1. Grilling Raised Grid & Direct
2. Barbequing - Single Raised Grid & Indirect 
3. Barbequing - Double Raised Grid & Indirect
4. One & One-Half Grid Grilling
5. 1000 Square Inches

  

Adjustable Rig with BGE's 18-inch porcelain grid

The Adjustable Rig fits BGE’s “Large” cooker only.

In the simplest words, the Adjustable Rig  (Rig) is an easy to use “multi-tasker.”  It sets-up quickly for grilling on a raised grid or barbecuing on one or multiple grids.  Plus, the Rig stores in the cooker, is easy to work around, won’t hinder air flow and only weighs three pounds.  Lastly, there is no real need to clean the Rig.  It is fabricated from 18-8 or 304 grade stainless steel.

The “nuts and bolts” of the design are:

• Overall height is 6 inches.
• BGE’s standard “Large” porcelain  and cast iron grids sit atop the Rig.
• Ring diameter is 17.375-inches OD, matching the center diameter of the fire ring.
• A portion of the top ring is cut away and lowered to improve access to the firebox.
• Two adjustable crossbars support a pizza stone, pan or second grid.
• The crossbar heights are 1.5, 3.0 or 4.5 inches above the fire ring.
• The four brackets are laser cut from 3/16” x 1-1/8”, stainless stock.
• The rings, crossbar supports and back brace are 1/4-inch round, stainless stock.
• The opening between the front two brackets is approximately 13-3/16 inches.

Note:  We recommend you take one quick measurement before ordering.   This is the simplest way we’ve found to make sure the Rig fits your cooker.   Measure the distance from the top of the fire ring to the felt rim on the base.   The measurement should be approximately 4-1/4 inches.   If it is not, contact us and we’ll see what we can do to get you set-up.

Here are a couple notes on ancillary pieces: stones, pans and grids.   As you will see, there are plenty of options when it comes to setting up the Adjustable Rig.

• Ceramic stones are used as the thermal mass for indirect cooks.    For round stones to fit inside the Rig, their diameter must be small than 16-5/8 inches.   To fit the Spider, the stone diameter must be smaller than 14 inches.   We recommend our 13-inch ceramic stone or BGE's 12-inch stone, as both provide ample space for air movement.    BGE's 14-inch stone can work but the inside diameter of your fire ring must be at least 16-inches.  You can find more on using stones as indirect pieces here.
• With drip pans, we typically mean aluminum pizza pans.   For round pans to fit inside the Rig, their diameter must be smaller than 16-5/8 inches. We offer 13 and 16-inch diameter round pans.  Square and rectangular pans are harder to judge but we offer an 11”x15”x1” pan that slides in between the Rig’s front two brackets.   A 13-inch pan is the recommended maximum size for use on the Spider but only with a stone underneath for protection.    For more information on drip pans, check here and here.  
• Round grids need to be smaller than 16-5/8 inches in diameter to fit inside the Rig.   BGE’s “Large” porcelain and cast iron (CI) grids sit on top of the Rig.  Since the CI grid does not have an outer ring to overlap the Rig’s top ring, care must be taken when handling, lifting or moving the Rig/CI grid combo.   We offer and recommend either the 13"x17.5" Oval and 16.5" Stainless Round Grids, as a second grid for the Rig.   The Oval Grid is long enough to handle ribs and slides in and out between the Rig’s two front brackets.   The 16.5" Stainless Grid offers a smidge more usable grid space than the "Large" grid sitting on the fire ring.   We offer a Stainless Half Grid that sits atop the Rig and is a cool accessory when grilling.   All three grids are available in our Grid Section, here.

Read on for more detail on what the Adjustable Rig can do. 

Grilling - Raised Grid & Direct

These are the fast and reasonably hot cooks: brats, ABTs, hamburgers, spatchcock or cut-up chicken, pizza, veggies and such.   The set-up is great for grilling when you need the heat but not the worry about burning something.

The height of the grid is 6 inches above the fire ring and approximately 2 inches above the felt rim.   Grilling here is much easier when compared to grilling at the fire ring.   Handling food, tongs and spatulas is straightforward, as the grid is above the felt opening.   Plus, controlling the temperature is less demanding.   You can cook hotter and not worry as much about burning the food.   If you fill the firebox with lump, the grid and food are 10-inches above the lump.  

The set-up is simple and takes only seconds to complete.   The Adjustable Rig sits directly on the fire ring.   To set the grid, just drop it on the Rig, so the Rig’s top ring slips inside the grid’s outer band.   It’s that easy!

If the grill is cooking hot or fast, it is quick to make adjustments.   Just spin the grid with tongs or slow things down by switching to an indirect set-up.   Plus, with indirect grilling, you can control how the heat crosses the grid by where the indirect piece is positioned under the food.   It’s a cool feature for scheduling cooking times on different foods.  

The quickest way to change from direct to indirect cooking is to drop the Crossbars at one of the bracket levels and slip a pan or stone on the Crossbars.   We recommend setting the Crossbars before starting the cook.   The pan or stone acts as the indirect piece.   The steps are similar to those explained below in BBQing - Single Grid, (a) Drip Pan on Bracket level 1.5, 3.0 or 4.5 set-up.   Or, if you are looking to protect a specific or small item, drop a grid on the Crossbars and position a small pan or plate directly under the item you want to protect.

BBQing - Single Raised Grid & Indirect

These are the basic indirect or small portion cooks: a pork butt or two; a couple racks of babybacks or St. Louis ribs, rack of spare ribs, chicken, a brisket flat or packer.   

The two most popular set-ups are:

a)    Drip Pan (Stone Optional) on Bracket level 1.5, 3.0 or 4.5; 
b)    Staggered Stone and Drip Pan Combo.

Important to Remember:   For a single grid, indirect, low and slow cook we recommend placing the stone directly on the Adjustable Rig's lower brackets with the BGE grid atop the Adjustable Rig, options a) or b).  It's an easy set-up to do, creates the greatest area for lump (fill the fire ring if you like), provides expanded room (open air) at the top of the fire ring and if needed,  provides quick access to the lump, just lift the loaded Rig out and the cooker is empty.

Two other options include the Spider and a second "Large" grid. With all four options, the “Large” grid rests on top of the Rig.  The indirect piece can be a pizza stone, pan or stone/pan combo.  The choice is yours but round piece(s) can’t have a diameter greater than 16-5/8 inches: 14 inches if positioned on the Spider.    On the Rig crossbars we recommend our 13-inch ceramic stone and 13" or 16" drip pans.  On the Spider we recommend our 13-inch ceramic stone and 13-inch drip pan.     

(a) Drip Pan (Stone Optional) - Bracket level 1.5, 3.0 or 4.5 Set-Up:

Great for lazy cooks, as it takes less than one minute to set-up and doesn’t require a platesetter or the Spider.   1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 refer to heights (inches) above the fire ring where you place grids, pans or stones.   For example, bracket level 3.0 is 3-inches above the fire ring.   Level 4.5 is approximately level with the felt rim or 4.5 inches above the top of the fire ring.  

Key points on this set-up are:

• The indirect piece is the drip pan;
• Affords great flexibility with vertical spacing (open-air) between the lump, indirect piece and grid;
• It is easy to slip wood chunks past the set-up and onto the lump;
• Access to the lump during the cook is quick.  Wearing hand protection, just lift the loaded Rig out and the cooker is empty.

What you need:  Adjustable Rig, “Large” grid and drip pan.  

What to do:

1. Add the lump and smoking wood  (you can fill the fire ring) and light the lump;
2. Set the Rig on the fire ring with the two Crossbars on the desired level;
3. When you are ready to begin the cook, place the drip pan on the Crossbars, set the “Large” grid on the Rig, load the meat and start the cook.

If you have concerns with burned drippings because the drip pan sits on the indirect piece (stone or platesetter), this set up may be for you.   Plus, like (a) above, you can vary the shape and location of the pan.   It’s a great option for ribs, using the 11”x15”x1” rectangular drip pan.   Note: This set-up requires an extra set of Crossbars. 

Key points to the set-are: 

• How you skew the spacing between the stone and pan is really up to you.   Potentially, you can have:

• 1.0-inches minimum of open-air between the stone and pan bottom. 
• Up to 3.0-inches of open-air between the grid and bottom of the pan.
• 1.5-inches minimum of open-air between the lump (full fire ring) and stone.   

• Pan size and shape is your option, round or rectangular.
• To access the lump, wearing hand protection, just lift the loaded Rig out and the cooker is empty.

The Spider (double grid set-up too): 
   

The Spider is a five legged piece that hangs from the dimples on the fire ring and drops approximately two inches into the fire ring.   More information on the Spider can be found here.

You can use the Spider to hold the stone and achieve up to 6-inches of open-air between the stone and bottom of the pan.   Or, the spider can hold both the stone and pan. 

Maximum recommended size for the round drip pan and/or pizza stone is 13 inches in diameter,  as it provides up to one inch of open-air between the pan/stone and inside wall of the fire ring.   We strongly recommend placing a our 13-inch ceramic stone under the pan, as the stone protects the pan from excessive heat and melting.   Seven inches of open-air, space between stone & pan, is achievable.  

What you need: Adjustable Rig, Spider, “Large” grid, round drip pan and stone

Keys to this set-up are:  Load the lump and smoking wood no higher than one-third of the way in the fire ring.  Set the Spider first, so it sits under the Rig.  Set the cermaic stone and pan on the Spider and the “Large” grid on the Rig’s top ring.

Second Large Grid on the Fire Ring:  

This is not the most popular method, as it requires an additional “Large” grid and limits access to the lump.    What you need are Adjustable Rig,  two “Large” grids and indirect pieces (pizza stone, pan or stone/pan combo).   What to do:  Ah, let’s skip the detail, as a picture is worth 1000 words.   Simply, one grid sits on the fire ring.   The Rig sits on the grid.   The indirect piece(s), drip pan and stone, sit on the grid and/or Crossbars.   The second grid (cooking grid) sits on top of the Rig.

BBQing - Double Raised Grid & Indirect 

These are the large indirect cooks.   It is the same types of food as with single grid barbecuing, just more food.  

The grids are the “Large” grid and a smaller second grid.  This second grid fits inside the Rig’s rings, so if it is a round grid, it must be smaller than 16-5/8 inches in diameter.   We recommend either the 13"x17.5" Oval Grid or the 16.5 Round Stainless Grid.   The Oval Grid is long enough to handle ribs and slides in and out between the two front brackets.  Weber grids do not fit.

The set-up for the Spider and indirect piece(s) is similar to that outlined above in Single Grid, The Spider.   The indirect piece(s) maximum diameter is 14-1/2 inches.   Pictured below on the left is BGE’s 12-inch stone on the Spider.   On the right is the 14-inch stone and pan combo.   The combo provides approximately one-inch opening around the fire ring.  

Setting the second grid is not difficult.   For big cooks, level 1.5 (lowest Crossbar setting) works best for the grid.   It provides approximately four inches of space between grids.   For other cooks, level 3.0 (middle Crossbar) can be used.   To set the second grid, place the Crossbars in the appropriate bracket slots and set the grid on the Crossbars.   The “Large” grid goes on top of the Rig, completing the two grid set-up.

Key Points

• Grids are not connected;
• There is ample circulation between indirect pieces and grids;
• Lift the Rig out for easier access to the lower grid, drip pan.
• The Oval Grid, 13” x 17.5” slides out between the front brackets.

What you need: Rig, Second Grid, Spider, and indirect piece(s).

What to do:

• Bringing the cooker to temperature:  
  • Add lump and wood chunks no higher than one-third of the way into the fire ring. Light the lump;
  • Drop the Spider, then the Rig on the fire ring;
  • Set the “Large” grid on top of the Rig;
  • Set the second grid on the “Large” grid;
  • Set the indirect piece(s), pan/stone, on the second grid. Now all the pieces are in the cooker warming up and stacked in the order that you need them;
  • Have the two Crossbars handy, outside the cooker;
  • Let the cooker come to the desired temperature.
• Setting the Food:
  • From here on, you need hand protection to handle the hot pieces.
  • Lift the “Large” grid (other pieces on top) out of the cooker and set aside.
  • Add wood chunks to the lump, if you like;
  • Set the stone and pan on the Spider;
  • Place the two Crossbars at the appropriate bracket level for the second grid, usually level 1.5 the lowest bracket setting. On the Crossbars, add the second grid and meat;
  • Lastly, return the “Large” grid to the top of the Rig, add the meat and begin the cook.

This may sound like a lot of steps, but you are doing most of these steps already.  All we’ve done is list them in logical order.  After a couple times, it becomes routine, really!

One & One-Half Grid Grilling

1-1/2 Grid cooking is a great way to cook different foods and have every thing done at the same time.   The Half Grid is also a convenient warming or staging area.   Our Stainless Half Grids are available in our Grid Section, here.

The basic set-up is the “Large” grid on fire ring, the Rig on the grid and the Half Grid atop of the Rig.   The spacing between grids is 6 inches.   Or instead of the “Large” grid, the set-up can be the Oval or 16.5" Round Grid on the Rig’s Crossbars with Half Grid on top.   The Half Grid can spin a quarter turn if it’s in the way.   This is a favorite set-up with cooks requiring different cooking temperatures, times or techniques.

1000 Square Inches

Ever wonder how much might be too much. Well, how about a grid on every level.   The spacing is roughly 1.5 inches.   The total grid area can easily exceed 1,000 square inches.   Other than jerky, what would you cook like this?

This ends the Adjustable Rig narrative.