Gary H. NJ
TVWBB Platinum Member
For my future travels - house-sitting, car camping, etc, do folks prefer the Weber 14” Smoky Joe or the charcoal Go Anywhere?
For traveling - Smoky Joe or Go Anywhere?
- Thread starter Gary H. NJ
- Start date
Mike-GA
TVWBB Fan
Jumbo Joe. At 18”, the JJ is a little bigger but can cook more food like regular kettle. It’s still pretty compact. It also has a built in lid bail.
JJ‘s grill grate is further from coals than a Smokey Joe so less unintentional charring. JJ has enough space to create zones for indirect cooks. I feel I can control heat better with mine than when I had a smokey joe. I used a SJ for 10 years and sold it for more a little more than I bought my barely used JJ. I upgraded mine with a Weber thermometer in lid, hinged grate, and compact chimney.
JJ‘s grill grate is further from coals than a Smokey Joe so less unintentional charring. JJ has enough space to create zones for indirect cooks. I feel I can control heat better with mine than when I had a smokey joe. I used a SJ for 10 years and sold it for more a little more than I bought my barely used JJ. I upgraded mine with a Weber thermometer in lid, hinged grate, and compact chimney.
No experience with Go Anywhere. If you currently use a 22” kettle there is no learning curve with the Smokey or Jumbo Joe’s, they cook the same as the larger kettle, just scaled down on grate real estate. Have no idea if a Go Anywhere cooks the same But since they are all Weber would guess it would also be similar.
agree with Mike-GA, the Jumbo Joe is a great compromise. Large enough to set up an indirect zone, and big enough to handle most that I can throw at it, plus it’s portable
agree with Mike-GA, the Jumbo Joe is a great compromise. Large enough to set up an indirect zone, and big enough to handle most that I can throw at it, plus it’s portable
Dustin Flavell
TVWBB Pro
I’ve have/had all 3 the jumbo, Smokey and the GA charcoal. My preference has always been the jumbo and still is for room and the ability to off set coals and cook small meals indirect. With that said if space is an issue the GA charcoal is nicer as IMO it is a more efficient design for space and offset cooking small items is still an option.
Darryl - swazies
TVWBB Emerald Member
I use the Jumbo Joe myself and it's usually just 2 of us. I like that I can cook indirect which is a lot of what I cook with.
I once travelled and cooked 2 picanhas on it....not sure if I posted pics here or not. 2 picanhas are about 6 to 7 pounds of roast.
It was tight but I was able to pull off medium rare roasts cooked indirect with smoke on them and fed 7 people and everyone ate tons with leftovers.
It was a good time and I was pretty proud of how it all came out and how good it was. No experience with the smaller grills except the smoky Joe.
My starter grill, this is tiny and makes cooking anything a task.
I once travelled and cooked 2 picanhas on it....not sure if I posted pics here or not. 2 picanhas are about 6 to 7 pounds of roast.
It was tight but I was able to pull off medium rare roasts cooked indirect with smoke on them and fed 7 people and everyone ate tons with leftovers.
It was a good time and I was pretty proud of how it all came out and how good it was. No experience with the smaller grills except the smoky Joe.
My starter grill, this is tiny and makes cooking anything a task.
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Yair Halamish
TVWBB Fan
I find the GA better designed for packing and stacking. A better option IMO if your trunk space is limited.
Rich Dahl
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
I have a SJ and a JJ the Jumbo Joe is my go to charcoal grill for the two of us, it's easier to clean and uses less charcoal than our performer. Whereas the Smokey Joe is great for quick direct cooks like burgers, hot dogs, etc. it's not well suited for indirect cooking.
I went so far as to build a cart strictly for the JJ.
I did have a GA years ago when we had our motor home, and it was fine for that. But in today's world with all the fire restriction on charcoal use in campgrounds I think the wiser choice would be a propane GA if I was going to use one.
I went so far as to build a cart strictly for the JJ.
I did have a GA years ago when we had our motor home, and it was fine for that. But in today's world with all the fire restriction on charcoal use in campgrounds I think the wiser choice would be a propane GA if I was going to use one.
Joe Anshien
TVWBB Platinum Member
The WGA is a better choice IMHO. Check out the two vids. There is also a WGA group on FB.
I like that ash catcher; is that how the come now?
Rich Dahl
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
Apparently so as I have two JJs and they are both like that.
Gary H. NJ
TVWBB Platinum Member
Thanks all for your heartfelt input. I ended up getting the go anywhere, largely for its compactness. I’ll try to give it a trial run soon before heading out with it in late September on a trip. Again, thanks to everyone for your help. 
Joe Anshien
TVWBB Platinum Member
Good choice. I think you will be amazed how versatile it is. Make sure to cut the heater to 60/40. That is the first and most important mod. It appears you to store everything in it and allow for easy indirect cooks
Ed P
TVWBB Platinum Member
There are a TON of mods and ideas for the GA. I am just amazed at how some of these clever folks take the lid off the GA and manage to pack it with everything needed. Spend some time on YT and you will be amazed at how much gear you can stow in the GA!Thanks all for your heartfelt input. I ended up getting the go anywhere, largely for its compactness. I’ll try to give it a trial run soon before heading out with it in late September on a trip. Again, thanks to everyone for your help.
Most mods begin with cutting the OEM grate into two pieces so that it will lay down in the bottom and that mod opens the GA up for storage.
This video shows the use of a cheap grill topper to setup a charcoal fence on one side or two. These can folded and lay flat when not in use.
Enjoy!
Joe Anshien
TVWBB Platinum Member
Let me correct my above post since I did it from my phone and auto-correct seems to have got me and I can't seem to edit it.
Good choice. I think you will be amazed how versatile it is. Make sure to cut the grate to 60/40. That is the first and most important mod. It allows you to store everything in it and allow for easy indirect cooks. It is real easy with a bolt cutter or hack saw.
Good choice. I think you will be amazed how versatile it is. Make sure to cut the grate to 60/40. That is the first and most important mod. It allows you to store everything in it and allow for easy indirect cooks. It is real easy with a bolt cutter or hack saw.
MichaelLC
TVWBB Pro
Not sure if you've seen it, but this bag is great. Note the two types.