Grill recommendations?

TxQGuy · 04-17-2019, 04:00 PM

Hey y'all!

For the past decade plus, I have done all of my grilling on an Old Smokey (the Jumbo 22”). It’s simple, reliable, and has never let me down. I vertical grilled two HOSS chickens last weekend and still had enough room on there to direct grill a dozen burger patties and some sausage. I’ve done a whole rack of spares and eight strip steaks at once! Three packs of hot dogs and a bunch of fajitas? No prob! Matter of fact, I see no reason why a man would need anything more than this rugged, bare-bones, $75 workhorse of a grill. Yup. No reason to spend any more money or add another grill to the collection. That wouldn’t be practical. Or necessary.

Just kidding! I wouldn’t be posting here with all of y'all if I didn’t want some serious enabling.

That said, what are some good recommendations for a grill? I’m not looking to spend too too much, maybe a couple hundred at most (even that might get me the hairy eyeball from my better half

). My preferences are as follows:

1) Large cooking surface (both wide as well as tall…I love vertical roasting whole chickens). I believe the Smokey is 21”, so I’ll set that as the minimum diameter.
2) Charcoal/wood only…no propane. No disrespect to Mr. Hank Hill intended.
3) Durable
4) Cook area can accommodate a good sized coal bed. My favorite way of grilling is to build a big ol’ bed of lump mixed with plenty of mesquite chunks.

I have to admit, typing this out makes me feel guilty. Like I’m cheating on my Old Smokey. I half expect to be woken up in the middle of the night tonight to my beloved stubby silver grill with tears running down it’s tarnished greasy sides, holding up my phone with one handle and asking me “Who the &^$%@ is Weber?”

BKING! · 04-17-2019, 05:14 PM

For a budget of a couple hundred I’d either build a drum or get a wsm or a kettle. You can grill and smoke on all three of these. Or you could look for a used grill Craig’s list or something

SmittyJonz · 04-17-2019, 05:26 PM

Triple your budget and get an assassin grill ......

SmittyJonz · 04-17-2019, 05:27 PM

Or an old country cantina XL grill at Academy for $399

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM3_YLXShWA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFGMZOFj2UY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gkHKD0WRw0

SmittyJonz · 04-17-2019, 05:35 PM

HEB Has a cheap ass basic barrel grill made out of a drum for $89
Doesn’t come with a charcoal grate in the bottom - I would add one - you can make good food on these things but they only last maybe 2 -3 years

https://www.heb.com/product-detail/a...rel-grill/6330

TxQGuy · 04-17-2019, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BKING!

For a budget of a couple hundred I’d either build a drum or get a wsm or a kettle. You can grill and smoke on all three of these. Or you could look for a used grill Craig’s list or something

It's hard to tell from their website...do you figure a kettle would fit an upright chicken with the lid closed? I can't really eyeball it from the pictures.

TxQGuy · 04-17-2019, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmittyJonz

Or an old country cantina XL grill at Academy for $399

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM3_YLXShWA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFGMZOFj2UY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gkHKD0WRw0

Oh man!! Those are purdy! I've always like their offsets but never really checked out their grills.

EyeBurnEverything · 04-17-2019, 05:48 PM

I have a Trail Embers 3 in 1 i got for $100 at TSC, it works great in the summer, not so much in the freezing winters, but i doubt a WSM would work any better here. $100 vs $400 is kinda a no brainer. Also has really thick Stainless Steel doors ( two instead of one on the WSM) great for stoking coals on the bottom door and tending to the water pan or middle grate on the top door.

SmittyJonz · 04-17-2019, 05:50 PM

I do not remember if the Cantina Grill has a charcoal grate in the bottom - I would add one if not - grills will last longer keeping the coals n the fire off the metal directly. Of course the number one thing is to clean the ash out after a cook so that it doesn’t suck moisture out of the air/ mix with rain water and rot out your cooker......

SmittyJonz · 04-17-2019, 05:57 PM

Then there’s this: https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/s...d.php?t=269719

Although it’s pretty light gauge (like 18 gauge maybe 16) they should’ve built it out of 14 gauge - the charcoal tray is a little flimsy and jicky.........

SmokyDick · 04-17-2019, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxQGuy

It's hard to tell from their website...do you figure a kettle would fit an upright chicken with the lid closed? I can't really eyeball it from the pictures.

Get a vortex with the kettle and put the chicken on the charcoal rack surrounded by coals.

04-17-2019, 04:00 PM	#1
TxQGuy Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-01-19 Location: Texas Name/Nickname : Big C	Grill recommendations? Hey y'all! For the past decade plus, I have done all of my grilling on an Old Smokey (the Jumbo 22”). It’s simple, reliable, and has never let me down. I vertical grilled two HOSS chickens last weekend and still had enough room on there to direct grill a dozen burger patties and some sausage. I’ve done a whole rack of spares and eight strip steaks at once! Three packs of hot dogs and a bunch of fajitas? No prob! Matter of fact, I see no reason why a man would need anything more than this rugged, bare-bones, $75 workhorse of a grill. Yup. No reason to spend any more money or add another grill to the collection. That wouldn’t be practical. Or necessary. Just kidding! I wouldn’t be posting here with all of y'all if I didn’t want some serious enabling. That said, what are some good recommendations for a grill? I’m not looking to spend too too much, maybe a couple hundred at most (even that might get me the hairy eyeball from my better half ). My preferences are as follows: 1) Large cooking surface (both wide as well as tall…I love vertical roasting whole chickens). I believe the Smokey is 21”, so I’ll set that as the minimum diameter. 2) Charcoal/wood only…no propane. No disrespect to Mr. Hank Hill intended. 3) Durable 4) Cook area can accommodate a good sized coal bed. My favorite way of grilling is to build a big ol’ bed of lump mixed with plenty of mesquite chunks. I have to admit, typing this out makes me feel guilty. Like I’m cheating on my Old Smokey. I half expect to be woken up in the middle of the night tonight to my beloved stubby silver grill with tears running down it’s tarnished greasy sides, holding up my phone with one handle and asking me “Who the &^$%@ is Weber?”

04-17-2019, 05:14 PM	#2
BKING! is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-26-18 Location: Talbott, TN Name/Nickname : Brent	For a budget of a couple hundred I’d either build a drum or get a wsm or a kettle. You can grill and smoke on all three of these. Or you could look for a used grill Craig’s list or something __________________ Current:Mak ⭐️ general, Weber kettle 26, camp chef 900 griddle

04-17-2019, 05:26 PM	#3
SmittyJonz somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-17-13 Location: Burleson Tx	Triple your budget and get an assassin grill ...... __________________ NO Such Thing as Over Smoked - just Over Dirty Smoked.............

04-17-2019, 05:27 PM	#4
SmittyJonz somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-17-13 Location: Burleson Tx	Or an old country cantina XL grill at Academy for $399 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM3_YLXShWA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFGMZOFj2UY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gkHKD0WRw0 __________________ NO Such Thing as Over Smoked - just Over Dirty Smoked............. Last edited by SmittyJonz; 04-17-2019 at 05:35 PM..

04-17-2019, 05:35 PM	#5
SmittyJonz somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-17-13 Location: Burleson Tx	HEB Has a cheap ass basic barrel grill made out of a drum for $89 Doesn’t come with a charcoal grate in the bottom - I would add one - you can make good food on these things but they only last maybe 2 -3 years https://www.heb.com/product-detail/a...rel-grill/6330 __________________ NO Such Thing as Over Smoked - just Over Dirty Smoked............. Last edited by SmittyJonz; 04-17-2019 at 05:47 PM..

04-17-2019, 05:48 PM	#8
EyeBurnEverything is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-04-18 Location: In the Matrix Name/Nickname : Candice	I have a Trail Embers 3 in 1 i got for $100 at TSC, it works great in the summer, not so much in the freezing winters, but i doubt a WSM would work any better here. $100 vs $400 is kinda a no brainer. Also has really thick Stainless Steel doors ( two instead of one on the WSM) great for stoking coals on the bottom door and tending to the water pan or middle grate on the top door. __________________ Timberline 1300, Rec Tec Controlled Pit Boss 820D, Weber Master touch, MES30, Fireboard Extreme

04-17-2019, 05:50 PM	#9
SmittyJonz somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-17-13 Location: Burleson Tx	I do not remember if the Cantina Grill has a charcoal grate in the bottom - I would add one if not - grills will last longer keeping the coals n the fire off the metal directly. Of course the number one thing is to clean the ash out after a cook so that it doesn’t suck moisture out of the air/ mix with rain water and rot out your cooker...... __________________ NO Such Thing as Over Smoked - just Over Dirty Smoked.............

04-17-2019, 05:57 PM	#10
SmittyJonz somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-17-13 Location: Burleson Tx	Then there’s this: https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/s...d.php?t=269719 Although it’s pretty light gauge (like 18 gauge maybe 16) they should’ve built it out of 14 gauge - the charcoal tray is a little flimsy and jicky......... __________________ NO Such Thing as Over Smoked - just Over Dirty Smoked.............