From Setback to Smoke: The Story Behind East Texas Smoker Company's Journey in Designing Custom Smoker Trailers

Not every business starts with a business plan. Some start with a spark — or in my case, a flame.

My name is Clint Shockey, and I’m the owner, designer, and fabricator behind East Texas Smoker Company, tucked away in the piney woods of East Texas. I’ve been designing and fabricating custom smokers for over twenty years, but the journey to get here wasn’t exactly a straight shot.

One of our first custom smoker trailers

Back in 2005, while in college, I was running a landscaping business and living a pretty regular life. Then, a bad motorcycle accident turned everything upside down. I found myself in a wheelchair, unable to continue the work that supported me. What could’ve been the end of the road became the start of something much bigger than I ever imagined.

With limited mobility but a lot of determination, I rolled around my garage and got to work. I had picked up welding and design skills years earlier at Texas State Technical College, and I still had those tools — even if my body was temporarily broken. Using a cheap welder I bought off eBay and an old landscaping trailer I no longer needed, I built my very first smoker trailer.

And then I sold it. And built another. And sold that one too.

That cycle of building, selling, and refining lit a fire in me — and not the kind you control with dampers. In 2007, I graduated from the University of Texas at Tyler with a BBA in Finance. Everyone expected me to go into banking or accounting. Instead, to my family’s surprise, I chose a different path: to chase my passion and build exceptional, one-of-a-kind custom smoker trailers.

Show Boat Custom Smoker Trailer

Saturday Night Special Custom Smoker Trailer

Today, I pour that same determination and pride into every smoker I build. Every pit is custom-designed, hand-fabricated, and built to perform — whether it’s on a competition circuit, parked in a backyard, or hitting the road headed to a corporate event.

At East Texas Smoker Company, we know the difference between grilling and barbecuing. In fact, I make a point to research that difference thoroughly — every weekend. Let’s just say my friends and family never complain about being taste testers.

What started as a tough break has turned into a career I love, building something that brings people together around good food and great company. That’s what barbecue is all about.

If you’re looking for a smoker that’s built with heart, grit, and fire-tested experience — you’re in the right place.