Better Tailgate Grill: One Touch or Smokey Joe


 
B

Bryan B

TVWBB Fan
Hi all,

I currently own a 18.5 WSM and an offset smoker. Looking for something smaller for tailgate purposes. Wondering if I should get a One Touch or a Smokey Joe. Basic tailgate needs- warm up pre-cooked foods such as dips, bbq pork/chicken, AND to grill/smoke burgers & hot dogs.

Could I do the above sufficiently with the smokey joe or would I need a one touch?

I have a nissan sentra btw. I can fit my WSM in the car, but I have to take it apart, and it takes up pretty much the whole trunk and the whole back seat. the WSM is also so dang caked with grease and charcoal residue that it is a hassle at a tailgate.
 
I recommend the jumbo joe or the 18 inch kettle. I have two size of kettles. 18 and the standard 22. The 18 inch can handle most things but for a big group I would want the 22 inch kettle! Happy cooking! Look for me tailgating at the Lions Packers game on Thanksgiving!
 
Can you clarify what you mean by "make shorter legs"? Do the legs on a kettle naturally adjust?

Also, to dean, can you clarify what a "jumbo joe" is? I've never heard of that.
 
Originally posted by Bryan B:
Hi all,

I currently own a 18.5 WSM and an offset smoker. Looking for something smaller for tailgate purposes. Wondering if I should get a One Touch or a Smokey Joe. Basic tailgate needs- warm up pre-cooked foods such as dips, bbq pork/chicken, AND to grill/smoke burgers & hot dogs.

Could I do the above sufficiently with the smokey joe or would I need a one touch?

I have a nissan sentra btw. I can fit my WSM in the car, but I have to take it apart, and it takes up pretty much the whole trunk and the whole back seat. the WSM is also so dang caked with grease and charcoal residue that it is a hassle at a tailgate.
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How many people are you cooking for? That to me would be the deciding factor. I use my SJS at tailgates myself.
 
A Smokey Joe for tailgating? I'm not usually in the "go big or go home" camp, but come on.
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My Smokey Joe is a little bitty grill that's well suited for a picnic with just the Missus and me in nice weather, but "three's a crowd". So I'd AT LEAST go with an 18.5" one touch, with the short leg mod if you want.
 
For grilling just use the bottom section of your WSM. If you want a lid look for a used 18 in Kettle and just use the lid with your WSM bottom.
 
Dave,

In that case, do you think an 18.5 kettle could fit inside a nissan sentra? Maybe laying it down on the back seat. I put my WSM in my sentra by separating the 3 sections. Putting the charcoal bowl and lid in the trunk, then the cooking chamber in the back seat.
 
Originally posted by Bryan B:
Dave,

In that case, do you think an 18.5 kettle could fit inside a nissan sentra? Maybe laying it down on the back seat. I put my WSM in my sentra by separating the 3 sections. Putting the charcoal bowl and lid in the trunk, then the cooking chamber in the back seat.
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I'd do as Timothy suggested and use the wsm as a grill when not smoking with it.

Nothing "wrong" with the little SJ, but it's definately not my choice for searing steaks in a brisk fall wind. Great for other stuff where you don't need such a high temp, though.
 
Bryan,

I have the Joe, 18, and 22 one touch and they have all fit into the back seat of an older honda accord. The problem is taking it home with the ashey mess, even after dumping the coals. Trash bags are a pain. I would suggest 2 Joes. It would be cheaper than an 18 and you can have your two different heats. They will also sit nicely in the trunk.
 
I have the Joe, it the one in the link above. Its good for doing burgers & dogs. The temperatre does not get high enough for seering steaks as it does not have vents on the bottom. You can mod a joe and add vents to the bottom and add the one touch ash system, this will let the temperature rise like a 18 or a 22.
 
Dave,

Have you tried turning the WSM into a grill? I looked at the thread and it sounds pretty easy. Just wondering how well it can grill stuff? I'd mainly use it for burgers, and warming up pre-cooked food. So I imagine it would be able to do the job fine, but just wanted to ask.
 
No, never used the wsm as a grill, other than just doing a reverse sear on a rib roast over the ring, (which I recommend doing INDIRECTLY by pushing the coals to one side, so your rib roast doesn't taste like ribeyes.)

Anyway, Chris A. says it can turn out great steaks and burgers on the link that Timothy provided. Just never had the need for it, but I don't tailgate, either. Sounds like you've got a solution though, so there ya go.
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I'll add to the blasphemy on this one:

For Tailgating - I like my small no-name gasser.
It's one of those rectangular jobs with the legs that fold and "clamp" the lid in place for storage.

I like a gasser for two main reasons:
R1. You don't have to wait for it to burn-out or deal with hot ashes - you just turn it off and in about 10 minutes, it's cool enough to put away.
R2. Easy to regulate temperatures for whatever I want to cook.

Some stuff that would take a long time to grill can be started at home, and "finished" on the portable.

Two "mods" that I added to it:
M1 - I got one that used lava rock, and replaced the lava rock with ceramic briquettes. This reduces flare-ups and spreads-out the heat. (IMHO, the ones with a metal plate over the burner are useless...)
M2 - I can use my adapter and 5-pound tank that also fits my Coleman camp stove. Less costly in the long run than buying those small throw-away tanks.
 
I go along with what Ron G. says.
For tailgating, I use a Weber Q 220 portable gas grill. Very dependable and easy clean-up.
 
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