Propane or Charcoal : Seperate Tank or trailer Fed?

When we were traveling FT we used a Weber Smokey Joe Charcoal BBQ with 14" grill.
Load it up first night with briquettes then close vents/place lid on to snuff out charcoal.

Fire it up next night...repeat each night adding briquettes as needed. Then last night of use leave vents open/lid off and let charcoal burn to ash.

Dump next morning, close vents/place lid on and stow in side compartment with bag of charcoal.

Grill surface is big enough for 4 steaks, or 6+ burger patties, bunches of hotdogs etc.

They also have an 18" version

Love charcoal..........propane just doesn't do it for us


Weber Smokey Joes

We use a small weber and charcoal for all of our BBQ'n. Since we are primarily weekend campers the process works great for us. If we were full timers, we probably wouldn't use the charcoal every dinner like we do now.

We do have an LPG tank that I bring out to the picnic table that I use with a stove that I can use with our cast iron frying pan for breakfast cookin.

It depends upon how much you plan on using it. If only once in a while, a small disposable charcoal unit is easiest to deal with. If using it all time and needed to prepare a LOT of stuff, then something like Weber-Q is good.

If using a gas grill, taping into your camper lines can be a challenge. Not so much tapping into the lines, as much as the pressure regulator differences with the trailer and your gas BBQ. If we were to do it again, we'd do it like we did before, a separate propane tank and small BBQ. That way, you can position the BBQ anywhere. With a hose attached to the camper, you are restricted only the distance equal to the length of the hose. That's not always the best spot to set up a grill.

In the end, both need to be clean up. I think cleaning up a gas grill is more difficult than a charcoal grill. But, if you don't mind black soot touching everything when you pack it way, this it really doesn't matter. Shove it in a black trash bag and stow it away!

HOWEVER, we got tired of both gas and charcoal clean up, and got rid of both. We use an electric griddle now, or over an open fire.

At home we use gas mostly. because I am in a hurry. But

when camping its no stress and time has no place on the campground. charcoal is

best, flavor smokey

At least here in WA State and the State Park campgrounds we go to during the summer, if there is ever a burn ban, you can't even fire up a charcoal BBQ.. Gas only in those cases..

Got my propane stove and firepit for those times! :)

good luck!

Mitch

The words propane and charcoal should never be mentioned in the same sentence.

I started out with a Weber Q and it worked fine BUT . . . I really missed the great smoky flavor I got from the charcoal grill I used at home (I fulltime now).

So I got the Weber charcoal Big Joe and cannot be happier. It has a swing arm that comes up and holds the lid in place for travel. I just dump the ashes, slide it into a big garbage bag, and put it in my basement (fifth wheel) for travel. The smaller version would work fine too, but I wanted that 'lockable' lid feature. I just need to get a hinged grill for it so I can add charcoal while cooking.

I keep a bag of hickory chips and one of mesquite handy; soak a handful of chips in water, and place on the charcoal just before the burgers or steaks go on. YUMMY !

Cooked a great tasting tri-tip on it just last Sunday. I just don't believe it would have tasted as good if cooked on a gas grill.

Weber sells a really nice portable table that locks the grill in place on top so they won't slide off. Their site details which grills will fit on it. The legs are removable and store under the top for travel. Works great for my Big Joe. Bought it thru Walmart.

I also carry a pellet grill. Really like that thing too.

Life is just too short to not make great tasting food.

Propane because it's easy, quick, and cheap. Separate tank for the same reasons.

we used propane grill with it's own tank. A small 1 gallon tank we bought at an RV supply store.

Now we use an electric grill my DW bought from QVC.
http://www.qvc.com/Masterbuilt-Veranda-196-sq-in-Electric-Grill-with-Cover.product.K41863.html

It's convenient and flavors as good as any grill we've used...charcoal or propane. We carry it in the shower

ThruTraffic wrote:
I want to get a small outdoor grill for steaks, burger, shish kabob, etc.

Would you use charcoal or propane?

If using propane would you get a separate tank or use a tap off the main tanks.

Figured cooks would know better about this.

I think it's a matter of preference.
I prefer the taste of food cooked over charcoal and wood.

IMO the clean-up time is pretty much the same whether you cook on your S+B's range, a gas or charcoal grill. Just mindless drudgery; nothing special.

After using several Weber charcoal products, a patio sized kettle, Smokey Joe (the one with an ash can), and Go Anywhere, I've decided that the GA better fits my needs. There's a learning curve w/ it since it lacks the depth of a traditional kettle shape but I think I know it's lil quirks now.

I have a grill and a Coleman stove that I converted to LP gas, I carry a separate bottle of LP and a long hose to use for these two. I usually set them up side by side on a picnic or metal folding table as I like to do most of my cooking outside (weather permitting) I also carry a tripod and cast aluminum pots for "over the fire cooking"