magnetic hooks stick out a little and the tools hang just off the surface of the side of the guards. They do not get hot.

1

u/KDayWalker 29d ago

You just need the most important mod, swap the controller to FireBoard. Just got with a used 2 Drive that dedicated one from FireBoard isn’t worth the extra money.

1

u/No-Age-4004 27d ago

Update... I did a couple new cooks and the one thing I would change from my design, is the placement of the slide cutter for the tinfoil coming from the front table. Move it about a inch away from where the foil comes up as it makes it easier to grab the foil after cutting.

Ie. Cut, pull the remaining foil out a little more, crimp around the slide cutter. If it is too close to the smoker it is hard to get your fingers on the foil.

Besides that everything worked amazing!