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Ladies, I am interested in purchasing a small table top grill to carry in the rv. I have always used charcoal grills except when I had a bar-b-que restaurant, I had a gas ignited wood burning pit. I have no experience with gas only grills. I'm wanting to weigh the pros and cons for example a charcoal would have a better smoked flavor but I'd have to carry charcoal and lighter fluid and have to property cool the charcoal before disposing. The gas grill would be easier to start, adjust fire and nothing to dispose, but doesn't have the smoke flavor and I'm not sure if I fasten one of those little green bottles on the grill and it runs out in the middle of cooking something, do I have to wait for it to cool before attaching another one? Give me your opinions and experience, please!

I've got one of those little mini gas grills,... little green bottles. Works well and the convenience is tops. I always check the bottle before starting to cook. You can tell when they are empty,... very light weight.

VickieP wrote:Ladies, I am interested in purchasing a small table top grill to carry in the rv. I have always used charcoal grills except when I had a bar-b-que restaurant, I had a gas ignited wood burning pit. I have no experience with gas only grills. I'm wanting to weigh the pros and cons for example a charcoal would have a better smoked flavor but I'd have to carry charcoal and lighter fluid and have to property cool the charcoal before disposing. The gas grill would be easier to start, adjust fire and nothing to dispose, but doesn't have the smoke flavor and I'm not sure if I fasten one of those little green bottles on the grill and it runs out in the middle of cooking something, do I have to wait for it to cool before attaching another one? Give me your opinions and experience, please!

Well, here's MY opinion. Someone else's mileage may vary.

I have a portable gas grill. Doesn't get very hot. But it is 'easier than charcoal'. For the smoke flavor, get one of those cast iron boxes and put wood chips in it. Works fine. Mine's kinda big, so it would take up a good portion of your square-inchage (like footage, only in inches...).

I much prefer my little WallyWorld portable charcoal grill. Don't get the rectangular one...falls over backwards when you open the lid. Round one doesn't do that. For the 14 bucks, who cares if it lasts one season or two. I also started out with a WallyWorld charcoal chimney. What a hunk of junk. Didn't believe in chimneys after that experience - I mean, what could be different in the Weber version. Well, lemmee tell ya - that the Weber is amazing - 1 sheet of newspaper and 10 minutes later, you're good to go - no lighter fluid. Dump the spent charcoals in the fire pit. It also doubles are a Dutch Oven cooking area, so as not to take up the fire pit/ring.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

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I personally don't do charcoal lighter, I dislike like the smell and the taste. To start charcoal we use a 3# coffee can with both ends cut out, stuff some tightly wadded up paper in the bottom, light and put charcoal on top. I've never used a gas grill so can't give any help with that

Vicki, we've had a "Baby Weber" gas grill for 4 years, take it with us everywhere. Does a great job. Uses the little green bottles of LP and Ernie does change the bottles when it runs out during grilling....(usually things have cooled down, that's how he knows the bottle runs out.... ) As far as wanting the "smoke flavor".....using a little liquid smoke brushed or marinated to the meat will do it.....Hope this helps...

The first few years we traveled with a charcoal grill. My TGM was insistent because of the flavor and that's what we've always done Last year I just went and ordered a Weber gas grill and presented it to him. That's all we use now. We can add the flavor, although it's not quite as authentic, but much easier and not as messy. Since we sit for quite a few months in the winter, we bought a regular propane tank to hook up. But the small green ones are great for traveling shorter distances and times. If you're worried about running out-buy 2. Decisions, decisions, decisions-aren't we lucky to have these kinds carold

carold wrote:But the small green ones are great for traveling shorter distances and times. If you're worried about running out-buy 2.

I agree with Carold,.... I buy them in bulk, 6 or 8 at a time at Sam's Club.

vickie, you can get attachments for the gas grill to hook up to the rv's LP tank. This would eliminate the need to carry all the smaller bottles. The only draw back would be positioning the grill, I don't know how long the attachments are. Just something to think about. Linda

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You can also buy smaller, refillable tanks - like 5# and 11#...

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