We’ve had a series of gas BBQs where the burner tubes disintegrate over time. They last 3-4 years and then the tubes rust out.
We’ve done Costco, Home Depot, etc., but not a Ducane or anything fancy.
Will the pricey ones be made of better quality parts and last a lot longer?
The burners do need to be replaced after a few years but that doesn’t make the grill disposable. I had a Charbroiled Big Red that I absolutely loved. Bought it at Home Depot. If you looked at online reviews it was highly popular on BBQ forums but for whatever reason Charbroiled changed the style around 2010. I left it in CA on a cross country move and I regret not keeping it and changing out the burners.
Get a Weber grill – they’re not too expensive and they last forever.
+1 on a Weber.
Another vote for Weber.
Add another +1 on Weber. Worth every penny.
Our Charbroiled from HD was a workhorse for 13 years until it rusted through and literally fell apart. We looked at the newer versions and were not impressed…
Our Weber genesis is approaching 20 yrs old. I think we’ve replaced a few parts over the years but it is still going strong. I actually wouldn’t mind it rusting so I could replace it.
Another weber vote. We always cover ours, which helps with longevity.
Another Weber vote
I’ve tried many and finally go the Weber.
We got a gas grill that has a line to the house natural gas. We had to have a plumber install it, but I so do love never running out of propane at inopportune moments.
Man – I saw the thread title and thought this was going to be barbecue debate!
…whose winner, of course, would be eastern NC pulled pork BBQ with the red vinegar sauce.
Another vote for Weber. I have bought cheaper grills but they didn’t seem to last. I’ve had my Weber for many years and it still looks and works great. I have replaced the “flavorizer bars” because they had begun rusting out (we are not great about remembering to cover the grill) and also the grids on top, but that was after many years of use. The thing I like about Weber is that you can replace individual parts as needed. Like @LBowie, we have a gas line run to the grill (our home uses LP) and that is the best! No more running out of propane or dragging tanks back and forth. Love that.
I would vote for a webber, for the reasons others have said, that you can replace the parts as needed. I have replaced the "flavor bars’ a couple of times, and the grills themselves at least once, you also can replace the burner tubes, the igniter, the gas valves. the main body has not rusted out, and I don’t exactly baby it, it is outside, I don’t cover it, and it has lasted now a good 15 years.
The more fancy grills to me are more show than anything else, some of them have fancy built in prep areas, they are stainless steel, are larger, some of them even feature convection blowers, but in the end from what I have seen of them and tasted what comes off of them I don’t think they make the food taste any better. Unless you are cooking for an army they don’t make much sense with how big they are, either.
My 20 year old Weber has been used approximately 200 days per year. I’ve replaced the burners twice (cheap and easy), and I finally learned not to buy Weber “flavorizer bars”. Instead, go on eBay and search for aftermarket knockoffs that are much heavier and seemingly last forever.
- Agree that fancy grills are NOT essential for great grilling. A buddy has a super duper patio grill about 2/3 as big as a full size refrigerator, yet he burns the meat every time.
- Sorry Scout, but Eastern NC vinegar BBQ was the worst stuff I have ever eaten. This year I am planning to attend the BBQ festival in Lexington NC. Maybe I will fare better this time.
Another vote for the Weber. Mine is about 15 years old and still going strong. Just an occasional cleaning to scrape off the grease and replace some of the flavoring bars as they will rust. Super reliable and good value.
We have a Weber Genesis grill (forget which one), has to be going on 15. The only part that’s not replaceable is the metal box. I have no opinions about eastern NC barbecue.
mmmm…Lexington BBQ!!
I’m BBQ agnostic. It’s all good.