What Underappreciated Improvements Should Be On All Smokers/Grills of that Type? (charcoal, pellets etc).

[STEbbq]

What do you think is the best feature of a smoker/grill that is not widely adopted that you'd love to see made standard or at least more widely used? Or, if you have an idea that you think would be perfect for the industry to adopt, what would you suggest?

This is not a build question or accessories because adding thicker steel or stainless steel components or a Fireboard isn't the goal here. The idea is more something that made your life so much easier that you were like "Geez, I'm never buying a new grill/smoker without this again".

Examples for me would be pellet dumps for pellet grills as well as ash/grease drawers compared to soup cans.

On the charcoal side, I'd think it is temperature probe slots so you do not have run your probe through a vent or drill a hole yourself.

[Rod]

Definitely probe and fan ports for charcoal cookers. I'm looking at you Weber.

[Polarbear777]

Considering I've added both to every cooker I have owned, I'm in agreement.

[wrgilb]

That's why I bought the SnS Kettle.

[Troutman]

+3 for me. I'm expert at installing them after doing it like 5 times now.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

I really like the auger setup on the Weber smokefire, auger up, dump into ramp... no chance of burn back and a shorter auger to unclog if you do something silly and end up with wet pellets

I also think all high quality stainless grills should have a coated steel plate attached somewhere useful for magnetic devices like thermos or lights or whatever.

I also really like the way Cuisinart products often have built in storage for their accessories (hooks to hold extra racks, trays, and whosamawhatsits when not in use). One thing I don't like about my MAK is that there is nowhere to store unused racks, they don't fit under the grill, they don't fit in the cold smoking box... so you either lean 'em against the grill or plop em on the deck.

[Mr. Bones]

Bottle opener

[Troutman]

How about they all come with a bottle

[smokin fool]

In full agreement although I buy tall boy cans now, would like to see a cork screw though.
Mind you the cheap plonk I buy usually has a screw top on it.

[ecowper]

Bonesy, that’s pure genius

[ssandy_561]

I sorta like the after market options for the bottle openers.

[bbqLuv]

Only of the made one for a pop-top, or twist top!

[Troutman]

Doesn't your beer get warm ?

[ssandy_561]

Troutman No it does not. I have Ninja like quickness!

[Max Good]

Oklahoma Joe's Rider DLX has the best pellet clean out system we've seen. Check it out at about 3:30 into my YouTube Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0w2net6AzI&feature=emb_logo

[bbqLuv]

The center sear/hot section looks like a disaster to clean.
Part 1 review the cooker looks interesting, part 2 not so much.
Nice review of actually treating.
Oklahoma Joe's Rider DLX does not pair well with PBR.

[Troutman]

Not a big OKJ fan but man that thing has some cool, well thought out features.

[Old Glory]

Built in accessory/rack storage and tables/shelves. Weber kills it on ash clean up. I wish all charcoal grills were that easy.

[klflowers]

Pre marked dimples on vents for starter settings for temp controls. They wouldn’t be perfect, but a starting point.

[Arsenlael]

Wheels

[STEbbq]

Definitely a key criteria for me too. It is surprising how many grills and smokers don't consider 4 wheels.

[smokenoob]

agree, even 2 wheels are not enough!

[grillinglousiana]

i added wheels to my barrell house

[Andrrr]

Cup holders?

[GolfGeezer]

On cookers that are "front loader" style like most gassers, pellet poopers, offsets, etc., a fold down full front shelf for easy loading/unloading/saucing paired with front hood doors handles set so they do not block the shelf!. Ash dumps (mainly pellet poopers) that do not require removing innards (grates/deflectors/etc).

[grantgallagher]

Gasket on a kettle style or probably most charcoal grills to be honest.

Night and day difference.

[Troutman]

An assistant to actually operate my cookers as I sit, watch, direct and have an ice cold brew. Oh yea throw in a lite massage, that would be nice too !!

[Clark]

for some reason, I thought you would be older.

[Troutman]

Clark Yea that picture was taken about 25 years ago. If you were to see me now it would be with white hair, a big old beer gut and a much nicer chair. Other than that, it's pretty much accurate

[Huskee]

Side shelf (or two), and you said don't say it, sorry,...but SS grates!, and anything to make cleanup easier whether it's easy access to charcoal ash, pellet ash, grease tray/cup, whatever, it needs to be easy access.

[STEbbq]

I see why you are anxiously awaiting my Grill Rescue Brush review...

[ecowper]

Probe ports, fan port, beer bottle opener ...... I use the rotisserie port on my Hasty-Bake to run the probes into it. And yeah, Weber is the worst about this ... had to drill ports into a brand new Weber 22 for my daughter last spring.