BBQ Central Forums

[LowRent]

Originally Posted by Kloset BBQR

Two extremely important features on grills are an adjustable meat rack and easy access for fuel replenishment. The Texas grill being a front loader has both those features. Does the Charbroil?

I've not seen the Char-Broil in person. However, the list of features includes "adjustable height fire grate." I do not know how the height adjustment is acheived. I doubt it's as slick as the Texas Grill. I'm going to Williams Sonoma to check out the Sierra. I'll have a better handle on this by this weekend.

I'd say the Char-Broil has easy access for fuel replinishment. There's a door on the front. Unfortunately, the door does not run the full width of the chassis though. Looks like a recipe for burnt hands/wrists trying to get charcoal to the places where the door doesn't permit direct access. Take a look at the image below:



Not easily seen in the image of the Texas Grill is a full-width access panel that allows unfettered access to the fire grate.

Both have cast iron cooking grates, but I'm not sure about the composition of the fire grates. I assume both are cast iron, but one could be more stout than the other--another thing I'll check out this weekend.

Originally Posted by Kloset BBQR

The Texas grill also has the advantage on grilling space which is very mportant. You want to have a hot zone, medium zone, and a low heat or no heat zone while your grilling.

Yes, and the vastly larger 775 sq in cook surface of the Texas Grill makes accomplishing this task much easier.

Originally Posted by Kloset BBQR

I have had Charbroil grills in the past (gas) and in my opinion they were very cheaply made and only lasted a couple of years. Of course I kept the grill outdoors in the winter (but it was covered). I saw the Texas grill on Alton Browns Good Eats last week and it looks like a great grill. It all depends on how many you are going to cook for also. In my opinion the Texas grill appears to be the better choice. I wouldn't let $120.00 enter into the equation at all especially on a piece of equipment that hopefully will last many years.

Kloset

P.S. Welcome to the forum Low Rent! I think you'll find it great place to visit and share your adventures in Q'ing and grilling. What part of the country are you from?

Thanks. I saw the Alton Brown show too. I really have learned a lot from that guy. Anyway, as a side note, he lives in Atlanta and I'd be going to the same Barbeques Galore he shot that episode in if I decide to go with the Texas Grill.

The CB940 has a great reputation amongst grillers. It has traditionally been a well made product. A neighbor has one that's 20 years old. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean that the current production models are of the same quality. So, we just don't know for certain.

It looks to me like the Texas Grill has the CB940x beat. Based on what I know at this time I'd prefer the Texas Grill. I'm looking for more input from folks who know one or both, and, of course, I'm going to look for myself.