Vertical pellet smokers earn their place on back patios from Maine to Arizona, but a Pit Boss setup needs the right gear around it. Covers shield a hot summer storm, controllers rescue a failed board, and fresh grates revive years of use. This roundup walks through seven accessory picks that pair with the Pit Boss Vertical Smokers line, from the 3-series to the 7-series Copperhead, plus a couple of cross-brand controllers that work with several major pellet grills.
Your Options, Compared
A Pit Boss Vertical Smoker in the 7-series is a tall cabinet, and tall cabinets collect wind, dust, and sideways rain. The i COVER 73752 is cut for the 77700 PBV7P1 cabinet dimensions, which matters more than people expect. A loose cover flaps, scuffs the powder coat, and ends up in the yard by Tuesday.
The shell is 600D Oxford polyester with a water-resistant PVC underside, the kind of fabric you’d expect on a kayak cover rather than a grill accessory. For most climates that means four-season peace of mind, though coastal owners may want to check under the cover monthly for trapped moisture.
Why It Works Well
- Cut to the 26.5-by-26.5-inch footprint of the 7-series cabinet, no billowing fabric
- 600D Oxford shell is thick enough to shrug off branch scratches and patio chair bumps
- PVC-coated underside beads water instead of soaking, helpful during surprise downpours
- Stays useful through autumn leaf fall and winter storage, reducing end-of-season scrubbing
Trade Offs
- Custom-fit dimensions rule out using it on a smaller 3-series or 5-series Pit Boss
- Heavy fabric is harder to fold for tight garage storage than lighter nylon covers
- Owners commonly report needing a bungee or strap to keep the cover seated on windy patios
Quick Facts
Whose Patio It Belongs On
Owners of the Pit Boss 7-series Copperhead who keep their smoker on a covered patio or open yard.
Where Another Pick Suits Better
The SunPatio 40 Inch Electric Smoker Cover fits a wider range of vertical smokers, so households running different brands should look there instead.
When a Pit Boss vertical smoker goes dark mid-cook, the controller board is usually the culprit. Replacing the full unit is expensive, but a swap-in trapezoid control kit handles the repair without sending the cabinet to the shop. The HunGrill kit covers the 3, 4, 5, and 7-series Copperhead, including the Walmart 5-series variant, which makes it one of the more flexible board replacements available.
The kit includes a hot rod igniter, so a smoker that won’t stay lit gets the most common parts in one box. A basic comfort with screwdrivers and wire connectors is enough for the install, though anyone unsure about electrical work may prefer a service call.
Where It Helps
- Covers four Pit Boss vertical generations in a single part number, simplifying shelf stock
- Built-in OEM temperature programs reduce guesswork after a board swap
- Hot rod included, so ignition failures get addressed in the same repair visit
- Useful for shops and repair services that handle multiple Pit Boss models
Things To Consider
- Not listed as compatible with the Onyx edition, so verify the cabinet label before ordering
- Wiring work means the install takes longer than a simple cover swap
Feature Card
Made For
DIY owners comfortable with electrical disassembly who want to revive a bricked Pit Boss Copperhead cabinet.
Consider Something Else When
Shoppers wanting a WiFi-connected controller instead of an OEM-style replacement should look at the HunGrill Universal WiFi PID Controller Kit.
Not every household is ready to manage pellets and augers. The EAST OAK 30-inch Electric Smoker runs on a standard outlet, sets temperature with a dial, and pulls double duty as an entry point before stepping up to a Pit Boss Vertical Smoker. For someone renting or short on patio space, it covers weeknight ribs without the learning curve.
The 725-square-inch cooking area fits a full pack of chicken thighs or two small brisket flats, while the side chip loader extends smoke time between refills. A clear window means fewer door swings and steadier cabinet temperature during long cooks.
What It Does Well
- Plugs into a standard household outlet, no extension cords rated for high draw
- Built-in meat probe tracks internal temperature without an aftermarket accessory
- Side wood chip loader lengthens smoke sessions and cuts down on mid-cook refills
- Windowed door reduces heat loss for steadier bark on long cooks
Worth Noting
- Electric element smokes rather than sears, so finishing crusts need a separate grill
- Night Blue finish shows pollen and dust more than stainless or matte black alternatives
At A Glance
Right Fit For
First-time smoker owners, apartment dwellers, and anyone wanting a hands-off unit before committing to a pellet rig.
Swap It Out When
Shoppers set on a Pit Boss Vertical Smoker with real wood-fired flavor should skip ahead to a Pit Boss-compatible cover and grate instead.
Most covers are tailored to one cabinet, which is annoying in shared-space households running different brands. The SunPatio 40-inch cover targets the slim 25-by-17-inch vertical format used by Masterbuilt, Smoke Hollow, Char-Broil, Smoky Mountain, and Pit Boss. That’s a lot of basements, garages, and rental patios covered by a single SKU.
The FadeStop polyester shell and waterproof underside handle sun and rain, though the sizing calls for an inch of clearance in width and depth. Skip the guesswork by measuring the cabinet before ordering.
Reasons It Performs
- Fits multiple 40-inch vertical smokers, useful for households with a mix of brands
- UV-resistant shell limits color fade on south-facing patios
- Waterproof underside keeps morning dew from soaking through
- Lower price than brand-specific covers, helpful for first-cover shoppers
A Few Limitations
- Generic fit leaves a little slack on narrow cabinets, so a clip or strap helps on windy days
- Polyester shell is thinner than the 600D option offered by the i COVER model above
Feature Snapshot
Who It Suits Best
Owners of slim 40-inch vertical cabinets who want one cover that survives a brand switch down the road.
Not Your Match When
Anyone running a Pit Boss 7-series should go for the i COVER 73752 model, since its tailored 26.5-inch footprint fits the 7-series cabinet better.
A PID controller is a smarter thermostat that holds temperature within a few degrees, and the HunGrill Universal WiFi kit bolts that capability onto several major pellet brands. Traeger Pro, Select Pro, and Texas Elite models pair up alongside Pit Boss 340 to 820, Rancher, Tabletop, and 1000 Traditions lines, which is unusually broad for a single kit.
The RTD probe handles high cabinet heat better than the thermocouple that ships stock on most grills. Expect some tinkering during install, since universal kits need a little patience on wire routing.
Useful Highlights
- WiFi control means monitoring cabinet temperature from a phone during long cooks
- RTD probe rated for the heat range found in sustained pellet cooking
- PID logic tightens temperature swings for cleaner smoke rings
- Works across multiple brands, useful for households running more than one pellet rig
Points To Note
- Universal design means more wiring work than a brand-specific kit like the Copperhead replacement above
- WiFi features depend on a stable home network at the smoker’s location
Best Suited To
Tinkerers with a stable home WiFi signal who want app-based monitoring on a pellet smoker that lacks native connectivity.
Reach For A Different Pick When
Anyone sticking with an OEM-style Pit Boss Copperhead repair should choose the Digital Trapezoid Controller Kit, which installs with less rewiring.
Grates take a beating over years of pellet cooks. Rust creeps in, porcelain chips, and racks stop sitting flat. The Utheer grate is built for the Pit Boss Elite 6-series (PBV6PSE), so the fit matches the original guides without shimming. That alone saves an afternoon of fiddling.
The black porcelain-enamel finish helps food release cleanly during sticky chicken thigh cooks and resists corrosion better than bare steel. Owners can expect a wipe-down rather than a heavy scrub after each use.
What Works In Its Favor
- Sized to the Elite 6-series guides for a stable, level placement
- Porcelain-enamel finish reduces sticking during fatty cuts like pork belly
- Resists corrosion better than standard chrome-plated replacements
- Hand-wash friendly, no special brushes needed
Honest Caveats
- Porcelain chips if dropped on a hard patio, so handle over a padded surface
- Limited to the 6-series cabinet, so it doesn’t transfer to a 3-series or 7-series
Who Should Grab It
Elite 6-series owners whose original grates have rusted through or chipped from years of weekend cooks.
Skip It When
Anyone running a different Pit Boss series should match the part number to their specific cabinet rather than guess at this one.
Camp Chef Gen 2 owners have a different retrofit problem: a four-piece swap that includes the controller, an igniter, an RTD probe, and meat probes. The HunGrill bundle ships all four together, so a single order covers the parts that typically fail in sequence on an aging cabinet.
Compatibility reaches across Pursuit 20, SG24, SG30, SGX36, DLX, XT, and the older SmokePro line, giving serious coverage for anyone running a mixed Camp Chef setup. The package is intentionally non-WiFi, which keeps the install simpler for folks who’d rather skip the app layer.
Real Benefits
- Four parts in one bundle, so a mid-failure repair covers the common wear points at once
- Two meat probes included for dual-cut cooks like brisket flat and point together
- Direct replacement of Camp Chef’s Gen 2 controller, no firmware workarounds
- Skip the WiFi step for anyone who prefers dial-based control
Practical Considerations
- Bundle pricing runs higher than buying parts separately, though the convenience is the point
- Not listed as compatible with XXL vertical cabinets, so double-check the model number before ordering
Perfect Match For
Camp Chef owners planning a planned controller refresh who want to handle it in one weekend.
Look Elsewhere When
Anyone running a Pit Boss Vertical Smoker should stick with the Copperhead controller kit instead, since the wiring and connectors don’t match.
What Matters Most Before Choosing Pit Boss Vertical Smokers Accessories
A Pit Boss Vertical Smoker is a fairly wide ecosystem, and the right accessory depends on the cabinet in the driveway. Picking the wrong cover or controller wastes money and an afternoon of disassembly. This guide breaks down the calls that actually matter before checking a cart.
Match The Accessory To The Cabinet Series
Pit Boss numbers its vertical cabinets deliberately, and the 3, 4, 5, and 7-series each have slightly different dimensions and wiring. Covers tailored to the 7-series are too tall for the 3-series, and controller boards are not interchangeable between Copperhead and Onyx editions. Measure the cabinet, write down the model number from the rating plate, and confirm compatibility before ordering.
For cross-brand households, a flexible cover like the SunPatio 40-inch option can bridge multiple brands. For repair work, brand-specific boards and harnesses save a lot of head-scratching during the install.
Decide Between OEM Replacement And Aftermarket Upgrade
Some shoppers want to restore a Pit Boss vertical smoker to factory behavior, which calls for an OEM-style controller like the HunGrill trapezoid kit. Others want a feature jump, like WiFi monitoring or a PID algorithm, which calls for an aftermarket upgrade. Both are valid goals, but mixing them tends to mean re-wiring twice.
Plan the upgrade by listing the must-have features, then pick the kit that delivers them in one install. A second retrofit is rarely fun.
Build For The Climate, Not Just The Cook
Covers, grates, and controllers all live outside, so sun, rain, and salt air shape how long they last. UV-resistant polyester on the SunPatio cover and a 600D Oxford shell on the i COVER are both built for multi-season exposure. Coastal shoppers should still rinse covers occasionally to clear salt buildup, and that small habit extends fabric life considerably.
For grates, porcelain enamel holds up better than chrome in humid climates, which is why the Utheer Elite 6-series grate is a smart pick for steamy backyards.
Key Considerations Across These Picks
Mistakes Worth Dodging
The most common error is ordering a cover or controller based on a smoky photo rather than the rating plate. Cabinet generations shift dimensions and connectors, and the wrong part usually arrives and goes right back. Skipping the measuring tape saves two minutes and costs an entire afternoon.
A second trap is treating WiFi controllers as plug-and-play. Universal kits need a strong router signal at the smoker location, and metal cabinet lids can attenuate signals. Plan the install near a window or add a WiFi extender before mounting.
Where The Extra Money Goes
Higher-tier Pit Boss accessories tend to cost more because they bundle multiple parts and use better materials. The Camp Chef 4-piece bundle costs more than a single controller, yet covers the common wear parts in one box. Similarly, a 600D cover costs more than a thin polyester option, but lasts several more seasons on an uncovered patio.
The honest read is that the upgrade pays off when the smoker lives outdoors year-round. Covered patios or seasonal storage make the budget tier more sensible.
Closing Remarks
The right accessory depends less on a generic “best” label and more on the cabinet sitting in the driveway. Match the model number, decide between restoration and upgrade, and pick materials that fit the local weather. From there, the picks in this roundup should keep a Pit Boss Vertical Smoker running smoothly through another season of cooks.







