Brown Sausage, Ground Hamburger and the bacon. Sauté the chopped onions with the meat. Break up the bacon into bite size pieces.
Place the beans, condiments, brown sugar, spices, vinegar and meat into the slow cooker. You can hold off on the bacon if you wish. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Can stir on occasion to keep from scorching if needed.
If you've waited on the bacon I would fold it in, in the last hour. Either will taste great, but waiting will insure the bacon will still look great.