Customer Reviews

Char Broil 8000T Two-Burner 40,000 BTU Gas Grill

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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I had an inexpensive Char-Broil grill for years, which kept going w/ a cracked lid after getting smacked by a falling branch in an ice storm (that took out two cars and power, so I was glad to still have a functional grill as my house stove was electric). Unfortunately, I had a run-in with a squirrel that decided to eat through the gas line, so had to replace it -- being an inexpensive model, the hose was clamped straight on, so I couldn't use the replacement hose kit.

This model looked to be the closest to my old model -- similar huge grill size, and a large secondary rack. And it was a similar price to the first one, so it seemed to be reasonable.

So, the changes -- the lid is no longer cast aluminum -- it's stamped steel. This makes it *very* thin. And yet, they've decided to add vent holes in the back, which means it vents heat badly. Of course, as your only options for heat control are off, high, and slightly less than high (with a high pitched tone the whole time), you probably want it to vent, so you don't melt the whole thing.

The grates were changed -- gone were the nice heavy bars, and we now had thin metal wires -- making it so much easier to loose food if you're not careful when grilling thin things like sliced squash.

I think the default height for the secondary rack was lower than my older grill, making it harder to deal with stuff on the main rack. Unfortunately, I've mangled the grill, as I keep a cast iron griddle on my upper rack, and the added weight managed to deform the grill's thin metal within 2 uses -- so now it's a fire hazard as it opens so high, and doesn't have a good low-range heat, that you have to turn off the grill to be able to reach over to close it without burning yourself (or go in from the side -- maybe taller people wouldn't have as much of a problem).

I still haven't tested the side burner -- the lack of a cover for it means that it's always got leaves and other crap in there that I'd have to go and clean out to actually use it without risking a fire. As it's not plastic, I do use it as a rack for hot things, though.

I can't in good faith recommend this grill to anyone.

Grill works fine, overpriced but we had a gift cert so didn't kill us, next time will purchase in a store.