20 x 36 or 20 x 42? Recommended Options?

[Sid P]

I’ve given up finding a used LSG in Chicagoland (been looking for years), and I’m considering ordering a new 20 incher, so I have lots of questions.

36" or 42"? Most of the time it’s just me and the LW, so I’m leaning towards the 36". How big is the firebox hotspot?

Recommended options:
I’m definitely upgrading to the 8" wheels and getting the fire management basket, pull handle, probe ports, and brass valve drain. Any objections to those?

I’d like some input on the ash rake, fire poker, and internal ash pan, and anything else you think is vital.

Thanks!

[Panhead John]

We always recommend the most expensive option, so yeah, get the 42…..🤓 Seriously though, there’s only $200. difference, if you have the space I’d go with the 42. Never know when the extra real estate could come in handy.

[Beefchop]

This is funny, and so true! We are great spenders of other people's money.

[sarredon]

I don’t think I’d want any smaller than the 42, the 36 seems pretty small in comparison. And the $200 price difference as Panhead John mentioned is pretty minimal in comparison to the remainder of the smoker.

I’ve had my 20x42 since around 2019 and it has consistently made the best BBQ out of all the smokers I’ve owned. I highly recommend getting the cover. It’s pricey, but well made and very durable.

As a long-time owner, here’s my two cents on the upgrades. My must-haves are the temp probe port, pull handle, ball valve for drainage, 1/2-inch fire grate, fire management basket, and upgraded wheels of some sort. I got the off-road package. The turning radius isn’t great, but it makes moving the smoker much easier. I believe spacers can be added to improve the turning radius, though I haven’t tried that myself.

I don’t recommend the charcoal basket. I’ve never had much success with it (the whole thing just lights up across the baffles). It might be more useful with a fan setup, but I’ve never used a fan on the offset, so I can’t say whether the fan port would be worth it.

You’re gonna love that smoker!


ETA: I got the ash rake and fire poker but don’t use them often. I really just use a small metal kids shovel I got for 5 bucks at Home Depot. It moved around logs easily when needed and cleans out the ash very well.

[Sid P]

I appreciate the detailed response. I didn’t mention the cover because I plan to keep it in my garage and wheel it out onto the driveway when I use it.

Why do you recommend the 1/2” fire grate? I’ll be a fairly low volume user, if that matters.

[Duanessmokedmeats]

You can always smoke smaller amounts with the 42, but not larger amounts with the 36.
What I am trying to say is "Go big or go home!"

[Skip]

42 without any doubt IMO. As already stated more size gives more options for cooking different amounts and I always think more heat zones too...even if they are only a few degrees different. Very happy with my LSG Adjustable. Get the options now rather than later. Which LSG Model are you thinking about?

[Sid P]

Looks like I’ll be getting the 20x42.

[Skip]

I have SS Grates, 2 Thermometers, and Lg Wheels and like them all.

[FireMan]

Yup, spend as much money as ya can. You will be happier fer it, yessir!

[barelfly]

Go big or go home!!!!!!!!

LSG baby!!! Can’t wait to see that sucker on your porch smokin away!

[Sid P]

Likewise - it will be a long 3 month wait!

[Sid P]

Oops, almost forgot: kenrobin Steve B Alphonse Mike-Sid Redwng Uncle Bob CaptainMike

[Jerod Broussard]

You getting stainless grates?

[Sid P]

Wasn’t planning to.

[Jerod Broussard]

I'm going with stainless from https://www.stainlessgrillgrate.com/index.html

[Skip]

I like my SS Grates on my LSG Adjustable.

[Uncle Bob]

I can't speak to the size of the hot spot other than to recommend seeing if Chris has a YT video of a biscuit test that should inform.

Agree on the advantages of the 42 for the few dollars. The thicker fire grate is because some people have had warping with the 1/4" version. That might be mitigated by using the fire basket. My Texas Ed. is a different configuration so can't speak to that directly, only from what I've seen in user videos. As for the fire basket itself, my unit was purchased used and came with it. I think it works great, I don't understand why some folks don't like it, and have never heard a cogent answer why they don't. But if they don't like it they don't like it. I find it creates a nice, enclosed bed of coals which is the most important thing (the coal bed) for managing an offset fire well. Most offsets have a cylindrical firebox that gives a natural "nest" at the curved bottom for the coal bed to slump into. The fire basket somewhat emulates that in the way it confines the outline of the coal bed. I think it great.

Mine also came with the poker and rake hanging on the back. I never use them. I have smaller and lighter pokers from other cookers already so just use one of them. Again, with the fire basket the ash pile stays fairly confined so is easy to sweep out when cooled. I just use a small dust broom which gets all the ash instead of leaving behind the very fine ash the rake can't get. Which leads me to the dust tray. That one would probably depend on your use style. When I use mine I place an automotive oil drip tray under the firebox door with the idea that if any debris falls out while I'm cooking it will be caught by the pan. When it cools and I clean the fire box that tray is still there to catch the ash and whatever. I just use that to dump the debris. They typically measure around 2' x 3' and cost around $25-30, maybe less if on sale.

[Sid P]

Thanks Bob. That’s how I envisioned handling the ashes, although I didn’t know what kind of pan to get. An oil drip pan sounds perfect.

[Beefchop]

Counterpoint. I had a larger smoker thinking bigger is better but downgraded after using it for a year. Started with a Shirley Cabinet 42" with the optional warming cabinet and it was just too big for a family of 4. Their cabinet door design gives you a lot of cooking space in a 42" smoker, especially with the optional warming cabinet (baffles allowed you to draft through the cabinet, close it off as a warmer, or cook directly through it from the firebox). It was a frickin' Sherman tank. Every time I fired it up, I felt like I had to cook a bunch of meat just to justify all the trouble I was going to with the fire, etc. It was also HEAVY and not easy to move around, even with the upgraded wheels. That was partially because I didn't have good concrete. If you've got plenty of flat patio space (concrete) that's covered, then bigger is fine. I had limited real estate, so I downgraded to a traditional offset from Gator Pit of Texas (22x40) and have been much happier. With the smaller model, I was able to spend my money on upgrades like gas assist and a stainless, drop-down shelf. Another factor for me is that I live in a subtropical climate (south Louisiana) and keeping all that metal from rusting is a chore. I've found that cooking smaller batches more frequently helps me keep the rust at bay. With the Shirley, I'd cook my Q in batches and would freeze the stuff we didn't eat.

PS Options. The ones you've picked all sound good. I've had a square firebox so GET THE ASH PAN. It' will make clean up easier, and ash residue collects in the corners of the square firebox. Ash residue is the harbinger of rust. The gas assist on my Gator was worth every single penny. I get my fire started and pit up to cooking temp in no time. Your BBQ mileage may vary.

[Sid P]

Thanks for responding.

[Steve B]

I can’t say anything about their 20x36 or 42 as mine is one of their original designs. 24x36 pipe.
I will agree with most here, if you have the space get the 42. Especially for the small amount of an extra $200, if that’s the difference.
If the fire management basket is the V shaped one, definitely get that. I personally like the ash rake and poker. Use them every time. Don’t know anything about the ash pan so I can’t give any feedback on that. All of your choices for add ons are spot on. Pull handle only if you plan on moving it around. I didn’t get that as mine hasn’t moved since it was placed in its home.
If you can get on kenrobin ‘s utube channel he did a bunch of videos on his 20x36, I think it is 36, that are very informative.
You're going to LOVE that beast when you get it.
SteveB

[kenrobin]

Thanks Steve B - I have the 42
Here's a link to my channel - https://youtube.com/@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ

[Sid P]

Thanks Steve!

[kenrobin]

I agree with the recommendations to go with the 42. By offset standards, even the 42 is somewhat small. It's the perfect size for my small family but now that I'm looking to sell BBQ to others, it's a little on the small side. I have the ash rake and fire poker but I never hang them on the back of my LSG. I usually lay them down on the bottom rack. Also, I use the fire poker much more than I use the rake.

I'm a fan of the fire management basket. I learned offset fire management on my LSG and the backet made a big difference. You want to have small contained fires and the basket makes it easy. The pull handle, upgraded wheels, and the ball valve are also good options.

I bought their original cover which was expensive and heavy duty. Getting it on & off was too much of a chore so I stopped using it. Also, count me as someone whose fire grate warped. It's still functional but if I had a do over, I'd get the upgrade.

[Sid P]

Thanks, Ken. I’ve subscribed to your channel and watched most of your LSG videos, and appreciate you sharing your experience.

[kenrobin]

Thanks! Good luck with your order and feel free to reach out if you have questions. As you see, there are quite a few of us in the group with LSGs.