Weber 26 Mods To Stabilize Legs

[PackersOwner12]

Was looking to purchase a Weber 26 kettle but hearing a lot about how wobbly it can be. Has anyone here modified the legs to make them more stable? Looking for some ideas/pics if possible.

[HawkerXP]

I don't know if the 26 is anymore wobbly then the 22 with 3 legs but a lot of us have a Performer or two, or three, and that fourth leg and table make this a stable cooking platform. Some have built tables and installed their Weber's. There is a company that makes brackets to put on the kettle so it can be mounted like a Performer. It's the same company that makes the lid hinge.
Not sure if they make it for the 26. I'll look for the name.

[Attjack]

It is more wobbly.

[Troutman]

Forget the hinge, too heavy a lid, you'll tip it over for sure.

[Steve R.]

Agree, no need for a hinge when you already have a lid holder. And yes, a 26" is more wobbly, probably due to the increased weight.

[Attjack]

[Attjack]

Mojo0209 I wish it was mine. Right now, it's just inspiration.

[Steve R.]

So, was this guy just cruising by in his Crown Vic and jumped out to take a quick photo? lol That is a super nice mod, though.

[Attjack]

Steve R. Pretty sure he was about to leave for an appointment and realized he would miss his beautiful grill. So he hopped out of his Crown Vic and snapped a pic so he could gaze at her while away.

[PackersOwner12]

Thanks a lot!

[Attjack]

Here's another idea.

[Troutman]

Bwaaaaaaa !!!!

[jfmorris]

Off road Weber for sure!

[Jessterr]

Should be critical equipment on the first manned Mars mission.

[Attjack]

A couple of other options:

[Steve R.]

Just in terms of keeping a decently small footprint, I love the cut down Ranch frame for this. The Ranch feels about as solid as a Performer with those four legs.

[Attjack]

I think Weber should sell the 26 with Ranch legs, not the weak trip pod system.

[zinfella]

That copper top is a well thought out design, and now my favorite!

[Troutman]

Dude, I've owned one going on 2 years now and haven't had one issue with stability. They are a little top heavy if you're moving it around but when on a level surface like your patio, they are fine. Don't listen to the whiney BS they're trying to warn you about.

[Dadof3Illinois]

I've had mine for several years now and have had no issues at all. Yea it's a little wobbly but I've cooked on it every week and love it.
I do like a couple of those table ideas above though!!

[Troutman]

Attjack No one claimed it to be mountain goat proof. Yea parking a VW bus on top might collapse it as well

[Attjack]

Yeah as wobbly as it is, and as cheap as it feels on those legs, you should definitely not park your VW on it.

[Huskee]

I've only noticed it wobbling when I'm scraping the grates, otherwise it really holds up fine. I don't think it's a big deal, but I get it- there's a desire to fix things just cuz.

[Steve R.]

It only bothers me a little that it twists. The original bowl on mine had a leg socket that was welded in only one spot instead of three, allowing the whole thing to kind of "take a bow." Weber replaced the whole bowl, and there is the just normal small amount of movement now.

[jfmorris]

The 3 leg wobbliness of the old 1997 model 22" kettle I used to have are why I gave it to a friend who needed a new Weber. Every time I rolled it and tried to go across the grass, one of the legs would pull out of the socket and it would all fall apart. I would end up just carrying it around by the body if I moved it off concrete.

I've never been a fan of the way the legs to into the socket, especially on older kettles. It had a little dimple in the metal that you were supposed to push in and rotate, but it did a poor job of locking that leg in place in my experience. That's one reason I love the Performer design. Or the Ranch kettle design.

[jeffdavidson]

The 26.75" Kettle fits PERFECTLY in the inside rails of a standard Baker Scaffold from Harbor Freight, Northern Tool, etc. I recent finished this one. It's at a local welding shop getting the four corner rails cut down to just above the first horizontal end bar above tabletop height so I can use those as a handle on each end.
EDIT: added a few pics of the finished project. I had a local welding shop cut down the end verticals to just above tabletop height (thanks RonB!) + apply silver vein powder coating. The silver vein finish looks absolutely amazing. The Santa Maria attachment was custom built by a friend in AZ. The design uses load-bearing pillow blocks as tensioners instead of requiring a handbrake lever. Holds 20+ lbs. Very clever!

[RonB]

Great idea!

CHNeal - a machine shop or a welding shop should be able to cut it down to the size
you want.

[hoovarmin]

That is badass right there.

[SmittySmoke]

Awesome rig Jeff! I'm going to do the exact same thing except with a double 26-in Kettle setup. Really appreciate you posting this! Well done! Quick question.. it looks as though you used unknown barbecue mounting brackets to secure it to the frame?? Did you add a riser to the scaffold frame as well? Haven't figured out how to pm because I just joined this forum. Going to try to PM you for components list. Thank you for posting this!

[Richard Chrz]

Although I prefer tables, I’ve never knocked over my 26, and if there is anyone that would do it, it would be me. Someday I will get a table for it though. It’s a great grill, don’t let 3 legs keep you from getting one.

[hoovarmin]

The cost of the 26 now is mind blowing. I was in Ace and they wanted $599 for theirs. I don't know if that's comparable to what others are charging or not, but it is what pushed me over the edge to get the Kamado.

[CHNeal]

Not a chance I would pay that! I want a second and was about to source one. If thats the going price there is a Summit E6 in my furture!

[Attjack]

The cost of the 26 now is mind blowing. I was in Ace and they wanted $599 for theirs. I don't know if that's comparable to what others are charging or not, but it is what pushed me over the edge to get the Kamado.

Glad I got mine back in 2017.

[Richard Chrz]

Right, I got mine in 2020 for 329.

[Attjack]

Although, I see it for $429 on Amazon right now.

[Steve R.]

Same at Lowes and Home Depot.

[hoovarmin]

That's much better than our local ACE, but still $130 higher than what you paid in 2017 and $100 more than what Richard paid in 2020. Our ACE, being on the island, gets away with charging above full retail because people don't like to cross the bridge to go to Lowes or Home Depot. Still, that's a crazy leap in price.

[Attjack]

My ACE a few blocks away tends to be more expensive than other stores nearby.

[CHNeal]

Yep just asked my wife what she and the kiddo paid for mine Father’s Day 2021 and 329 was the answer and at ACE to boot!