Thank you for this video! I spent 2 hour trying to figure out the directions, this was my first putting a grill together. After watching this video, it was smooth sailing. Saved me more frustration! Great video!
Don't underestimate your Char-Griller too quickly. I just bought my 2nd one less than an hour ago. My 1st one sat outside for about 13 years UNCOVERED summer and winter and I just noticed last week, the firebox was rusting out so I bought another one AND a cover.... lol. A few mods, like high heat sealant, among other things, will greatly improve your smoker. For the price, I think it's a great smoker.
Hi Buddy! Great information and makes me feel better about my purchase. I'll have to look into the high heat sealer for sure. Thanks for the comment and for watching!
I’ve had my char griller for 3 years now great for grilling or smoked meats don’t let the thin metal fool you I keep my cover on it still looks good as new
Hi Joseph! Yeah, I was very disappointed with the flimsiness of the product, but that is to be expected given the price and the country of manufacture. Well, we'll see how long it lasts. It is certainly working well so far. Thanks for watching!
Dear Sir, I bought one like this the other day, and your instructions were very helpful! I so much enjoyed your instructive video! And when I saw your T-shirt, I really had to laugh out loud! Sooo funny! Your video really helped me a great deal, so thank you, thank you, again, for this great instructive video, as it was very helpful, as said. Really Kudos for you, my friend. It is, the grill, an inexpensive one, but really serves its purpose, and my family really enjoy what I 'cook' broil and grill on it. Thanks so much again!!
This man is a national treasure! I came here not wanting to see a 30min video that should be a 3min video, only to be impressed by his dad powers. He might be the greatest dad in America! Excuse me while I write a follow up comment….
I’m giving this video a thumbs up for one major, major reason. I watch the whole video for this 1 reason. I honestly had no idea what the grease cup was. This is our 2nd Char Griller, the first is 8 yrs old, and just purchased a new today, with a cover. Thanks
I appreciate this video. I was putting my grill together with the directions and it was going well, but the video assistance was an added bonus. Thanks for your help!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the video. There's no way I could have put this together without the video. I wish I would have read the comments prior to assembly because I used the large cotter pins on the wheels and smaller ones on the top. They stick out but oh well I'm not taking it apart.
Bought this for my husbands birthday 5 years ago. He’s never covered it and it’s still good today. I just bought mine yesterday, on sale for 200 bucks (Labor Day sale). Great price from $379. I waited all of 2023 summer for this sale. I would say if you want this, buy it, it’s worth it, but do not buy it for more than $200-$230. Also I recommend buying the grill cover as well. Ours wasn’t flimsy at all. We actually tightened all of the nuts and bolts as we assembled the grill. Ours withstood a few horrible New York storms and has been outside for 5 years straight.
Do the nuts tighten all the way on the "warmer rack and the warmer rack just go thru the bolts with nothing holding them on...you didn't explain just showed it installed.
I hope you didn't underestimate it too quickly. I've had mine over 10 years. About 5 yrs ago I noticed a little rust, so I painted with Rustoleum spray paint. No problems since. Never got around to buying the cover and it has survived Ohio winters and even a tornado that tore down my fence on both sides. Great grill.
Hi Crystal Pepsie! Anything made by Chinese Communists I try not to buy. Unfortunately my wife ordered it but I would not have bought it if I know it was Chicom. It is holding up and I hope will last 20 years like my Brinkman did but I will definitely keep the cover on. Working fine so far... I just don't want to support Chicom for many many reasons as you may be aware of if you follow their practices.
You remind me of Hank Hill when you seen that it was made in China. Even though Hank wouldn’t approve of a charcoal grill. 😂 Thanks for the video I’ll try to assemble mines today.
Hi Don! Yeah, LOL, I see the comparison! I was sooo disappointed, I always try to #trynottobuyChicom! But, my wife likes the price points, so I can only try on my side.
12:29 i will not be using stock wheels for this. i will use falken azenis tires on some custom electric blue powder-coated rims. i most likely will need to lower the coils to enter in the smokyo drift. any tips for rim models?
Hi blue! I agree. The stock wheels are much to meh for the discriminating smoker/griller. If you are going with the Falken Azenis I would recommend a color scheme of Chicom tyranny red powder coat with a dark metallic Tiananmen hemoglobin red to celebrate the country of origin. That color scheme with the scent of smoking meat will conjure up images of that glorious day in Chicom history. As far as rim models, I recommend a Chicom brand to complete the ensemble.
You are most welcome! Yes, but I will let my professional driver do the fancy work. Hard to get my Tundra to drift since it is automatic trans... Billy Bob can get a Yugo to drift... take care and be safe out there.
My family just picked up this grill/smoker today based off how many positive reviews it had on the internet and I wasn't too impressed with the quality either. I am however looking forward to learning how to properly grill and smoke food the manual way instead of relying on faulty electronic pellet grills! What are your thoughts after breaking it in and actually cooking on it?
Hi tyhod123, the grill worked fine with burgers and I am most worried about the thing rusting out. So, I have the cover on it when not using it. We haven't used it enough for me to give a very thorough answer, but it seems to be doing ok so far. Charcoal works much better than our propane grill.
Thanks for the video. Quality wise is to be expected (not because is made in China as almost everything is) because everything is now made to last a whole less (to make us buy more). I haven't assembled mine yet as I am deciding where to set it up. I may have to buy the cover.
Hi DJ Lento Alicea, I agree that most merchandise is not made to last and the price reflects that for sure. I am still going to try like heck to never buy Chicom, but I know that is very hard to do, but over time, hopefully other countries will expand their manufacturing base and make higher quality merchandise than Chicom does. For major purchases, I try to buy near top quality (Stihl, Kubota, Toyota, etc.). Best of luck on your smoker and definitely get the cover to make it last a lot longer. Thanks for watching!
Homestead Pilgrim definitely will get the cover and as you said "if it lasts 5 years, it will be a win" I will start in this "smokin" process and hope to learn a lot. Maybe you should make a video down in time as an update on how it has served you. Have a great day.
How was it with your new char griller! I have one and the worst design ever is the ash pan being tack welded. As long as ash is dry I was able to dump and clean easy. The burger/dog/brat juices dripping on pan and mixing with ash caused a problem for me. During cooking that leftover would cause flair ups and ruah my cooking.I was not able to clean well under rack. I scraped as much as I could each time but finally bought a 22" weber for most of my grilling now too
It is doing well so far. I agree about the ash pan as I have that same issue. I have the unit on a slight incline to help the juices run down and out the grease trap and into a can... but, I still get the build up like you do. It is definitely an issue and does cause flare-ups! Thanks for watching!
Hi James, sure, I use the main box to grill all the time. I have two charcoal starter chimneys to get the charcoal burning then dump them into the main box. Great to get up to 400 degrees!
Absolutely! The fire box is mainly used for smoking (but can also grill if you want). I mainly use the main grill compartment for cooking. I just put the charcoal in that box and it works great.
Yes, you can cook in both boxes, the large box and you could also cook in the smaller one. The large box even has an ash pan for you to put charcoal on and you can lower or raised it to bring the heat to the grills. The design for smoking is that you would have a fire only in the small box and that would then smoke cook the meat in the larger box... that is smoking only in the large box, no fire in the large box. Good luck with your smoker!
my first one lasted 10 years and it was taken out by a 16" tree branch.my current one has been outside w/out a cover and I've had no issues with rust or paint burning off
I enjoyed the video. I’ve been trying to find one but currently they aren’t available. I’ve read that the paint burns off of the firebox. Did you find that to be an issue? Thanks.
I have a question since I've been smoking a while and have some knowledge. I've bought this smoker today but can I use it without the thin sheet of metal since I'm planning on using the side part of as a briket basket. I feel like that thin sheet of metal is unnecessary and harmful since you can control the moisture and temperature with water and air ventilation.
I’ve had this boxed up in my garage a few and just decided to put it together. Question: should I wash grease off with soap and water or spray with Pam and allow residues to burn off? How many times have you used it? What are your feelings thus far? Thanks for posting. This certainly helped me.
Hi Teem Playa! Don't wash the grease off, just spray with pam and burn if all off to season the smoker. We have used it a few times and it is performing well. I am satisfied with it but I know it won't last as long as my Brinkman did (17 years). It was cheap, so short lifespan is expected. Thanks for watching
Homestead Pilgrim what if anything did you do to address the gaps/spaces between the lid and grill “bottom”? I’ve read many posts about that interfering with the cooking temp remaining consistent.
I didn't notice gaps and the heat stayed consistent enough for me, better than the propane griller on our back porch. Charcoal is so much better in my opinion.
Homestead Pilgrim re: install of wheels and axle...the instructions call for the use of the 2 large pins but they stick out beyond the hub caps. In step 6 of the manual, they say to use the small pins. Did you use the small pins for the wheels and the large ones for step 6 (attaching the grill hood)?
No tools were included. Mostly some small wrenches but I hand tightened all the nuts and bolts and then used a power driver to do the final tightening to go a bit faster. Thanks for watching.
I'm looking at buying that smoker because it's the best my budget can afford. I thought your vid might give me a heads up on the build. I couldn't finish watching your vid. If you want a smoker to last, spend the big money. Stop whinning for heavens sake. I know what I'll get for my money and thats that. Your wife must be a wonderful lady and the time this build distracted you from annoying her must be priceless. God bless you angel. Don't know how she does it.
Hi Phil! Yeah, I guess my expectations were too high after having an American made smoker for so long. I'm trying to figure out how to NOT by Chicom... its very hard because they have taken over so much of US manufacturing... I guess that is what is coming through on the vid, my frustration in that regard. Thanks for watching (a little at least).
Hey Phil, I wish I would have waited, but this was my beautiful wife of 36 years purchasing it without my input, I'm still trying to convince her to not buy anything Chicom if we can at ALL help it. Next time (hopefully not too soon), I'll make sure to see and feel the smoker in person to make sure it is of acceptable quality. My brother has one of those really fancy high end smokers rectecgrills.com that uses pellets. MAN, that is incredible... but unless I hit the lottery, that is waaay out of my reach.... So, something in between next time. Thanks for watching!
I can already see me and my husband trying to put this together. We won't be putting together, Together, I will hide it in the shed and next time we bbq he'll ask when did we get this. Marriage saved.
You can get some sand paper and sand off all the old paint and then repaint it with high heat bbq paint with stop rust by rustoleum. It will not rust after repainting the metal.
Thanks! I had a Brinkman smoker that I did that with after 20 years of use. It worked well. Next time (should be real soon after this flimsy product dies) I'll get another Brinkman.
@@homesteadpilgrim I don't get why people complain about the cheapness of a product that is cheap to begin with. For someone who doesn't bbq often and has little space, and takes care of their product - this is perfect. Now if you bbq every other day or 3x a week every week, I wouldn't doubt that a cheap product like this would die out after 6 or 8 months, especially if you don't take care of it "because its a cheap product'.
I had an old, dead pecan tree fall in my backyard.... I could have paid to have it removed, but instead I broke it down myself, and got this smoker.... It seems like the reasonable thing to do! Setting it up now! It's my first time big girll smoker, and I've got plenty of great wood! Looking forward to seeing how you like it! Do you recommend burning off all the residue first before seasoning?
Hi Tina, windfall is a good thing with trees but only if they don't hit anything! Hope you get good use out of that wood. Yes, I would recommend burning off the residue first, then spray liberally with Pam cooking spray and burn again to season it. Enjoy your smoker!
OMG, I'm watching you, viewing myself doing the same operation as you did. I'm going to buy one of them, hoping to have a wonderful off set smoking experience. Unfortunately my budget only can afford one of this. I'll tell how it goes.
You doing way better then me teak me 3 hours and I’m not finished yet and the legs still shake and a bout that bottom greasy coup I bout sand in bottom inside and sand under the charcoal to catch the grease
Since posting, how have you liked this offset? I use my Weber for 90% everything but I need one for the occasional brisket so I think I can stretch its life span for a long time! Thanks for the upload.
I really like the offset for smoking, I've found no better method for smoking. Just be sure to have a cover on it or the very thin low quality gauge metal will rust for sure... and keep it seasoned to also prevent rust. Thanks for watching!
It is holding up fine so far, but if you have it outside exposed to the elements, you must purchase and use the cover as this unit will surely rust quickly without it.
Hi Dice, I wouldn't bet that you are the only one. Anything from Chicom is suspect for missing hardware, wrong hardware and defective hardware. Unfortunately, HD sources many items from Chicom. We bought patio lounge chairs from HD and one had no hardware included in the box....returned it. I'm preaching to anyone I know that Made in China is a big red flag warning that should be avoided at all costs. I know it is hard to avoid, but over time, we should overcome the Chicom trade issues. Thanks for watching!
Hi ALRULZ! No, I never did figure out the cosmolene-like substance slathered all over the griller for shipment. I hope our government is checking in any case given the health hazards found historically in with ChiCom products (Gypsum boards with poison, toys with lead paint, powdered milk with plastic fillers, pet food, pharma, on and on and on....). I gotta find a way to not buy ChiCom products. I know it is hard for so many reasons that I hope our government will remedy "with open eyes" to the unfair trade practices of that country. Maybe individually we can make a difference by not buying ChiCom.
Hi Avery, I guess the old saying of "you get what you pay for" is more than true here with this Griller... My regret is that it was made in Communist China. Try not to buy Chicom, even though it is hard at the current day and time.
Hi Todd, my opinion hasn't changed about the smoker. It is cheap and it is made that way. I don't think it will last but a few years given the thin gauge of the metal. If you are ok with a cheap smoker than this one should be ok. Once this rusts out I will be sure to get a higher quality smoker that will last.
@@homesteadpilgrim I respect your opinion I just got this for Christmas so I haven't used it yet but will Saturday but it'll take some time to see quality of it for me and this is my first smoker I'm used to little Walmart 22 inch charcoal grills so it's an upgrade
Hi Jamie! I didn't see that. I wouldn't use WD 40 inside the smoker as you will be cooking in there! Use pam cooking spray (my instructions said that) and light a good charcoal fire to burn it all out while seasoning it. Again, I wouldn't use WD 40 anywhere near the inside of the smoker where you will be cooking the food. Good luck with your smoker!
Please don't take this the wrong way. Just go to the website and check it out. You know you get what you pay for. If you want real wood flavor and temps that you can control. Made of heavy stainless steel. Yes it is also made in China but sold by a USA company out of Augusta GA with stellar customer service. They have several models and sizes available. www.RECTECGrills.com . It can't hurt to look at the website. Thanks, Ron.
Thanks for watching and that feedback, Ron. Yes, I learned a bit more on this purchase. My wife shopped on the home depot website and chose this model for me to pick up. I arrived at the HD and searched for a floor display model that I could touch and feel, but to no avail. This model was not setup and displayed. Maybe that is for a reason? So, I purchased it anyway... my mistake. The biggest lesson learned is that I really need to try to limit future purchases that are manufactured in China. I know that will be hard due to their practices of dumping merchandise at incredibly low prices, but I guess I have "had it" with the low quality and more broadly, the unfair trade practices that got us here and is now impacting me at the customer level. Very dissatisfied!
@@homesteadpilgrim Thanks for your review. Based on the information in your review and in others, I bought this smoker today. $199 at Home Depot. It is what it is. It's thin sheet metal, but that's why it's a third the price of heavy-gauge smokers. There's a huge jump in price point to find anything arguably better. I'd rather replace it after a few years (I'll probably be moving in the next 5 years anyway), than to have to pay for, and transport, a heavy-gauge smoker. To each his own.
@@john2510 Hi John! Yes, your rationale sounds just like my wife, LOL. She doesn't care too much about longevity and the price point ranks highest. I guess if I didn't have the history of owning a "good" smoker, I would have a different point of reference. I hope your purchase exceeds your expectations! Thanks for watching!
I'll say one thing about the Smoking Champ. Char-Griller sure named it right. It leaks smoke like a Champ from the fire box, front and back of the lid and on both sides The lid doesn't close all the way and it's made out of cheap Chinese tin. I used two rolls of sealant tape and a full tube of caulking but it didn't help. I sent costumer support a video and pics of all the smoke leaking from everywhere and the warped lid but they wanted even more pics of the inside of the cooking chamber and pics of the hinges. I tried to explain, the hinges were NOT the problem but they insisted on more and more pics. I finally realized, Char-Griller was NOT going to stand behind their product so I guess I'm just stuck with piece of crap until I can afford something better. So sad.
Hey Buddy! So sorry you have had a bad experience. I have a new mantra now and say it early and often and will continue to say it.... Try Not To Buy Chicom!
Hi John, yeperreee! I do complain every time we buy anything Chicom. Its just something I do. Regardless of the price. I would much rather have a stout, quality product that will last like my Brinkman of the days of old...
Hey Dripgang, no, it hasn't leaked smoke as I keep the damper in the firebox open at least half way and also keep the smoke stack damper open the same.
Thank you for this video! I spent 2 hour trying to figure out the directions, this was my first putting a grill together. After watching this video, it was smooth sailing. Saved me more frustration! Great video!
Great to hear, thanks for the kind words and congrats
All you need is fire and meat...don't blame the cooker, blame the cook.
Guilty as charged, LOL. Its a first world problem for sure...
Don't underestimate your Char-Griller too quickly. I just bought my 2nd one less than an hour ago. My 1st one sat outside for about 13 years UNCOVERED summer and winter and I just noticed last week, the firebox was rusting out so I bought another one AND a cover.... lol.
A few mods, like high heat sealant, among other things, will greatly improve your smoker. For the price, I think it's a great smoker.
Hi Buddy! Great information and makes me feel better about my purchase. I'll have to look into the high heat sealer for sure. Thanks for the comment and for watching!
Appreciate the video. I just bought this one yesterday and can’t wait to use it tomorrow morning. Looks extremely durable.
Good luck and hoping it lasts long
@@homesteadpilgrim much appreciated. So far so good. My food turned out great 👌🏾. I’ve to learn how to use the smoker part now.
I’ve had my char griller for 3 years now great for grilling or smoked meats don’t let the thin metal fool you I keep my cover on it still looks good as new
Hi Joseph! Yeah, I was very disappointed with the flimsiness of the product, but that is to be expected given the price and the country of manufacture. Well, we'll see how long it lasts. It is certainly working well so far. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for the video! Helped us couple of old ladies put it together for work. Much appreciated 😊
Hi amarantine1323! So glad the video helped with your assembly! Good luck and I am hoping it lasts and works well! Take care!
Dear Sir, I bought one like this the other day, and your instructions were very helpful! I so much enjoyed your instructive video! And when I saw your T-shirt, I really had to laugh out loud! Sooo funny! Your video really helped me a great deal, so thank you, thank you, again, for this great instructive video, as it was very helpful, as said. Really Kudos for you, my friend. It is, the grill, an inexpensive one, but really serves its purpose, and my family really enjoy what I 'cook' broil and grill on it. Thanks so much again!!
Hi Yesdadusa. Great to hear your griller is working for you. Take care, sir!
This man is a national treasure! I came here not wanting to see a 30min video that should be a 3min video, only to be impressed by his dad powers. He might be the greatest dad in America! Excuse me while I write a follow up comment….
… @The.McFarlands please check this out for inspiration. This man is the real dad!
For everyone else, enjoy.
m.ruclips.net/video/IEhXKDuw6ug/видео.html
I came… I saw… I got the T-shirt
I’m giving this video a thumbs up for one major, major reason. I watch the whole video for this 1 reason. I honestly had no idea what the grease cup was. This is our 2nd Char Griller, the first is 8 yrs old, and just purchased a new today, with a cover. Thanks
Good luck w your griller
Yes I also appreciate the tip on the grease cup. But what kind of cup do you attach to it?
I actually use an empty gallon paint can to catch the grease
I appreciate this video. I was putting my grill together with the directions and it was going well, but the video assistance was an added bonus. Thanks for your help!
Hi Shea! Great news! Thanks for watching! Enjoy your griller/smoker.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the video. There's no way I could have put this together without the video. I wish I would have read the comments prior to assembly because I used the large cotter pins on the wheels and smaller ones on the top. They stick out but oh well I'm not taking it apart.
Hey @kdware12, glad the video helped you to assemble the griller. Good luck with it and thanks for watching!
kdware12 did the same thing I hope is not a big deal 😬
Bought this for my husbands birthday 5 years ago. He’s never covered it and it’s still good today. I just bought mine yesterday, on sale for 200 bucks (Labor Day sale). Great price from $379. I waited all of 2023 summer for this sale. I would say if you want this, buy it, it’s worth it, but do not buy it for more than $200-$230. Also I recommend buying the grill cover as well. Ours wasn’t flimsy at all. We actually tightened all of the nuts and bolts as we assembled the grill. Ours withstood a few horrible New York storms and has been outside for 5 years straight.
Great to here your success!
Dude seems to complain a lot for getting a nice new grill/smoker. Seems like a nice one especially for the price.
Apart from the complaining, did you enjoy the video?
Homestead Pilgrim was a good video, enjoy your other videos as well.
@@homesteadpilgrim I was until he really showed who he is.
Do the nuts tighten all the way on the "warmer rack and the warmer rack just go thru the bolts with nothing holding them on...you didn't explain just showed it installed.
Good lord just buy another " Brinkman" and end it.
This video helped me alot thank you !
Glad it helped!
I hope you didn't underestimate it too quickly. I've had mine over 10 years. About 5 yrs ago I noticed a little rust, so I painted with Rustoleum spray paint. No problems since. Never got around to buying the cover and it has survived Ohio winters and even a tornado that tore down my fence on both sides. Great grill.
Hi Crystal Pepsie! Anything made by Chinese Communists I try not to buy. Unfortunately my wife ordered it but I would not have bought it if I know it was Chicom. It is holding up and I hope will last 20 years like my Brinkman did but I will definitely keep the cover on. Working fine so far... I just don't want to support Chicom for many many reasons as you may be aware of if you follow their practices.
I like this grill, had a couple over the years.
Great, hope you have good luck with it. Mine is still going strong with the optional weather cover on when not in use.
Informational video. Thanks!! How is your grill holding up?
Thanks, the grill is holding up well so far
You did a great job there was no chance of me assembling this without your video thanks 🙏 !!
Hi ginger morris! My smoker is still hanging in there, be sure to get the cover for it and it should last a while! Good luck!
Excellent video
Thank you very much!
Love your honesty review. Just brought one. Waiting for it to come from HSN.
Congrats! Mine is holding up well so far
Hey I’m having trouble fitting the spacers they seem to be to big for the gap there meant to space
Good luck
@@homesteadpilgrim great advice lol
My friend and I am are putting this together and watching your video and you are saying everything we are at the same time haha
Hi Dee A. That is hilarious. Hope the video helped with your assembly. Thanks for watching!
Just got mine a week ago and if it wasn't for this video lol thank goodness for this video
LOL, Mrs. Numi! Hope all went well for you! Our smoker is working fine so far. Thanks for watching!
You remind me of Hank Hill when you seen that it was made in China. Even though Hank wouldn’t approve of a charcoal grill. 😂 Thanks for the video I’ll try to assemble mines today.
Hi Don! Yeah, LOL, I see the comparison! I was sooo disappointed, I always try to #trynottobuyChicom! But, my wife likes the price points, so I can only try on my side.
Well if it was made here in America you would be paying nearly twice the price with pretty much the same quality!! Just saying!
I'm ok with that, the Chicoms don't play on a level playing field with the rest of the international community. That sticks in my craw.
12:29 i will not be using stock wheels for this. i will use falken azenis tires on some custom electric blue powder-coated rims. i most likely will need to lower the coils to enter in the smokyo drift. any tips for rim models?
Hi blue! I agree. The stock wheels are much to meh for the discriminating smoker/griller. If you are going with the Falken Azenis I would recommend a color scheme of Chicom tyranny red powder coat with a dark metallic Tiananmen hemoglobin red to celebrate the country of origin. That color scheme with the scent of smoking meat will conjure up images of that glorious day in Chicom history. As far as rim models, I recommend a Chicom brand to complete the ensemble.
@@homesteadpilgrim i must thank you for your advice, kind sir! will i be seeing you in this years smokyo drift?
You are most welcome! Yes, but I will let my professional driver do the fancy work. Hard to get my Tundra to drift since it is automatic trans... Billy Bob can get a Yugo to drift... take care and be safe out there.
My family just picked up this grill/smoker today based off how many positive reviews it had on the internet and I wasn't too impressed with the quality either. I am however looking forward to learning how to properly grill and smoke food the manual way instead of relying on faulty electronic pellet grills! What are your thoughts after breaking it in and actually cooking on it?
Hi tyhod123, the grill worked fine with burgers and I am most worried about the thing rusting out. So, I have the cover on it when not using it. We haven't used it enough for me to give a very thorough answer, but it seems to be doing ok so far. Charcoal works much better than our propane grill.
You put it together the wrong way around the wheels go on the side that the offset sits. So you lift and move it around from the other side.
Oops! Thanks for pointing that out! It doesn't move from its current location, so not as critical. I'll take a look. Again, thanks!
Thanks for the video.
Quality wise is to be expected (not because is made in China as almost everything is) because everything is now made to last a whole less (to make us buy more).
I haven't assembled mine yet as I am deciding where to set it up.
I may have to buy the cover.
Hi DJ Lento Alicea, I agree that most merchandise is not made to last and the price reflects that for sure. I am still going to try like heck to never buy Chicom, but I know that is very hard to do, but over time, hopefully other countries will expand their manufacturing base and make higher quality merchandise than Chicom does. For major purchases, I try to buy near top quality (Stihl, Kubota, Toyota, etc.). Best of luck on your smoker and definitely get the cover to make it last a lot longer. Thanks for watching!
Homestead Pilgrim definitely will get the cover and as you said "if it lasts 5 years, it will be a win"
I will start in this "smokin" process and hope to learn a lot. Maybe you should make a video down in time as an update on how it has served you.
Have a great day.
Yes, I'll have to do a review in a few years for an update. Cheers!
Thank you
How was it with your new char griller!
I have one and the worst design ever is the ash pan being tack welded.
As long as ash is dry I was able to dump and clean easy. The burger/dog/brat juices dripping on pan and mixing with ash caused a problem for me. During cooking that leftover would cause flair ups and ruah my cooking.I was not able to clean well under rack.
I scraped as much as I could each time but finally bought a 22" weber for most of my grilling now too
It is doing well so far. I agree about the ash pan as I have that same issue. I have the unit on a slight incline to help the juices run down and out the grease trap and into a can... but, I still get the build up like you do. It is definitely an issue and does cause flare-ups! Thanks for watching!
Hello,
Hope this message finds you well. Now that you’ve had the grill for a while, how is It functioning? Thank you
Hi Evelyne, it is working well so far.
love your video I need a new grill for my channel ave had those rifles wooo not good I was looking at the SUPER GRILL
Hey Surferjo! I'll have to look at that one. Thanks for watching!
@@homesteadpilgrim my grill is old and now on#wayfair for $250us (grrrr) plus they do not make them anymore
:(
Hello is it possible to use this without the smaller smoker?
Hi James, sure, I use the main box to grill all the time. I have two charcoal starter chimneys to get the charcoal burning then dump them into the main box. Great to get up to 400 degrees!
Bought this model but without the smoker part . New for 40$ on offer up
Awesome
Damn awesome
Are you satisfied with this grill after using it? How’s it holding up?
So far so good. Be sure to get the grill cover or it will rust quickly
@@homesteadpilgrim any problem holding heat? How about smoke leaking?
It holds heat well, but smoke leaks profusely
@@homesteadpilgrim you should try adding a gasket sealer around the main grill and firebox
Can I grill regular with out the fire box?
Absolutely! The fire box is mainly used for smoking (but can also grill if you want). I mainly use the main grill compartment for cooking. I just put the charcoal in that box and it works great.
Can you cook with charcoal in the main part or only put charcoal in the little charcoal holder on side ?
Yes, you can cook in both boxes, the large box and you could also cook in the smaller one. The large box even has an ash pan for you to put charcoal on and you can lower or raised it to bring the heat to the grills. The design for smoking is that you would have a fire only in the small box and that would then smoke cook the meat in the larger box... that is smoking only in the large box, no fire in the large box. Good luck with your smoker!
my first one lasted 10 years and it was taken out by a 16" tree branch.my current one has been outside w/out a cover and I've had no issues with rust or paint burning off
Hi Thomas, great that it has worked out for you. I still think the product is flimsy and will always have the cover on. Thanks for watching.
I enjoyed the video. I’ve been trying to find one but currently they aren’t available. I’ve read that the paint burns off of the firebox. Did you find that to be an issue? Thanks.
Hi Ted! No, the paint hasn't burned off the firebox so far. I can see it doing so over time, though. Thanks for watching and "try not to buy Chicom!"
Excellent 👍🏽
Thank you! Cheers!
I have a question since I've been smoking a while and have some knowledge. I've bought this smoker today but can I use it without the thin sheet of metal since I'm planning on using the side part of as a briket basket. I feel like that thin sheet of metal is unnecessary and harmful since you can control the moisture and temperature with water and air ventilation.
Good question that I don't think I'm qualified to answer. Best to check with the manufacturer. Good luck with your smoker! Thanks for watching.
I’ve had this boxed up in my garage a few and just decided to put it together. Question: should I wash grease off with soap and water or spray with Pam and allow residues to burn off?
How many times have you used it? What are your feelings thus far?
Thanks for posting. This certainly helped me.
Hi Teem Playa! Don't wash the grease off, just spray with pam and burn if all off to season the smoker. We have used it a few times and it is performing well. I am satisfied with it but I know it won't last as long as my Brinkman did (17 years). It was cheap, so short lifespan is expected. Thanks for watching
Homestead Pilgrim what if anything did you do to address the gaps/spaces between the lid and grill “bottom”? I’ve read many posts about that interfering with the cooking temp remaining consistent.
I didn't notice gaps and the heat stayed consistent enough for me, better than the propane griller on our back porch. Charcoal is so much better in my opinion.
Homestead Pilgrim re: install of wheels and axle...the instructions call for the use of the 2 large pins but they stick out beyond the hub caps. In step 6 of the manual, they say to use the small pins. Did you use the small pins for the wheels and the large ones for step 6 (attaching the grill hood)?
Yes, I used the small cotter pins for the wheels
I got mines last year in December I'm bout to hook it up now
Awesome, Bebo, good luck with the smoker!
What’s that black hook looking thing that’s hanging towards the end, a cleaning tool?
Thanks
It is a tool to remove the hot grill grates. Thanks for watching!
Homestead Pilgrim thanks! 👍🏼
What tools are needed for the build? Does it come with any?
No tools were included. Mostly some small wrenches but I hand tightened all the nuts and bolts and then used a power driver to do the final tightening to go a bit faster. Thanks for watching.
thanks for the video
Hi David! Thanks, sir!
Buen trabajo jefe 👍
Gracias!
I'm looking at buying that smoker because it's the best my budget can afford. I thought your vid might give me a heads up on the build. I couldn't finish watching your vid. If you want a smoker to last, spend the big money. Stop whinning for heavens sake. I know what I'll get for my money and thats that. Your wife must be a wonderful lady and the time this build distracted you from annoying her must be priceless. God bless you angel. Don't know how she does it.
Hi Phil! Yeah, I guess my expectations were too high after having an American made smoker for so long. I'm trying to figure out how to NOT by Chicom... its very hard because they have taken over so much of US manufacturing... I guess that is what is coming through on the vid, my frustration in that regard. Thanks for watching (a little at least).
Your right and I'm going to hold off till I'm able to purchase a thicker model.
Hey Phil, I wish I would have waited, but this was my beautiful wife of 36 years purchasing it without my input, I'm still trying to convince her to not buy anything Chicom if we can at ALL help it. Next time (hopefully not too soon), I'll make sure to see and feel the smoker in person to make sure it is of acceptable quality. My brother has one of those really fancy high end smokers rectecgrills.com that uses pellets. MAN, that is incredible... but unless I hit the lottery, that is waaay out of my reach.... So, something in between next time. Thanks for watching!
We’re does the body shelf piece go?
Attached to the lid
Great job !
Thanks, Xi
I can already see me and my husband trying to put this together. We won't be putting together, Together, I will hide it in the shed and next time we bbq he'll ask when did we get this. Marriage saved.
Well played!
You can get some sand paper and sand off all the old paint and then repaint it with high heat bbq paint with stop rust by rustoleum. It will not rust after repainting the metal.
Thanks! I had a Brinkman smoker that I did that with after 20 years of use. It worked well. Next time (should be real soon after this flimsy product dies) I'll get another Brinkman.
@@homesteadpilgrim I don't get why people complain about the cheapness of a product that is cheap to begin with. For someone who doesn't bbq often and has little space, and takes care of their product - this is perfect. Now if you bbq every other day or 3x a week every week, I wouldn't doubt that a cheap product like this would die out after 6 or 8 months, especially if you don't take care of it "because its a cheap product'.
I had an old, dead pecan tree fall in my backyard.... I could have paid to have it removed, but instead I broke it down myself, and got this smoker.... It seems like the reasonable thing to do! Setting it up now! It's my first time big girll smoker, and I've got plenty of great wood! Looking forward to seeing how you like it! Do you recommend burning off all the residue first before seasoning?
Hi Tina, windfall is a good thing with trees but only if they don't hit anything! Hope you get good use out of that wood. Yes, I would recommend burning off the residue first, then spray liberally with Pam cooking spray and burn again to season it. Enjoy your smoker!
Did anyone have any trouble with placing the hub caps because of the cotter pins ?
Hi Carlos, I haven't heard of anyone having that issue. Good luck with the assembly.
I did, dumb huh
❤❤
Thanks for watching!
I just brought mines today. I'm upset I have to put it together because the lady brought the last one that was assemble lol
Hi Terry! Good luck with your smoker.
OMG, I'm watching you, viewing myself doing the same operation as you did. I'm going to buy one of them, hoping to have a wonderful off set smoking experience. Unfortunately my budget only can afford one of this. I'll tell how it goes.
Hi Raul! Awesome. I'm glad this vid was valuable to you. Good luck on your purchase and I wish for many happy grillings/smoking!
@@homesteadpilgrim finally I've got mine, already assembled. Ready to grill and smoke
You doing way better then me teak me 3 hours and I’m not finished yet and the legs still shake and a bout that bottom greasy coup I bout sand in bottom inside and sand under the charcoal to catch the grease
Hi Thomas! I hope it works out for you. Mine is still going well. The sand is a great idea!
What did you mean to season it?
Spray it liberally with Pam or vegetable oil and fire it up. Just like a Dutch oven. This puts a protective coating on.
Thanks
You are so welcome!
I just got one and noticed a lot of leakage on the smoking chamber
Hi Wally. Yes, there is some leakage for sure. The hotter the box gets the less leakage when the draft is going through the smoker and up the stack.
A little disappointed. I kind of hoping you'd walked us through, how you actually installed the first rack inside the Grill. I'm having trouble!!
Hey Andre, so sorry about that, I thought I captured the whole assembly. Thanks for watching!
@@homesteadpilgrim It's completely fine now. I figured it out😁🙏 Great video by the way. Thank you!
@Andre Collins, way to go! Thanks for the positive feedback. Enjoy your smoker. Mine is working fine so far.
@@homesteadpilgrim Yes I'm so excited to use my new Grill. 😁
That’s the whole reason I watched this video and he skipped over it 🤦🏾♀️
Since posting, how have you liked this offset? I use my Weber for 90% everything but I need one for the occasional brisket so I think I can stretch its life span for a long time! Thanks for the upload.
I really like the offset for smoking, I've found no better method for smoking. Just be sure to have a cover on it or the very thin low quality gauge metal will rust for sure... and keep it seasoned to also prevent rust. Thanks for watching!
@@homesteadpilgrim Thanks!
Replacing a Propane grill with a charcoal grill? Hank Hill would freak.
Haha
Looks very flimsy. How’s it holding up?
It is holding up fine so far, but if you have it outside exposed to the elements, you must purchase and use the cover as this unit will surely rust quickly without it.
12:24 Am I the only one who got a box with flat washer that DO NOT FIT for the wheel??
Hi Dice, I wouldn't bet that you are the only one. Anything from Chicom is suspect for missing hardware, wrong hardware and defective hardware. Unfortunately, HD sources many items from Chicom. We bought patio lounge chairs from HD and one had no hardware included in the box....returned it. I'm preaching to anyone I know that Made in China is a big red flag warning that should be avoided at all costs. I know it is hard to avoid, but over time, we should overcome the Chicom trade issues. Thanks for watching!
Get a nice flat head and tighten everything up that will make it feel 10x better
Thanks, don't tread on me! appreciated!
Think I set a record, with the amount of times I said “piece of s***”, when I was assembling mine 😂
Brought to you by your friendly Chicom supply chain...
Did you ever figure out what the oil was, I'd have to think it would be a Vegetable oil of some sort, but who knows coming from China.
Hi ALRULZ! No, I never did figure out the cosmolene-like substance slathered all over the griller for shipment. I hope our government is checking in any case given the health hazards found historically in with ChiCom products (Gypsum boards with poison, toys with lead paint, powdered milk with plastic fillers, pet food, pharma, on and on and on....). I gotta find a way to not buy ChiCom products. I know it is hard for so many reasons that I hope our government will remedy "with open eyes" to the unfair trade practices of that country. Maybe individually we can make a difference by not buying ChiCom.
I've had mine for 15 years. As long as you take good care of it it will last.
Thanks, Tim... you give me hope!
I agree with you not 100% but 200% this Grill is so faulty ang i feels like it's about to break when I put it up
Hi Avery, I guess the old saying of "you get what you pay for" is more than true here with this Griller... My regret is that it was made in Communist China. Try not to buy Chicom, even though it is hard at the current day and time.
What are your thoughts of this now?
Hi Todd, my opinion hasn't changed about the smoker. It is cheap and it is made that way. I don't think it will last but a few years given the thin gauge of the metal. If you are ok with a cheap smoker than this one should be ok. Once this rusts out I will be sure to get a higher quality smoker that will last.
@@homesteadpilgrim I respect your opinion I just got this for Christmas so I haven't used it yet but will Saturday but it'll take some time to see quality of it for me and this is my first smoker I'm used to little Walmart 22 inch charcoal grills so it's an upgrade
He coulda at least zoom in what is he doing and how he’s doing it. Can’t see what he connect the cotter pins with.
Hi Bigman! FYI I used my fingers to connect the cotter pins. I hope that helps some. Good luck with your smoker.
I got the same damn Grill and it feels so fragile
Yep, don't expect it to be resilient to any normal usage... It is rusting on me even with the cover on all the time.
My instruction manual said to.spray with wd 40 to remove glue/ residue that in it...
Hi Jamie! I didn't see that. I wouldn't use WD 40 inside the smoker as you will be cooking in there! Use pam cooking spray (my instructions said that) and light a good charcoal fire to burn it all out while seasoning it. Again, I wouldn't use WD 40 anywhere near the inside of the smoker where you will be cooking the food. Good luck with your smoker!
@@homesteadpilgrim ; Thanks!
@@jamiecoverson7500 wd 40 on the OUTSIDE or canola oil before seasoning to prevent rusting bakes it in repels moisture
Please don't take this the wrong way. Just go to the website and check it out. You know you get what you pay for. If you want real wood flavor and temps that you can control. Made of heavy stainless steel. Yes it is also made in China but sold by a USA company out of Augusta GA with stellar customer service. They have several models and sizes available. www.RECTECGrills.com . It can't hurt to look at the website. Thanks, Ron.
Thanks for watching and that feedback, Ron. Yes, I learned a bit more on this purchase. My wife shopped on the home depot website and chose this model for me to pick up. I arrived at the HD and searched for a floor display model that I could touch and feel, but to no avail. This model was not setup and displayed. Maybe that is for a reason? So, I purchased it anyway... my mistake. The biggest lesson learned is that I really need to try to limit future purchases that are manufactured in China. I know that will be hard due to their practices of dumping merchandise at incredibly low prices, but I guess I have "had it" with the low quality and more broadly, the unfair trade practices that got us here and is now impacting me at the customer level. Very dissatisfied!
@@homesteadpilgrim Thanks for your review. Based on the information in your review and in others, I bought this smoker today. $199 at Home Depot.
It is what it is. It's thin sheet metal, but that's why it's a third the price of heavy-gauge smokers. There's a huge jump in price point to find anything arguably better.
I'd rather replace it after a few years (I'll probably be moving in the next 5 years anyway), than to have to pay for, and transport, a heavy-gauge smoker. To each his own.
@@john2510 Hi John! Yes, your rationale sounds just like my wife, LOL. She doesn't care too much about longevity and the price point ranks highest. I guess if I didn't have the history of owning a "good" smoker, I would have a different point of reference. I hope your purchase exceeds your expectations! Thanks for watching!
I'll say one thing about the Smoking Champ. Char-Griller sure named it right. It leaks smoke like a Champ from the fire box, front and back of the lid and on both sides The lid doesn't close all the way and it's made out of cheap Chinese tin. I used two rolls of sealant tape and a full tube of caulking but it didn't help.
I sent costumer support a video and pics of all the smoke leaking from everywhere and the warped lid but they wanted even more pics of the inside of the cooking chamber and pics of the hinges.
I tried to explain, the hinges were NOT the problem but they insisted on more and more pics.
I finally realized, Char-Griller was NOT going to stand behind their product so I guess I'm just stuck with piece of crap until I can afford something better. So sad.
Hey Buddy! So sorry you have had a bad experience. I have a new mantra now and say it early and often and will continue to say it.... Try Not To Buy Chicom!
I will never understand how people knowingly purchase a cheap cooker but expect it to perform like a custom
built cooker. Please explain??
It would help if they gave the proper instruction manual
Hi Brian. Yeah, the quality of the whole package leaves a lot to be desired. But that is par for the Chicom course, right?!
As old saying goes. The way u re complaining. If u don’t like something. Take it back. It s that simple
Another old saying… if Momma ain’t happy…nobody happy
Snagged this from Home Depot. You've owned yours for awhile now, how's it holding up? I'm burning off all of the residue now.
We grilled some salmon for Mothers day and it is holding up well so far. Did a nice job. Good luck with your griller/smoker!
@@homesteadpilgrim That's great to hear! I'll be throwing a couple patties and dogs on this weekend.
It was originally 150 I got it for 90
Incredible price!
Are u really complaining about a 200 dollar grill that last 5 years 🤔
Hi John, yeperreee! I do complain every time we buy anything Chicom. Its just something I do. Regardless of the price. I would much rather have a stout, quality product that will last like my Brinkman of the days of old...
Half of the video is complaining. why didn't you just return it and get a Brinkman?
I just can’t help complaining about Chicom products. I will def get a Brinkman after this thing rusts out
Too much complaining
Aside from the complaining, did you enjoy the video?
Does it leak smoke?
Hey Dripgang, no, it hasn't leaked smoke as I keep the damper in the firebox open at least half way and also keep the smoke stack damper open the same.
Homestead Pilgrim ok thank you for the reply I just got one of these my self and I am assembling it