Rig or Guru?

DrugCoder

Which one would you get first? SWMBO will allow me to get one or the other right now. I will eventually end up with both, just can't afford both right now.

Let me tell you about my cooking... Most of the time it's steaks/burgers/chicken for my family of 4. However, we love to entertain once or twice a month which is normally pulled pork or brisket.

My current setup right now is a LBGE with CI grate, Platesetter, and a pizza stone.

Which would you purchase first? A Rig with spider and probably sliding grate or the Guru DigiQ II?

thailandjohn

I just finished a 19 hour cook on the XL Egg.
I use the Stoker and I am able to monitor or change my pit temp from any computer or my phone. For long cooking, this is the greatest. Check it out here: http://www.rocksbarbque.com/

BayouMark

I got the AR ahead of the Guru because I wanted to be able to have confidence in my ability to use the BGE the way it was intended FIRST! I will get a guru but I may get another egg prior to that. The AR gives you lots of cooking options while the guru only is meant for a low and slow usually overnight. Call me a purist but I like to master the tools I have before getting more that are related. :P

otisdog

After a year with the egg I faced the same choice. I already have a raised grid solution, so that made it a little easier. While I will get a rig later I made the choice to go with a guru. I love it and have no regrets.

Kenny 13

I think BayouMark makes a good point. I think the guru can be a great tool to help make your life easier on those long cooks, but you can be in trouble if you have a problem with the guru and haven't yet mastered manual temperature control.

I intend to eventually get one of the powered controllers, but I want to learn my egg and get the hang of doing things manually before I take that step. I will be getting the AR first.

Carolina Q

I have no plans for either. Egg temp stays where I set it for hours on end, I have a platesetter for indirect and I raise the grid with some scrap metal I had laying around.

Take the money she told you you could spend and buy something nice for HER.

Dave in So Cal

The AR gets my vote. I don't have a Guru because I wanted to be able to control temps manually first. I can see using a Guru in competitions or restaurants, but for home cooking, I prefer to do it the old fashioned way.

The AR is great. I use it constantly because it allows me to raise the grid, cook on multiple levels, change food positions easily, and wok. Great investment in a quality accessory.

SkySaw

I think the Egg is a very easy tool to learn to use - so IMO, mastering the Egg manually is an easily acquired skill. Getting a Stoker/Guru after cooking on the Egg a few times is not a bad thing. I waited 3 years before getting my Stoker, and I wish I had picked it up sooner. It keeps temps right where I want them to be, and lets me monitor and control the Egg from wherever I want.

You already have a platesetter, so I'm not sure what the AR will do for you, unless you don't already have a raised grid. If you don't have a raised grid, and have been looking for more space, go for the AR (with spider and medium CI grid for Trexing).

OTH, CarolinQ also has a great suggestion.

Mark

Fire Walker

Buy a Guru a couple of fire bricks and a cheap weber grate can do just about everything a AR can do for about 20.00.
FireWalker

low tech redneck

I firmly believe the AR should be a standard part of the egg.I have the Guru pit minder and it does everything I need for low and slow for less $ than the QII.You may as well just resign yourself to getting both cause you won't be happy til you do.
Good Luck

Big'un

I currently have a stoker and love it! I also have an adjustable rig and love it too! The two new adjustable rigs I ordered yesterday should be here tomorrow so my other eggs wont feel undressed. You've got a tough decision ahead of you; I say talk with wifey and then get them both. After all, she'll benefit from both of them too!