What would you replace it with?

OhioEgger

Nothing urgent here, just fishing for opinions.
I absolutely love my LBGE and can't imagine doing without it, BUT

I'll be moving in a couple of months. Only about 50 miles, so it's a DIY move and I think I can get it there OK. The issue is that in case something goes wrong and I have to replace it, what should I get?

First inclination is another LBGE. Cost isn't important. But the available options have multiplied so much in the 15 years since I bought mine, that I'm wondering whether it might make sense to get something else, like a KJ or the equivalent.

I don't cook for more than two people, rarely three, so I don't need any more capacity.

If you were faced with this choice, what would you recommend?

lousubcap

I would go with a versatile kamado cooker.  I don't have any ceramic cooker experience other than a BGE so I will learn from additional responses. 

DoubleEgger

Lump is expensive these days. Get a smaller egg than the large if it’s only 2-3 people. I personally like the medium. 

cmac610

Stick with the LG BGE. Some decent features in some of the other kamados, but I still believe that the original is still the best. I like my Cotton Gin Harvester, but like most UDS’s, it’s limited to lower temp cooks. Your BGE will do it all!

GrateEggspectations

Were I doing it all over again, it’d be a Blaze aluminum kamado. Pricey, but they’re built like tanks and there’s no ceramic to crack. 

I wouldn’t worry too much about damaging the Egg during the move. In my experience, they’re just fine if you take the requisite precautions. The large fits into a front passenger seat and seatbelt like a glove. Use a blanket in the base to insulate the ceramics from one another. Easy peasy. 

Corv

I had a Medium and it was the right size for me except when it was too large or too small. When it was destroyed, I bought a Large mostly for the additional accessories (some of which I haven't yet used) and relied on my Mini for as much as it would do. Seems a decent approach but then, that's BGE creep. 

bubbajack

I would move the large and buy a medium.

bluebird66

I'd stay with the large Egg.

WestAusEgg

I bought my large BGE from a store that also sells KJs. The KJ is by far better value as it comes with a heap of accessories you have to buy separately for the egg (shelves, eggspander etc.) but when I saw them side by side, I just thought everything about the egg was better (maybe not the hinge), so I paid the extra $500aud to join team green knowing I would end up spending a lot more to kit it out. Alternatively, I have spent the last 5 years before my egg using a Weber kettle and love that thing, and before that years using gas webers. Plenty of options out there. 

fishlessman

stick with the same size ceramic grill if you already have the accessories.  never had a problem moving my large.smaller eggs do burn alot less lump though. my mini vision ceramic literally burns a handfull of lump on a 12 hour cook

xfire_ATX

I was cooking last night and had similar thoughts- even though I just bought a brand new XLBGE.

One kids on their own, one is in College and mostly on their own and I was cooking chicken breasts and a few ears of corn.  I was thinking I could have downsized.  But I already owned internal accessories so I stayed where I was.

DoubleEgger said:

Lump is expensive these days. Get a smaller egg than the large if it’s only 2-3 people. I personally like the medium. 

Funny I was at the HEB over the weekend and the house brand Mesquite lump has gone DOWN in price.  Used to be $19.99, then for a while it was $18.99 and now its $16.98 a bag.

Corv

Perhaps this - Keep the Large and get a Mini or MIniMax for the smaller cooks.

fence0407

The egg should have no trouble with the move as others have said. Assuming it survives, I'd recommend getting a Blackstone or similar griddle. 

Mickey

Have 6 and if a storm hit and only one survived sure hope it’s a MINI. 

GrateEggspectations

Mickey said:

Have 6 and if a storm hit and only one survived sure hope it’s a MINI. 

The Mini is great and all (I’d love one), but you can only burn 4-6 wings at a time!!

fishlessman

GrateEggspectations said:

Mickey said:

Have 6 and if a storm hit and only one survived sure hope it’s a MINI. 

The Mini is great and all (I’d love one), but you can only burn 4-6 wings at a time!!

20 something whole wings cut into 40 something drummettes and wingettes in a mini. its a wing machine and the basket wasnt even filled

DieselkW

I would move it. Even if I had to make an extra 100 mile round trip, even if the warranty doesn't cover transport issues, I don't think I could go a week without it. 

My 15 year old Large has no springs, no top gasket, looks pretty gnarly inside because I rarely get it up to 1000º but I would be in withdrawal if I had to go 7 consecutive dinners without it. 

Moving and leaving it behind would be as gut wrenching as leaving the dog behind. Sure, I can get another dog... but I like the one I have.

WeberWho

It's not a big deal to move it. I've transported my Large BGE a dozen plus times without any issues. Like others have mentioned, make sure you have each ceramic piece wrapped or have cardboard pieces between them. 

Once you move it or prior to moving it wipe everything down and give it a good scrub while everything is apart. It's a good feeling putting it back together when it's all cleaned up. You might not feel like you're missing out on anything else with a cleaned up BGE. I've owned close to 30 different grills/smokers and I've come to appreciate how simple and easy it is to use. While it's not necessarily the best at anything specific, it checks off most of the boxes where other grills/smokers fall short. I highly recommend branching out and trying new stuff but keep the BGE within reaching distance. You'll be looking for it. 

Corv

Use my Mini more than my Large. But there are a lot of steaks that don't fit on it. I've learned to cut my NY Strips in half. Heck, I can only eat half of one anyway, so it's not a hardship. But I'd like to cook a large Tri-Tip on it and they're to big. 

Sometimes I have MiniMax envy. But nope, not going to get one. Nope. Not going there. If a single guy, eating alone, can't be satisfied with a Mini and a Large, there's something wrong.

Schlaffer

I moved my LBGE 1700 miles twice. Not a problem whatsoever. As far as what to get if something did happen....I'd dance again with who brought you to the party time and time again. Nothing wrong with going with what works. 

Ozzie_Isaac

I’m on the same boat - different reasons. I have my minimax and my mini still.  Loved my XL but it’s bigger than I need.  I’m looking at a medium or a large.  My medium was a Ferrari and absolutely loved cooking on it.  Size was rarely an issue until it was.

Gulfcoastguy

A large has more available toys but the medium is one efficient Egg for one or 2 people. Don’t tell me , you had to give up the Eggs to get the dogs?

Ozzie_Isaac

Gulfcoastguy said:

A large has more available toys but the medium is one efficient Egg for one or 2 people. Don’t tell me , you had to give up the Eggs to get the dogs?

Close, I gave up almost all personal items to keep the dogs and just be done.

I kept my tools, 2 Weber kettles, 1 Smokey Mountain, a Traeger, pizza oven, MiniMax, and a Mini. Inside the house I got a bar cabinet and 3 stools 🤣.

23 years - I got what was important.

DoubleEgger

@Ozzie_Isaac Your life sentence was commuted to time served.

Cheers to the next chapter. 

GrateEggspectations

The most important thing you got was your independence and dignity, @Ozzie_Isaac.