Redesigned XL BGE

ranger67

I have recently ordered an XL BGE and am awaiting my dealers receipt of the unit. While waiting ( and drooling ), I've been looking at the eggcessories. While trying to decide what pieces I wanted, I came across some obscure information I wanted to share with everyone and hopefully get the forum's input.

It turns out that the fire box, fire ring and place setter have all been redesigned for the XL BGE. The fire box and fire ring have been shortened and the legs on the plate setter have been changed as well. The benefit is an additional inch of cooking room between the grid and top of the dome.

This all sounded great until I started to really think about it, raising several questions.

1) How much does the reduction in size of the fire box and fire ring affect the length of time the egg can smoke/cook before the charcoal would have to be restocked?

2) Does the change affect the temperature range of the egg. Can it still cook as low, or get as quite as hot?

3) Will this change affect the speed of heating the BGE?

4) From a maintenance aspect, how long will BGE maintain both variants in stock? As Bruce from BGE has informed me the pieces CAN NOT be mixed - box, ring, place setter, and I'm sure other accessories, must match in design.

5) Once we know the differences between the two designs, depending on what we're trying to do, would it be beneficial to have both designs on hand and swap them as the cooking method merits?

Basically, I can't imagine that BGE would accept too much in the way of compromising these items, but I am wondering just what the compromises are?

Thoughts and insights are highly welcome.

Little Steven

ranger67,

Do you have any drawings or photos of the new design? I am quite interested because I have a new XL still in the box. It is a replacement for a stolen one and I still have eggcessories and parts from my older one. I don't even know if I have the new design or not.
From what you describe, the changes sound positive but questions do arise. In the years I have used the XL, I have never had to reload lump and have done 20+ hour cooks.

Steve

ranger67

Sorry Steve, I don't have pictures -- yet. I expect my new XL to be of the new design based on Bruce's comments. However, I found this at http://www.ceramicgrillstore.com/ceramicgrillstore/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64&Itemid=231


PLEASE READ: Big Green Egg is shipping the redesigned fire ring and firebox with the XL. With the redesign, the firebox is one inch shorter and the fire ring is notched to hold the platesetter. How can you distinguish the old from the new? (1) With the new, it's 3-inches from the top of fire ring to the base's felt rim. With the old, it's 2 inches. (2) With the new, the top of the fire ring has 3 notches to hold the platesetter. With the old, the top of the fire ring has six shallow dimples. If your XL has the notched fire ring and/or shorter firebox, we recommend that you do not purchase the current version of our Flip Ring and Hanger. Simply, we want you to have the best accessories available and matching old with new is not the best set-up option today. We are in the process of redesigning our XL line-up to match Big Green Egg's redesign. We are playing and experimenting to see if we can put the extra inch above the fire ring to improved use. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

Additionally, I'd think you could email customer support at BGE. They seem to be quite responsive.

Buster Dog BBQ

I cooked on the XL all last summer without a platesetter as I was waiting for it from my dealer. I did have the hanger and large drip pan I bought from the ceramic grill store along with the raised grid. It worked perfect and I was able to still burn 20 plus hours. I got my platesetter and am going to have it cut down to just about 16" and sit on the hanger. That is still plenty of lump plus it gives me the clearance I want. Not sure I want the new design. As I understand the fire ring or box will have notches for the platesetter to sit in. Seems like a huge hassel to take in and out if that is the case if you have to remove the fire ring.

Little Steven

ranger67,

Thanks for the information. It sounds like the main mod is the fire ring. I have an older fire ring spare so I should be OK. I can't get to the box to open it so I don't know hat I have anyway. I heard that the handle had been changed.

Steve

Little Steven

Buster Dog BBQ,

And the hanging rack won't work with it they say.

Steve

Buster Dog BBQ

Not the new one, no. But if the one you have in the box is the older design you might like that set up better is what I meant. With the hanger and flip ring. It will get the platesetter lower.

Little Steven

Buster Dog BBQ,

I had an XL for years and had to replace it as part of an insurance claim. Never did get the flip ring and hanger but i like the idea. I have a new (old style) fire ring that was a warranty replacement that I never installed. Can I use either of them based on what I want to do? I guess I mean is the fire ring the only redesign?

Steve

Photo Egg

Yes, the newer mods are hitting the floor.
I have one of the newer styles after cooking on the older style for two years. There is no advantage to the older style. The new mods work better with no draw backs I can find over the original. Still cooks 20 hours no problem with good lump.
I think the biggest advantage is the increased space gained with the plate setter legs up for a drip pan.
You will be as happy with the new mods as you would have been with the old.
Darian

Photo Egg

I cut my original plate setter down and used Tom's gear
with my old XL as you are posting.
This works very well. The plate setter cut very easy with a tile roto zip bit and sanding block to finish.
I now use the feet for spacers.
Darian

GrillDaddy

I purchased a XL BGE in Dec 2008; I really do not like the design of the plate setter. The legs are short and the only way to use it with a drip pan is to put the plate setter between the box/ring. BGEs are as a whole well designed but just not sure of the design. Would love to know why they design it that way.:unsure:


It is a pain to remove and put back the ring.

Buster Dog BBQ

That is exactly what I was going to do. Glad to hear it works well.

So how would you rate the cut plate setter method to the new firebox method?

tjv

the hanger does not fit the new fire ring, as the fire ring is notched in three places for the platesetter legs. The only difference with the flip ring and the redesign is with the flip ring in the down position, xl grid on top, the grid will sit about one inch below the felt rim.

I thought about reconfiguring the flip ring set-up but from what everyone who owns it has basically said.....it works great don't change a thing, just resize it to the new design. So that is what I'm doing. Also working on a three legged spider to fit the new firebox.

t

Photo Egg

If you are carefull and keep your plate setter tri shaped Tom's XL flip ring will rest on the plate setter and will raise the 24" cooking grid a little higher. If not the cut down plate setter will fit inside the flip ring. Choice is yours.
Send me an email with you phone number and I will give you a call.
Darian

darianhofer"at"yahoo.com

tjv

box went out yesterday.....t

Little Steven

tjv,

I need to order some other stuff. Any idea of timing? Also, do I get to your site through the BGE page. The link I had saved doesn't work anymore.

Steve

tjv

please contact me off forum. acgpinc@verizon.net
need your help.....t

PWise

I have the new XL and have kept it going for 40+ hours with 12 kilos of lump, which filled all the way up to less than an inch below the platesetter with the legs pointing up.

If you look carefully in this post, you can see the 3 notches instead of the other 5 or 6 in the older design (which I've never seen).

http://www.eggheadforum.com/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&func=view&id=577217&catid=1

Hope this helps!

cheers!