I hate covers!

[RonB]

BUT - I need to get one for my Weber Slate 30" griddle. The shelves are exposed and rain just stands on them, and somehow water winds up on the griddle too.

Covers wind up getting stiff. They are a pain to put on and take off, and where do ya store 'em while cooking? When ya take them off, they are big and bulky and they don't fold easy. The last Weber cover I bought, (years ago), got stiff and then started cracking, and it was expensive.

There are a lot of covers made for the Blackstone, (70"), but not many for the Weber, (72").

Grill covers are too tall.

Suggestions from the hive mind please.

[Panhead John]

You’ll probably have to go with a custom made cover. Here’s one choice for you.

https://www.coverstore.com/custom-covers/custom-grill-heat-covers/custom-grill-covers

[jfmorris]

All my grills live out in the open, and I find covers to be an unsightly, but necessary evil. If I have folks coming over, I toss mine in the backyard shed. Otherwise if its just me out there, I throw them across an unused patio chair.

I got a hard top for my Camp Chef, but as you point out, that didn't keep rain water from blowing up under and pooling on the shelves under the grill. Even WITH the cover on, water somehow gets on the bottom shelf of the Camp Chef, and stands. That caused big patches of the paint to peel off and rust to form, to where I've had to hit the grill shelves with Rustoleum recently.

I too find that the Weber branded covers tend to turn stiff and start cracking after a couple of years at most. I've had much better luck with a couple of brands of off-brand covers from Amazon with my Weber Performer and Genesis - Texas Grill Covers and more recently, King Kong grill covers. About half the cost of the Weber brand, and I've had them on my Genesis and Performer since probably early 2019 with no stiffness or cracking yet.

My advice is to go with the Weber cover for the Slate, so that you know it fits, and in a few years when you have to replace it, there will probably be a cheaper and better one you can pickup off Amazon.

[Purc]

I somewhat agree. My OEM OKJ Bronco cover is stiff and cracking, but my OEM black Weber Kettle cover remains supple and like new.

[Steve R.]

I've had pretty good luck with the Storigami covers that Home Depot sells. Blackstone apparently doesn't have a cover for my particular model that is sold exclusively by Walmart, so I had to just find something that works. I like that I can fold it up fairly neatly when it isn't on the griddle.

[barelfly]

Coversandall.com

this is the only cover I buy now - I have four, the only cooker not covered by a Coversandall.com cover is my Blackstone because it came with one, or the store added it in to sweeten the pot.

But I’ve been using Coversandall.com for nearly 8 years and just replaced my built in gasser cover, although I didn’t need to. It did start getting a stiff, but it still kept everything off of it. It’s Sunbrella material, so waterproof and all that good stuff.

If you can’t find one for the Slate, you can have one custom made and it’s no more expensive than anything else. My gasser cover is custom since it’s built in. You provide photos and measurements, they mock it up and ask you to confirm and then you get a cover.

If you have questions, let me know. Happy to answer.

[Donw]

Totally agree. All my cookers, save one, outdoor furniture, tables and chairs have these covers and they have lasted for years without issue. Highly recommend them.

[barelfly]

Also, have you looked at the silicon griddle covers for the griddle surface only? I bought one of these that has a lip all the way around to keep dust off the griddle surface. The hard cover goes on top of that and then my Blackstone cover over all of it. Out where we live, it’s dust that covers everything, and this has been nice to have. Only thing I don’t care for is the silicon takes up the oil a bit from the surface.

[RonB]

I haven't found one made for my Weber model.

[barelfly]

RonB - I’d check with Coversandall to see about a custom cover then. Get it made how you want it, material, color and such.

[captainlee]

I find that the Weber covers last the longest. We have high UV here and wind so I can get 3 years plus out of their covers.

[jfmorris]

3 years is not very long to be honest. I see about that long with Weber covers, but am on non-Weber covers that are pushing 6 years old, without turning stiff and cracking.

[captainlee]

UV and so many days of full sun a year is a killer. High quality windows on the south side can be replaced in 10 years. Cheaper black grill covers will be grey in a year. Life at 8500 feet.

[Grillin Dad]

I have covers for all my grills, outdoor furniture (in the winter), etc. and have been really happy with classicaccessories.com. Mine sit in full sun (at 6000 ft elevation) with exposure to wind, rain, and snow. They generally last about one year, which I've found is about as good as it gets, given the conditions. However, depending which cover you get, CA warranties them for 1 year, 3 years, or lifetime. They're really good about replacing them too. Fill out an online form, attach a couple of pics, and you get a replacement in a month or so. They're a bit pricey on their website, but much cheaper on their Amazon store. Highly recommend.

[SJUfeller]

I seemingly have to go to war 2 or 3 times per year with mice that get into one of my grills . . . make homes, have babies, etc. Even if the grill is totally clean, they seem to like it.

It is not enticing when you take off the cover, open the lid (or cabinet), and find mice droppings or live mice running around.

Someone said that mice are much less attracted if you leave the cover off. I would rather not do that, but if it were to eliminate mouse issues, I would do so.

Anyone with experience or recommendations?

[STEbbq]

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/forum/gas-grills-and-smokers/napoleon/1595083-help-with-mice

[SJUfeller]

Thanks STEbbq. Good info.

[Hulagn1971]

I had the same problem with mice getting into my Blaze grill and cart. I'd open the lid and see droppings down on the flame tamers, in the slide out drip pan and in the drawers. I bought some TomCat blocks and put one in where the propane tank is kept behind the main door. Put it way in the back. Within a week or so the mice were gone. I don't have small children and my dogs can't get to it. Plus, they stay inside and if they go out I am outside with them.

[Huskee]

Weber's Slate cover is great. Is is very loose material so I doubt it will get stiff. It ties snugly with velcro straps on both sides to prevent wind lift. It is also very waterproof. Mine was stationed under an eave and the end shelf part got filled with water (the cover was somewhat taught then bowed down to hold water as it dripped onto it). The water stayed there for days, I left it once I saw it to test its waterproofery...it did not leak through the cover. I highly recommend their Slate cover.

[Huskee]

Smoker_Boy It is to me! I am a great rule-following journalist, can't you tell?

[Smoker_Boy]

Huskee - It's easy when you make up your own rules.

[RonB]

Good to hear. I was in Home Depot earlier today and they had Slate covers in stock, so I bought one. Now I need to wait until everything dries out so I can use it.

[RonB]

Thanks all for the responses. I was in Home Depot earlier today and bought the Weber cover. Bonus is that HD offers a 10% military discount.

[Rocinante]

I only cover my pellet smoker anymore, as I use that the least. I use my grill and griddle too much to worry about covering them up. Doing so seems to keep moisture in and the critters curious...

Since I put wind guards on the griddle, that has stopped the majority of rain blowing in.

[RonB]

I do have rain getting onto the griddle surface, and the shelves are level enough that any rain on them just sits there...

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

I love a good cover, sometimes they're even better than the originals...

True for music and grill covers, the grill brand ones aren't usually the greatest (with the exception of Weber)

[Huskee]

What would you call a band who only covers cover bands?

[Panhead John]

The Bandaids

[SmokingSteve]

The Bandoleros!