Vertical turkey roaster?

saaben

Hey everyone. My wife was kind enough to get me a vertical rack to try with a turkey this weekend. I had a number of issues getting it to close the top. My intention was to start with a plate setter then drip pan with water, grill gird then basting pan with 14 lb turkey. Quickly realized that was not going to work. Ended up dumping on a horizontal rack till I got it sorted out. I ended up getting rid of drip pan and using some lug nuts for spacers on plate setter then roasting pan with turkey in there. Still was tight and I am sure it was touching inside. My question is two fold. 1. How in the heck can you guys get a large bird in there vertical? I can cut it down with bolt cutters if needed. 2. Would it be possible to have a cast iron dutch oven as my drip pan? Would the high sides on DO prevent a bird get browned? Got lucky and cooked on it 3 times this weekend so not bad. Thanks

Griffin

I've only cooked a turkey once vertically. Foster's beer can, used some aluminum foil to make a pan out of and directly on the plate setter legs up.

lousubcap

What sized BGE?  Independent of that, I have not gone vertical with a turkey but did get a 21lb one to fit (LBGE) by basically doing what you did and going right off the platesetter with spacing.  
Don't know about your dome thermo but lose the retaining clip.  I run mine thru a wine cork (width-wise) and then into the BGE.  More clearance.  FWIW-

Mickey

another way (and very easy) is just to spatchcock it