[450Rider]

Hey guys...new to the site here.  I just wanted to share/show my chargriller.  I saw an add for it on craigslist awhile back and I couldn't pass up the deal.  I didn't like the plastic wheels that it came with, it made it hard to move around my graveled areas.  So I went to HarborFreight and picked up some wheels and tires for $5 each and what a difference it makes.  Also, looking around on the web, I did a few mods to it.  One:  I extended the smoke stack closer to the cook grates by using dryer vent tubing.  It makes for better smoke and heat circulation.  Two:  I sealed up 3 sides of the smoker using weather stripping, foil tape and high temp silicone.  It really made a difference keeping the heat and smoke in.  Three:  I added two thermometers near the grates for a better reading of the temps near the meat.  Forth:  Added a bigger fire basket to the smoke box.  The little tray that came w/ it, just didn't do.  I picked up the basket from Lowes and using the Minion method, I can hold temps at 225 - 250 a lot better and longer. 

Before:


After:


My next project is to make a UDS. 

[SmoknAZ]

Very nice Jeff. I think the wheels off of your ATV would have looked better though. 

[Mike (AZBarbeque)]

Very nice.  Similar to what I did to my Char griller Duo a year or so ago...

[Gizzy's Smokin Crew]

Great Job Jeff. I think a couple of those mod's will work on my Pitmaster

[Weaponeer]

Thanks Jeff.

The ribs I did this last weekend were a little undercooked and I figured it had to an inconsistant temp reading. So I took the advice and the mods and placed the two thermometers near grate level and placed the dryer tube in. We will see how it works in a couple of days for more ribs.

Thanks again.

[450Rider]

Tony - Glad to hear that you're going to try it.  If you youtube it, you'll find all kinds of video mods that people have done to the chargriller and the brinkman offset smoker.  I kept my warming rack in place (most take it off) because when I smoke a lot of ribs the extra rack comes in handy, so the thermometer up top still has a purpose.  There's about a 5 - 10 degree difference from the ones from the bottom.

[Weaponeer]

I was going to ask if you kept your rack in as I have as well. So the dryer vent is only a 3 inch extention and wondered if that would be enough.

Thanks for answering these questions before I could ask.

[450Rider]

It's much longer than that.  I suggest getting the flexible dryer tubing and trim as needed

[BBQ Rog]

Jeff - I have the same grill and have made the thermometer and smoke stack mods. I would like to seal the main chamber better and was thinking about using weatherstripping. Can you provide more detail on how you did this mod? I assume you used aluminum or ss weatherstripping. If so, where did you buy it (HD or Lowes?) and what size 1 or 2 inch, etc. wide, and how did you mount it to the grill (ss nuts, washers & bolts on the lower chamber)? Also, how or where did you use the foil tape (looks like on the sfb door, but what about on the main chamber? and same question with the high temp silicon - how and where did you use it to seal leaks)? Any details or pics that you can provide would be appreciated. Thanks.

[z98dog]

Hi Roger,

I had some of the same questions. I am refurbishing a NBBD offset and I can look through the closed lid on the cooking chamber to see light on the other side.  

I used some high temp gasket silicone from Autozone on my Brinkman vertical to seal the door, but I am not satisfied with the long-term results.

I used the chimney extension modification and a firebox baffle on my little CharGrill offset which is working pretty well. I moved the thermometer down to the grate level, and also plan to add two more thermometers to the NBBD at grate level.

I like the wheels, and will have to add that to the list. Where did you get the extra axle?

Can we see some pics of the seals?