OT....BGE vs Joe

Personally, I would take the Ferrari over either the BGE or the KJ. 

Having both a BGE and a KJ, here's my take..

- Can't beat the forum, the Dealer network and the Eggfests for BGE (KJ forum is D-E-A-D!)

- I like the rain cap on the BGE, even tho it sounds most don't use them (beats the KJ's vent that doubles as a rain cap closed and a DFMT during cooks - I'm forever wondering if it's "really" closed after putting my cover on, or if my cover may have knocked it part way open and the fire is gonna start back up, melt my cover and catch something on fire).

- I wonder at times if KJ is gonna make it.  My KJ arrived with missing parts (Divide and Conquer "X-Rack" and they slipped a whole pizza stone in instead of the half moon deflectors I SHOULD have gotten.  Not cool.  Trying to get these things replaced took WAY longer than it should have).  Lots of reports on their forum of people that STILL haven't received replacement parts..like 6 months later.

- KJ announced a wireless controller (BBQ Wizard) what seems like 18 months ago - and it's been rare as a two headed purple unicorn in making an appearance..this tweaked me off as it was one of the main reasons (plus the D&C system) that led me to buy the KJ over BGE.

- What I LIKE about the KJ (over BGE):

  - Pull-out ash drawer (very nice)
  - Comes with a stand and high quality bamboo side tables (not extra cost)
  - Stainless hardware
  - Top vent doesn't seem to rust and seize up like my BGE's
  - Way better gasket
  - Much larger and more readable (from inside the house) thermometer
  - Nifty "Divide & Conquer" system with different rack heights (that is, when you finally receive all the parts you paid for in the first place!)

- What I DON'T like about the KJ:

  - Burns a TON of lump (reading all you guys say how the LBGE doesn't burn much lump makes me wonder..is this less fuel efficient than a BGE?)
  - Not sure if the company will make it long term..seem like a bunch of good people but the D&C part debacle (people waiting months for parts they said they had) plus them shipping a pizza stone instead of the half moon deflectors left a bad taste and made me wonder about their ability to ship and service their customers..

Like I've said, I keep thinking I "should" have just bought a MBGE - the KJ Classic is the same size as the LBGE and has a bunch of good accessories available (I have the CGS AR, for example, and a KickAsh Basket) but it is just too big for the 99% of cooks we do for 2.  And it seems to be lump thirsty also, compared to the MBGE that I hear is more fuel efficient.

All that aside, I have a pretty pricey SS table that the Mini and KJ sit in, and while I "could" replace the KJ with a MBGE, it'd look kinda hokey since the cutout for the KJ is 21'' (or whatever it is) and the MBGE would be 3'' smaller..not a total deal breaker, but enough to make me hesitate, also..

Hope this helps..I'm sure I forgot a few things but am running on 3 hours of sleep from last night so pretty much barely functional at the moment..
 

bigalsworth said:

Biggreenpharmacist said:

bigalsworth 

I must have somehow bypassed the code you got from your BGE purchase to be able to join this site. 

I'm
kinda slow. I dont understand this part of your post. 

Just saying that you don't need to purchase a BGE to enjoy and learn on this site.  It is not a perk or argument for buying a BGE.

Oh, okay I gotcha. I guess my point was buying an egg was what prompted me to find this forum. 

We have a local pool/patio store that sells all kind of grills.  I spoke with the owner recently and he told me he sold the Kamado Joes for about two years.  He said he sold a few hunded.  They were very popular.  Every single one was returned, cracked.  Some early on, most later, but all within two years.  Granted I live in Connecticut, a cold climate state, but my BGE has survived minus 9 degrees, with windchills to minus 30F.  And that was cooking pizza at 700F!  Talk about extremes!  The former KJ dealer is now a committed BGE dealer, and reports he has never had had an egg come back broken, other than an idiot dropping it down the stairs.

It's numbers too....way more BGEs than KJs.

At the time I was looking to buy I checked out a local dealer who is an hour from me that sold KJ and Primo.  They both were higher then my current BGE dealer on pricing.  That's one reason, another is my dealer is only 3 miles from my house, gives great service and advice on cooks I have done.  They also offer cooking classes and I feel like family when I go in to the store.  I am not sure about the quality of the KJ vs the BGE, but I do know that the other egg knockoffs aren't as good.  They will cook and make decent food, but take long to get up to temp, take longer to cool down and don't have a lifetime warranty. This forum is another reason I got a BGE and do not regret it one bit.  Your friend can get a KJ if he wants to save money up front, but in the long run the BGE will save him money IMO.  

Ya all really need to read the post. His freind IS getting a egg. Gosh.

Would love to see some pics of the pull out ash drawer - seems like an awesome feature to have.

@SmokeyPitt  ... thanks brother. Been thinking about adding a third egg (trying to sneak it past the wife) .. love the MM and Small - but love the price on the Joe jr even more ... 

@mahenryak  .. oh wow - cool! Thanks, now I got good info to go on!

SoCalTim said:

@mahenryak  .. oh wow - cool! Thanks, now I got good info to go on!

You're welcome.  Also, on an aside, @nolaegghead mentioned that his friends were reporting that they had some difficulty getting his KJ Jr, that he had loaned to them, up to temperature.  I have had absolutely zero issues getting my JR up to temp, very quickly.  I do use a Harbor Freight weed eater to light both my bge lg and my KJ Jr.  I can also report that I have not found the KJ Jr to be a lump hog, by any stretch.  On the contrary, it is serving its intended purpose quite nicely--efficient grilling of steaks, hamburgers, jerk chicken, etc. during the week for just my wife and me.

mahenryak said:

SoCalTim said:

@mahenryak  .. oh wow - cool! Thanks, now I got good info to go on!

You're welcome.  Also, on an aside, @nolaegghead mentioned that his friends were reporting that they had some difficulty getting his KJ Jr, that he had loaned to them, up to temperature.  I have had absolutely zero issues getting my JR up to temp, very quickly.  I do use a Harbor Freight weed eater to light both my bge lg and my KJ Jr.  I can also report that I have not found the KJ Jr to be a lump hog, by any stretch.  On the contrary, it is serving its intended purpose quite nicely--efficient grilling of steaks, hamburgers, jerk chicken, etc. during the week for just my wife and me.

On another side note. I find that the Large BGE cast iron lump grate fits very nice in the KJ jr fire box and increases the air flow even more. 
I bet one of the SS aftermarket grates would be even better. The jr airflow is still better than my Small BGE.
I have also used the KJ jr fire box in my Small BGE and it really helps the Small hit higher temps faster.

I have LBGE and Classic KJ.  In general I would say the KJ is a close second.  Fit finish tad nicer on LBGE.  Also my local BGE dealers are good especially the guy that runs the Ace in Evansville, WI. Ace I got smoking deal on KJ not so good customer service.  Cook the same.  Have not done low and slow on KJ yet interested to see if round deflector works better, no hot spots.  Ash drawer, I removed it I think it gets better air flow without it.  All in all I like both but the BGE better.  If saving a few dollars get you cooking faster great other wise I would save for the BGE.

^^^BTW the KJ Jr does not have an ash drawer. ^^^^