Customer Reviews

Landmann Black Dog 42 With Offset Fire Box

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is one solid machine! The side firebox allows for 'proper barbecue' and is big enough to operate as a small grill when you like. Also the smoker-box (the big part) is LARGE (as backyard qs go) and the charcoal grate is on a pully-system allowing you to move the coals closer to your food for searing etc.
The one thing I would like to see is an additional thermometer for the firebox, I installed one and it makes keeping the temp in the smoker-box steady easier.
Assembly was rather painless and there were a minimum of parts which came unassembled.

This grill showed some promise but after using it a couple of times, I'm ready to see it go. The actual construction is heavy enough but the design is really lacking.

The handles for the lids are attached using very thin bolts that will not remain tight. There is not much clearance between the handles and hot surfaces so singed knuckles are common. The handling of ashes and grease in the large cooking chamber is a giant pain. There is a hole in the bottom with an air vent damper and under that is a catch pan. Problem is, with the charcoal grates installed, you can't get to the ashes with a shovel or brush to sweep them into the hole. If you've used it as a smoker, unless you have perfectly placed pans to catch the drippings under the food, the bottom of the unit will be one greasy mess that is virtually impossible to clean. A removable ash drawer would have been infinitely more practical and useful. There is no way to add fuel to the large chamber if you are using it for direct grilling. This is generally not a problem since normal fuel will last long enough for most foods but there are many instances where being able to throw in some wood chunks or additional charcoal with ease would be good.

There are no shelves attached to this unit so if you have your grill heated up and are needing to load your food, better bring a friend to hold the tray or have a patio table close by.

A real nuisance on this grill is every time you open the lid on the large chamber, the vent damper falls shut! You have to remember to readjust it after you close the lid or you'll choke down the fire.

Finally, the unit arrives with an adhesive label affixed to the lid. Once the grill is heated, it can be removed but it leaves a nasty sticky glue residue.

The grill has a lot of room so you can cook a lot of food at once. That's the good news but the bad news is you'll be in for a real chore come clean up time.

I was originally going to make my own B-B-Q but this one seemed to have all the features I was looking for, for less than I could buy the materials to build my own.
First let me say this grill is as advertised very easy to assemble. It is made from very heavy grade steel and the parts fit reasonably well.
I have used the grill for three major cookouts now and have been very satisfied with the results. It has been easy to maintain the temperature I was looking for and the grill works very well with smoking meats.
The only things which I have found to be annoying is the lids are not fully welded so smoke pours out all over the place, not just from the vents. The vent on the side does go fully closed whenever the lid is opened and must be readjusted each time you check your food.
The grill did come with a sticker on the lid which has proved impervious to removal both before and after using the B-B-Q.
I plan to do a minor redesign to address these issues this winter and expect to have the B-B-Q I wanted, working the way I wanted for much less $$ than I had planned for.

PS After I purchased this item on Amazon I looked at it in other places and all I can say is Amazon's prices rock. I found this same item listed for up to 4 times as much money in other places.

HOLY COW!!!! This is ONE HEAVY DUTY grill!!! It will take 2 people to move it. It comes 80% assembled and is simple to finish up. I wanted this grill for charcoal(the REAL stuff)and for smoking. It does a wonderful job as a combo unit. Maybe not quite as good as a stand alone professional smoker but darn close.

The ONLIEST thing I would like to see would be a door on the grill side to add more charcoal like on the smoker side. Other than that this baby is a bargain!!!

I agree with most everything said. Most important factor to me was the price was very reasonable - 25% of what other grills like it are selling for. I read about the few problems associated and decided I could handle those with small mods. After using twice I have replaced the bolts holding the handles with 1/4-20 x 2 1/2" bolts and the spacers with 3/8" x 1/2" x 1 1/2" steel spacers, both of these available for a few bucks at your neighborhood hardware superstore. This makes the handle perfect and no more singed knuckles. The damper closing constantly when opening the grill/meat side is solved simply by temporarily removing damper, drill & tap a 10-24 hole, reverse thread a 10-24 wingnut on a 10-24 bolt and then thread it in. Replace damper and now you can use the wingnut as a large handle to tighten damper into place with pressure when you have it adjusted where you like it. The small price and amount of work it takes to make these mods is worth the large savings you will get by buying this grill when it is for sale by Amazon.

I received the Landman Big Dog 42 BBq in perfect shape and with all of the parts intact. Very litle time was needed to put it together as most everything was in place. Have used it several times and it works like a champ.
I highly recomend this pit to anyone who enjoys a good abr b que at home.

Great smoker. Easy to assemble. Broke it in right away with ribs and a shoulder. Need to check fire box every 40 minutes to an hour to add more wood or charcoal. This unit should handle the average persons needs.

I have used this twice now to make some great pulled pork and ribs. The temperature isn't very difficult to regulate, though I did run into some problems when I got hit with a snow shower. A few things to be careful about: once you are smoking, use oven mitts to open the firebox door and lids. Even though there are handles, if you accidently touch any small portion of the studs (on the lid handles) or the side of the firebox, you will be burned. The firebox lid doesn't fit very flush with the top of the firebox, so you lose some smoke from there. The paint began peeling on the outside of the firebox after the first use. Not sure if there is anything that can be done about that though, and I wonder why they bother painting it in the first place. Overall though I am very pleased with this product and would recommend it.

I was very excited when I bought this grill because of its size and versatility. It has been a major disappointment! First, you need to season it with cooking oil before using. I have 4 other charcoal grills and never had to do that before. And then within a few months it started rusting! Part of the problem is that the seams for the top of the grill (where the side panels are attached to the top section) are not tight and rain leaks in very easily. I can open the top and literally see right through the seams because they are only welded in spots, not all the way down the seam. I contacted the manufacturer, who promptly sent me a new top. Same problem! Second, the grill uses a ton of charcoal, about a full bag every time I use it. Also, every time you open the top, you must re-adjust the the vent on the top, because it slams shut. Finally, had to add a second thermometer, because the one supplied is poorly located -- too near the fire box for accurate readings. I've been using charcoal grills for over 20 years and never had so many problems.