Metal Thickness on a BBQ

[fleagle]

Looking to get a ProQ Trailblazer or Maverick and have been told the mild steel is 1 to 1.2mm thick.

As I would be buying without seeing one in the flesh is this thick enough or will the piece of kit feel flimsy?

Cheers for the replies in advance

Fleagle

[All Weather Griller]

Personally I would want a thicker gauge on the firebox, It does sound thin, but I'm guessing unless it's a Cactus Jack or similiar most will be the same thickness. As someone has already eluded to on the forum they probably all come from the same factory in China.

It is likely that the Maverick and the Trailblazer are simiiliar iterations to the CharBroil, Landmann Tennessee or other generics (http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/26755 ... moker.html).

They all serve you well, but I think you may need some mods to seal the doors, reposition the exhaust, perhaps a heat blanket for the body if cooking in winter etc.

Is there anywhere you can go to have a look at one? I know Makro have some generics in.

[fleagle]

Mmm interesting, is that what I would expect on that type of BBQ and at that price then?

Is there a similar style bbq available that is a bit beefier?

Fleagle

[All Weather Griller]

I think it is probably about the right gauge for the price of the unit, as I say there are many variants of similiar models. Although, I know Macs BBQ do tend to try and have their units as good to go from the box as they can so they may be (pre-modded) and to be fair most people really enjoy modding and beefing up their units.

I haven't seen any of their units except the bullet range and the Monolith so I can't say for sure. What I do know is that when I went to the outdoor living show last year all the units within that price range were about that thickness. Don't take my word for it, if you can find somewhere that stocks them and have a play.

My mail wasn't intended to put you you off, just an observation.

Cheers

Adie

[fleagle]

Hasn't put me off just confuses me more!!!

I like the idea of the offset but don't really want a weber which I know a lot of people like.

I'm after something that will give me a few different possibilities for cooking and to take it to a different level. So all advice and comments is greatly received.

[Steve]

If you're going to go down the offset route, I think you might be better spending more cash and buying something like a cactus Jack or a Rumo.

Offsets take a bit more nursing than bullets so you want something made from nice thick steel that will cook evenly and stay fairly stable. You're going to be feeding it every hour or so anyway so you don't want to be fighting sings too. Just my 2p

[fleagle]

Thanks for that a bit pricy but then you get what you pay for.

May have to go back to he drawing board and rethink what i'm after. May even stick with gas or even buy a weber!!

I currently have an ancient outback hunter that's showing it's age.

Any more thoughts and ideas greatly received.

[Steve]

Just wondered, what's the beef with Weber?

If you want a bullet but not a Weber, ProQ is always an option, if you want flexibility, then a kettle and a bullet is one way to go or one of these cheap ceramics from Fleabay. One of te guys on here has just bought one and it seems to be working out for him.

[fleagle]

I'm not quite sue what my beef with webers is. I think it goes back to a friend trying to do a beer can chicken and there wasn't enough height for it. Maybe that was him! I also like he swing away warming racks you get on some as well as the hinged roasting hood.

I think I'm being picky that's why I liked the look of the maverick it seemed to fit the bill but still not sure about the quality.

Forgetting the gas/ charcoal issue how do people get on smoking on a gas BBQ or is that a know know in these circles

Now having second thoughts and looking at getting a new outback hunter, if only someone in East yorkshire had a trailblazer

[keith157]

I'm not quite sue what my beef with webers is. I think it goes back to a friend trying to do a beer can chicken and there wasn't enough height for it. Maybe that was him! I also like he swing away warming racks you get on some as well as the hinged roasting hood.

I think I'm being picky that's why I liked the look of the maverick it seemed to fit the bill but still not sure about the quality.

Forgetting the gas/ charcoal issue how do people get on smoking on a gas BBQ or is that a know know in these circles

Now having second thoughts and looking at getting a new outback hunter, if only someone in East yorkshire had a trailblazer

Your friend probably put his beer can chicken on the grill rack rather than on the charcoal rack which is around 5 inches lower.