Tips to traveling with your MiniMax/Jr

tarheelmatt · March 2016

Taking Jr with us to Ohio this weekend. I have a few ideas of items to pack, but my main thing is doing that as light as possible. Was looking for tips techniques at packing and doing this as efficiently as possible.

So, I have a Sterilte container with the few accessories I'd need (fire starters (though I'll likely get a small torch soon), utility gloves, ash tool, grate gripper, and lighter.

Thought about using a couple ziplocks (2 gal) to take lump in too.

With that said, all you guys with MMs and Joe Jrs that travel, what do you pack and how do you pack?

theyolksonyou · March 2016

When I took mine to the beach last yr I used alcohol and paper towels to light and left the torch at home. Other than lump, I took pizza screens because I knew we'd do shrimp and scallops and a good knife. Let the screens, grids and stone ride in the egg. Did the same going to heapples in the back of the pickup.

Jeremiah · March 2016

I have a hinged tote that I use for camping/tailgating that has a bunch of cooking essentials in it. Plus I have another "dirty" tote for the mm accessories I use. What I do, as dingy as it sounds, is I go through the complete cook in my head from adding the lump to lighting to serving and jot down what I'll need. So where are we going??!

tarheelmatt · March 2016

theyolksonyou said:

When I took mine to the beach last yr I used alcohol and paper towels to light and left the torch at home. Other than lump, I took pizza screens because I knew we'd do shrimp and scallops and a good knife. Let the screens, grids and stone ride in the egg. Did the same going to heapples in the back of the pickup.

Jason,

I may have to try the alcohol and towels, since I'd have a roll of towels anyway. I want to minimize space, so I thought I'd take a ziplock of a few starter cubes. I hated cubes when I first started Egging, so that maybe the trick.

Jeremiah said:

I have a hinged tote that I use for camping/tailgating that has a bunch of cooking essentials in it. Plus I have another "dirty" tote for the mm accessories I use. What I do, as dingy as it sounds, is I go through the complete cook in my head from adding the lump to lighting to serving and jot down what I'll need. So where are we going??!

Jeremiah,

That process sounds great man, not dingy at all. I know most of you have traveled already and probably have a few tips and tricks that otherwise I'd find out way later. So I'm trying to minimize that plus space. We're taking the wife's SUV, so I don't have a ton of room.

We're going to Ohio to see my wife's family.

YukonRon · March 2016

I use a small tote for paper towels/oil that I keep stored inside a small ball jar inside a large plastic mixing cup with lid, ash can, small whisk broom with small flat scoop for ashes, an additional small garbage bag for lump/smoking wood, screens, good knife, good spatula, and about 5 feet of foil.
I will pack more lump inside my MM in a bag, I will also put gloves, lighter and thermapen in the MM as well.

theyolksonyou · March 2016

Forgot gloves and thermapen. Those made the trip as well. And tongs.

Carolina Q · March 2016

If you're going to visit family, use their paper towels and oil to start the fire. Leave the cubes at home.

Just buy a bag of lump when you get there. Leave it there (I do that when I visit Mom) or trash it when you leave if you don't have room in the car. Depending on how much you'll cook, maybe a zip lock will be plenty.

Don't forget an indirect piece, and Woo if you have one.

Better yet... USE THEIR GRILL!

tarheelmatt · March 2016

Nice suggestions guys! I'm making some notes!

northGAcock · March 2016

Mine is too young to travel.....but should be old enough to travel to the BB in April.

johnmitchell · March 2016

I say get a roof rack and take the large.. That will surprise the outlaws when you get there..

SkinnyV · March 2016

Took mine to a condo on the lake for a week last year. Pulled out internals and placed in a bag. Made it easier to carry. Still brought torch, stone,woo etc. Made it work it was a fun week.

tarheelmatt · March 2016

johnmitchell said:

I say get a roof rack and take the large.. That will surprise the outlaws when you get there..

John, they already thing the Clampets are coming into town when I get there. They get a scowl on their face like they smelled poo.

Photo Egg · March 2016

I like to use some of this stretch wrap. Big box stores or shipping stores will have it.
I put a couple pieces of cardboard between fire box and fire ring and wrap them together. Another piece of scrap cardboard on the bottom of the box and wrap it with the plastic wrap. Also a couple wraps around the top of the fire box gives it some cushion inside the egg. Store Misc stuff inside the Egg and then I wrap the dome and base shut. Stops it from bumping open and closed the whole trip. Also great to wrap other Misc stuff to stop it from rattling.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/06/uuerlsu6iln0.jpg

Focker · March 2016

I keep all of the grilling accessories in one large water tight tote. It stores everything I would possibly need with the small egg, OTG, WSM, Jumbo Joe, and new Blackstone Tailgater griddle. Starters, rapid fire chimney starter, lighter, foil, gloves, knives, cuting board, towels, bleach wipes, paper towels, small #5 skillet, 5qt double dutch, 8' stone, 12' stone, drip pan from Tom, spatula, tongs, wood chips, tooth picks, skewers, EVOO, salt, pepper, rub, rubber gloves, Ringer. All I need at the campsite is water to clean. The lump and briquettes I keep separate, in the original bag. I use wooden shims, 3 or 4, and wedge down vertically inbetween the base and fire box, ring. Keeps the innards from shifting. Have logged many miles in transport to and from, zero issues.

JMCXL · March 2016

How timely I am starting to pack for my first trip (4 days) with the MM. I was going to fill a small tote with all tools I need alone with the inners of the MM (to save weight when transporting). Love all the ideas. Wrapping it is brilliant. Thanks for all the lists I would have forgotten about 5 things.

tarheelmatt · March 2016

Dang at the list I have going, I'll need to take the pick-up or buy a bigger SUV for the wife.

DMW · March 2016

Jeremiah · March 2016

Seriously, get a plastic tote of some sort and make an "away kitchen" with all the essentials. I use a Kingsford charcoal tote for transporting the lump.

tarheelmatt · March 2016

DMW said:

Do you have the insides in your tote @DMW ? Also, have you used a drip pan for low and slows yet? Was looking around for something to use. Will likely do a small butt for my in-laws this weekend.

tarheelmatt · March 2016

Jeremiah said:

Seriously, get a plastic tote of some sort and make an "away kitchen" with all the essentials. I use a Kingsford charcoal tote for transporting the lump.

Probably the best idea.

DMW · March 2016

@tarheelmatt - Insides are in the Jr. Used pieces of foam to keep ceramics from bumping during the ride, packed everything tight, worked well. I have a pie tin I use as a drip pan, cover it in foil for easy cleaning. Here's a butt I cooked on that trip:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/sq/c25ej7t51xpf.jpg

tarheelmatt · March 2016

DMW said:

@tarheelmatt - Insides are in the Jr. Used pieces of foam to keep ceramics from bumping during the ride, packed everything tight, worked well. I have a pie tin I use as a drip pan, cover it in foil for easy cleaning. Here's a butt I cooked on that trip:

Thanks! I was thinking a 9"-10" pie tin would probably work just fine. I haven't cooked on it yet, guess I'll break it in while in Ohio.

DMW · March 2016

Here's the thread that was from:
http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1175187/vacation-burgers-brats-and-a-butt-slightly-ot

You'll do fine, it works just like an egg.

Jeremiah · March 2016

Fwiw, I leave all the insides in the mm while traveling. I figure it's gotta warranty if need be, but haven't had a failure yet, knock on wood.

blind99 · March 2016

tarheelmatt said:

johnmitchell said:

I say get a roof rack and take the large.. That will surprise the outlaws when you get there..

John, they already thing the Clampets are coming into town when I get there. They get a scowl on their face like they smelled poo.

So when you roll in it's like this?

gmbbs · March 2016

Order a bag of Rockwood from their local Ace!

NPHuskerFL · March 2016

I use a large plastic tote containing my knife roll, spices/rubs, sauces, cooking utensils, plastic/paper plates &/or bowls, roll of paper towels, MAPP torch, bar towels, food gloves, foil, extra ammo, etc. MM gets secured in the truck bed with a expand bar (pre-loaded w/ lump and carry 1/2-1 bag on the trip just in case). Food items in a cooler. I've done this each and every time with no hitch in my giddy up. And I ALWAYS have a roll of teepee, first aid kit, jumper cables, recovery gear, etc. My Grandfather taught me to be prepared back when I was a kid on hunting trips. My truck stays prepared. & I do my best to keep my Wife's car equipped with ER type supplies.

bgebrent · March 2016

Throw it all in a damned suitcase and shut up already! What the F did you learn at UNC? "Advanced travel strategies when anticipating smoking dinner 101"?

Tie downs and gasoline, all you need Mattie.

westernbbq · March 2016

When i travel with minimax, i put cardboard between any ceramic to ceramic surfaces, i even cut a ring out of a white marble farms pork box that matches the platesetter, fire box and fire ring. Good vibrations crack eggs. . I also put as much as i can inside mm such as starter cubes, matches, thermometer, daisy wheel, etc so it is as efficiently packed as i can make it. Whenever doing this i never have enough time to take picts but i will at some point. I hadn't thought of taking it out of carrier but that's a great idea, space saver and efficient packimg. Just lower it back in when arrive at campsite or beach. But be sure to tether it down with bungees or come a longs. You dont want it shifting around or flying loose in a worst case scenario.

tailg8ers · March 2016

We pack our MM up for all tailgates and for family vacays - We take our cast iron grid exclusively - have a galvanized locking lid container that holds the lump, any wood, our kick ash basket along w/ ash pan and tool, starter cubes, our woo, tongs, spatula, and a plastic container of various grilling/serving tools. The galvanized container makes for quick cool down and allows us to secure the MM. anything soft like gloves goes into the MM for the trip and keeps it from having anything move inside. If you saw all the stuff we take for tailgating - we don't leave room much room for ourselves - but the MM travels very well and is happy to go for a ride!!! Of course we have our 'Camp Kitchen' that holds a ton of our stuff (including the adult beverages & Such).

YukonRon · March 2016

This is great stuff

Tips to traveling with your MiniMax/Jr

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