Small BGE made Portable

gsagar123

For all those threads out there about MiniMax versus Small.
For all those that own a MiniMax and find certain situations where the height has limitations.
Thanks to Jeremiah for showing how easy this modification is.

I bent new legs for a MiniMax Carrier to fit the Small.

For anyone interested in carrying either the MiniMax or the Small by themselves, they might be interested in knowing the weight differences without the firebox, grate, grill, cap, etc....  In other words if a person tries to carry one by themslves, it does not take long to figure out to remove as much of the easy weight as possible.

My measurements are:
MiniMax + Carrier Less firebox, grate, grill, cap equals close to 53 lbs.
Small + Modified Carrier less firebox, grate, grill cap is close to 60 lbs.

So not quite as light as the MiniMax, but getting the extra height and still being liftable by one person was the key decision point for me.

lousubcap

@gsagar123 -welcome aboard and continue to enjoy the journey.  Above all, have fun.

Great opening thread right there.  Very useful info for those debating which to buy.  Hard to beat the usefulness of the SBGE, especially when paired with a larger one.  In fairness, I do not own a MM. 

Canugghead

Welcome aboard, great first post. Hard to tell if you have vinyl caps at the bottom, if they touch the egg base I'd suggest removing them to avoid fusing  with the glaze down the road.

gsagar123

The caps are the same ones used on the Small Nest.....If I understand, they are made from high temp silicon, so I am expecting no problem with them melting.     The bent up legs at the bottom help stabilize the small since it has a smaller diameter than the MiniMax......Not sure if this is really a problem that needed solving, but doing the second bend was easy enough, and if it helps prevent the small from moving in the carrier, then great.

I have a MiniMax and will look forward to doing many side by side comparisons showing myself where I had problems with the MinMax Height, and how much better it works with the small.
To determine if carrying the extra weight is worth it.   This is an experiment.

This is intended to be used with an RV, and loading and unloading would be fairly common.   And often will require it be done by myself......So being able to be carried by one person was a critical requirement.

gsagar123

Sure would be nice if Big Green Egg would offer this carrier as a special order item.    Sure would of saved me having to build the new legs.  So if anyone from Big Green Egg reads these forum posts, please add this as a product development request.

Ozzie_Isaac

I love it!  Looks like a little boy wearing his dad's cowboy boots 

Canugghead

Check these out, you are safe though, if all four caps are not in direct contact with the base.
https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1154990/rubber-on-nest
https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1215913/chipped-glaze
https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1198790/egg-glued-to-stand

gsagar123

Thanks Canugghead.
I was thinking that if these are the caps  are used on the normal nest in direct contact with the egg, and they are of silicon and can tolerate up to about 400 degrees external surface temperature near the base, then they would probably be ok.......Those threads you posted are a real eye opener to melting the caps to the egg........In this modified MiniMax carrier, those caps are at the very bottom of the egg, I am hoping the temperatures at the base will be within the temperature limits of the caps....As one Vice President once said for a company I worked for, "Hope is not a strategy!".......I will keep an eye on those caps.......even if they are removed, the bent up bracket should provide the needed positioning of the small in the Minimax Base to keep it from sliding back and forth in transit.   After all, This is an experiment.

Thanks to Eggheadforum for showing all the caps melted to the egg.

bobroo

Some spare gasket material glued to the tabs will prevent the chaffing and have no worries of melting. 

If this were my carrier, I would not allow the egg to rattle around and have all those gaps. I'd pack it tight with gasket material. 

Ozzie_Isaac

Excellent point on the rubber feet.  Those silicone pads do more damage than good.  Here is my medium, BGE wouldn't warranty this either.  Said it was just cosmetic.

MaskedMarvel

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Excellent point on the rubber feet.  Those silicone pads do more damage than good.  Here is my medium, BGE wouldn't warranty this either.  Said it was just cosmetic.

Mothership said that? I’ve definitely had my local do warranty on similar damage.. 

Ozzie_Isaac

MaskedMarvel said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Excellent point on the rubber feet.  Those silicone pads do more damage than good.  Here is my medium, BGE wouldn't warranty this either.  Said it was just cosmetic.

Mothership said that? I’ve definitely had my local do warranty on similar damage.. 

Yes sir.  I asked my dealer to contact them.  Dealer said it was denied, but they did send me a little bit of touch up paint.

Lets just say, this is still a sore spot with me.  Especially because my eggs now sit front an center in an outdoor kitchen and this one has two painted spots on it now.

SMITTYtheSMOKER

Nice idea.

gsagar123

Added Casters to test never picking it up.....I use a dog ramp to roll it into and out of the truck.......So Far So Good.......

RRP

For those who would prefer yet a more simple solution go buy a “Pot Lifter”! I can carry my Small (which a M/M actually is by shortening a Small). I am not a big man nor at my age of nearly 79 I am no strong man either! BUT using a “Pot Lifter” I can carry my Small like a duffle bag!