How do you set up for grilling in your Bronco?

[Finster]

I was watching a you tube video on grilling on the Bronco.
I know OJB recommends turning the heat plate upside down and placing the coal basket on top.
In the video I watched, the guy left the heat plate in it's normal position and put both the charcoal basket and the ash catcher on top.
this way makes more sense to me. The ash goes directly into the ash catcher as opposed to falling through the holes in the heat plate and scattering.

What say you?

[tstalafuse]

I have done it both ways, but I prefer just the charcoal basket on top of the heat shield. The more wide open air flow seems to get the charcoal hotter faster. Yes, the ashes don't all fall to the ash pan, but I like getting the food on and done sooner even if it means breaking out the shop vac.

[Finster]

thanks for the input. A difference in airflow is something I hadn't considered.
Do you start your coals in a chimney or right in the basket?
I guess either way, there would be a difference in time to come up to temp between the 2 methods.

[tstalafuse]

Finster Actually a little of both. I usually put a single layer of charcoal in the bottom of the basket, and pour a chimney of hot coals on top. This way, while the coals that were already in the basket are lighting the others are starting to heat everything up. With everything wide open, I typically get around an hour of high heat to cook, sear, and burn off/clean the grates. It morphed into this as the coals in the chimney we kinda dying out by the time the grates were hot.

[Panhead John]

I’ve never done it the way in the video, but it’s certainly a viable option. I think either way will work just fine. I have grilled on the Bronco before, but if you have a kettle it’s a little easier, more convenient and gives you more real estate. When I HAD my Bronco I grilled on it a few times just to see how well it does, then did the rest of my grilling on the kettle. Not a knock on the Bronco for grilling, it works fine!…..I just personally reserved it for smoking…it’s high point.

[Finster]

I totally agree John.
But, the other night, the Fam wanted burgers and dogs. It was too windy for the kettle. I thought maybe the wind might not affect the Bronco as much on such a short cook, so decided to give it a shot.
It ended up working out pretty well. Now, I just have ash all over the bottom of the cooker that I'm gonna need to bust out the shop vac to clean up. That's what sparked my search for a possible alternative method...

[Uncle Bob]

Vortex and second grate;

[Uncle Bob]

That's a small piece of expanded metal that forms a diamond shape hole, it's the same material many offsets use for forming the grate. It keeps the small pieces of charcoal from falling through as easily as it might on the straight line grate bars.

[Potkettleblack]

I gotta get a vortex. Sigh.

[MsTwiggy]

This is a fantastic idea!! Top marks as usual Uncle Bob 💯💯👏👏👏🔥🔥🐿️

[Potkettleblack]

I flip the diffuser, and put the smallest slow and sear charcoal basket on one side:

no pictures with the lid down, but they’re on the cold side for that ;-) or on the Grilla.

[Finster]

This I’m gonna try 👍

[MsTwiggy]

Love this approach as well. I have a small sns from my travel kettle, which is an 18” so would be perfect for this. 🔥🔥🐿️

[jfmorris]

This page might help.

https://www.garycrossleyford.com/blog/ford-suv/ford-bronco/ford-bronco-grilles-explained-for-every-trim-level/

[Finster]

🤣🤣

[Euphoria]

I have an OK Joe Pro Drum, and I added a Weber rotisserie ring to it. If the lid is up, (which isn't removable,) the Weber rotisserie ring fits on it. Yes, I had to add some cleats to get it to sit on the OKJ because the Weber Kettle it was designed for isn't exactly the same size, so I "Frankensteined" the rotisserie part to make it work. I also added a new domed lid I made from a large stainless steel mixing bowl for the "cook," that I added a handle and a top vent to. Works fine.

[HawkerXP]

Push to the side and light the Weber... sorry I'd say the same for the PBC.

[Euphoria]

[Euphoria]

Push to the side and light the Weber... sorry I'd say the same for the PBC.

Sorry, but what are you even talking about? Not following your train of thought here....

[HawkerXP]

Sorry for any confusion, I was talking to Finister. I see he has a Weber kettle as well as a PBC in his arsenal of cookers. I was suggesting that the Weber would be the better unit to cook a steak on from his collection.

[Uncle Bob]

Euphoria, clever mod. There are other Weber intended accessories that are adaptable to the Pro. I did this a few years ago, if you look closely you'll see I also did a cleat like mod to secure.