Cajun Express Smoker CES-4 User manual

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“Cajun Cooker Hall of Fame” “Cajun Cooker Hall of Fame”
“Cajun Fryer “ Cook like a PRO
Every Time. Featuring sizes From
2-1/2 Gal to 12 Gal.
“Smokin’ Cajun Grill “ The Most
versatile grill on the market. Slow
cook/smoke at 250° or Sear at 750°
and all temps in between!
“Cajun Bayou Broiler“ Cook Steaks
like all the High End Steakhouses do!
Sear your Steaks at 1000°for
Professionally cook Steak!
“Cajun Express Smoker“ The fastest
smoker around! With the Cajun
Express cook multiple Racks of Baby
Back Ribs in 35 Minutes!
Models
CES-4, CES-6, CES-9
WARNING
READ AND FOLLOW ALL WARNINGS
AND INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL
TO AVOID PERSONAL INJURY OR
PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Operating Manual For The
Made
in the
U.S.A

2
Table of Contents
1. IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS....................................... 3
2. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS……………………...…....5
3. PROPER MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS ................ 6
4. PROPER LIGHTING INSTRUCTIONS ......................... 7
5. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS …………………..9
6. GAS LEAK TEST ......................................................... 11
7. ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS SMOKER……….……….12
8. HOW TO USE BOTTLE HOOKS…………………………19
9. ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS CES 6/9 STAND ........... 20
11. Recipes ……………………………………………………. 27
R & V Works
304 Fincher Creek Rd.
Homer, LA 71040
Office - [phone] Fax - [phone]
Toll Free - 1(800)908-3037 After Hours - [phone]
E-mail - Adm[email protected]
27
EXCLUDED. CUSTOMER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE PURCHASE PRICE
CHARGED IS BASED UPON THE LIMITATIONS CONTAINED IN THE WAR-
RANTY SET OUT ABOVE. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE SXCLU-
SION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQWNTIAL DAMAGES.
SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY
ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.

26
fixed by self-repair we will repair or replace the unit. At the cust-
omer’s expense, the customer will first ship the covered product to
R& V Works for repair or replacement. R & V Works will then ship
the repaired or replacement covered product back to the customer
at R & V Works expense.
 After a product warranty expires, spare parts are available for pur-
chase. R & V Works will have parts available for products for as
many as five years after R & V Works discontinues the product.
What we will not do.
This Limited Warranty does not apply to expendable or consumable parts and
does not extend to any product from which the Cajun Express Smoker Identi-
fication Name Plate has been removed or that has been damaged or ren-
dered defective (a) as a result of accident, misuse, abuse, contamination,
improper or inadequate maintenance, or other external causes; (b) by opera-
tion outside the usage parameters stated in the user documentation that
shipped with the product; (c) by improper site preparation or maintenance; (d)
from loss or damage in transit; or (e) by modification or service by anyone
other than R& V Works authorized service provider.
What you must do to keep the warranty in effect.
It is possible to void the warranty on an R & V Works product. Any failure
caused by a third-party component will not be covered by warranty.
Normal responsibility of the buyer
 Setup and operating the appliance according to directions.
 Reasonable care of product to prevent rust or oxidation from occur-
ring.
 Operating appliances at appropriate temperatures.
 Storing of product after use.
What you must do to get service.
To receive service on your R & V Works product you can contact us at 1-800-
908-3037. Have the model number and proof of purchase available when
you talk to a representative.
How state laws relate to this warranty.
THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE LIMITED IN DURATION, SET OUT
ABOVE. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG
AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT
APPLY TO YOU.
ANY LIABILITY FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAM-
AGES ARISING FROM THE FAILURE OF THE CAJUN EXPRESS SMOKER
TO COMPLY WITH THIS WARRANTY OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY IS
3
IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
WE WANT YOU TO ASSEMBLE AND USE YOUR “CAJUN EXPRESS
SMOKER” AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE.
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY WARNINGS AND INSTRUC-
TIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE ASSEMBLING AND OPERATING YOUR
SMOKER.
 Always use caution when lighting smoker. Crack open the needle valve
and ignite through the oblong hole in the back of the smoker with a long
stem trigger propane lighter. Do not allow the gas to build up in burner tray.
If smoker does not ignite within 3 seconds, close needle valve and wait 1
minute before attempting to light the smoker. Not doing this may cause an
explosion and may lead to personal injury or property damage.
 Always use caution when placing food on smoker. Be careful to never
touch smoker surfaces or drop food on smoker.
 Only use this smoker on a hard, level, noncombustible, stable surface
(concrete, ground, etc.) capable of supporting the weight of the smoker.
 Do not use this smoker for other than its intended purpose.
 For outdoor use only. Do not operate smoker indoors or in an enclosed
area. In windy weather, place smoker in an outdoor area that is protected
from the wind, with the smoker facing the wind.
 The smoker door will be extremely hot during use. Use caution when open-
ing smoker door. Always wear oven mitts or gloves to protect your hands
from burns. Avoid touching hot surfaces.
 Use caution and protective clothing when opening smoker door to avoid
escaping heat and steam.
 Never operate this appliance within 10 feet (3.05m) of any structure, com-
bustible material or other gas cylinder

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 Never operate this appliance within 25 feet (7.5m) of any flammable liquid.
 If a fire should occur, keep away from the appliance and immediately call
your fire department. Do not attempt to extinguish an oil or grease fire with
water. Failure to follow the instructions could result in a fire or explosion
that could cause property damage, personal injury or death.
 Place smoker in an area where children and pets cannot come into contact
with unit. Close supervision is necessary when smoker is in use. Do not
leave smoker unattended when in use. Heated liquids remain at scalding
temperatures long after the cooking process. Never touch cooking appli-
ance until liquids have cooled to 115°F or less.
 Never move smoker when it is in use.
 Use caution when assembling and operating your smoker to avoid scrapes
or cuts from sharp edges of metal parts.
 After each use, clean and dry the smoker thoroughly and reapply a light
coat of nonstick cooking oil to the inside and water trays. Grates are
stainless steel and will not rust. Cover the smoker to protect it from the
weather.
 Use caution when lifting or moving smoker to prevent strains and back inju-
ries. Moving smoker may require the help of an additional person.
 We advise that a fire extinguisher be on hand. Refer to your local authority
to determine proper size and type of fire extinguisher.
 Accessory attachments not manufactured by R & V Works for these prod-
ucts are not recommended and may lead to personal injury or property
damage.
 Store the smoker out of reach of children and in a safe location when not in
use.
 Do not attempt to service smoker other than normal maintenance as
explained in the "Proper Care & Maintenance" section of this manual.
Major repairs can be authorized by R & V Works only.
 Caution! Make sure to secure the propane tank to the smoker pedestal by
rotating the tank 1/4 turn so that the top ring engages the Tank Retainer.
 Properly dispose of all packaging material.
 Use caution when transporting the smoker. Make sure you tie down the
smoker so it will not move. Unit is top heavy.
USE CAUTION AND COMMON SENSE WHEN OPERATING YOUR
SMOKER.
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Exclusive Remedy
TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS, THESE
TERMS AND CONDITIONS CONSTITUTE THE COMPLETE AND EXCLU-
SIVE WARRANTY AGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND R & V WORKS RE-
GARDING THE R & V WORKS PRODUCT YOU HAVE PURCHASED. THESE
TERMS AND CONDITIONS SUPERCEDE ANY PRIOR AGREEMENTS OR
REPRESENTATIONS- INCLUDING REPRESENTATIONS MADE IN R & V
WORKS SALES LITERATURE OR ADVICE GIVEN TO YOU BY R & V
WORKS OR AN AGENT OR EMPLOYEE OF R & V WORKS —THAT MAY
HAVE BEEN MADE IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR PURCHASE OF THE R &
V WORKS PRODUCT..
No change to the conditions of this Limited Warranty is valid unless it is made in
writing and signed by an authorized representative of R & V Works.
Limitation of Liability
IF YOUR R & V WORKS PRODUCT FAILS TO WORK AS WARRANTED
ABOVE, R & V WORKS MAXIMUM LIABILITY UNDER THIS LIMITED WAR-
RANTY IS EXPRESSLY LIMITED TO THE LESSER OF THE PRICE YOU
HAVE PAID FOR THE PRODUCT OR THE COST OF REPAIR OR REPLACE-
MENT OF ANY COMPONENT OR STRUCTURAL MATERIALS THAT MAL-
FUNCTION OR FAIL IN CONDITIONS OF NORMAL USE.
Limited Warranty Period
The Limited Warranty Period for an R & V Works Product is a specified, fixed
period commencing on the date of purchase. The date on your sales receipt is
the date of purchase unless R & V Works or your reseller informs you otherwise
in writing.
What we will do to correct problems.
The following information pertains to the types of support that is available and
can be used to correct any problem with one of R & V Works’ products.
 Self-repair
 Parts-only
 Unit replacement
The following list provides more detail about each of the service delivery types:
Self-repair service provides the customer with remote diagnosis and remote
repair. R & V Works will ship any part to the customer that is necessary to re-
pair a defect. The customer will be responsible for installing the necessary
parts and for returning any unused parts and defective part to R & V Works. All
cost for parts and shipping are paid by R & V Works.
 Parts-only service provides replacement parts at no charge. If the
product has a defective part within the coverage of this warranty we
will provide a replacement part at not cost to the customer.
 Unit replacement includes remote diagnosis and if a covered product
has defect that is under warranty and cannot be replaced or

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Limited Warranty
What this warranty covers.
R & V Works Products Duration
Components and accessories One-year limited warranty
Structural Materials and Workmanship 5 Year limited warranty
General Terms
This R & V Works Limited Warranty gives you, the customer, express limited
warranty rights from R & V Works, the manufacturer. In addition, you may
also have other legal rights under applicable local law or special written
agreement with R & V Works.
This warranty remains in force for one-year on components and accessories
and for 5 years on structural materials and workmanship, to the original pur-
chaser, from the date of purchase.
What this warranty does not cover.
R & V Works does not warrant that operation of this product will be uninter-
rupted or error-free. R & V Works is not responsible for damage that occurs
as a result of your failure to follow the instruction intended for the R & V
Works Product.
This Limited Warranty does not apply to expendable or consumable parts and
does not extend to any product from which the Cajun Express Smoker identi-
fication Name Plate has been removed or that has been damaged or ren-
dered defective (a) as a result of accident, misuse, abuse, contamination,
improper or inadequate maintenance, or other external causes; (b) by opera-
tion outside the usage parameters stated in the user documentation that
shipped with the product; (c) by improper site preparation or maintenance; (d)
from loss or damage in transit; or (e) by modification or service by anyone
other than R& V Works authorized service provider.
Warranty Conditions
The following information pertains to typical warranty coverage.
 Warranty terms and conditions provide repair or replacement (at the
discretion of the manufacture of defects in the manufacturer’s mate-
rial or workmanship. The warranty does not protect against acciden-
tal damage, loss, acts of nature, or any other event that did not oc-
cur during the manufacture of the product.
 When R & V Works repairs a product, the repair may be completed
with new or previously used products, with parts equivalent to new in
performance and reliability.
5
Cooking Instructions for the
Cajun Express Smoker
Cajun Express Smoker
Cajun Express Smoker
1. Place a small amount of wood chips in the chip tray. If you use large
amounts of chips your food can have a very heavy smoke taste be-
cause the smoke does not escape.
2. Line the drip pan with aluminum foil—this makes clean up easy.
3. Fill the 6” water bucket with water until water runs out of the weep
hole.
4. Attach the water bucket to the “J” bolts.
5. Place the Nylon hose attached to the weep hole into a catch bucket.
This will help keep oily excess water from spilling directly onto your
deck/floor.
Lighting Instructions
1. Attach hose to propane tank
2. Close needle valve
3. Open tank valve very slowly
4. Make sure the Chimney cover is completely
open.
5. Crack open the needle valve while holding a long stem lighter/ striker
thru the oblong hole in the back of the smoker.
6. Light the Propane flowing out of the inline burner.
7. Increase gas for preheating, make sure the door is latched. Be sure
not to let the temperatures rise too high. Temperatures above 450°
can damage the door seal.
7. As the temperature increases, the water bucket will “perk” approxi
mately 6 to 15 times per minute. If perking action does not occur—
check the following:
A. Check Door Latch
B. Make sure water is in the water bucket
C. Make sure the Latch is adjusted so that a secure seal is
formed around the door
8. Monitor the temperature during cooking process, do not allow the
temperature to exceed 400°
Always use caution when adding wood chips! All surfaces in cooker
will be HOT!
While hickory, apple wood and mesquite wood chips are often favored
due to their aromatic qualities, some avid grillers report success with
the wood from any fruit or nut tree, especially cherry and pecan.

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Loading Food into the
Cajun Express Smoker
Cajun Express Smoker
Cajun Express Smoker
1. Open Door—Stand Clear, Heat and Smoke will escape upon opening
door. The latch has a secondary retainer to prevent door from abruptly
opening.
2. Use leather gloves of hook to pull out grates. Load food onto grates and
push grate into smoker and close door.
3. Monitor temperature closely for first 10 minutes. Adjust gas flow to main-
tain 325°to 350°. Check temperature about 5 to 8 Minutes to help main-
tain 350°.
4. Consult cooking times chart for amount of times chart for recommended
cooking time. Times may vary slightly according to size of food.
5. Open Door- Stand Clear, Heat and Smoke will escape upon opening door.
6. Use leather gloves or hook to pull out grates
PROPER CARE AND MAINTENANCE
The current propane tanks are equipped with a safety valve (OPD Valve) that
restricts the output of the propane in case the hose is cut or burned. If this valve
closes you will only get a small yellow flame.
To reset the OPD Valve;
 Close the tank valve.
 Remove the POL nut.
 Close the needle valve.
 Reattach the POL nut.
 Open the tank valve very slowly, approximately 1 1/2 to 2 turns.
 Open the needle valve and relight the “Cajun Express Smoker”
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Step 4
1. Place Smoker Assembly onto the top of the
Smoker Stand as shown.
2. Align Holes in Smoker with the holes in Stand. 3. Place 4 ea. 3/8” x 1” Bolts through holes and
screw 4 ea. Nuts onto Bolts
4. Tighten Securely.

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Step 3
1. Position Front Axle to the inside of the Leg
Weldment as Shown.
2. Secure Axle to Leg using 3 ea. 5/16” x 3/4”
screws and 3 ea. 5/16” Nuts. Tighten all nut securely.
3. Repeat step 1 and 2 for the Rear Axle. 4. Slide 8” Wheel onto the Axle Stud and screw
1/2” Locknut onto axle stud. Tighten Lock Nut until Wheel in secure but still turns freely
7
It is recommended to keep the inside of your Cajun Express clean and free of
excessive amounts of grease. After cleaning your Smoker be sure to spray
the inside of the Smoker with Cooking Spray to prevent surface rusting.
Be sure to Clean the Water Tank Before each use. During the operation of
the Smoker fluids from this tank WILL BE DRAWN INTO THE COOKING
CHAMBER! This action will help keep our food moist and flavorful. You can
use other liquids in the Tank besides water to enhance your foods.
Operate ONLY in well ventilated area.
PROPER LIGHTING LOCATION AND WARNINGS
As with any gas appliance, care should be given when lighting your Smoker.
Never use a standard kitchen match or cigarette light to light the burner. Al-
ways use a long stem lighter or a long fire place match, this will allow you to
keep your hands completely clear of the mixing chamber.
Always use caution when lighting smoker. Crack open the needle valve and
ignite through the oblong hole with a long stem trigger propane lighter. Do not
allow the gas to build up. If smoker does not ignite within in 3 seconds, close
needle valve and wait 1 minute before attempting to light the smoker. Never
place your any part of your body in over the top of the exhaust .

8
ALWAYS USE A LONG STEM LIGHTER
WHEN LIGHTING GRILL!
NEVER USE A CIGARETTE LIGHTER
OR A KITCHEN MATCH!
NEVER LIGHT THE SMOKER AT THE OXYGEN MIXING
PORTS! ALWAYS LIGHT THE SMOKER THROUGH THE
SLOT PROVIDED ON THE REAR OF THE SMOKER!
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Step 2
1. Position Side Plate at about the mid point of the
legs on one side on the stand assembly as shown.
2. Plate the Back-up Angle so that the angle side
without holes is to the outside of the leg weldment. Slide 4 ea 1/4 x 1 1/2 bolt through the hole in the Side Plate and the Back-up Plate. Screw1/4” Nuts onto the Bolt and Tighten Securely.
3. Repeat step 1 and 2 for the other side plate.

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Step 1
1. Position Leg to the outside of the Upper Stand Frame as Shown. 2. Secure leg to Frame using 3 ea. 5/16” x 3/4” screws and 3 ea.
5/16” Nuts. Be sure to leave nuts finger tight for the time being.
3. Repeat step 1 and 2 for the other three legs.
CES-6 and CES-9
Stand Assembly
9
Frequently Asked Questions
About The
“ CAJUN EXPRESS SMOKER ”
1. How much water do I use to fill the Water Tank? You will need
to fill the water tank until water comes out of the drain tube. This measures
about 5 pints of water or about 80 oz.
2. Do you have to use water in the Water Tank and will it af-
fect the flavor of the foods I am cooking? No, you can use any
liquid or mixture you wish. Yes, this will affect the flavor of the meats you are
smoking. As the smoker cooks it will draw moisture from the water tank back
into the cooking chamber to moisturize your meats. So if you use lets say apple
juice in the water tank you will start tasting hints of apple in your Brisket, Ribs
ect…
3. How much and what type of wood chips should I use? We
recommend that you use wood chips and not chunks of wood. For a standard
cooking, approximately one to two hours, you will need to fill the wood chip tray
about 1/2 full. Remember that with this smoker, the smoker is not allowed to
freely escape from the cooking chamber, rather it is trapped inside the cooking
chamber and is only allowed to escape when you open the door. The more
wood you use the heavier the smoke flavor you will achieve. From my experi-
ence when I used several large chunks of wood, several people thought the
smoke flavor was too strong.
4. How long do I preheat the smoker? It should only take about 10 to
15 minutes to bring the smoker up to temperature. Care should be taken during
this period to be sure not to get the smoker too Hot. Temperatures above 400°
could damage door seal.
5. What is so different about this Smoker? Most smokers cook
meat with very low temperatures and a lot of wood. This method of cooking
which can produce very good food, takes very long cooking times.
The Cajun Express Smoker changes the game. The first thing you need to
notice is the rubber door seal, when latched into place this provides a air tight
cooking chamber. The only place for air to escape is through the 1” pipe on
the rear of the smoker. This pipes leads to the water tank. When you fill this
tank with liquids, it creates a liquid pressure regulator. When you light the
burner and heat the air in the smoker the air will expand causing pressure. This
pressure will build until it overcomes the resistance from the column of water in
the water bucket, then the smoker will perk. The net result of this is that the
smoker will build pressure, compressing the meat, then when the smoker perks
a momentary vacuum is created which in effect pulls the meat apart. This ac-
tion is repeated up to 20 times a minute. In the end, because the meat you are
cooking is being process with pressure, higher cooking temperature are used
which dramatically reduces cooking times, but provides moist tender meat.
6. What temperature should I cook at? Using the process described
above you will need to cook at 350°

10
Frequently Asked Questions
About The
“ CAJUN EXPRESS SMOKER ”
7. Are larger sizes of this smoker offered? Yes there are multiple
sizes of the Cajun Express Smoker. First is the CES-4, which can cook up
to 4 racks of Baby Back Ribs, 2 ea trimmed 5 to 9 lb Beef Briskets, 3 ea 3lb
chickens or 1 ea 15 lb. turkey.
The CES-6 will handle up to 6 racks of Baby Back Ribs, 4 ea 5 to 9 lb trimmed
Beef Briskets. And the CES-9 will handle up to 9 racks of Baby Back Ribs.
8. What is the best way to add BBQ Sauce to the meats that I
am Smoking? It is best to apply your BBQ Sauce at the end of your cook-
ing cycle. Start by smoking your meats as you normally would, Let them
smoke until the last 10 to 15 minutes of cooking time. Open the smoker up and
apply BBQ Sauces. Close the smoker and let the meat finish smoking. This
should provide enough time for the BBQ Sauce to cook into and caramelize
onto the meats.
10. How do I clean this smoker? Start by removing all of the Grates,
Drip Pan and Chip Tray. The Grates are sized as such they can fit into your
dish washer. Simply give then a general cleaning with a nylon scrubbing pad
(do not use steel wool as it will leave carbon steel particles will cause surface
rust) then place grates into the dishwasher for final sanitizing. Remove the
grease and dripping from the drip tray and give it a general washing.
With a scraper remove all excess grease from the inside of the smoker. Then
using dish soap wash the inside of the smoker. If you choose to use steel wool
or a nylon scrubber pad be sure to spray the inside of the smoker with a general
cooking spray to prevent rusting.
The water bucket should also to removed and the inside should be completely
sanitized as well as the inner tube to the water regulator.
11. How long can I cook on one bottle of propane? We have not
as of yet actually timed the length of time a bottle will last with the smoker. We
have done several cooking which lasted a couple days and not had to change
the bottle. Our best guess would have to be 10 to 12 hours on a single 5 gal
propane tank.
12. What materials is this smoker made of? As with all R&V prod-
ucts, the Cajun Express Smoker is built to provide many years of service. The
outer shell of the smoker is 14 ga carbon steel. Then inner shell is 10 ga Steel
and the door assembly in 1/4 plate. The Cajun Express Smoker is also avail-
able in Stainless Steel.
13. How do I change from Propane to Natural Gas? Contact
R&V Works and we will ship you the parts needed to operate this product with
Natural Gas. You may have to work with your Natural Gas Supplier for proper
plumbing and to achieve Gas pressures required to operate this Gas appliance.
19

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11
Assembly Instructions
The next twelve pages (12 - 23) contain the Assembly Instructions for
your “Cajun Express Smoker”. Please follow the instructions carefully and in the
order shown. Failure to do this may result in damage to your Smoker and may
lead to personal injury and property damage.

12
If you purchased a CES-6 or CES-9 Use the instruction starting on page 20 The Smoker assembly is the same for all size smokers!
17

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