Hey Joe, welcome back! Good to see you again!
Replacing the element isn't hard. You'll need a Phillips screwdriver and a 9/16" wrench.
1. Remove the back panel and all the insulation (wear gloves - fiberglass).
2. Remove the two Phillips screws that hold the cover plate, over the element (you'll see what I'm talking about, with the back off.) The screw heads are on the back inside panel of the smoker, and you'll see two nuts inside the back panel behind the smoker. A helper to hold the screwdriver, on the inside, really helps with this! This plate is caulked, at the top; just peel it loose when you take the screws out.
3. Remove the 2 Phillips screws that hold the power leads to the element, and the 2 9/16" nuts that hold the element in place.
4. Installation is reverse of the above.
Let me know if you run into any snags!