Wheel chocks for egg nest?

Mt Sutro Smoker · May 2009

Three week ago, we set up our brand-new large BGE and, with some effort, maneuvered it into a new egg nest on our small back patio. At which point we learned, somewhat to our surprise, that our patio isn't entirely level. In fact, it slopes rather dramatically -- for a patio, anyway -- away from the house toward a strip of border garden.

The upshot is that the Egg has a tendency to feel gravitys pull back there. I managed to sandwich it into a corner where a couple of other grills have it mostly fenced in, and so far it hasn't made a break for it. Which is good, because it would almost certainly break if it rolled off the patio.

So my question is this: Has anyone ever found or used any kind of wheel chocks to keep their BGE where it belongs? I sort of wish the egg-nest wheels locked -- that would solve the problem right off -- but absent that, I need something to keep it from rolling unexpectedly.

Any advice?

"Sparky" · May 2009

You can replace the casters with ones with brakes

I paid about 5 buck each at Lowes for these

BigDaddy - OCT · May 2009

When I flew RC airplanes I often used just a strong spring clamp. I'm refering to the kind that works like a clothes pin but much more heavy duty. If you just hold it at ground level, pinch it open, and slide it all of the way on to the wheel from the down hill side (assuming the wheel is already pivoted to they way it would face when rolling) and release. Make sure it's snug but a pair of them should help a lot unless the slope is significant.

BD

Little Steven · May 2009

Mt Sutro Smoker

You can get yourself a set of these casters, or two if you match the size. They are neoprene wheeled and make moving the egg really easy. Just step on the locks when you are in position. Any fastening supply will have them. There is a guy here that is in the biz.

Steve

"Sparky" · May 2009

Dang Steve,I thought that I just said that :pinch: I can't remember though

:P

Little Steven · May 2009

Dang Sparky,

I should have read that and saved all that typing. :S

Steve

Little Steven · May 2009

Ya got me dude, I was just spell checking the one below.

Steve

Mt Sutro Smoker · May 2009

Thanks -- those look like good solutions. Wish I'd thought about it before actually putting the Egg in the nest, though. I don't have an Egg lifter and was kind of hoping not to need one any time soon, and can't really see swapping out the wheels with the Egg in place....

Little Steven · May 2009

Mt Sutro Smoker,

If Sparky hasn't answered yet, It isn't that hard. You only need to get one wheel up about an inch to do it. Is your egg new?

Steve

Mt Sutro Smoker · May 2009

Yup, about three-and-a-half weeks old. About time for a new bag of lump, though :-).

Doug in Eggmonton · May 2009

A suggestion

Lift it like a car. Block one set of wheels, put a 2X4 under the frame near the other two wheels, jack the two by four up an inch or two. Swap out the two elevated castors. Lather rinse repeat.

Doug

Little Steven · May 2009

You are good then. I had to overdrill the holes in my original. I think the holes are 3/8" clear on the new ones.

Steve

Little Steven · May 2009

Dammit Jim, I'm an electrician..not a car mechanic. :laugh:

Steve

Bacchus · May 2009

Guys. That certainly must raise the center of gravity, making a top heavy rig even more so. I'm guessing its not enough to be an issue? Sparky I guess that is your XL?

"Sparky" · May 2009

Hey Ron,that is the pic of my large nest(for the chiminea).

The casters were about the same size as original.I put bigger casters on the XL nest,and they roll much easier over the bumps on the deck.Doesn't seem to be top heavy at all

FlaPoolman · May 2009

I don't need breaks for my Eggs,,I always keep them under the speed limit :P

Little Steven · May 2009

Sparky,

You can get them with a single stud too, just sayin.

Steve

Little Steven · May 2009

Ron,

I would say it makes it more stable and moves around without the wheels getting caught. I dumped my first large moving it. Broke my heart.:(

Steve

Jersey Doug · May 2009

If the patio is sufficiently out of level for the Egg to want to move, the Nest should be leveled as well as immobilized. Before I put a piece of 3/8" plywood under the two front casters of our Large my pizzas were coming out like this:

Little Steven · May 2009

Doug,

I don't have my deck done yet but there is enough thread on the studs to go with two nuts. I'm hoping I can end up within a half a bubble of level :laugh:

Steve

Mt Sutro Smoker · May 2009

I'll definitely look into some locking wheels down the line. In the meantime, I went ahead and ordered four of these from -- get this -- Chocks.com, where they were on sale at $4 apiece:

I'll report back on what kind of job they do.

Not sure I need to worry about rebalancing the Egg at the moment; the patio slant is worst by the sliding door, but not as pronounced in the corner where I've currently got it stashed. I mostly want to be extra careful to make sure it's not going to roll anywhere.

Wheel chocks for egg nest?

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