Propane or Charcoal for the grill

[Migkiller]

New to us coach owner and wanting any and all input in what people use for their outdoor cooking grills.

Do you use charcoal or propane ? Can you get a adapter to install on the main coach propane tank so as to have a branch t to hookup a portable gas grill outside? Not sure if that would be legal ?

Thanks for any suggestions !

Chuck

[Skip426]

Propane; in the RV and at home, for the fast heat, charcoal just takes too long to get to correct temperature, and the taste of burning lighter fluid can ruin a steak.
There are adaptors available from the, coach service tank and hoses to reach your preferred location.
But ; you need to know if the BBQ requires , regulated pressure , or full tank pressure , like those that operate on 1lb bottles. Makes a difference where you hook in, and which adaptor you buy.

[DeeGee]

Neither, in my case. We have a pellet grill and use it for both smoking and grilling. Works like a charm. See Green Mountain Davy Crockett | Amazing Ribs Fits just fine in the basement.

[RanCarr]

We tried both and the propane grill had to go. It left a propaney taste, very faint, but tastable. It also left some meats like pork chops rubbery - a strange consistency. It was also nasty and difficult to keep clean. We also missed the grilled over coals flavor in the food.

We have one of those "chimney" briquet starters from WalMart. You don't need to use that gross smelly fuel to start briquets anymore. We use newspapers and wood chips to start the briquets. When they start to glow they go into the grill, add food.... and yum!

[ArmandV]

One of the first things I bought for my new MH was a charcoal grill. I don't use lighter fluid. I use the charcoal that fire up when the lighter hits them. I don't like propane grills.

[donhoward49]

I use propane for convenience, I also use the small bottles. Running a hose form my big tank would limit where I set-up to grill.

[wildtoad]

I initially bought a small coleman propane grill. Found it to be a pain to clean and the cooking area was small. Bought a Smokey Joe charcoal grill. Use it all the time. Have not used the propane grill in a couple of years now. Much better taste.

[FormerBoater]

The Eagle came stock with a propane outlet at the rear of the coach on the passenger side.

None the less, we have always used charcoal (no fluid required) and saved the propane for other uses (stove top, oven, refrigerator, hot water heater).

[DDDonkey]

I have both, I prefer the charcoal and use it when I can, I only use lighter fluid on the camp fires

[jsides]

This is like Ford vs Chev. gas vs diesel. There good points on both sides. I use propane for ease of set up and cleaning, not being able to dump ashes, when traveling, although charcoal tastes a little better. You will have to find out what suits you best.

[head gamez]

I have both in the coach, and at home.

I have a small stainless propane in the coach as well as a Kamado Joe Jr. Needless to say, the propane doesn't get used much. We use the Kamado Joe for grilling, smoking, baking, etc. I start it with a Mapp gas torch (handheld) and it is up to whatever temp I need within 15 minutes. That could be 220 for a low and slow or 600 for a pizza. I use only natural lump charcoal, and it is nearly 100% efficient. At the end of the cook, simply close the vents and the coals will go out. Rake them around before the next cook to remove the ash, and then add however much more you need.

For a size reference, the Jr can handle a 10 pound butt, a small brisket, two racks of ribs (cut in half using rob racks), a whole chicken, and a 13" pizza.

Below are a few pictures of the Jr, and it's bigger brother.

Whole chicken






Quiche and Sausage for breakfast


I stumbled on their brand of kamados when they were doing a roadshow at our local Costco in January. We have since fallen in love with them, and cook on them almost every night of the week.

[J Birder]

Take a look at the Char-Broil "TRU Infrared" Grill2Go. It has all of the advantages of propane, but none of the disadvantages. I also have ont of their larger ones at my S&B house. http://www.amazon.com/Char-Broil-Inf...rill+2+go+x200

The propane flame does not impinge directly on the food. Rather, it heats a steel plate, which radiates infrared heat onto the food. The heat is very even, the food tastes great and never dries out on me. I sometimes use it like an oven to do roasts and even whole turkeys, with marvelous results. I've never tried baking in it, but I've been considering it.

If you like a smokey flavor, you can pile wood chips on top of the metal plate. Depending on what I'm cooking, I use either mesquite or hickory, but other woods are available.

My only (minor) complaint is that the legs don't fold. That makes it too tall to fit where I prefer to store it.

Joel

[Bumps]

Long, long-time fan of charcoal grilling, but got one of these Cuisinarts for Christmas last year; I really like it. Don't know how long I will carry both charcoal and propane grills around, but DW thinks a full conversion from charcoal is underway. \ken

[Migkiller]

Originally Posted by DeeGee

Neither, in my case. We have a pellet grill and use it for both smoking and grilling. Works like a charm. See Green Mountain Davy Crockett | Amazing Ribs Fits just fine in the basement.

Interesting...haven't seen a peller grill before but makes sense. Will search this out. Thanks