Woo/AR vs KJ Divide and Conquer

distanceman · January 2017

I'm curious if anyone has a recommendation on a Woo & Adjustable Rig set up vs using the KJ Divide and Conquer? I am looking to do low and slow, grilling/searing and pizza. The Woo seems to give more options than a standard plate setter.

From all the things I've read, it seems like a Woo/AR basically does the same thing as the D&C--and cost more or less the same.

Any insight is appreciated.

chuckytheegghead · January 2017

Get the AR

Gamecockeggman · January 2017

Standing by

SGH · January 2017

distanceman said:
Any insight is appreciated.

I have both the Woo and the AR. The Woo is used in conjunction with the plate setter to create a indirect set up or it can used without the plate setter to create a raised direct cooking set up. It will raise the cooking grid to gasket level which is a good thing
The AR does not work with the plate setter (at least on a large) it uses either round or oval stones. For what it's worth, the AR can be set up to give you 4 cooking zones. In this capacity the AR has an advantage over the Woo. However for sheer simplicity, it's hard to beat the Woo for general cooking. Especially if you already have a plate setter.
As far as the D&C system, I don't personally have one so I can't speak from actual experience. But it looks like a great design from what I have saw. If it had existed 3 years ago I would have probably chosen it.
Again, I have the Woo, spider and the AR. I have both the oval grid, oval stone, round grid, and round stone for the AR. But I still use the Woo for 99 percent of my cooks. Either with or without the plate setter just depending on what I'm cooking. The Woo is simple, fast, and very easy to use. It's a very simple tool that just works and works well for it's intended purpose.
If you are trying to increase capacity significantly, then the AR or D&C may be best for you. However if you are looking for something to work in conjunction with the plate setter, or something to simply offer a raised direct cooking platform, the Woo is hard to beat. Especially for the money.
With all of the above said, I'm not loyal or partial to any brand. Good stuff is good stuff in my book. On that note, KJ has came out with some great products over the past few years in my opinion.

Hans61 · January 2017

Also will be watching this one

keepervodeflame · January 2017

The divide and conquer is definitely a great piece of gear, no doubt about that at all. However it is designed to fit inside a KJ not a BGE. The KJ and the BGE have two distinctly different dome tapers. In short the BGE has much more head room above the felt than does the KJ. The divide and conquer is short in stature like the Woo. It won't get you very high above the felt. The AR on the other hand, is specifically designed to take advantage of the BGE's head room. Using the AR you can put a pizza stone way up into the dome or easily position a drip pan below two racks each with food on them. For my money, the AR is the much better system, if you are putting it into a BGE. If I had a KJ I would opt for the D&C. Just my two cents. if you look at a KJ classic and a large BGE side by side you can easily see the difference in the dome tapers and heights.

Photo Egg · January 2017

I like the Adj Rig over the KJ because it gives you many more options as well as a higher raised cooking level. More options and and other products that can be used with it in give more options.

distanceman · January 2017

Ok all, thanks for the input. I went back and read up some more on the AR/Woo and DC. I see what you're sayin ref higher in the dome and more optkons. Cool capabilities to use the 16x20 grid to slide out ribs, etc. I also liked with the AR you can raise meat higher, and have good visual and access to the coals.

Though it seems like KJ is innovative and active, the more research I do, the more I find you can gain similar--if not more--capability for the BGE via 3rd party vendor.

Again, thanks for the input.

Big_Green_Craig · January 2017

I run the Divide & Conquer in my Large and XL. I like the completely round deflector stones over the triangle shaped plate setter. They also have some optional cast iron and soapstone inserts for it. Very flexible and works great.

tjv · January 2017

Sounds like you are asking about the xl egg vs. big joe kjoe. Without question, the xl rig and woo are more versatile than the D&C.

We fabricated a similar piece, before KJoe's D&C, called the PSWoo3. So we are very familiar on what the D&C can and can't do. We quit offering the PWoo3 because folks prefer to get the PSWoo (2 ring) and Spider. Having the Spider separate offers more options.

I am happy to compare the rig and woo vs. kjoes D&C if someone want to take the D&C side.

t

Arkysmokin · January 2017

I got the spider and AR for Christmas. The AR is awesome and I really like the versatility of the spider also. Reverse searing a steak is so easy now. I also bought a CI grid to sit on the spider. I installed the spider with the CI, setup the AR for indirect and set it on top of the spider. Once I was done roasting the steak, I popped off the AR and put the steak on the CI grid that had been heating up underneath the AR. The sear was great. My recommendation is the spider and AR

distanceman · January 2017

Thanks TJV and Arkysmokin -- I will look at the spider and Woo separat (as well as AR), but thought I only saw the 2 ring Woo with spider attached. I'll look again.

Woo/AR vs KJ Divide and Conquer

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