Adjustable Rig Confusion

Mayberry · January 2014

I almost pulled the trigger and bought an adjustable rig three or four times in the past few months. One main problem I have is that I already have a platesetter and hate for it to go to waste. I also already have a spider, so that is not needed. For raised direct cooks I have learned to improvise, flipping my spider over, legs down, and elevating my great to about the level of the felt line. The one thing I consistently need is more grid space....not too often, but whenever I do ribs, wings for large groups of people, it becomes an issue. Can you cook elevated direct on two different levels using the adjustable rig? Is there something else that will allow me to do this that might be cheaper? I understand it is a great product and Tom has been wonderful with everything I've purchased from him in the past. But, every time I start to push the order button, I think that for $160, I'm halfway to spending the money on a Small Egg. I believe the demo Eggs are around $350 at eggfests. Anyone have suggestion, or answers to the few questions I have?

shadowcaster · January 2014

Get the AR and stop thinking about it haha. I think you will be very pleases with the AR and the only thing you will regret is not buying it sooner. It just gives you so many more options and room. Raised direct is a little different with two level but can be done if you rotate bottom to top every so often. Good luck in your decision

Chubbs · January 2014

Well I think you need to weigh the pros and cons.. If mainly getting a second egg to have two raised direct grates going at one time, then you come out way cheaper getting the AR for the other egg. If want another egg for traveling and weeknight cooks, then another story. I say embrace the addiction and get the AR and then start saving money for second egg. I lover my AR and second egg equally

Mayberry · January 2014

Will the AR adequately allow me to cook on two levels at one time, both direct and indirect? I checked out their website and honestly I believe they provide so much information, I keep confusing myself.

Terrebandit · January 2014

If you really wanted one you would have it by now! Also, there are cheaper ways to cook on two levels.

bvc · January 2014

Mayberry said:

Will the AR adequately allow me to cook on two levels at one time, both direct and indirect? I checked out their website and honestly I believe they provide so much information, I keep confusing myself.

Short answer: yes

I just got my AR R&B combo with the AR Rig Extender. I also opted for an additional oval grate option with the AR Extender after talking with Tom on the phone. I have used it the last two weekends, doing 30lbs of wings indirect on two levels last weekend (several rounds...not all at once) and a single level cook last night/this morning with 3x 6lb pork butts.

The set up all together isn't the cheapest way to cook raised multi-level, but after weighing options and thinking about it for awhile, I am so happy I bought this set up. I highly recommend calling CGS and talking to Tom. He will answer any questions you have and help you with what would be the right set up for you.

minniemoh · January 2014

Buy the AR. It will pay for itself in savings when you don't go out to eat! Mine is still paying me back. The neighbors and friends will bring the beer (and sometimes meat).

I have the platesetter and still use it fairly often. It's about having the right tool for the job.

bicktrav · January 2014

Yes, you can cook both direct and indirect on multiple levels at one time. My setup allows me to use three grids at once if I want. Like DVC, I got the AR R&B combo with rig extender and extra oval grid. It increases your cooking capacity so much it's ridiculous. It's like having multiple eggs. Beyond that, the height that the AR (especially with the rig extender added) allows you to achieve is phenomenal. I didn't know what crispy skin on a spatchcock chicken was until I cooked one on my rig extender. Raised direct at the felt line is nothing like raised direct on top of the AR. Get one!

Carolina Q · January 2014

I don't have one for several reasons. I never cook enough to need two grids, I have another perfectly acceptable way to raise the grid, if I wanted a second grid, I would use carriage bolts and a cheap Weber grid and finally, it's too expensive for my budget.

Many swear by them (and CGS). I have no reason to doubt that. I just don't need what the AR provides.

Griffin · January 2014

Go ahead and get it. I only use the placesetter for pizzas now, just cuz I have it dialed down and haven't wanted to experiment/screw up. The only other thing I use thje PS for is bread. I just like hte more surface area blockage than the oval stone.

texaswig · January 2014

I say get it. If you only use it when you coom for big get togethers is worth it. I use mine almost with everything I cook.

Dave in Florida · January 2014

I have an AR and like it. But to be honest, if it wasn't given to me one Christmas I never would have bought one. I had the placesetter and a second grate with cartridge bolts setup. I had no issues with two level cooking, it always worked great. $30 in bolts and a grate compared to $100 and something for the AR setup just would not be justified in my mind.

SkinnyV · January 2014

I like u had it in my cart plenty of times. Since I had a PS I got the woo3 and the $20 extender group buy.
Worked well for me so far.

JethroVA · March 2014

Make your own for 20-30 bucks. Weber 18in stainless charcoal grate fits perfectly with 6in stainless carriage bolts. sorry for the blurry pic.

cazzy · March 2014

JethroVA said:
Make your own for 20-30 bucks. Weber 18in stainless charcoal grate fits perfectly with 6in stainless carriage bolts. sorry for the blurry pic.

While the home brew kits work, any person that has used a rig will tell you there is no comparison. Especially if you make brisket and ribs as much as us Texas Folk. Oval stone for the Win!

grege345 · March 2014

I wonder if he ever bought it. My guess is yes and he loves it

Mayberry · March 2014

Lol...nope, not yet! I've got too many hobbies. Between Egging, running, mountain biking, and a few others, I'm always wanting to spend money on something new. Haven't gotten around to buying the AR yet. I think I will soon. Probably after I get pissed at not having enough space on the next large cook I do.

mimauler · March 2014

I use my P/S and my adjustable rig together quite frequently, why wouldn't you think that you could. I have an XL never been an issue.

JerkChicken · March 2014

When I was stuck with this decision, I came to the conclusion that I would most likely have my egg forever. That being said, I immediately bought the AR and all the goodies I wanted and didn't look back.

I use my AR for nearly every cook, and it's nearly doubled my capacity for my favorite cook, wings indirect. Now when I make them there are plenty of leftovers for my family and me to devour...

Good luck, and you really can't go wrong with either decision...

Miked125 · March 2014

(1) Procrastinate a bit more

(2) Call Tom and discuss

(3) You will now be excited

(4) Load the cart

(5) Checkout before the procrastination sets in again, you have roughly two hours.

(6) Wait a few days & wonder how is this any better

(7) It arrives, you will now be very happy and love the extra space.

To be honest, I don't need the space all the time but when I do, its simply fantastic.

yzzi · March 2014

You're gonna want it for the next big cook, so..... Don't wait till you're mad.

jmcnutt5 · March 2014

cazzy said:

Make your own for 20-30 bucks. Weber 18in stainless charcoal grate fits perfectly with 6in stainless carriage bolts. sorry for the blurry pic.
While the home brew kits work, any person that has used a rig will tell you there is no comparison. Especially if you make brisket and ribs as much as us Texas Folk. Oval stone for the Win!

While I would probably agree that there is no comparison between the home brew kits versues the actual AR, I would recommend you purchase/build something that suits your needs. I am really on the fence about getting an AR too, but I am really asking myself if I would use it to its full potential or am I just telling myself that to spend the money. I have no doubt it would make some things a lot easier but is it really enough to justify? Decisions, decisions.

HendersonTRKing · March 2014

As a relatively new egger, I've struggled with the same decision. My conclusion was to build the weber-grid/carriage bolt set up, use it for a while, and spring for the AR if and when I outgrow it or can no longer resist the urge to spend more on my hobby.

Here's a pic of wings on my home brewed raised grid. Just looking at it reminds me of how satisfying it was to do it myself. The wings were beyond great -- best ever, and so was some chicken breast I did raised direct. Maybe an AR would be even better, but I was going after "raised" more than "2 level cooking" and this certainly got me there.

Now I'm struggling with getting (not getting) a woo. If for no other reason, than I like saying it.

SkinnyV · March 2014

I am going to list my pswoo3 on craigslist and if it sells may pull the trigger on AR.

caliking · March 2014

The advice given to try a home brewed setup for a while is sound. I played around with home brewed setups for more than a year, and then decided I was ready to spring for the AR R&B combo and rig extender. Here is why:

1. I missed the smoked wings from my drum smokers. The grid in my drums is about 24" above the charcoal basket, so flare-ups never affected the wings much. With the rig extender, the grid gets higher up in the dome and further away from the coals, so now I can make wings like I used to in my drums.

2. You can move the AR setup en bloc, as a single unit. With my home brewed setups, there were multiple pieces that had to be moved whenever I had to add lump or wood chunks.

3. With the R&B combo, there is enough space on the sides to add wood chunks in case I forgot to add wood when I lit the charcoal, or if I want to add wood after the temp has stabilized and before the meat goes on.

4. The AR parts can just stay in the egg when not in use, so storage is simpler/easier than I had thought.

pantsypants · March 2014

I got an AR recently and it is a permanent fixture in my egg . I use it more than my thermapen.
Short answer Get it .

westernbbq · March 2014

I got the adjustable rig set up for both the XL and L eggs and never looked back. TOM is awesome and so helpful it'll make you wonder how you got along without the setups before.

I did FOUR bone in pork shoulders on the LARGE EGG by using the adjustable rig setup Tom recommended and I could not be happier with the results. They were jammed in there pretty good but with the spider, the stone and the adjustable rig and two grids spaced apart (one top, one bottom) the added capacity just can't be replicated any other way except by buying another egg (which I plan to do anyway). The steel is pretty thick and will hold up for a long time.

Can't wait to do THREE levels (thanks to adj rig setup for the XL) this weekend on XL of wings and then fire up the LARGE for pizza!

Big Green Egg = BEST COOKING DEVICE EVER!

jls9595 · March 2014

Another thing you can do with the AR is switch the grates very easily during the cook. They just slide in and out. You can't do that with a carraige bolt setup.

SkinnyV · March 2014

Just priced my wish list AR, $300.

I feel like its all or nothing .

pantsypants · March 2014

westernbbq said:

I got the adjustable rig set up for both the XL and L eggs and never looked back. TOM is awesome and so helpful it'll make you wonder how you got along without the setups before.

I did FOUR bone in pork shoulders on the LARGE EGG by using the adjustable rig setup Tom recommended and I could not be happier with the results. They were jammed in there pretty good but with the spider, the stone and the adjustable rig and two grids spaced apart (one top, one bottom) the added capacity just can't be replicated any other way except by buying another egg (which I plan to do anyway). The steel is pretty thick and will hold up for a long time.

Can't wait to do THREE levels (thanks to adj rig setup for the XL) this weekend on XL of wings and then fire up the LARGE for pizza!

Big Green Egg = BEST COOKING DEVICE EVER!

What's the set up to do 4butts ?

Ladeback69 · March 2014

You could also buy an XL. That's what I went for because I wanted to be able to cook a lot when I wanted.

Adjustable Rig Confusion

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Pure Michigan
Large BGE, Medium BGE, Mini BGE, Weber Smokey Mountain, Weber Performer.
If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

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Adjustable Rig Confusion

Comments

Pure MichiganLarge BGE, Medium BGE, Mini BGE, Weber Smokey Mountain, Weber Performer.If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

Categories

Pure Michigan
Large BGE, Medium BGE, Mini BGE, Weber Smokey Mountain, Weber Performer.
If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.